I woke up with a severe hangover. I made my way to the bathroom lazily. I glanced at the mirror wondering if I looked as terrible as I felt. I stood staring in horror at the grotesque skull grinning at me. It was one of those clean skulls, the kind you see in museums. As I moved closer, I heard the thin strains of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ start to play.
I managed to answer the call before Mr. Mercury could croon ‘Mama I killed a man.’
“Hello,” I said, staring at the skull, unable to look away. It was fascinating, how it was just hanging there in mid air. Was it even there or was the alcohol that hadn’t left my system making me see things? Feeling a magnetic pull, I move-
“Sir, are you with us?”
“Wha…oh yes.”
“Sir did you hear what we said?”
“Yes, yes,” I said, rolling my eyes. The skull had stopped grinning. It looked sentient, like it was waiting for me to catch up. As I started to speak, a chill of knowledge went down my spine. “You are telling me that a mad man is on the loose. He is wearing a grey flannel jacket, pink shirt, blue jeans and likes to wear his ray bans,” I adjusted the ray bans just so, “on his head like it’s a nest he is carrying.”
“Correct sir. And he is out to kill you. Officers are on their way. Do not leave your house. We repeat, do not leave your house.”
I grinned. The skull winked. “I’ll be waiting.”
Written for the prompt given by Sitharaam Jayakumar. Read more here about Finish the story collaboration.
tales of Suchita 
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