Tag Archive for: Jonathan Tolstedt

Putting Yourself in Your Work

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by Jonathan Tolstedt

The contractor pointed out three places where nails I had driven into studs had broken through the sides of the noggins. Three nails out of how many thousands I had put into this house?

He told me to fix them and went on about how he puts a part of himself into every house he builds.

“I understand, Terry,” I said. I picked up the nail gun, pressed it to his forehead, and drove three 3” ring shank nails into him.

And, true to Terry’s wishes, I left a piece of him in every house I built from then on.

Jonathan Tolstedt

Jonathan Tolstedt is a patent agent by day and evolving writer by night. He has previously published a short horror story (2018) and had three of his 100-word horror stories accepted for publication in recent Dark Moments calls for Black Hare Press (2024).

Immersive Gameplay

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by Jonathan Tolstedt

Teri wasn’t prepared for what she found in the apartment the biohazard company sent her to clean.

The corpse was still sitting on the edge of his couch, mummified, clutching the controller in rotting hands. There was a horrific grin frozen on his face; empty eye sockets locked on the still active display. She had to break his fingers to take the controller. She turned to set it down when she noticed the game responding to her movements.

“Huh,” she said. She pushed the hood of her hazmat suit back, sat down next to the corpse. “Maybe a quick game.”

Jonathan Tolstedt

Jonathan Tolstedt is a patent agent by day and evolving writer by night. He has previously published a short horror story (2018) and had three of his 100-word horror stories accepted for publication in recent Dark Moments calls for Black Hare Press (2024).

Der Spiegelgeist

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by Jonathan L. Tolstedt

This ignorant schweinhund says I have eisoptrophobia. A fear of my own reflection. I’m not a handsome man, but he’ll not understand until he sees it. He’s suggested exposure therapy to desensitise me and smugly holds the cloth covering the mirror.

He stands behind me and tugs, revealing our reflections, and something twisted, horrible. Der Spiegelgeist—mirror ghost—the reflection that has been severed from a newly formed vampire, existing, destroying, only inside the mirror.

I’m relieved when it attacks the therapist’s reflection first. His real-world counterpart’s torn open, spraying me with warm blood.

I close my eyes and wait.

Jonathan L. Tolstedt

Jonathan Tolstedt is a patent agent by day and evolving writer by night. He has previously published a short horror story (2018) and had his stories “The Savage Jungle” and “Holiday Closeout” accepted for publication in the recent Dark Moments Jungle Terrors and Mannequin Horrors calls for Black Hare Press.

Holiday Closeout

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by Jonathan Tolstedt

They’d always liked Imogen’s displays in women’s fashion. They’d especially liked her tasteful Black Friday arrangement of plus-sized women’s clothing. So she was shocked when her boss, Marcy, told her they were eliminating the visual display artist position. She’d been upset, of course, but, being a professional, she’d committed to creating one final display. Imogen stood back now, admiring the family of mannequins gathered around a Christmas tree. She noticed the mother’s arm was at an awkward angle. She stepped into the display, grasped Marcy’s cold, stiff arm, and twisted it until she heard a crack.

“That’s better,” she said.      

Jonathan Tolstedt

Jonathan Tolstedt is a patent agent by day and an evolving writer by nights and weekends. He has previously published a short horror story (2018) and recently had his 100-word story “The Savage Jungle” accepted for publication for Black Hare Press’ Dark Moments: Jungle Terrors call (2024).