Tag Archive for: Jonathan Tolstedt

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).