“And now, for the strangest of the strange. The most evil of evil. Ladies and gentlemen, you won’t find anything as vile or disgusting as you are about to see now. For those of you who are of weak stomach, the exit is just to your left. I pray that you are no more metal than your fellow companions if you decide to go. This is your only warning.” A few of those waiting decided it best to leave. Once he was satisfied, the presenter pulled back a long black curtain and ushered the remaining inside.
The room was dark, a bit cramped than the one before. We all gathered around to a centerpiece, covered on each side with glass. Once everyone was settled, the presenter closed the curtain putting us in complete darkness. We all grew uneasy in the silence. Elbows pointing into their neighbors by accident causing them to jump. After a few moments, a light luminated the centerpiece from below it, casting shadows around the room.
“The Mother of Madness!” the presenter announced. The sight drew most of the crowd to close their eyes or turn away in disgust. Before us was a disfigured humanoid with her belly torn away. In its place was a sheet of glass and behind the glass was a grim, horrid ball of black tendrils, razor sharp teeth, and eyes that pointed every which way floating in some sort of yellow liquid. A few more left the room then.
“What is it?” someone asked. The presenter turned in their direction astonished.
“What is it? What is it?! This is why we are unable to speak when the moon is high. This is why we have no memory of our past. This is why we live in shadows cowering in darkness praying for hope. Hope that will never come. This is our end! Feast your eyes upon it!” Even more left then. The presenter continued.
“She was simply a mother who couldn’t bear children of her own. A mother who then took her own life but before passing to the other side was given a choice: to birth the next fall of man or to relive her loss over and over again. She agreed and the Madness was born!” The presenter’s voice echoed off the crowded walls. He let the gravity of the image burn its way into the minds of their receivers. He turned and pulled back another curtain.
“Right this way, my friends. And be sure not to tell the story of what you saw today for it might melt the mind of the recipient. Come now, right this way. Mind the step.” The crowd filled out but I took one last second to get a real good look at the Mother. I couldn’t tell if it was fake. But then I felt her eyes move on me. I looked up at her and stared into the madness.
