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The Coatrack–Story 5 of 31

By Ta'kom Ironhoof

“I must say, ole chum, you host the most wonderful parties!" the Bloodhound said. Jasper was dressed up as Colonel Mustard from the board game, “Clue", yellow suit, monocle, and all.

Bryan chuckled, replying, “You know, you don't have to speak like the guy. At least, not all the time. This is a costume party, not an 'imitate your character' party."

Jasper's face turned into a slight scowl. “I thought you, a master of disguises, would appreciate the authenticity."

“Just because I'm a chameleon doesn't mean I'm a 'master of disguises', Jasper."

“You're too uptight, Bryan. Why even host these parties every year if you're not going to socialize?" Jasper retorted, then questioned.

Bryan took a moment to think, fiddling with the gauze wrapping around his arms, a nervous chuckle tinging his words. “You know… I'm not a people person but, I mean, I bought this creepy ass house on Snake Hill. Live in this creepy ass house. Why not throw Halloween parties? Give people somewhere neat to hang out and have fun. I don't need to be the center of attention."

As he finished speaking, several loud thumps could be heard coming from somewhere in the house, causing both Bryan and Jasper to turn toward them.

“Man, you've really outdone yourself this year. Not only do you have that creepy ass music playing, but you've even thrown in some sound effects!"

Again, Bryan chuckled, “Well, ya know, um, gotta sell the haunted house vibe."

Jasper laughed. “Alright dude, I won't press ya any more. You stay here and play the host. I'm going back to the living room with the others. They're about to start a game of 'spin the bottle'. Can't miss that! Maybe I can get a kiss from Jacquiline, or even Danny!"

Bryan looked down to his feet, “Alright man. Go have fun…"

“Oh real quick, before I forget…"

Bryan looked up, eyes staring into Jasper's.

Jasper sniffed the air before replying, “Deer blood? Not sure where you got it, but for us with sensitive noses, it's a delicate touch. This is why people love your parties, man. You go above and beyond."

Bryan froze, his heart quickening in his chest; his mind began to race, looking for something to say. “I…um…yeah. Found it…online, synthetic stuff. Gotta keep up appearances, yeah?"

“You outdo yourself year after year Bryan." Jasper turned starting to walk away. “Maybe one day, you'll feel comfortable enough to hang out with everyone." Jasper's tone of voice almost seemed disappointed Bryan wasn't joining him.

Bryan looked down again, replying under his breath, “Yeah…"

For a moment, Bryan stood there at the front door, rolling the gauze around in his fingers. Had he not been too busy with his day job, Bryan might have come up with a more original idea for a costume than a mummy, but it was simple and easy. When you've got a surplus of gauze, it kind of makes sense to use some of it for fun.

Again, several loud bangs rang out through the house, lining up perfectly with the song that was now playing in the living room. Having Jasper comment on that earlier, along with the blood scent, certainly made Bryan feel better about this whole thing. If he was able to trick Jasper and his superb sense of smell and hearing that this was all real and authentic, surely the other guests would believe it as well.

“Everything will be alright, Bryan."

Bryan sat down in the chair in the foyer and leaned his head back against the wall, closing his eyes. He knew that he'd have more fun with the rest of the guests. He wanted to talk more with Jasper. That Bloodhound made him feel…things. But so had Jacob, the elk that was a bartender down the road.

When Bryan was off shift from his job as a nurse, he'd often hang out at “The Magnum Stag", a little hole in the wall bar with a gaudy neon sign. Bryan never went on the weekends. That's when all the other town folks were there. The place was easily filled with loud and annoying drunks. Bryan only went there during the week, when he could walk in, sit down at the bar and just relax. Most of the time, it would only be himself and Jacob, and that elk was seriously easy on the eyes. Bryan often found himself imagining what it would be like to kiss Jacob, to feel his scales against Jacob's fur. And he yearned to know how his lips tasted…how all of him tasted.

Suddenly, the group of people that had come for Bryan's Halloween party began exiting the living room, each stopping by to thank Bryan for how awesome his parties were. In the haze of his musings, Bryan couldn't tell how long he'd been just sitting there daydreaming. However, he meekly thanked each of the guests before finally, Jasper came through the doorway into the foyer.

“Well, I didn't get what I wanted, but Mary and I shared a few tongue wrestling matches, if you know what I mean. Probably meet up with her tomorrow. That goat is fiiiine!" Jasper said as he clapped a hand on to Bryan's shoulder. “Pretty sure she wasn't wearing anything under that dress." Jasper trailed off.

Bryan, still in his mental fog, replied, “Oh…that's exciting, I suppose."

“Hey dude, what's wrong? You seem like you're a thousand miles away."

“I guess I'm just tired. Getting older and all that. Gonna go crash in a bit." Bryan didn't want to reveal what was really on his mind, especially now that his mind had both Jacob AND Jasper occupying it.

“Well, alright…" Jasper commented as he grabbed his coat from the coatrack. Jasper's eyes went wide, then he laughed. “I guess I'll still be smelling deer's blood once I leave. Seems some of it got on my coat. No wonder I smelled it so strongly out here."

Bryan shook himself, questioning, “What…what do you mean?"

“Putting a sheet over a deer skull and putting some blood on it is wild, my dude! I didn't even notice when I first got here!"

Slowly, Bryan looked to his right toward the door and the coatrack, seeing exactly what Jasper was talking about. Once again, Bryan's heart almost stopped cold in his chest.

“Oh…yeah, well, as you said, it's why people love my parties." More nervous chuckles escaped the chameleon's muzzle.

Jasper pulled his coat on, saying, “Just makes me wonder what you'll have in store for next year! Have a good night, Bryan. Go get you some rest and I'll see you later, cutie." The Bloodhound winked at Bryan before he opened the door and exited, lightly closing the door behind him. Bryan tossed up a hand in a half-hearted wave, finally glad to have everyone gone.

The chameleon breathed out a sigh of relief. Another year, another successful party. He knew he was tempting fate this year, but it was all too perfect to not at least try.

And Bryan had been right.

With a quick motion, Bryan stood up, turned to the “coatrack", and ripped away the white sheet he'd delicately hung over the elk's skull and antlers.

“I didn't expect you'd be awake before the party was over."

Jacob's head hung through a hole in the wall, the flesh of his muzzle having been removed, exposing his skull up to the base of his eye socket. His golden eyes darted back and forth, panic obvious in his sight.

“Don't worry Jacob. Nobody paid any mind to you. We can be together at last. Isn't this what you wanted?"

More thumps came from the other side of the wall where Jacob's head hung, the elk obviously trying to struggle against his restraints.

Bryan smiled a wide, toothy grin. “Your lips tasted just as good as I had imagined. Kissing you was like…heaven. I can only imagine what your…"

The thumps were louder now, the distinct rattling of chains could be heard thinly through the walls.

“Don't get too excited, my beautiful elk. I removed your face and tongue cause there's no need for words. We both know what we want. You promised I could have all of you. Let's take things slowly. I want to savor it…savor…you."