Ian Gielen is a former joke book writer, now newly turned horror author. Whilst quite the contrast, he believes entertainment, no matter what form it takes, combined with laughter is the best medicine to combat life's challenges.
A horror fan since childhood, a geek by nature and a jokester by heart, his favorite movies amongst many others are Aliens, The Thing, LOTR and Star Wars
He is a father which validates his writing of joke books and horror alike and is currently living in Melbourne Australia with his partner, son, two stepdaughters and 4 cats which is also enough of a horror story on its own.
SAM’S LAMENT
by
Ian Gielen
“I want that one!” Sam said pointing at the tank and looking at his mom excitedly. Sam, an effervescent 9-year-old, had dragged his parents into the newly opened aquarium in their local strip mall and his attention was immediately caught by the strange looking fish in the storeroom, just visible from the store floor.
“Out of all these fish out here for sale, you want that one? The strangest looking one? The one not for sale?” John, Sam’s dad said with a wry smile.
“Of course he does” Erin said with a sigh, matching John’s smile.
“Actually...” The store owner said, appearing behind the row of tanks behind them, “I couldn’t help but overhear your beautiful boy here” with a grin at Sam, he continued, “I happen to be just about to put that one out on sale. You see, I only just got this one earlier today and was just readying it to be sold. This is a very rare fish; one you won’t see at any other aquarium”.
Pausing, he crouches down and whispers to Sam, loud enough to be heard by John and Erin.
“It might very well be the only one of its kind. It came from an unexplored lagoon, deep in a mysterious rainforest” with a wink at Sam, he straightens himself.
“Wow! Did you hear that?!” Sam squeals excitedly, “We have to get it Dad, we have to! It’s perfect for our new pond!”
“Well then, I guess we DO have to” John says laughing.
Sam lets out a whoop of joy and runs into the storeroom to take a closer look.
“Sam, you can’t just run into a shop storeroom like that” Erin says disapprovingly.
With a chuckle, the store owner says “It’s ok, let’s let him enjoy his new friend whilst we finalize the sale. My name is Rocco, come this way and we’ll get you sorted” with that, he leads them to the cash register.
Sam, gazes at the fish in admiration. It truly was one of a kind, he thought to himself with wonder.
As if it knew Sam’s thoughts, the fish swam up to the glass facing him. The fish was roughly the size of Sams hand and rainbow colored, the yellow and green color standing out in almost a fluorescent glow. The tips of its sharply pointed fins were a deep blue, the tail appeared to have 2 extra fins attached, both extending out into an antennae shape with purple bulbs at the ends of each. Its bulbous face had an almost fierce scowl on it, the colors above its eyes were different hues giving it the appearance of eyebrows. With a sudden explosive movement, its mouth opened wider than Sam thought possible, and he caught a glimpse of what he thought was teeth lining the roof of its mouth.
“Woah, cool...” Sam said with a gasp.
“Alright, time to get your new pet packed up for the trip” Rocco said, appearing around the corner of the doorway with his parents.
A few minutes later, Sam was sitting in the back of the car with his new prize, eyes glued to it, barely blinking the entire journey home.
An hour later, the fish was swimming leisurely in its new home, Sam and his parents watching as it slowly became accustomed to its new environment and the dozen other fish already occupying the pond.
“OK, how about we leave it alone for a while so it can get used to its new home. You can feed it in a few hours at dinnertime”, Erin said, her gaze adoringly on Sam watching how excited he was.
“Aww ok” Sam said with disappointment.
The next morning, Sam woke up excited and anxious to see his new pet. He ate breakfast quickly, rushing out the door with a wave to his mom and made his way to the pond at the back of the house.
Reaching it, he frowned as his gaze swept the frigid morning water, unable to spot any movement at all.
“Where are they all?” he muttered to himself.
“Sam”, Erin called out from the kitchen, we have to go, you’ll be late for school. Quickly feed the fish and come back inside”
“Okay mom” Sam replied as he once again looked over the pond scanning for movement. Seeing none, he sighed and quickly scattered a handful of fish flakes over the surface then rushed off towards the house.
A few hours later, exited the house and wandered over to the pond, curious about how the fish was settling in. Approaching it, she lets out a small cry of dismay as she sees bodies of fish scattered around the water's edge. Moving closer, she crouches near the edge of the pond to study an unfortunate fish. The body had a curious mottled purple color and had clearly seen trauma. Chunks had been ripped out of its body, puncture wounds visible as if something had pecked or speared it. Puzzled, she stood and looked at the other bodies. All had the same strange color and wounds. “How am I going to explain this to Sam?” she muttered to herself. “Wait... Where is the new fish?”
Scanning the bodies, she could see no sign of it. Turning towards the house intending to discuss the situation with John, she lets out a cry and crumples to the ground, her ankle no longer able to support her weight, sudden numbness spreading quickly up her leg. Looking down, she could see a wound, similar to the ones on the fish scattered around her.
“Erin?” John called out with concern at hearing her cry, running towards her. “Erin!” he yelled as he grasped her hands as she was pulled backwards toward the pond. Straining to pull her back, he too was dragged with her.
With a final scream they were pulled into the pond, their last vision filled with writhing tentacles and two bulbous antennae with purple bulbs waving excitedly as they drifted into darkness.