Mr Trapezoid

At midnight

I hear the shuffling of feet

the grudging handshake of hinge and lock

i swallow the rabbit’s foot whole

fishing for luck in mangled felt and crusted saliva

the night’s patrons

crusted in blinding silver

spread themselves thin

beneath the sky’s satin skin

rippled with cobalt debauchery

through the welded crevices

the wind whispers sweet nothings against my skin

I begged to be whisked away

but only a defeated sigh marked its departure

the gong is struck once

a single talon fingernail packed with filth sadistically strokes the doorknob

the gong is struck twice

a dull ache follows

turned against its will,

the metal pins groan out of place with a satisfactory click

the gong is struck thrice

the banshee has awoken

her chill cry ringing between my ears

relinquishing control,

the disgraced golem’s heart is slowly consumed

by the seeping darkness

a silhouette

of charcoal lips burned unto

the skin of other children

its shapeless body wrapped in midnight silk

excitement creeping

in time

with the quivering child’s form

swathed in hand-knitted blankets

growing up to forsaken dreams and

riding the fever high of induced nightmares

Mr Trapezoid has arrived

Won’t you say good night?