Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #21 December 2015 | Page 6

“Don’t be a scaredy cat,” Laura replied. She
scanned the apartment and suddenly uttered a squeak.
“Look, they have a Ouija board too!”

The indicator quickly jerked from letter to
letter. Obey me, it spelled out

Brian hesitantly climbed into the dark
apartment after his sister. The room was eerily quiet.
On the floor was the board with the indicator sitting
upon it. They both emitted a ghastly green glow.

“Why should we?”
Obey me or die.
At that moment, a cloud covered the sun and
cast the dim room into total darkness. Laura screamed
and scooted backwards on her butt. She slammed into
the wall behind her. With her eyes wide open in fear,
she could barely make out the green glowing board
and the dark silhouette of her brother. “Brian, let’s
go,” she cried with a shudder.

“Let’s play,” Laura said.
“Mom said we shouldn’t without her and
Dad,” Brian replied hesitantly.
“I don’t want to wait. Besides, it’ll be more
fun without them. We can ask it anything! Here, put
your hands on the triangle thingy with me.”

“Yeah, maybe we better,” Brian replied. He
took his fingers off the indicator and stood. However,
the psychic portal remained open since he did not
move the Planchette over the words “Good Bye” at the
bottom of the board. As Brian reached for his sister’s
hand to help her up, a mist interposed itself between
the children and the outside fire escape. A horrid smell
akin to rotten eggs accosted their noses.

“Oh, okay, but since I’m older, I get to go
first,” Brian said, deciding that he shouldn’t show
fear to his sister. He sat across from her and placed
his fingers on the indicator. After a moment he said,
“Spirit, spirit on the board; who’s the fairest of the
horde?” He let out a small, nervous laugh as he
finished.

The mist coalesced into a huge horned demon.
“I am ZOG,” its deep voice grated. “You have
summoned me. You must obey me.”

Nothing happened. “That was dumb, Brian!”
Laura said, frowning. “I know what I want to ask.
What am I getting for Christmas?” She watched the
board in anticipation, but again the indicator refused
to move. “Is anyone there?” she queried quietly. The
heart-shaped object suddenly slid beneath her fingers
to the right; then it shot diagonally to the left and
stopped on the word printed there: YES. With a cry,
Laura jumped up and backed away from the board.
“You pushed it there!” she accused her brother.

Brian pressed his back against the wall next to
his sister, his knees trembling. “What…what do you
want from us?” he stuttered.
“You will take the board and leave it for the
residents of another apartment. You must then return.
If you fail to comply, I will kill you and all your loved
ones.” When the
children stood
unmoving, the
demon howled,
“NOW!”

“No, I didn’t,” Brian said in amazement. “It
really works! Come back. Let’s find out more.”
Tentatively, Laura returned. She sat and put her
small fingers on the heart-shaped Planchette. “Who’s
there?” she whispered nervously. After a moment of
hesitation, the Ouija board spelled out: Zog.

Brian
scooped up the
game and ran for
the door with Laura
on his heels. When

“Stupid name,” Brian said with a snort. “What
do you want?”

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