Portance of Fear is a horror fiction podcast
which is intended for mature audiences. Discretion
is advised. Welcome, fearlings, to another weird
and horrifying tale made just for you. I am your
host, Mashulu, and I'll be your guide into the
macabre and mysterious. In tonight's story, we
learn about a group of friends rooting for each
other in The Waiting Room. Randall walked through
the copper door. The hinges trilled with a high
pitch. Blood dripped on the floor. His breath
was erratic. Across the room was another door
that said afterlife in gold lettering. He walked
to the door, blood running down his neck, and
turned the handle. Locked. After a moment of
trying, he turned back and sat in the first row
of plastic chairs. His shirt had gone from blue
to purple. Must have hit the carotid artery,
he thought. Randall never liked what the scale
had to say. Many of his friends were in track,
but he stopped going after 10th grade. Video
game running was easier. His eyes looked like
two bright blue marbles and his chestnut hair
was wavy. In the mirror as a teen, he'd see an
average reflection, but he'd always been harder
on himself than he should have been. He looked
up at the wall in front of him. It had 70s wood
paneling with a clock that reminded him of his
school days. Time passed. After a while, he worried
about his parents and little brother. How would
they take it? Who would be at his funeral? Then
the question every victim asks, why me? The door
whined again, and Joanne walked in with a grievous
chest wound. Long, raven -black hair hung around
a blood -spattered face. Her skin was eggshell
white, and her eyes glowed like emeralds. Oh
man, I thought a meat hook to the throat was
bad. What'd he do to you? Joanne sat next to
him, her ribs and heart exposed to the buzzing
neon lights above. She'd known Randall for the
past two years. They met in college. He'd invited
her to be one of the camp counselors with the
rest of his friends. At that moment, she wished
she had stayed on campus. It happened fast. I
was getting ready for bed, brushing my teeth
in that tiny bathroom the cabins have, and I
heard something. I looked out. No one was there,
but the door was wide open. I thought it might
be the wind, so I went over to close it, and
this huge guy with a machete and a sack over
his head attacked from the shadows. Before I
knew it, he shoved the blade through my chest,
sliced down, and forced my ribs apart. Then I
died. Her voice wheezed with every word. It was
clear that the attack had damaged her left lung.
You survived to feel all that? He thought he
had it bad. It did cross his mind how messed
up it was that even after they died, their bodies
showed their death wounds. Why couldn't he be
poisoned? Every horrible second. How about you,
she replied. She tried her best to bend in order
to look him in the eye. I was in the kitchen
with my headphones on, just zoning out and getting
a snack. Anyway. I closed the refrigerator and
there he was. I dropped my cookies and milk as
the hook went through my throat. I can remember
seeing him walk away, Randall said. Sorry, that
sounds rough. The air conditioning kicked on
and Joanne felt cool air hit her organs. It was
strange. Nothing compared to what you went through.
So where do you think we are? He asked. Joanne
scanned the 1970s styled waiting room and the
afterlife door. It felt like a jury room. She'd
rather be on jury duty instead of whatever this
was. I don't know. I'm guessing Heaven's waiting
room? Did you try opening the other door, she
inquired? Yeah, it's locked. You'd think Heaven
could afford a better decorator for its waiting
room. He jammed his hand in his pocket. He instinctively
wanted to look down, but the hook made that very
difficult. After fishing for a moment, he produced
a vape. You know, those things will kill you,
she smiled. They both started to laugh. You sound
like a squeak toy, he replied. You sound like
you got something caught in your throat. More
laughter. If I was going to die, I'm glad it
was with friends. Me too, though not dying would
have been even better. The door sprung open and
Will hopped into the room, his left leg under
his arm like a package. He was tall, lean, and
strong, with closely shaved hair and patchy beard
stubble. His skin was light brown and his eyes
were hazel. Hey man, come take a load off, Randall
directed. Will's face was pure annoyance. He
hopped across the room and sat down. He sat next
to Joanne and sighed. Sorry, I shouldn't joke.
This all sucks. How'd he get you? Will gently
propped his leg against a chair and took a deep
breath. He was angry at himself. He could have
gotten away if he'd just kept running. He attacked
me near cabin five. I heard this horrible sound.
That was me, Joanne said. Yeah, I know. I found
you. I started freaking out, crying, shaking.
I'd never seen a dead body before. Even though
we haven't known each other for very long, you
seem really cool. He couldn't look at her chest
wound, so he looked at his missing leg, which
didn't help. Oh, thank you. I think you guys
are cool too, though Samuel is a bit over the
top, Joanne replied. She noticed Will was having
trouble, so she gently put her hand on his shoulder.
He looked up into her eyes. He has been his whole
life, trust me. Sorry, lost my train of thought.
This is overwhelming. Randall bent forward to
get a better view of his friend. Will had moved
to town in eighth grade from Buffalo. He'd been
super shy, Randall recalled. It seemed like a
million years ago in that moment. You were telling
us how he got you, Randall reminded him. Oh yeah,
thank you. I'd just found Joanne's body and this
huge guy came out from the shadows and lunged
at me. I dodged and ran as fast as I could. Once
I thought I'd lost him, I leaned against a tree
to catch my breath, and that's when he tasered
me. I hit the ground like a ton of bricks. He
walked over and knelt down, and I could hear
him breathing heavily. After a moment, he stood,
grabbed my leg, and chopped it off with one swing.
I would have thought it was amazing if it wasn't
happening to me. Luckily, I bled out fast because,
man, it hurt like hell. Ironic thing is, I have
a track scholarship. I run all the time. I could
have made it to town and brought back the police.
I failed you guys. I wouldn't say that, Randall
reassured. Joanne agreed, and Will smiled. He
was glad to have good friends with him at the
end. The afterlife door opened, catching them
all off guard. A towering man in red and black
robes poked his head in. His skin looked like
bleached parchment. Randall Roberts, the clerk
asked. His one -note voice filled the room. Here,
Randall raised his hand like a fifth grader.
The clerk motioned to him. Please come with me.
He politely directed the dead college student.
Randall stood. I guess this is it. I wish we
could talk more. I hope some of us survive. If
anyone else shows up, tell them I love them and
I love you guys. We love you too, Randall. Maybe
we can tell you when we're on the other side,
Joanne offered. Yeah, who knows what's next,
Will said. He felt his optimism reasserting itself.
Joanne and Will got to their feet and hugged
their friend for maybe the last time. Randall
smiled. Hopefully. Bye, guys. As he walked to
the threshold of eternity, the hook in his neck
disappeared and the wound healed. Reaching the
door, he turned and waved, then he was gone.
The two sat in silence. The realization that
they may have just lost a friend hit them. The
world had made no sense to them while living.
They were young and in many ways naive. But after
dying, there were no clear answers, at least
not yet. Finally, Will spoke. Do you think it's
weird that there's a waiting room for the afterlife?
Will wondered out loud. Yeah, it's weird. I guess
they saw Beetlejuice and liked the idea. Can
I ask you a question? I noticed we haven't talked
to each other much. Why? Joanne asked. She's
always been blunt. Her parents called her bossy
Betty, which she hated. Well, um, when Randall
introduced you to us all, I'll admit, you intimidated
me, he said reluctantly. What? Why? It's stupid,
but I'd seen you around before and I thought
you were, um, hot? Sorry. Then when Randall introduced
us to you, I thought maybe he liked you, so I
didn't want to say anything. I'm sorry, this
is cringe. He blushed and looked away. Will was
as smooth as gravel when it came to talking to
women. Even with all his looks and charm, he
never felt confident with the opposite sex. Glancing
at the clock on the wall, he hoped the bell would
ring like in high school so he could run away.
Joanne also blushed. Her face turned a rosy red.
Her heart started beating faster. Randall was
just a friend. He was more into video games than
girls from what I could tell. I wish you'd said
something. I'll admit I noticed you too. They
looked into one another's eyes. He bent forward
and gave Joanne a kiss. She let out a wheeze
of satisfaction. My luck I'd meet a guy in the
waiting room of eternity, she smiled. Yeah, wonder
what's beyond that door. If we do get to see
each other, you want to go out? I'd like that.
She took his hand. Her heart fluttered like a
parakeet's wings. The thought of being with Will
made the rest of her reality easier to deal with.
I'm glad these wounds heal when we leave here,
Will stated. Wait, you don't like women with
exposed organs, she joked. No, I'm glad I know
that I'll have two legs again and we can go dancing.
That was smooth. She was right. He had been smooth.
She made it really easy. They kissed again, this
time for a bit longer. The door screeched open
and two nude people walked in. Their bodies had
severe burns all over. Most of their hair had
fallen out and their mouths, ears, noses and
eyes seeped blood. They smelled like charred
meat. Joanne and Will stopped kissing and examined
them. It took a second to parse out who they
were looking at. Will hit on it first. Let me
guess, you two were in the hot tub having sex,
Will surmised. Once he realized it was Samuel
and Ivy, he knew how it happened. The two had
sex all the time and everywhere. Yeah, we just
started when the radio was knocked into the tub.
I guess I shouldn't have put it on the edge like
that. Wait, why are you two here? Dear God, what
happened to your leg and Joanne's chest? Your
poor rack, it was perfect, Samuel bemoaned. Ivy
slapped him upside the head. Can you not be 12
for like five minutes? We're dead, you moron.
Read the situation for once, Ivy lectured. They
both sat next to Will. Samuel hated hot dogs
and now he felt, looked and smelled like one.
He apologized to Joanne for being crass and she
filled them in on what was happening. You mean
we were murdered? Well, at least it wasn't our
fault. He looked at Ivy, who'd been quiet much
longer than normal. You all right, Ivy? No, I'm
not all right. I'm dead. Not only am I dead,
but the cops will find me in a jacuzzi straddling
you. Oh, God, they're going to have to separate
us like pulled pork. Ivy, gross. You didn't have
to put it that way, Joanne remarked. Yes, I did,
actually, Joanne. And Samuel, I'm angry. I've
been cooked. And now I'm in a waiting room for
some reason. Jesus, my dad thinks I'm a virgin.
This might actually kill him, Ivy snapped. Ivy
had her parents believing she was a good Jewish
girl. She hid the tattoos she got after graduating
and the fact that she was dating Samuel, who
was not Jewish. She also washed her own clothes
to make sure her mom didn't smell the pot she'd
smoked. And she never drank so much that she
wasn't in control. She just didn't want to get
lectured all the time. Hey, I'm dead too. I didn't
ask for this either. You don't need to get angry
with me, Samuel protested. Their voices fell
silent after that. The room felt like a deep
-sea diving pod about to implode. One couple
finding love too late, the other wished they'd
stayed at the dorms. The afterlife door opened
and the clerk appeared again. Samuel and Ivy
couldn't help staring. Joanne Carlett, please
come with me. Joanne looked at Will with sad
eyes. It was one of those seconds that you try
to stretch out forever, but it's gone in an instant.
I'll try and find you, Will finally said. They
kissed one last time and she stood up. The wound
vanished when she arrived at the door. She turned
one last time to her friends. I almost forgot.
Randall wanted me to tell you all he loved you.
Please pass the message on if anyone else comes
through the door. Try and find us. I love you
all too. We love you, Joanne. We'll try and find
you, I be promised. Joanne left whole again.
Several moments went by in silence. Will felt
the same strange feeling when Randall left. There
were no words that felt right. Samuel had other
ideas. Whoa, Will, I didn't know you two were
banging. Sorry about the rat comment, my man.
Will scowled at Samuel. He'd been the fun friend
that didn't understand how to shut up sometimes.
We're not. We just learned that we liked each
other. Maybe try not to think about sex all the
time, Will said. Why? Sex is the best thing in
the world. Especially if you find the right kind
of slut to do it with, am I right, Ivy? She slapped
him again, this time with gusto. Stop being such
a dick, she commanded. Ow, I was just messing
around. God, you all need to relax, Samuel complained.
He wasn't used to her being this way. She'd always
joked, well, like him when they were living.
He did find it odd that she never wanted to tell
her parents about them. She turned to Will. I'm
sorry, Will. As you know, Samuel is, well, Samuel,
she said, her head pivoting to look her boyfriend
in the eye. Oh, I know. When we were in kindergarten,
he wasn't allowed to work with paste. Samuel
had had enough. He was the life of the party
and they knew it. He was the one that got the
beer and knew the places to go. He kept them
all going out and having fun. Screw you both.
Will, that was like one time. And Ivy, I'm not
a child. I was trying to lighten the mood, he
reminded them. Again, we all just died horrible
deaths, you putz, Ivy hissed. Ooh, Yiddish, Will
remarked. It's a gift, she replied. Ivy's grandmother
was a master of Yiddish and her role model. She
swore and drank and didn't care what anyone thought.
It drove Ivy's mom nuts. Can we please talk about
something else, Samuel pouted, his head hurt,
which seemed wrong since he was very dead. Yeah,
sorry, we shouldn't pile on you. Let's talk about
who's left. They looked at each other. Ivy jumped
in first. Well, there's Noah, she offered. Oh,
Mr. Bookworm, he's dead. Why did we even bring
him, Samuel asked. If he had a polar opposite,
it was Noah. Samuel never liked the guy, but
for some reason everyone always stuck up for
him. In fact, he knew they would again in three,
two, one. I like Noah. He's always been very
kind. The real question is, why did we bring
you? And there it was, Samuel thought. Life of
the party till you have something bad to say
about a pipsqueak. I agree with Will. Why did
we bring you is the real question. Whatever,
Samuel replied. Will ignored Samuel's tantrum.
Lucas and Amelia are out there too, Will added.
Will, Samuel, and Lucas had all been on track
together in both high school and college. Though
in high school, Samuel got kicked off the team
for showing up late to several meets. He'd been
making out with Ivy in the parking lot beforehand.
Lucas is an amazing athlete. I think he'll survive,
Ivy predicted. She'd dated Lucas in ninth grade,
but found him too reserved for her liking. And
as if on cue, the door swung open and Lucas walked
through, his head under his arm like a football.
Or not, Ivy sighed. Lucas, my man, looks like
you should have ducked, joked Samuel. The other
two scowled at him. Yeah, I guess. I was helping
Amelia get to her feet when the jerk came at
me and chopped my head off. I'm gonna guess this
is hell. Lucas looked around the room. He wasn't
fazed by the state of his friends. His head was
under his arm after all. He never understood
how tall he was till the top of him had been
lopped off. No, just the waiting room to the
afterlife, Will remarked. The second door opened
and Will got to his foot. And it looks like it's
time for me to cross over. Lucas, sorry about
your head. Randall and Joanne wanted me to tell
you they loved you all. I love you all too. Sorry
I was so hard on you, Samuel. Try to find us
when you cross over. They all hugged and he headed
to the door. Will hopped till his leg disappeared
from under his arm and reappeared where it was
supposed to be. He took one last look at his
friends, waved, and was gone. Lucas sat, placing
his head on the chair next to him. He could feel
the coolness of the hard plastic. It was a relief
knowing that his head would reattach soon. I'm
guessing you two were having sex when he got
you, Lucas said. He had always been the leader
of the group. Great athlete, great grades, everyone
wanted to be Lucas. But if asked, by the time
they got to college, he'd grown tired of being
the hubcap of the group. Yep, we didn't even
get to finish, Ivy snipped. Not finishing hadn't
bothered her till she said it. This feels like
a damn Greek tragedy, Samuel lamented. The other
two looked at each other and then back at Samuel.
What do you know about Greek tragedies, Ivy asked,
confident this was going to be good. I don't
know. I just figured a guy with his head resting
next to him. and two naked people who were cooked
in a jacuzzi in the afterlife waiting room sounds
like one, Samuel said earnestly. You know, you're
right, Ivy admitted. And with this recognition,
all the stress of death seemed to fade. The three
spoke, catching Lucas up on Randall, Joanne,
and Will. Lucas in turn told them about how he
found Will's body and saved Amelia in her cabin.
The slasher had sabotaged the cars and the one
rowboat on the lake where they ran into Noah,
who'd been attacked as he headed to the restroom.
The three were separated when they tried to take
the main road out of the woods. Noah was pushed
into a ditch, Amelia fell face first, and that's
when Lucas tried to help her up. He could only
imagine how horrifying it was for her to see
his head fall to the ground. Okay, so that leaves
Noah and Amelia. I hope they can escape, Lucas
said as he finished updating them. I thought
you were going to make it, so I'm not going to
say anything. I don't want to curse anyone else,
Ivy replied. They all thought that the door would
open soon. But as time dragged on, hope took
root. The three wondered what was happening to
their friends in the land of the living. Finally,
the door opened. A seven -foot -tall man dressed
in overalls and a gunny sack with two holes for
eyes over his head walked through the door. Cuts
covered his body, and he had an arrow in his
skull. All right, team, way to go, guys, Lucas
rejoiced. He grabbed his head and hoisted it
up into the air like a trophy. Samuel and Ivy
clapped and hooted. The man in the mask stood
next to the door, staring at them, his long blade
still in his hand, dripping with their blood.
Um, what's he doing? Samuel asked nervously.
Not sure, babe, Ivy replied. She moved closer
to him. She thought death meant not being afraid
anymore, but she was. Oh, now I'm babe again,
Samuel asked. He felt like he had whiplash. Yeah,
I love you, but don't push it. Two minutes passed
with the group of college kids and the slasher
staring at each other. Then the door reopened
behind him and he left. Damn it, they forgot
to double tap, Lucas said. What? Everyone knows
that rule, Samuel cried. Noah hates horror and
I doubt Amelia watches much herself. She's more
into rom -coms, if I remember correctly. Lucas,
how long did you two date, Ivy asked. I guess
two years now. It's been great, but... But what,
Samuel prodded. I was really into her, but she
said she didn't want to have sex. It wasn't a
religious thing, she just said she wasn't ready.
I was fine with it. Anyway, on our way up, she
told me she thought about it and wanted me to
be her first. I had it all planned out. I'd take
her to a nice dinner in town and go to a hotel
for the night. I ordered flowers and everything,
you know, to make it special. It was going to
be tomorrow night. Best laid plans, Lucas lamented.
Sorry, man, but did you just say best laid plans?
Samuel smiled. Ivy moved away again. Samuel,
really? Knock it off. Lucas, that's sweet that
you were going to make it special. Samuel, you
should have taken notes from Lucas, Ivy remarked.
Samuel rolled his eyes. He'd had about enough
of Ivy acting like she was better than him. Stop
pretending that you're any less of a slut than
I am, Ivy. We've never been romantic. We like
to bone and there's nothing wrong with that.
Just because I enjoy sex doesn't mean I don't
also like a little romance now and again, you
asshat. I would have loved to go dancing or walk
along the beach, Ivy said. Samuel paused and
thought about this for a second. They had been
together a long time, but their whole relationship
had been one -dimensional. I really didn't know
that. I thought you were just like me, he admitted.
No, I do enjoy sex, but I was with you because
I love you. Do you understand that? I do. I just...
You're right. I'm sorry. But we have been in
a rut if we're being honest. Maybe it's time
to get to know each other again, Samuel said.
The two kissed. Lucas looked away. He was happy
for his friends, but they looked terrible. The
afterlife door opened again. Ivy Breckton and
Samuel froze. Please come with me, the clerk
said. No, wait, we can't leave yet. We have to
see if our friends survive, Samuel pleaded. Come
on, you can give us a few more minutes. Heaven
can wait, Ivy said. You really think we're going
to heaven after the way we died, Samuel whispered.
Neither of us finished, so it doesn't count,
Ivy responded. The clerk rolled his eyes. Fine,
I'll let you wait till this is resolved. He left.
All three sat on their chairs waiting, hoping.
Lucas took Ivy's hand and in turn Ivy took Samuel's.
The door slowly started to open. They held their
breath even though they didn't need to breathe
anymore and the slasher walked through the door
with his hood gone and half his face missing.
All three friends gave out a cheer. In your face,
psycho! Lucas yelled. The figure walked to a
seat in the back and sat. Sure, he'd been beaten
this time. They'd bury his body, write it off
as another deranged slasher, but at some point,
he'd return. What a relief Noah and Amelia made
it. I'll be honest, I didn't think they would.
Glad I was wrong, Samuel admitted. Yeah, you
know, I hope they have great lives, Lucas said.
The slasher from the back let out a chuckle and
filled the room with his vile voice. They will.
They'll get married. And in 15 years or so, I'll
hunt their kids and the cycle will start all
over. Your victory is going to be short -lived.
The three ignored him. Ah, that's nice. I wish
we could be at that wedding. At least they'll
have each other, Ivy said. She took Samuel's
hand. Yeah, I'm happy for them. Noah is a great
guy. They'll take good care of each other. The
afterlife door opened. All right, you two, it's
time, the clerk said. He had a schedule to keep,
after all. That's us, buddy. Hopefully we'll
see you on the other side, Samuel said. All three
got up. Lucas's headless body hugged both of
them. Me too, brother. I'll look for you all.
Bye, Ivy. Bye, Lucas. Like the others, Samuel's
and Ivy's wounds healed as they reached the door
to the afterlife. Lucas waved at them. He'd seen
both of them naked accidentally so many times,
but this time was special. It was the way they'd
want to be remembered, he thought. The door closed
and he sat with his hand on his head, thinking.
The slasher walked up. Mind if I sit, he asked,
his mouth full of blood and loose teeth. Sure,
it's a free waiting room. Would you like to know
why I killed you, the slasher asked? No, not
really, Lucas replied. What? Why not? My story
matters too, and most people want to know. It
gives them closure, I'm told. Who told you that?
Your other victims? I don't think so. No, I don't
want to know why you did it. Nothing that happened
in your past justifies what you did tonight.
You're just evil, a force of destruction. Your
tragic backstory is just your way to avoid responsibility
for your actions, Lucas replied bluntly. They
both fell into silence. The afterlife door opened.
Lucas von Meter, please come with me. He stood,
dug his head, and turned to the slasher. People
only really matter if they bring good into the
world somehow. You stopped mattering the second
you took someone's life. Lucas walked out, leaving
the slasher to sink further into self -pity.
Never underestimate a nerd and a final girl.
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There's a link in the description below. Good
night, fearlings. Sleep well, if you can.