“Alas… poor Yorick”

In honor of my recently completed role as the Gravedigger in The Tragedy of Hamlet, and in honor of writer Eric Douglas’s 100 word flash fiction horror short story challenge, here’s a sci-fi horror flash story inspired by the play.

Alas, poor Yorick

Yorick, the Time Traveler’s assistant, removed the last shovel of dirt.  He pried open the coffin’s lid, breath held. There was no need.

“Empty? You said there would be gold.”

“Golden opportunity,” the Traveler said.  “You see, my fellow of infinite jest, your betrayal is also uncovered.”

He jabbed the needle into the boy’s neck, sending him writhing into the coffin, struggling against the paralytic to escape.

The lid fell.

“That Hamlet speech I made you learn?” the Traveler shouted, shoveling on the dirt. “You’ll hear it again shortly. Well, shortly for me, at least.”

Within the grave, Yorick screamed.

Copyright 2015 Eric Fritzius and Mister Herman’s Publishing Company.