Deadly flash

"Hi, and welcome to my antique store, as you can see I have an abundance of goods, from normal knick nacks, to more... unique objects, all of this are, as the name of the store implies "lost memories", once held dearly by their formers owners, the objects gathered here after they were forgotten, I can see it in your face, now now, don't be shy, why don't you take a set? I am going to tell you a story, about what you ask? right, how about this? I know I know but let me tell you this camera was used by a girl an inspired artist, she came one day excited about my collection of cameras, and this one

caught her eye, the story this object holds is very interesting" flash "so how about it? want to know more? that's the spirit, let's start then.

Chapter 1

"Come on Sam Will be late if we don't get on the next bus!" said Jasper as he was walking faster to the bus stop, the cold winter air passed through me lifting my hair gently, "I know Jasper", I adjusted my paste to his "but I have to remind you that you were the one that oversleeps not me", I started painting, I'm not on the best condition, what can I say I'm an artist not the star of the football team, "yeah, that may be right Sam but still will be in trouble if we miss the test we have on the first class... I think I see the bus come on just one more push RUN" Jasper broke into a quick sprint in a matter of seconds he closed the gap to the stop, "Ja... jasper wait I ca.. can´t..." I felt my leg twisting, and I started to fall I closed my eyes waiting for the pain of the crash... but it never came instead I felt soft fabric and beads, "ha?", "oh dear are you okey that was a nasty fall you almost had", "I think I twisted my ankle, thank you ma'am am...", "name is Olivia honey", she giggled a little, the lady was dressed in a nice dress a little bit out dated the dress covered must of her body, and the printing was gorgeous, she seemed like she just came out of a history book, everything form her dark long hair tie into a pony tail, to her jewelry and shoes screamed vintash, "say miss, you seem interested in my attire considering you haven stop eyeing it", she giggled again, I could feel my face warming up an I knew I was blushing, "oh... I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to stare, it´s just your look is so...", "vintash?, yeah I get that a lot, you see I'm the owner of an antique store", she helped me to get to the bus stop and on the way she continue talking, "I move recently, and open the store not too long ago, you seem to be running late so here", she pulled a card form a pocket in her dress, it was jet black with golden borders and lettering it read -Lost Memoirs, we have an item for everyone-, "you and your friend over there can come to the store that add is not a lie my store has something for everyone, would you be interested miss?", "Oh right my name is Samantha, sure sounds interesting maybe after classes are done we´ll go check it out", "wonderful Samantha, have a nice day and be careful with that ankle", she waved and then she walked away she seemed like a nice person, I was dumbfounded until the voice of Jasper snapped me back into reality, "earth to Sam, hey who was the weirdo?", "she wasn't a weirdo she helped me get up after I fall, you know something a friend would do instead of running ahead?", "yeah sorry about that, I thought the bus was here but I was wrong, come on, could you forgive this lovely young man, Samantha you highness?", "Come one, cut it out" I started laughing, jasper always knows how to make me laugh in almost any situation, we waited for a little bit and the bus showed up, I told him about Olivia and her store, "odd is there people that still buy antiques in stores?, I believe those things were done by internet nowadays", "jasper many people like antiques, she also say that she has something for everyone", "puff like it's so difficult knowing what you´ll go see first", Jasper said "you´ll go right to the section where this lady has her old timeie cameras and go wild", he started to imitate a monkey going berserk "JASPER, that's not funny", "but am I wrong?", "monkey, yes, going to see the camaras, you are right about that," I said while elbowing him on the side, "auch, okay, but you are going alone", "what? you are not coming?" "Sorry Sam but I have things to do I can't go to check out this Lady´s store with you, just take a picture with an old camera and send it to me with your phone camara", he started laughing as the bus came to an end we arrived at the campus and headed to or class room, suddenly having a test firs thing wasn't so bad the promise of a new camara was going to keep me in high spirits until the end of the day or so I hoped, funny, if I knew the tragedy that was about to be unfolded I will have never go to see the store.

The commercial district of Shepard´s root was as active as ever on a Wednesday afternoon, with Jasper not been able to come with me I was a little uneasy I mean Olivia didn't strike me as someone dangerous or malicious but you never know, I informed my mother where I was going just to be sure, the usual commotion of the district was at its peak, it was odd as I approach the direction of the store fewer people were around, by the time I was in front of the store the street was almost empty, the store Name was written in a wood carved sign with the same colors as the card Olivia had given me LOS

T MEMOIR, the store´s windows showcased different figurines and music boxes, some of which didn't really have a shape just twisting porcelain or glass, I spend a moment wondering how they were made, the sound of the door opening made me turn I expected to see Olivia coming out but instead a slimed bold man came out, adjusting a fedora came out of the store "shepherd Robert?", "Oh Samantha, did you came to see this new store?, the card wasn't wrong Miss Valentine had a cross I was dying to get", he shakes the bag he had in his left hand "that's nice news Shepard, I'm glad you fund your am... cross, so is the store interesting?" "Why not come in and found out by yourself girl?" Olivia´s voice sounded from the opening in the door, "well well, looks like you two know each other", "yes, miss Valentine Samantha comes often to the church she likes to take pictures from the inside and the yards, she says that the views are worth a million, I asked her once if I could use one of her pictures for some bulletins and everyone love them", I felt embarrassed by the praises of the Shepard, I mean my work wasn´t that good, I just make a nice composition and waited for the right time of the day it wasn´t that much, "oh really now?, so miss Samantha is a Photographer?", "I'm not really..." I try to protest but the shepherd cut me, "one of the best, yes I really enjoy her pictures and the congregation as well, oh once she...", "Well see you later Shepard me and miss Valentine have some business to do" I pushed Olivia back into the store and close the door behind me, my face was so red I could have been mistaken for a tomato, Olivia softly laughed at the sight, I wanted to be eaten by the floor and never came out, "Hey no problem with a few praises he seems like a fan", "my art isn´t that good, I just like to snap the perfect shot you know", "I know what you mean girl, so let me guess, would you be interested in my cameras maybe?" Olivia said while bringing a finger to her chin "yeah a new old camera sounds right up my ally, can I ask for the cross of the Shepherd bought too?" we walked a little bit while Olivia explained, "Ah yes, the cross dear old Shepard bought was made from Damascus steel do you know what that is?" I shocked my head in confusion "I don't think I can spell that out", "don't worry dear, that steal is said to be the one Christ´s nails were made form", "isn't that like super expensive?", "not really, I just so happen to have a cross made form the material, it's not rear or anything, here we are my cameras", because of the conversation I didn't notice the cameras at first glance they were dozens adorning the walls, form polaroid's to newer models a camera in a tripod that needed 30 minutes to take a picture "wow, I have never seen so many", "take a look, I'm sure you will find something for you here" I looked around the cameras all the lenses all the models "may... may I try some pleas", "go right ahead, not all of them have film or memory but you can try them as much as you like", Olivia gave me a warm smile I must have looked like a little kid in a candy store but I couldn't help it photography has a special place in my heart me and my dad used to go out and take pictures together, when he passed the feeling was different, when he was around taking pictures was fun and happy, now its I don't know I still have fun sometimes but it feels sorrowful I wish my dad could see my pictures the only one I want to tell me he is proud of my picture can't do it anymore, my eyes must have begun tearing up, Olivia offered me her handkerchief "I see photography means a lot to you, something so powerful that move you to tears" I took the handkerchief and clean my eyes, the handkerchief smelled like freshly cut roses, "yes, is something I love doing" my gaze stopped at one old model that print pictures directly, the case was exquisite lather with a strap to carrying the camera, I stepped closer and examine it, didn't seem broken, and the trigger worked just fine and even had film inside "I would like to buy this one how much is it?" "honey for someone so passionate like you?, keep it I'm sure you will get the perfect shot with it every time", "bu... but I can't it's not right, are you sure?", "as sure as I´ll ever be, please take it, and be careful with it remember one picture is worth one thousand words", I nodded and put the strap around my shoulders I shake Olivia´s hand and returned home I couldn't believe she just gave me the camera for free, maybe I could make it up to her my be a promotional card for her store I'll see what I could do later on my way I decided to try the camera I got, I spotted a man playing with his son on the park near my home, I took the camera out of the case, prepare everything and pulled the trigger with his son in hand the man waved and smiled moments later when the picture revile itself I could see the playground, the child... but something was off about the man, the rest of the picture was normal the exposition was right, but why where there some weird discoloration in his eyes I wonder, maybe the film the camara had was old and didn't develop correctly, yeah that had to be it.

Everything was so dark, the streets had no lights, I didn't know why all I know is that I had to run, I felt that someone... something was chasing after me and I was sure I did not wanted to catch me, I passed Olivia´s store, the buss stop, and headed to my house, each time I looked back to see I wasn't able to see much, it was not util I arrived at my block that I found some lights when I passed it I turned back to try and discern what was after me, it was a shapeless shadow it´s form keep fluctuating as if it was a unable to form a congruent shape "S...SSSAAAMMMM", as I was getting into my house

the shadow called my name in a long painful cry, I quickly close the door behind me and hid in my room I listen carefully "S...S...SAAAAAMMMM", the thing keep calling me I pressed my hands against my ears closed my eyes wishing the horrible monster away "S...SAM WAKE UP WE ARE GOING TO BE LATE!!!", I screamed and fall from my bed, Jasper piqued at my reaction "wow, Sam you okey there buddy?, normally this is the other way around", "Jasper?, what happen?" my head hurts form the hit, "you tell me, normally I'm the one late are you sick or something?" "besides a minor contusion thanks to you I just over slept, give me a moment ill be ready soon", "sure I'll go still some of your cereal" I nodded and closed the door, I quickly took a shower and fixed my hair, and change into clean clothes, I couldn't take out the image in my nightmare, I was relieved that it was just a dream when I went down to the kitchen I saw Jasper with a bowl of cereal watching the news "oh my god waking up before me and watching the news, who are you and what did you do to Jasper?", "still same Jasper but the report is in this block", Jasper turned the volume up, the announcer a man dressed up in a suit was talking "we have confirmation that a resident in Shepard´s root, has sustained an very hard injury in both eyes, the man Alexander Cain, father of 1 was caught in an accident in his house hold his wife declare that he was preparing his young son a meal when he heard a sound coming from the microwave, seconds later this appliance exploded shards of glass flew across the kitchen the most heavily damaged area was the man´s eyes as for now doctors are...", when I saw the picture in the TV I realized he was the man from the picture I took yesterday, I quickly pull the picture from my bag "what you got there Sam?, hey you look pail is something wrong?" Jasper came to my side and looked at the picture my hands keep shaking did... did I cause this "hey isn't that the man in the news? Sam... did you know him" I shook my head "I... I took this picture yesterday, with the camara I got form Olivia´s store and", I pointed to the eyes in the picture "the eyes were wrong", Jasper placed the cereal on the counter, "yeah I can see that, but that´s very freaky", "yeah very", I didn't know what to think I mean on one hand I could be the cause of this, or it was a very big coincidence "okey girl calm down" said jasper "so what you took 1 picture of a man that had an accident I mean is weird timing but things like that happen" he was right what was I thinking of curse it was a coincidence, thing like cursed objects don't exist in real life it was sad but that was it a sad accident, "yeah, you are right, I guess I was still unnerved by the nightmare I had and then this, but it has to be a coincidence... so should we live?" "that's more like normal Sam" Jasper graved his bag, put the plate in the sink and turned off the tv, and we made our way to the bus stop we walked for half of the way, "So you bought a camera from that lady?" Jasper broke the silence, "well not exactly bought", Jasper completely stop and open his eyes widely, "Don't tell me that you stole it" my jaw dropped at the accusation "OF CURSE NOT!!!", I covered my mouth after that scream people started to stare at us form the outburst "she gave it to me I didn't stole it okey?" "Right, I believe you I was just messing with you, can I see the camera?" "sure", I pulled the case from my bag and showed the camera to japer, "yeah it's cool, it prints the pictures automatically, and is in pretty good condition and the case is also good to see I think is leather" as I moved the case to pass it to Jasper something fall from the case jasper was kind for a change and picked up the paper that falls, he moved his head as if he was trying to decipher the content "am... Sam did you took this picture?" "oh, is it a picture? No, I only took the one from the man maybe the owner of the camera took it, let me see it", Jasper passed the picture to me you can barely call it a picture, it was very dark like if it was taken without a flash in a dark room, I could make a shape but what creeps me out the most was that in the darkness I made out a pair of eyes they looked familiar somehow like if I had seen them before somewhere.