Holly lowered herself down from the skylight. Down here on the exhibition hall floor there were no alarms, except on the cases themselves.

She had two hours before a guard did his rounds, and she had a lot to do. First she tugged on the looped second rope, and carefully lowered the large box.

Next, she gently nudged two of the display cases, just a few centimeters at a time, keeping a close eye on the thin wires that connected them to the alarm system. When they were 45 centimeters apart she stopped.

Next she opened the box, and lifted out the display case inside it. It was modeled exactly on the same style of case that the museum used, and even had small wear and scuff marks. Delicately, she pushed it into place, and then used a small puffer to put just the smallest amount of dust on the top.

Opening her case, she made sure everything was in position, and then closed it and locked it. Then she put her tools back into the large box and sealed it.

She was just hooking herself back onto the climbing rope when a gravelly voice came from behind "Most people break in to steal something."

She spun around and shone her torch trying to see where the voice came from. "Over here", it rattled out again.

The light settled on an open sarcophagus. Inside, the mummy was sitting up, watching her through the bandages. She gulped as it stood and walked over to the new case.

"Interesting. Where did you get a dragon skeleton from?"
"Err... I made it? It's modeled on Mom."
"You are half dragon?"
"No, I'm adopted."
"By a dragon family."
"Well, Dad is human."
"I see. And this?"
"Art?"
"You are not sure?"
"Uh, no? It's just that...um..."
"I'm a four thousand year old mummy?"
"Yes."
"And your mother is a dragon. It is All Hallows as they call it now."
"Oh."
"Anyway, the guards will be coming by soon enough, and you had better be on your way. I will watch what happens with interest.

Holly got going.
-----

"I tell you, Miche, this place gets creepy at night."
"Look, Nick, it's just a museum. It's not like the exhibits are going to get up and move around."
"I dunno. I mean look at that mummy. I swear it has moved since we last did our rounds."
"Don't be stupid, how could a four thousand year old corpse move around?" Michelle shook her head. "You are such a scaredy cat. How did you end up a security guard anyway?"
"I figured guarding a museum was a pretty safe job?"

The two guards continued on their way, arguing.

Behind them, the mummy looked over to the taxidermied bear, and put a finger to where the lips would be. The bear shrugged.

#SF #SFF #microfic #tootfic #microfiction #halloween #NotHorror #IAmWriting

Have you ever noticed that haunted houses always have a similar sort of look? There are a couple of types, but they are all very much alike within those types.

You have the two-story weatherboard, with a balcony and a gatehouse. There will be creepers on at least one side, and probably a rose garden.

Then you have the gothic manor. Typically dark brick or stone. Iron front gate. You know the rest.

What about the haunted pubs and hotels? Look closely, and you'll see they are not really that dissimilar.

Well, there is a reason that haunted houses are all like that.

It is not because horrible things happen in places like that. Far more horrible things happen all over the place, and never get haunted.

No, it is because places like that attract ghosts. They are safe places for them - creating just enough psychic energy to maintain them, without being so much that they move on.

I guess you are now wondering why there are so many of them, aren't you?

Well such places have always appeared here and there. All the way back to the caves. There were always the special ones that the ancestors favoured.

But one day an actual architect died in such a place, and he taught his children what he worked out after his death. And so they set about to build more of them. And so did their children.

And that is why we have so many haunted houses these days.

----
Brainstormed during a car journey with @leece .

#tootfic #scifi #sff #NotHorror #microfic

"So how did the lift break down?"
"It is not *broken* as such."
"But it has the warning signs an everything?"
"It. Well, it is haunted."
"What? Someone died?"
"No. If only. No, that sounds horrible, but it would have been simpler. You know how ghosts are formed?"
"Er, yeah. Some sort of strong psychic event leaves an impression."
"OK, so on Friday night this young couple got in the lift, and ... um... had a *really* good ride up."
"Oh."
"The young family who caught the lift first thing the next morning got quite the education, and complained to management. Have you ever tried to get an exorcist who can deal with a positive impression?"

#Tootfic #SFF #NotHorror #SciFi #Microfic #IAmWriting #microfiction