3 Radioshack Horror Stories
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
If you enjoy a blend of science fiction and horror, be sure to check out my other podcast, The SCP Experience. This podcast takes you on a journey through the SCP Foundation archives where strange anomalies, secret experiments and unsettling mysteries collide. Let's just say it's not for the faint of heart. Be sure to search for The SCP Experience wherever you get your podcasts. Story 1. Spellmaster. When the guy walks in, his face haggard, black bags under each of his drooping eyes, I still recognize him. He'd been into our franchise a few times with his son. Cute kid. Seemed like he had learning issues, I don't know. Welcome to Radio Shack, how can I assist you today? I ask from behind the counter.
The guy, the father, looks up from his shoe gazing and nearly pierces me to the wall with a look in his eyes. I need help, he says. Great, what can I help you with? The muscles next to his left eye twitch and his whole body tenses for a moment. Then he relaxes, but only slightly, and he walks all the way to the front counter. He slips a backpack from his shoulder and unzips it as he sets it on the counter. Slowly, like he's handling a bomb or something, he pulls out one of our speak-and-spell knockoffs, the Spellmaster. Although it's not really a knockoff since Texas Microtech actually makes both. You wanted to take it apart and teach your son about the chipboard and the synth vocalizer and how to... It killed my boy!
He plops the red and orange plastic electronic toy onto the counter and roughly shoves it at me, either no longer afraid of the thing or upset enough that he doesn't care. I clear my throat, look about the store to see if any other customers have slipped in without my noticing, which would be impossible considering the annoyingly loud door buzzer we have. Then I return my attention to the guy. I'm sorry, but did you say this killed your son? I ask, keeping my hands free of the toy. Yeah, it's possessed, and it talked him into doing something bad.
What is the premise of the first RadioShack horror story?
Very bad. It killed him, and you're going to make it right. A lump forms in my throat. Sir, this is a toy. You play spelling games on it, and yes, this model can be disassembled in order to study the components, but I believe I warned against that when you purchased it. His eyes bore into me. I doubt he's slept in days. He looks like it, and smells like it. He just stands there, staring at me. I shuffle uncomfortably. I, um, am sorry to hear about your son, but I'm just a clerk here. I want to speak to the manager. He's out for the rest of the day. Just me, I'm afraid. I want to speak to corporate. We're a franchise, sir. Then get me the goddamn owner! Uh, the manager is the owner. And like I said, he's out today.
The man shakes with frustration and rage. I put my hand under the counter, ready to trigger the alarm if needed. Then his whole body deflates. He leans heavily on the counter. His eyes finally leave me and go to the toy. A spell master is orange and red, just like the more popular speak and spell. It has a large handle at the top, a monochrome LCD screen below that, and a full keypad below that. There are close to a dozen word-based games you can play on it, or it can be used as a spell checker or even a calculator. It's a pretty cool thing when you're a kid, especially the electronic voice synthesizer. When you're young enough, you can almost believe it's talking right to you, and you alone. But as an adult, the voice can be grating and a little annoying.
We used to have a demo model out on the floor, but I turned it off after a week. The guy goes to tap the spell master, but holds his finger an inch above the toy. That, that thing is evil. You sold it to me. Tell me how to get my son back. Back? I thought he was dead. I hold up my hands in apology. Not to sound rude or anything, He is dead, or might as well be. What speaks out of him now isn't my boy. His finger finally drops, and he pushes hard against the spellmaster. It's this. This speaks out of him now. I'm not sure what to say, so I grab up the toy, flip it over, and reach for the power switch.
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Chapters
4 chaptersSpeakers
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