M.A. Kleen

When darkness falls over Crestview Department Store, three unlikely allies are thrust into a heart-stopping encounter with a sinister cult, turning ordinary objects into weapons for survival.

Please enjoy this horror short, part of a series experimenting with artificial intelligence. I fed the location, characters, scenario, and mood into ChatGPT and asked it to craft a story, then used Stable Diffusion XL to create illustrations. How did it turn out? Well, you be the judge.

Detective Dan Williams strode confidently into the vast, modern Crestview Department Store just as the fluorescent lights began their gradual dimming, signaling the store’s imminent closure. He was investigating a series of odd thefts in the area—mystical artifacts with legends stretching centuries had been vanishing. The latest, an encrypted tip from an anonymous source, suggested that some suspicious activity might transpire tonight, right here.

As he walked past aisles showcasing the latest fashion, electronics, and more, his gaze landed on a makeup counter where a young woman was busily tidying up the last-minute mess left by hurried shoppers. Her almond eyes, beautifully shadowed with gold, widened slightly upon seeing him. Her already pale complexion seemed to lose a hint more color, and her delicate fingers trembled as she tried to reorganize a toppled display of lipsticks. The name ‘Lila’ shimmered on her name tag, reflecting the dimming overhead lights.

Dan approached her with a friendly demeanor, hoping to ease any concerns. “Good evening, ma’am,” he began, showing his badge discreetly, “I’m Detective Williams. I’ve received a tip regarding potential suspicious activities in this store tonight. Have you noticed anything out of the ordinary?”

Lila blinked, her long lashes fluttering, and then glanced around, seemingly gathering her thoughts. “Not really, Detective,” she replied, her voice quivering slightly. “Just the regular late-evening shoppers. And Mr. Reed,” she added, pointing towards the checkout counters where a tall, lanky man stood.

Reed’s well-combed brown hair, a sharp contrast to his slightly freckled skin, suggested a meticulous nature. His crisp white shirt and black tie added to his aura of professionalism, making it easy to believe he was the store’s trusted clerk.

Before Dan could walk over to Reed, the entire store was plunged into unexpected darkness, save for the faint moonlight filtering through the main entrance.

Lila’s soft yelp pierced the sudden silence. “I really, really hate the dark,” she whispered, her voice betraying genuine fear.

Not wanting to alarm her further, Dan tried to maintain a calm demeanor, though his instincts screamed that something wasn’t right. He fished a small flashlight from his pocket and shone it around. “Stay close, both of you. This isn’t just a simple outage.”

As he scanned their surroundings, a soft, rhythmic chanting reached their ears. It seemed to emanate from the back of the store, from the direction of the storage rooms. Curiosity piqued, the detective led the way, with Reed and Lila hesitantly following.

As they neared the source, the chanting grew louder, accompanied by the faint smell of burning incense. Slowly and cautiously, Dan pushed open a slightly ajar storage room door. What met their eyes was something straight out of a horror movie. At least a dozen figures in dark, hooded robes stood in a circle, engrossed in their eerie chant.

At the center of their formation, an intricate pentagram was meticulously painted on the floor, illuminated by surrounding candles. Within its bounds lay a shimmering golden artifact, glowing mysteriously in the dim light. Dan immediately recognized it from a picture in his case file: an ancient relic believed to have immense spiritual power.

Reed, ever the curious one, murmured, “What in the world have we stumbled upon?”

Lila, her voice barely audible from fear, whispered, “It’s the ‘Cult of Abyzou.’ They believe in using stolen artifacts to summon demons and harness their powers.”

Before Dan could process this information, a sharp clang echoed through the room. The storage room’s door slammed shut, trapping them. They turned around to find themselves cornered by two more cult members, their faces obscured by their hooded robes.

Breaking the suffocating tension, the apparent leader of the cult, his hood slightly pulled back revealing piercing blue eyes and a wicked smirk, declared, “Ah, unexpected guests. How serendipitous.”

Summoning all the authority he could muster, Dan retorted, “You are all under arrest for theft and now, unlawful detention.”

The leader chuckled, the sound echoing eerily in the confined space, “I think not, Detective. You and your newfound friends will serve as perfect offerings for our ceremony.”

As the cult members began to close in menacingly, Lila’s eyes darted around. Suddenly, they landed on her makeup cart, which she had brought into the storage room earlier for restocking. In a split-second decision, she grabbed a bottle of setting spray and, looking at Reed, shouted, “Lighter, now!”

Reed, understanding her intent, quickly pulled out a lighter, and Lila sprayed the contents over the flame, creating a makeshift flamethrower. The surprised cultists stumbled back, shielding their faces.

Seizing the moment, Dan lunged at the nearest one, wrestling him to the ground and pinning him. “Run! Now!” he commanded.

As the trio sprinted through the maze-like store, Reed, gasping for breath, offered a way out, “There’s a hidden exit through the employee lounge. We can escape!”

Their frantic run was not without challenges. Cultists seemed to emerge from every corner, but the trio held them off. Lila’s arsenal of makeup products turned into unlikely weapons—powder compacts thrown to disorient, glitter bombs to momentarily blind, and astringents to irritate any pursuer.

Finally, they burst through the door to the employee lounge. The promise of an escape was in sight. However, their relief was short-lived. As they reached the alleyway outside, they found themselves cornered once again by three relentless cult members, including the leader.

The leader, confidence dripping from his voice, smirked, “Did you truly believe you could escape the Cult of Abyzou?”

Dan, ever defiant, responded, “Why are you doing this? What do you hope to achieve?”

“For power and dominion,” the leader replied with conviction. “These artifacts, combined with the right rituals, will grant us unimaginable strength. And you, Detective, will bear witness to our ascension.”

It seemed their fate was sealed. But, as the cult members inched closer, a series of flashing red and blue lights illuminated the narrow alleyway. The blaring sirens of police cars filled the once silent night. Backup, having been alerted by the sudden loss of communication with Dan, had arrived in the nick of time.

The cult leader, his eyes reflecting a mixture of rage and frustration, hissed, “This isn’t the end,” before he and his followers disappeared into the shadows.

Back at the precinct, Lila and Reed were treated as the heroes they were. Sitting together, wrapped in comforting blankets and sipping hot cocoa, they recounted their harrowing experience.

Dan approached, gratitude evident in his eyes, “You two were incredible back there. I’m in your debt.”

Reed chuckled, “Well, I guess it’s good I haven’t kicked the smoking habit yet.”

Lila smirked, playfully adding, “And people always told me carrying too much makeup was pointless.” Sharing a hearty laugh, Dan nodded, “From today, I have a whole new respect for makeup and its potential powers.” The weight of the evening’s horror seemed to lift slightly, replaced by a newfound camaraderie.