Just One Time

100% Plant-Based Horror

Connor stood under the twisted, sprawling tree of… some kind and surveyed the rest of the backyard. He’d worked hard on it, well, he’d slaved over the design, the landscapers had done the manual labor. He now had a nice redwood deck with grilling station, fire pit, jacuzzi, lap pool, pebble garden, some well manicured shrubbery, plus an area to showcase his future bonsai collection, a hobby he planned to start now that he finally had a place for it. A few of the guys at work, when they weren’t nipping from flasks after failed ad pitches, had showed him their trees and given him tips. Seemed to be relaxing.

The one point of contention in this new yard was the tree he now stood under. Thuja, that was what the landscapers had called it. They had been instructed to pull the thing up but had refused, even after Connor had threatened to withhold fifteen percent of their fee. He’d paid them in full, eventually, their excuse, that the tree gave them the creeps, was unfortunately valid. It also gave him the creeps, which was why he wanted it gone. Initially he’d been thrilled to see it in the backyard. It had great structure and with a little TLC he felt he’d be able to turn it into a true beauty.

But then he’d stood under it, as he was now, and it had touched him. No, it had caressed him. No wind, no squirrels, no explanation for the gentle rustle and the branch that cupped his cheek with soft, scaly needles. Just, creepy. That had been two months ago. Now the yard was finished and still, here in the corner, stood this creepy tree. So why was he standing under it now? He turned, backed up a few steps and yeah, it was glowing. Not like neon nightclub kind of glowing, more like a subtle Jesus dwelleth here kind of glow. Connor had left Jesus in the dust long ago; it probably wasn’t the divine light of Christ. Nor had the landscapers installed any physical light underneath the tree.

No, it was just glowing.