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The Magician
By Jim Thomason
From Itty Bitty Horror
Copyright and © 10/06/2005, published on 10/06/2005

The stage door opened into the cool night air. Milton the Magnificent paused before he was fully outside to light up his cigarette and inhale deeply. It had been a rough show. Small house, noisy drunks, whiny kids. Everybody and his brother that thought he could impress his girlfriend by explaining the magic trick seemed to be in the house tonight. Assholes.

He blew smoke rings and stared at the sky while leisurely drifting forward. The door clicked shut behind him. Soon enough his eyes sank back to earth and the scuzzy looking character in the overcoat standing in front of him.

"Mr. Magnificent?" he questioned in a monotone voice?

Milton rolled his eyes. "Only until 9:00, buddy. You wanna see some magic, come back tomorrow. Box office opens at 7." Milton waved at him with a half hearted flourish as he tried to walk by. The man stepped into his path.

Instinctively, Milton stepped back and to the side to try and pass him, but the man anticipated and blocked his path again. Milton stopped and looked him square in the eye, wondering why he wasn't being allowed to just go to his car and go home.

"Mr. Magnificent?"

"Yeah, sure. That's me. Whaddaya want? An autograph? I don't have a pen."

At the acknowledgement, the man's mouth almost cracked into a smile for a brief instant, then returned to emotionless. His face was chalky white under black greasy hair. His lips were thin. "I understand you're a magician."

"Most nights. Can I get by now?" Milton tried to sidestep him on the other side but the man blocked him again.

"Well I'm a magician, too. I would like to show you a trick."

His captive lurched his head back and rolled his eyes shut. The last thing he wanted after a rough show was some goddamn fan thinking he can be a magician to. Probably wants to be part of the act, or just wants a few contacts in the industry, or any one of a thousand other lame lines he'd heard.

"Not tonight."

"Please? It'll only take an instant."

"Not tonight." With that, Milton turned to walk the other way. He'd have to loop around the building to get to his car, but it was better than dealing with the magic man here.

He didn't get more than 3 steps before freezing in his tracks. It wasn't intentional - he simply couldn't move. Slowly, he found himself being turned around to face the man in the overcoat. His face remained reasonably calm but his dark eyes were burning with rage.

"Fine. You don't want to see that trick? I'll show you a better one." He waved his hands dismissively at Milton. Milton's own hands show up in front of his face and the magician watched in astonishment as his body crumbled to dust and simply blew away until there was nothing left.

The man watched the last of the dust swirl away and then went home, dejected.

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