The movie projector and the challenge of the truth

(For chapter one of this story click here.)

Chapter Two: It was going to happen again. In fact, he is so sure it’s going to happen again he didn’t want to come to work today. That is so unlike him that he is even concerned about himself. However, it really isn’t his fault. What happened in the theater the other day wasn’t his fault. And it was going to happen again. Furthermore, they wouldn’t believe him this time either.

Stellen checks the movie projector. It’s ready. It is also an old Kodak. It is the same one from the other day. His manager said it was a joke. He felt certain Stellen slept through the end of the film. Then some pranksters spread the empty clothes all around the empty theater.

Of course Stellen knew better. Except there had been no personal identification in any of the clothes. Similarly there were no purses or wallets. Empty or otherwise. Now that it’s been a few days, Stellen isn’t exactly sure what happened. But he is sure it wasn’t a prank. Now, as he sets up the other movie projector, he feels a sense of deja-vu. He looks through the movie projector opening down to the theater below. The seats are filling up fast.

The Movie Projector

They called the police after all. Stellan knew it was the right thing to do. When the police arrived they thought it was a joke. It was as odd as when Stellen first showed his manager. Additionally, there were no reports of anyone missing. In fact, there weren’t any reports of anyone even being late to get home.

It was as though all those people didn’t exist. Yet Stellen remembers them entering the theater that day. The same way all these people are entering the theater this afternoon. Either he was going crazy or there was more going on here than he knew. He watches the theater seats fill with people. Soon it would be time to start the movie.

Stellen wonders if there is a way to delay the start of the movie. The old movie projector sits at the ready. He could easily push it off the table. Or he could pull the bulb. Then it wouldn’t show anything. Much less a movie that makes people disappear. Disappear without a trace. And without clothing to boot.

Challenge of the Truth

The official start time was five minutes away. He looked down into the theater just five minutes ago. It was almost full. That was understandable. It was a good movie, after all. Stellen just wishes he could remember it. Furthermore, he wishes he didn’t have to start the movie projector. There was something strange happening here. He could feel it, and he wonders if any of those people down in the theater can feel it too.

With this in mind, it is time to start the movie projector. The click of the switch is loud in the small projector room. The screen in the theater comes to life with the branded advertisements at the beginning of the reel. Stellen yawns. The reels of the movie projector turn smoothly, and the images come to life on the screen in the theater. One moment later Stellen is sleeping deeply. Right where he dropped. And so is everyone else in the theater.

---

Thank you for reading! Like, follow and share The Frog Journal on X @1finja1 – and on The Frog Journal Facebook page click here. Subscribe to the free newsletter to stay up to date on new content and updates.

---