Not entirely pleased with this. I liked the idea in its abstract form, but not so much the execution.

I like thinking that Vashti was chosen from the audience rather than her being an assistant. If scary magician’s going to rip into someone, there’s an extra element of scary if it’s a willing (at least at first) participant. I really enjoyed this.

wow this is scary but wonderful. don’t doubt what you write. it’s great :)

I think I’ve seen this scenario before in a couple of horror movies or TV shows so the “oops-the-saw’s-real” concept’s not all that unknown… was there a way to give it another twist? Maybe an error only she knew about, but could do nothing to change…

I’ve never seen this scenario before, whether on screen or in a book, but I recognize how it could seem contrived. I’m currently developing it in Microsoft Word, where I’m (happily) not limited to a 1024-character constraint.
Thanks for your comments, guys. :-)

Very nice ficlet. While it didn’t necessarily make me checking closets, it is one of the best-written entries in the challenge. Hey, my entry for the Halloween challenge made one want to cry laughing – not screaming – just because of its unscaryness (yes, I know I’m talking to an English teacher, sorry =))

Wow, this is really good. It’s not like “Oh God, I’m scared.” But I definitely don’t want to piss off David Copperfield now.