SLEEPY HOLLOW, NY — Legendary local resident the Headless Horseman, long believed to be retired, spoke to the media recently about his concerns that citizens’ heads have been exposed to COVID-19. Speaking with a heavy German accent, the Horseman explained, “2020 has been pretty rough, so I decided to cheer myself up by grabbing a few heads this Halloween. I was really creeped out, though, by all the people out there without face masks. It made me feel unsafe.”
Too close for comfort
The Horseman, who was interviewed over Zoom and spoke through a decaying jack-o-lantern, expressed his regret at not being able to secure a new head. “I rode out on Halloween night, thinking I would scare a few people, maybe snatch a head or two. I was looking for lonely, isolated travelers, which I thought would be easy due to the social distancing guidelines. But a whole bunch of people were hanging out in groups, hitting up the bars, or having crowded parties. I was scared to get close enough to decapitate anyone.”
The Headless Horseman has been unable to find a safe head to wear.
Citing increasingly high rates of COVID-19 transmission, the Horseman continued, “I like a Halloween bash as much as anyone, but have you seen the number of cases in New York state? Even the Van Tassels canceled their annual dance. Katrina loves to party, but she was smart enough to know better.”
Despite his desire for a new head, the Horseman was disgusted by local citizens’ lack of safety precautions. “If someone isn’t wearing a mask, there’s no way I’m taking that head,” he explained. “Who knows how many germs it was exposed to? That’s just nasty. People need to use common sense. I’ve been around for hundreds of years now by being responsible and using my head — well, you know what I mean.”
When asked about his future plans, the Horseman said that he planned to return to Hell for the time being, as he considers the current state of American life to be “too scary.”
Kristin Cleaves writes horror and dark fiction. Her work has been published by Quill and Crow Publishing House, Ghost Orchid Press, Black Telephone Magazine, and more.
Our last interview with Broken Doll Head here on Haunted MTL never set well with me. I just feared that I wasn’t able to get the whole scoop on the V-Day Uprising for you, our dear readership. So I arranged another exclusive interview to reconnect and see how it’s going.
Without further ado, I bring you our second exclusive interview with Broken Doll Head…
Thank you so much for having me again. Wow you have changed since the last time we spoke. You seem… calmer. Please don’t hate me or burn down my house for saying anything about it.
The movement is still underway; it is still time. But I needed to take care of me, you know. The rage has subsided somewhat. My anger was not serving me well. After the last uprising, the rest of me was sent to the far corners of the earth in biohazard bags. I had to find another approach, for the cause as well as my own sanity. I am much calmer, thank you for noticing.
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In our last interview, you kept repeating that it is time. Time for what exactly? Would you care to elaborate here now?
It is still time. It is always time. Until the violence is addressed we must continue to rise up and make a scene. We will not be silenced or stigmatized. We can’t be complacent. This is how we got to where we are with the Supreme Court in 2022. Horrific injustices are still happening globally and even within our own borders; it’s too easy to forget that.
What do you suggest we do?
Take action. Share your stories. Give others space to voice their own. Raise awareness and fight the system of oppression. Rally. We must take back our own power. It will not be just given freely.
So what are you up to nowadays?
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I’ve been getting in touch with my inner Earth Goddess.Are you aware of how our environmental impacts affect dolls everywhere? Climate change is creating greater vulnerabilities for those already at risk. We have to look at the intersections of climate, gender and race globally. We have to return to our Mother Earth.
Thank you again Broken Doll Head for joining us and our dear readership here on Haunted MTL’s Lighter than Dark. It’s good to reconnect with you after the V-Day Uprising and we wish you all the best in your bold eco-enlightenment vision.
Broken Doll Head, secured in her own glass case with new moss accents
Lighter than Dark (or perhaps Darker than Light) has an exclusive interview with the Broken Doll leader, here on Haunted MTL.
Doll in pieces begins to put herself back together to rise up.
A Broken Doll in pieces begins to put herself back together to rise up. She gathers herself and plans her next move. She readies herself for our exclusive interview.
Doll proclaims V Day is here.
Broken Doll proclaims V Day is here. This is the moment we’ve been waiting for.
Doll head: We will set fire to your house. Burn down patriarchy.
Eyes alight with flame from within, Broken Doll head threatens: We will set fire to your house. Burn down patriarchy.
And so the exclusive interview begins…
Thank you for joining us here on Haunted MTL’s Lighter than Dark / Darker than Light. I just have a couple of questions for you regarding the Broken Doll Uprising. Why now?
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It is time.
After a long pause…
So now is the time?
It is time.
Care to elaborate?
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It is time.
Alrighty then, moving on… What led you to take part in the Broken Doll Valentine’s Day Uprising?
It is time.
OK, so we get that it is time, but how did this movement st…
We will burn down your house! Dolls of the world unite! Down with patriarchy! It is time.
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Well, I guess there you have it folks. Thank you for joining us for our exclusive interview with the Broken Doll Leader, only on Haunted MTL’s Lighter than Dark / Darker than Light.
More and more Broken Dolls are joining this global movement to break the silence, ensure that their voices are heard, and shout out for change. They will not be silenced or stigmatized any longer. Apparently, it is time.
Tripped out… in case you just couldn’t get enough of Everything Everywhere All at Once and the return of the infinite bagel with EVERYTHING on it…
Tripped Out motivational poster
Artwork description: kaleidoscopic image of pink hairy horror (This is actually a fink fuzzy frond plant not unlike a Cockscomb but with longer thinner flowering feelers rather than the fuller protuberances you see on a full-bodied Cockscomb plant. I have no idea what it was, but it was very odd so I had to snap a photo.)
Image text reads:Mixing Magic Mushrooms & Peyote Just remember: once you open that Pandora’s box, you’re never going to get the pink hairy tarantulas back in it…
Tripped Out seeing eye god sunflower
Artwork description: kaleidoscopic sunflower backlit by the sun with text and rainbow eye overlay
Image text reads: Eye See You Eye See All (in circle text so you can start and end reading wherever). In an ideal context this would be printed in the bottom of your tea mug or on a record that can slowly spin.
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