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INDEPENDENCE, OHIO – Employees of a local call center are frustrated with their employers’ implementation of a new business model for 2021. Jason Argon, who has worked for Service Direct Communications for several years, spoke to the media this week about the situation. “They let us work from home for most of 2020 because of the pandemic,” Mr. Argon explained, “but they wanted us to come back to the office after people got vaccinated. They said they did some survey and most employees wanted a hybrid model for the workplace. We definitely said that, but they took it in a different direction.”

Instead of allowing employees to continue telecommuting several days per week, as employees expected, Service Direct Communications reached out to the company’s international office to bring in additional employees. “When we came back to the office, they said they had this big announcement,” Mr. Argon continued. “Then they brought the centaurs in.”

“Some people quit during the pandemic, so they thought we needed more staff. But no one really expected this,” Mr. Argon explained.

The satyr custodians have been up to some unusual activity in the employee restrooms.

The centaur employees, who arrived from Greece and have been working in the phone bank, are not the only hybrid creatures in the office building. “The centaurs have been working out OK, but they needed a lot of extra cleaning up after. So HR brought in some satyrs as custodians. They’re pretty friendly, I guess, but the sound of their hooves is really starting to drive me up the wall. Also, I think they are fermenting grapes or something in one of the toilets.”

Due to the large appetites of the centaurs, the staff at the workplace cafeteria needed reinforcements. “They hired these harpies to work there, but they are really mean and they keep most of the food for themselves. Last time I tried to buy lunch, one of them pecked at me and made fun of my shoes. They’re really filthy, too, so the satyrs don’t like them either.”

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Mr. Argon said the most difficult adjustment has come from the recent lack of tech support. “They thought the Minotaur was really smart, because he figured out the labyrinth and everything. So they put him in IT, but he doesn’t know what he’s doing and just smashes stuff when he gets mad. I’m on my fourth laptop now.”

The Minotaur’s attempts at technical support have been unsuccessful.

Many call center employees have been updating their resumes and looking for different employment. However, Mr. Argon has decided to make the best of the situation. “I was getting bored at home, so at least it’s something different. Also, the new lamia in HR is kind of hot and I think she likes me. Yeah, she’s half snake, but 2020 was pretty lonely, if you know what I mean.” When asked for comment, the lamia in question said, “Ew, no. I’m not into guys with two legs. Some of those centaurs are looking pretty good, though.”

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.

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Lighter than Dark

LTD: Revisiting Broken Doll Head, Interview 2

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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
Broken Doll Head, secured in her own glass case with new moss accents

Again, if you want to learn more about the V-Day movement, please check out their website here.

Portrait of myself with dark makeup and crow skull headdress, backlit by the sun.
Portrait of myself with dark makeup and crow skull headdress, backlit by the sun.

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Lighter than Dark

LTD: Broken Doll Valentine’s Day Uprising

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Breaking news… the Broken Doll Valentine’s Day uprising is upon us. As seen previously here on Haunted MTL, the dolls that have been flippantly destroyed and deserted by the brother Sids of the world are rising up. They have had enough and will not sit demurely in silence any longer. They will be heard.

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.  Doll parts tossed about stare blankly at the viewer.
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.  Doll parts with text overlay.
Doll proclaims V Day is here.

Broken Doll proclaims V Day is here. This is the moment we’ve been waiting for.

Doll head with text overlay: We will set fire to your house.  Burn down patriarchy.
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.

Learn more about the continuing movement to end violence against ALL women (cis, trans, gender-fluid and those who are victims of gender-based violence) on the V-Day web page here. This goes out to all of us, dolls and beyond. It IS time. Because rape is NOT our sponsor.

Portrait of myself with dark makeup and crow skull headdress, backlit by the sun.
Portrait of myself with dark makeup and crow skull headdress, backlit by the sun.

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Lighter than Dark

LTD Tripped Out Motivational Posters

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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
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
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.

For more crazy tripped out fun, check out Weird Al’s post on Craig’s List

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Portrait of myself with dark makeup and crow skull headdress, backlit by the sun.

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