te
ftse
Prsss
By
Michael
Martin
Arnold
Smith
was
one
of
the
many
artists
who
answered
the
Morningstar
Record
Company's
opening
for
a
position
as
an
album
cover
artist.
Unfortunately,
he
was
also
one
of
the
many
who
was
rejected.
"What
dya'
mean
I'm
not
hired?"
he
exclaimed
loudly
when
the
interviewer
told
him
he
wasn't
going
to
get
the
contract.
"I'm
the
best
there
is!"
"I
find
that
highly
unlikely,"
replied
the
interviewer
cooly.
"We
have
interviewed
at
least
five
individuals
whose
works
are
of
a
higher
quality
than
yours.
"
Amy
spent
the
rest
of
the
day
sulking
within
his
basement
apartment.
His
apartment
comforted
him,
although
the
vast
panorama
of
demons,
ghouls,
zombies,
skeletons,
psychopaths,
and
other
grisly
things
had
a
disturbing
effect
on
other
people.
The
large,
intricate
pentagram
which
he
had
painted
on
his
studio
room
floor
also
had
a
negative
effect
on
other
people.
In
the
corner
of
the
room
sat
his
massive
collection
of
heavy
metal
rock
music
and
his
stereo
which
was
blaring
out
one
of
Hellborn's
latest
hits
"Raising
the
Beast.
"
"Who
the
hell
do
they
think
they
are?
I
shoulda'
by
T.
Ell
M.D.
For
all
you
study
bugs
out
there,
this
section
is
for
you.
We
know
that
you
are
all
working
too
hard
to
keep
up
on
the
latest
gossip
so
we
thought
we'd
provide
the
juiciest
tidbits
for
you.
No
names
are
used
and
if
initials
are,
then
they
are
usually
fictitious
to
protect
the
less
than
innocent.
Last
Friday
will
be
remembered
by
many
due
to
their
unforgettable
ex-
-Thursday,
October
6,
1
988
-
1
3
If
The
Best
it
got
that
contract.
I
deserved
it!"
he
ranted
while
he
finished
his
third
beer,
"I
wish
I
was
the
best
artist
alive!
Then
they
wouldn't
think
of
shovin'
me
around
like
that!"
"Get
your
ass
up
here,
you
demonic
son
of
a
bitch!"
blared
the
stereo
in
response.
There
was
a
flash
of
fire
in
the
center
of
the
pentagram.
The
room
was
suddenly
filled
with
a
caconophy
of
horrible
shrieks
and
howls
and
the
stench
of
brimstone
assailed
Arny's
nostrils.
The
flame
receded,
leaving
in
its
place
a
terrifying
creature
of
demonic
appearance.
The
demon
turned
to
stare
at
Arny
with
glowing,
red,
reptillian
eyes
which
seemed
to
Arny
to
bore
into
his
very
soul.
It
-was
roughly
humanoid
in
appearance,
standing
about
eight
feet
in
height,
with
bulging
muscles
and
indigo
scales.
It
crossed
its
four
arms,
each
of
which
ended
in
three
fingered
talons
while
folding
its
bat-like
wings.
Its
lizard-like
head
was
adorned
with
two
long,
black,
curving
horns.
Arny
stared,
paralyzed
with
fear,
at
his
creatio
come
to
life.
"You
have
a
desire,
mortal
one,"
it
said
in
an
inhumanly
deep
voice
which
seemed
to
reverberate.
"A
desire
which
I
may
grant
you.
"
"Wh...
what
the
hell
are
you?!"
exclaimed
Arny,
fear
struck.
"I
am
a
representative
of
the
forces
of
evil,
mortal
one,"
it
replied.
"But
you
have
no
need
to
fear
me.
I
know
of
your
desire
to
become
the
world's
greatest
living
artist.
I
am
willing
to
grant
your
wish.
"
"Ya
mean
you're
goin'
t'make
me
the
world's
greatest
artist?"
replied
Amy,
who
was
beginning
to
overcome
his
previous
state
of
panic.
"The
greatest
contemporary
artist,
yes,"
it
replied.
"Do
I
gotta
give
up
my
soul
or
somethin'
like
that?"
queried
Arny.
"No
mortal
one,
there
will
be
no
cost
to
you
whatsoever,"
it
answered.
"Nor
will
you
have
to
fulfill
any
obligations,
do
you
wish
that
I
grant
you
this
desire?"
"Well,
yeah!"
replied
Arny
excitedly.
"It
will
be
done
by
sunrise,"
it
said.
Then
it
suddenly
disappeared,
leaving
Arny's
apartment
as
it
was
before.
Arny
couldn't
sleep
that
night.
"I'm
gonna
be
the
greatest,"
he
repeated
to
himself
excitedly
while
waiting
for
dawn
to
come.
He
grew
more
excited
as
the
sky
began
to
lighten
IN
THE
KNOW
periences
at
this
year's
Oktoberfest.
Especially
a
certain
blonde
second
year
Arts
student
who
spent
most
of
her
evening
in
intimate
discussion
with
a
green
garbage
bag.
Another
victim
of
the
evening's
festivities,
and
there
were
many,
experienced
a
dramtic
wardrobe
change
to
enhance
the
bite
marks
he
was
sjiorting
on
either
cheek.
Closer
to
home,
those
who
enjoy
rollercoaster
rides
will
be
happy
to
know
that
an
old
romance
is
back
on
again
between
"Beeker"
and
his
old
flame.
The
Muffin
twins
are
back
in
action,
hoping
to
break
new
ground
in
the
tow
truck
business.
You
don't
want
to
know
what
they
are
going
to
call
it.
Maybe
we'll
tell
you
next
issue.
Anyways
good
luck!
and
when
the
sunlight
began
to
filter
down
into
his
basement
window;
he
yelped
for
joy
and
hurriedly
began
to
paint;
saying,
"This
is
it,
man,
I'm
the
best!"
Some
hours
later
he
looked
at
what
he
had
accomplished
and
felt
bitter
disappointment.
He
realized
that
he
was
no
better
than
he
was
before.
"That
son-of-a-bitch
lied
to
me!"
he
raged
as
he
stormed
out
of
the
appartment
in
search
of'
the
demon.
He
bumped
into
one
of
his
friends
who
came
running
around
the-corner
of
the
hall.
"Arny,
you're
alive!"
he
cried,
between
gasps.
"When
I
heard
the
news
I
came
runnin'
over
here
to
make
sure
you
were
alive!"
"What
news?
What
in
the
hell
are
you
talkin'
about?"
exclaimed
Arny.
"Here,
listen
to
this,"
the
other
replied,
pulling
out
a
pocket
radio
and
clicking
it
on.
Arnie
listened
to
a
newsbroadcast.
He
felt
a
growing
chill
as
he
heard
the
radio
announcer
speak:
"A
horrendous
tragedy
occured
during
the
night.
Thousands
of
prominent
artists
around
the
world
have
died
without
any
apparent
cause.
.
.
"
The
rumour
mill
is
at
it
again,
so
if
you
happen
to
overhear
anything
interesting,
feel
free
to
drop
it
by
the
Free
Press
office.
Please
omit
names,
especially
if
the
gossip
is
mean
and
dirty
1!
The
above
tidbits
are
based
on
hearsay
only
and
are
here
merely
for
your
entertainment.