The Wicked Barber

It was 1805, and Kenny, a young nobleman, needed a shave.

“A family tragedy occurred, and we sadly must inform you that we cannot open up our barbershop today. Our dearest apologies.”

“Crap,” Kenny cursed when he read the note, feeling a little guilty immediately after.

He knew that Sir John would never close his shop for no reason, so something awful must have happened.

Kenny could only hope that everything was all right with him and his wife and children.

But to be a little selfish, what should he do now? He bit one of his fingernails while debating whether he should check out that new barbershop or not.

The place looked a tad strange when he had passed it earlier and glanced through the window. It was also very small, so maybe there wasn’t even a spot left for him…

However, he was running out of time. It was already late, and he didn’t have much time left before the party started in four hours, so he really needed that shave as soon as possible.

He couldn’t look messy while attending an important family party! His father’s boss, Sir William, was invited too, and Kenny must look absolutely perfect.

He was the only son, and his father needed to show him off in hopes that he could marry one of Sir William’s daughters.

Kenny raised his hand when he saw a carriage appearing, which stopped in front of him.

“Pardon me, do you know that new barbershop opposite the old butcher’s place?” he asked the carriage driver.

“I certainly do, sir,” the older man said.

“I would like to go there, please.”

***

Ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling, the bell rang as Kenny opened the squeaky front door.

The barbershop was tiny, with just one chair. It was also a little messy, but a pleasant smell lingered. Was it vanilla?

Kenny looked around, seeing a few paintings hanging on the wall. They were nothing special.

However, the barber chair was a real eye-catcher. It had a black leather seat and back, and the frame was made of metal and heavily decorated with baroque curls that ended in lion heads.

It had armrests and foot supports made of bronze metal.

In front of it stood one large mirror that reached to the ceiling.

“Hello?” Kenny called out. “Is there someone here? Sir? Mister barber, sir?”

Outside, it was turning darker by the second, and Kenny was happy that he was inside as it started to rain.

A flash of lightning and a roar of thunder came, lighting up the shop.

He was a little startled when he suddenly saw another person appear in the flash of light, standing not even an arm’s length away from him!

“Oh, m—my!” Kenny stuttered. “I’m sorry, sir, I didn’t see you earlier.”

“Oh, really?” the other man said. “But I was standing right here this whole time.”

A weird and dark energy came from the strange but handsome man, sending shivers down Kenny’s spine.

He briefly wondered if coming to this place had been a mistake.

The man had wild hair himself, which Kenny found a little strange. Why did a barber have such disheveled hair?

It was light blonde, almost white, but his eyes were dark as night. He wore a white suit that fit his body like a glove.

“My name is Trevor, and I will be your barber for today,” Trevor said in a deep voice.

“I don’t mean to brag, but I am the best in all that can be done. What can I do for you? A cut? A shave? Please, tell me all of your desires…”

Kenny swallowed. The fact that the thunder rumbled once more right as Trevor finished his sentence made the atmosphere even spookier.

“Um…I am Kenny. It’s always nice to meet unfamiliar people,” he said, his voice quivering slightly and barely audible over the heavy rain outside.

He stretched out his arm and shook Trevor’s warm hand.

“Hello, Kenny.”

“And to answer your question, I’m here for a shave.” Trevor smiled, showing a perfect set of teeth as he touched Kenny’s shoulder and gave him a little push toward his chair.

“Sit,” he ordered.

Kenny sat down on the soft black leather, taking off his top hat. “Oh, where can I…?” He looked around, wondering where he could set his hat.

“Oh, give it to me, dear. And your coat and vest, too, so you’ll be more comfortable,” Trevor said.

Kenny took off his coat and vest and gave them to the barber, along with his hat.

Trevor walked over to the counter, laying the items down before he walked to the window, closed the curtains, and locked the door.

“I don’t want any more customers today. It’s late already,” he told a confused-looking Kenny.

“Um…ok...”

Trevor started to brush on the shaving soap on Kenny’s cheeks, then his chin and upper lip.

“You have a lovely complexion,” he said as he unfolded his large silver razor.

With much gentleness, he brushed the sharp tool over Kenny’s face, bending over and leaning in to have a good view of what he was doing.

He came so close that Kenny could smell him. The barber had the same scent that Kenny had smelled when he’d walked into the little shop: vanilla.

“There,” Trevor said when he was done with the final stroke of the blade. He took a towel and cleaned Kenny’s face.

“Let me fix your hair, please. Don’t worry, it’s free,” he continued, starting to comb Kenny’s soft raven-black hair, smoothing it with some special rose oil.

Kenny had to admit that he looked extremely handsome after the barber’s work. He was certainly ready to attend the party!

“Thank you, sir,” he said, turning his head from left to right and from right to left to admire the barber’s sublime work.

“Oh, call me Trevor, please. And it certainly looks good. You look good… In fact, you look so good that I can’t let you slip out of my hands. Wouldn’t you agree, Chair?”

“What?” Kenny didn’t understand what Trevor meant. To let slip out of his hands? Chair?

Kenny gulped when bronze cuffs suddenly locked around both of his wrists. The metal braces had appeared on the barber’s chair out of nowhere!

“Oh, mister barber, sir! What is the meaning of—”

Before Kenny could finish his last word, his feet were clasped in metal ankle cuffs, and the wicked chair broke its foot support in two like it had a mind of its own, spreading Kenny’s legs.

The younger man was completely imprisoned by the evil chair.

“Oh!” He gasped in fear. With wide eyes, he watched Trevor in the mirror. Trevor stood behind him with a devilish grin on his face.