It had been hours since the sun had set and Steve was still missing. Since their hike began, Steve was complaining about a song stuck in his head. He couldn't place the tune, and as they ventured deeper into the wood, he grew more irritated, anxious, angry.
.
"You don't hear it, Joe??" were his last words before sprinting off the trail and out of sight. Joe was now alone with his brother's dog. A broken branch here, foot imprint there, they scoured the forest for any clues pointing towards Steve's trail.
.
Then, there it was. A familiar melody in the distance, catching the ear of both man and dog. "Follow it, Blue!" Joe whispered, and the dog ran ahead. Flashlight casting bright against the black forest, Joe followed Blue as best he could. The music grew louder, but the melody less clear. Fuzzier. Like TV static.
.
Then, amidst the dark, a light behind a hill silhouetted trees with flickering shadows. Joe called Blue to his side, and they approached slow. The static was deafening, music faint, and Joe peered over the hill.
.
There stood Steve in the distance, frozen below a being who stared down at him. Steve was fixated on the belly of the beast, which pulsated with a trance of flickering pixels. Joe crouched, fear-stricken, when he heard the faintest of lyrics past the noise.
.
Tinkey Winkey… Tinky Winkey…
Dipsy… Dispy…
Laa-Laa--- Laa-Laa…
PO
.
Suddenly, the being jerked its ancient head and faced Joe with a piercing gaze, its crown of antennae casting the lyrics straight into his mind. Blue barked frantic for attention, but it was too late. With eyes glazed over, Joe stepped forward. It was time.
.
Time for Teletubbies
Time for Teletubbies
Time for Teletubbies
Time for Teletubbies