***
Morning sunlight lit the windows. Fresh coffee brewed. Forsythe whistled a single note in different octaves as he poured a cup. His doorbell rang. It occurred to him that the tone of the bell harmonized with his whistling.
“Good morning, Forsythe.” Benton held out the robe.
Forsythe tossed it onto the back of a high-back chair in the living room. “Coffee, Benton?”
“Oh, one last cup for the morning won’t kill me.”
Forsythe took a cup from the cupboard. He poured coffee into it. Benton sipped.
“They took down the empty houses last night.”
Benton nodded. “I almost called you.”
“I was going to take pictures for you.”
The neighbors shared an awkward laugh. Neither spoke for a moment.
“I remembered things last night, Forsythe.”
“So did I.” Forsythe looked at the stairs. The memory of seeing his wife was a fading shadow. Forsythe knew that soon the two would forget things again.
“So, are you ready to go back?”
Forsythe shook his head. “No. You?”
“No. I thought today I’d walk over to the hill.”
“They won’t let you come back.”
“I know. Join me?”
Forsythe looked around the kitchen. He emptied the remainder of his coffee into the sink then ran a little tap water over the lingering puddles.
“What the hell.”
The morning was warm. They walked in silence to the roundabout. The roar of the engine greeted them as they stepped to the end of the unfinished road. Forsythe realized he sang the single note of praise.
Benton put a hand on Forsythe’s shoulder, and he looked at his friend. Benton was telling him something that appeared to be important. Forsythe had no idea what it could be, though. Benton’s eyes filled with tears. He gestured to the distant hill. His hand trembled. Forsythe realized his neighbor was afraid, so he took hold of Benton’s arm.
“It’s okay.”
Benton stopped talking. He looked bewildered, shook his head, pointed at his ears, and asked, “What?”
Forsythe laughed. “It’s okay.”
Benton still didn’t register.
Forsythe stepped off the end of the unfinished road. He walked on the backs of sleeping beetles. Plumes of sand, stone, and dirt erupted around each of his steps. Benton fell behind.
Forsythe moved on.
A grude beetle jumped up from below the surface, and took Benton in its mandibles, snapping him in half.
Forsythe moved on.
He marched over the bones of the forgotten, over the carcasses of old generation grudes, over the end of the field, until he reached the base of the hill. He shielded his eyes and looked up at the sun.
Forsythe turned around.
He saw nothing behind him, although he thought there was someone else. He must have been wrong about that. His house was the only one on the lonely dirt road. He could still see the closed gate, the large ‘No Trespassing’ sign outside it. Below that warning, another in smaller letters proclaimed, ‘Restricted Area Per Federal Regulation Thirteen’.
The roar of the engine was gone. All that remained was the incessant song of a single note. Forsythe turned his attention to the top of the hill. He made his way up the grassy slope. Each step appeared to increase the height of the hill. The music drove him to press on. He needed to see where the music came from. He needed to see who sang it.
After what seemed like a day of infinite hours, Forsythe reached the top of the hill. The loneliness of the song weighed heavily on his heart.
When he got to the top he collapsed onto his hands and knees. His head dropped.
The song came from a large hole in the ground, a hole wide enough to swallow all of reality.
The ground shook beneath his tired, used body. Herds of grude beetles charged past. They came up over the crest of the hill and headed down to the hole, toppling into the mouth in droves. Watching the beetles die made the melancholy from the song heavier.
Forsythe knew it was time.
The plan had been a failure. They had arrived thirteen years ago from their own dying world. The indigenous species was just primitive enough to make them think they could assimilate, but they couldn’t. The four-armed guards had followed protocol and released the grudes to forever eradicate their colony. Forsythe was the last of the race.
The guards hovered over the rim of the hole. All four arms were raised to the alien sky. Their dual mouths formed perfect circles. They harmonized with themselves and beckoned for Forsythe to go down into the hole.
He could stay, he realized. He could turn and run back to his house and stay. He would open the gate to the inhabitants of the adopted planet and he would tell them who he was and why they came and—
The four-armed guards circled him. They each shoved a vacuum hose onto his head, carried Forsythe to the mouth. A giant tongue lapped at his feet. When the four-armed guards released him, Forsythe fell and the mouth swallowed him.
***
The one he had known as Benton stood over his bed. The body he’d had in the colony was replaced with his true form—an elongated face, the sideways figure-eight mouth, the egg shaped eyes.
“Good morning, Forsythe.”
He rose up on the quad elbows of his four arms. “How did it go?”
“Same results. Every simulation ends with the same results. Our people just aren’t suited for colonization. This is our home. We were condemned to be born here and then die here.”
Forsythe sat up. Outside his window orange streaks swirled inside the indigo star that once gave life to their dying planet. The streaks swam over a dimming light. Before long the gas would ignite and the sun would explode and their planet would be swallowed in the explosion.
“It worked for a time, Benton.”
“I’m sorry, Forsythe. It’s not to be.”
“Do you hear the music, Benton? It’s the song from the unfinished road.”
“It was always our people calling us home. Telling us they wanted us to stay.”
“It’s a sad song.”
“It’s a song only we will ever hear.”
“Perhaps. Perhaps we should join the others and sing with them.”
“I have no song to sing, old friend.”
And Forsythe, who longed to return to his home on the other world, sang for him.
BIOGRAPHY: Jack Bates is an award winning writer of short stories, screenplays, and children’s books. He is a two time nominee for a Derringer Award from the Short Mystery Fiction Society.
THE END?
Not quite . . .
Have you read volumes one and two yet?
Tales from The Lake Vol.1—Remember those dark and scary nights spent telling ghost stories and other campfire stories? With the Tales from The Lake horror anthologies, you can relive some of those memories by reading the best Dark Fiction stories around. Includes Dark Fiction stories and poems by horror greats such as Graham Masterton, Bev Vincent, Tim Curran, Tim Waggoner, Elizabeth Massie, and many more. Be sure to check out our website for future Tales from The Lake volumes.
Tales from The Lake Vol.2—Beneath this lake you’ll find nothing but mystery and suspense, horror and dread. Not to mention death and misery—tales to share around the campfire or living room floor from the likes of Ramsey Campbell, Jack Ketchum, and Edward Lee.
If you enjoyed this book, I’m sure you’ll also like the following Crystal Lake titles:
Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories—an anthology of dark fiction that explores the beauty at the very heart of darkness. Featuring horror’s most celebrated voices: Clive Barker, Neil Gaiman, Ramsey Campbell, Paul Tremblay, John F.D. Taff, Lisa Mannetti, Damien Angelica Walters, Josh Malerman, Christopher Coake, Mercedes M. Yardley, Brian Kirk, Stephanie M. Wytovich, Amanda Gowin, Richard Thomas, Maria Alexander, and Kevin Lucia.
Sarah Killian: Serial Killer (For Hire!) by Mark Sheldon. Follow foul-mouthed
and mean-spirited Sarah Killian on an assignment from T.H.E.M. (Trusted Hierarchy of Everyday Murderers), a secret organization using serial killers to do the dirty work for their clients. Sarah’s twisted sense of humor alone makes this Crime Fiction / Horror / Thriller a worthy read.
Blackwater Val by William Gorman—a Supernatural Suspense Thriller/Horror/Coming of age novel: A widower, traveling with his dead wife’s ashes and his six-year-old psychic daughter Katie in tow, returns to his haunted birthplace to execute his dead wife’s final wish. But something isn’t quite right in the Val.
Run to Ground by Jasper Bark—Jim Mcleod is running from his responsibilities as a father, hiding out from his pregnant girlfriend and working as a groundskeeper in a rural graveyard. Throw in some ancient monsters and folklore, and you’ll have Jim running for live through this folk horror graveyard.
The Final Cut by Jasper Bark—Follow the misfortunes of two indie filmmakers in their quest to fund their breakthrough movie by borrowing money from one dangerous underground figure in order to buy a large quantity of cocaine from a different but equally dangerous underground figure. They will learn that while some stories capture the imagination, others will be the death of you.
Tribulations by Richard Thomas—In the third short story collection by Richard Thomas, Tribulations, these stories cover a wide range of dark fiction—from fantasy, science fiction and horror, to magical realism, neo-noir, and transgressive fiction. The common thread that weaves these tragic tales together is suffering and sorrow, and the ways we emerge from such heartbreak stronger, more appreciative of what we have left—a spark of hope enough to guide us though the valley of death.
Devourer of Souls by Kevin Lucia—In Kevin Lucia’s latest installment of his growing Clifton Heights mythos, Sheriff Chris Baker and Father Ward meet for a Saturday morning breakfast at The Skylark Dinner to once again commiserate over the weird and terrifying secrets surrounding their town.
Pretty Little Dead Girls: A Novel of Murder and Whimsy by Mercedes M. Yardley—Bryony Adams is destined to be murdered, but fortunately Fate has terrible marksmanship. In order to survive, she must run as far and as fast as she can. After arriving in Seattle, Bryony befriends a tortured musician, a market fish-thrower, and a starry-eyed hero who is secretly a serial killer bent on fulfilling Bryony’s dark destiny.
Wind Chill by Patrick Rutigliano—What if you were held captive by your own family? Emma Rawlins has spent the last year a prisoner. The months following her mother’s death dragged her father into a paranoid spiral of conspiracy theories and doomsday premonitions. But there is a force far colder than the freezing drifts. Ancient, ravenous, it knows no mercy. And it’s already had a taste . . .
Eidolon Avenue: The First Feast by Jonathan Winn—where the secretly guilty go to die. All thrown into their own private hell as every cruel choice, every deadly mistake, every drop of spilled blood is remembered, resurrected and relived to feed the ancient evil that lives on Eidolon Avenue.
Flowers in a Dumpster by Mark Allan Gunnells—The world is full of beauty and mystery. In these 17 tales, Gunnells will take you on a journey through landscapes of light and darkness, rapture and agony, hope and fear. Let Gunnells guide you through these landscapes where magnificence and decay co-exist side by side. Come pick a bouquet from these Flowers in a Dumpster.
The Dark at the End of the Tunnel by Taylor Grant—Offered for the first time in a collected format, this selection features ten gripping and darkly imaginative stories by Taylor Grant, a Bram Stoker Award® nominated author and rising star in the suspense and horror genres. Grant exposes the terrors that hide beneath the surface of our ordinary world, behind people’s masks of normalcy, and lurking in the shadows at the farthest reaches of the universe.
Little Dead Red by Mercedes M. Yardley—The Wolf is roaming the city, and he must be stopped. In this modern day retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, the wolf takes to the city streets to capture his prey, but the hunter is close behind him. With Grim Marie on the prowl, the hunter becomes the hunted.
Children of the Grave—Choose your own demise in this interactive shared-world zombie anthology. Welcome to Purgatory, an arid plain of existence where zombies are the least of your problems. It’s a post-mortem Hunger Games, and Blaze, a newcomer to Purgatory, needs your help to learn the rules of this world and choose the best course of action.
The Outsiders Lovecraftian shared-world anthology—They’ll do anything to protect their way of life. Anything. Welcome to Priory, a small gated community in the UK, where the only thing worse than an ancient monster is the group worshipping it. Is that which slithers below true evil, or does evil reside in the people of Priory? Includes stories by Stephen Bacon, James Everington, Rosanne Rabinowitz, V.H. Leslie, and Gary Fry.
Fear the Reaper anthology—Did you know Death was a girl? Ever wondered if it was possible to cheat death? To kill Death? Or that it’s possible to escape and even become death? Includes Grim Reapers stories by legends like Rick Hautala, Gary A. Braunbeck, Joe McKinney, Richard Thomas, Jeremy C Shipp, Jeff Strand, and many more.
For the Night is Dark anthology—Darkness, our most primitive fear since shadows first moved. Includes stories by Crystal Lake Publishing alumni like Gary McMahon, William Meikle, Jasper Bark, Tonia Brown, Blaze McRob, Daniel I Russell, Kevin Lucia, Armand Rosamilia, Ray Cluley, and many more.
Through a Mirror, Darkly by Kevin Lucia—Are there truths within the books we read? What if the book delves into the lives of the very town you live in? People you know? Or thought you knew. These are the questions a bookstore owner face when a mysterious book shows up.
Where You Live by Gary McMahon—Horror is everywhere, in the shadows and in the light. It takes on every shape, comes in every conceivable size. But most of all it’s right where you live. With the WHERE YOU LIVE short story collection, Gary McMahon delves into the depths of dark and brooding horror in every day events, objects, and the ghost of human nature.
Tricks, Mischief and Mayhem by Daniel I. Russell—Tricks, Mischief and Mayhem. These are not just some of the themes lurking in this tome of horror, but the names of three mischievous carnival clowns. Along with them you’ll meet some of Australia’s most popular monsters and legends, along with a popular cast of ghosts, demons, and zombies. Hell, there are more than a few stories portraying nature fighting back.
Samurai and Other Stories by William Meikle—No one can handle Scottish folklore with elements of the darkest horror, science fiction and fantasy, suspense and adventure like William Meikle.
Stuck On You and Other Prime Cuts by Jasper Bark—A word of caution gentle reader, these tales will take you places you’ve never been before and may never dare revisit. They’ll whisper truths so twisted you can only face them in the darkest hours of the night. They’ll unlock desires so decadent you’ll never wash their taint from your flesh.
Eden Underground horror poetry by Alessandro Manzetti—Another snake, another tree, another Eve. A surreal journey into obsessions and aberrations of the modern world and the darker side, which often takes control of the situation.
If you ever thought of becoming an author, I’d also like to recommend these non-fiction titles:
Horror 101: The Way Forward—a comprehensive overview of the Horror fiction genre and career opportunities available to established and aspiring authors, including Jack Ketchum, Graham Masterton, Edward Lee, Lisa Morton, Ellen Datlow, Ramsey Campbell, and many more.
Horror 201: The Silver Scream Vol.1 and Vol.2—A must read for anyone interested in the horror film industry. Includes interviews and essays by Wes Craven, John Carpenter, George A. Romero, Mick Garris, and dozens more. Now available in paperback, as well.
Modern Mythmakers: 35 interviews with Horror and Science Fiction Writers and Filmmakers by Michael McCarty—Ever wanted to hang out with legends like Ray Bradbury, Richard Matheson, and Dean Koontz? Modern Mythmakers is your chance to hear fun anecdotes and career advice from authors and filmmakers like Forrest J.
Ackerman, Ray Bradbury, Ramsey Campbell, John Carpenter, Dan Curtis, Elvira, Neil Gaiman, Mick Garris, Laurell K. Hamilton, Jack Ketchum, Dean Koontz, Graham Masterton, Richard Matheson, John Russo, William F. Nolan, John Saul, Peter Straub, and many more.
Writers On Writing: An Author’s Guide—Your favorite authors share their secrets in the ultimate guide to becoming and being and author. Writers On Writing is an ongoing eBook series with original ‘On Writing’ essays by writing professionals. A new edition will be launched every few months, featuring four or five essays per edition, so be sure to check out the webpage regularly for updates.
OR CHECK OUT OTHER CRYSTAL LAKE PUBLISHING BOOKS FOR YOUR DARK FICTION, HORROR, SUSPENSE, AND THRILLER NEEDS.
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