He nodded toward the open door. The line had moved inside and Vince could just make out the silhouette of a cardboard cutout. It was shaped like a bear and its googly eyes seemed to follow his every move. “I think as long as we know the truth then that’s good enough. Don’t you?”
Tim shrugged.
“And I think your mom would be damned proud of you.”
“Thanks.” Tim smiled but not out of happiness. He wouldn’t be truly happy until more time passed. Vince knew the feeling but he thought that those little moments where he remembered Audra, all of the good nestled between all of the bad, were reason enough to keep moving forward.
Which is exactly what he did. He walked up to the closest display table, grabbed two copies of Scream Woods, and passed Sebastian without a second glance.
It felt like those eyes watched him from behind but he did not turn around.
Not once.
***
“Son of a bitch.”
Tim shook his head and turned the page. They had made the whole thing into a horror story. There wasn’t an ounce of truth. He doubted that half of Regina’s original book lay between its covers. They’d gotten someone else to write most of it. Probably asked them to make it filled with blood and guts and a few scary parts but they didn’t know what really happened. They didn’t understand how it felt to see people torn apart in front of you, to have your mother taken away by things that did not exist in the everyday world. To them it was all a joke.
He slammed the book shut and tossed it across the room. It was late, nearly midnight now, and he knew he ought to get to bed. It was the first week of school and he already had a quiz tomorrow.
He yawned and stretched and noticed something outside his window, a flickering light. Something was out there, something with too many teeth and dark grey skin. It would wait patiently until Tim was asleep. Then it would let itself into the house, climb the stairs, and slit his throat while he was halfway into a nightmare.
His heart sped and his ears rang but the moment passed quickly. He breathed slowly and assured himself it was nothing. He would not live the rest of his life in fear. He had enough to worry about with his condition. He did not need to add bogeymen to the equation.
Even though bogeymen did exist, far away, in a place he never intended on stepping foot in again.
He got out of bed and walked toward the window. The flickering grew and so did the dancing shadows. He saw a shape in the yard but it was not one of the grey things. It was his father, standing in front of their fire pit. It looked like he was tossing things into the flames. The fire danced and grew bigger with each movement.
Tim slid on his sweatshirt and grabbed his book. In the hallway he paused at Andrew’s door. He knocked softly. “Hey, Dad made a fire. You want to come down with me for a while? I think we have marshmallows.”
A pause, a rustling. “No, that’s okay. I’m tired.”
“You sure? I can bring you one up if you want.”
“I’m sure.”
Tim nodded and started to walk again.
“Hey Tim?” Andrew said, his voice muffled.
Tim froze, turned around. “Yeah,” he said through the door.
Another pause, as if his brother were choosing his next words wisely. “Thanks, though. For the marshmallows. That was nice of you.”
Tim smiled. “You’re welcome.” A year ago Andrew would never use such words. He would’ve given Tim shit for his diabetes, would’ve called him a loser and a wuss and he would’ve flicked his ear every chance he got. Things were different now, would always be different.
He went downstairs and opened the back door. The night had grown cold. It promised of fall and winter. He zippered up his hoodie and walked toward his father.
“Did I wake you?” Vince tossed something into the fire, watched the flames eat it up, crackling as if in thanks.
“No, I was up. Reading this stupid thing.” He raised the book.
“You and me both.” Vince lifted his own copy. Half the pages were torn from its binding, now burnt ash within the fire pit. “How far did you get?”
“Maybe halfway. A little less.”
“You got me beat. Couldn’t make it past the first chapter.” He tossed another page into the fire. It sizzled and disappeared. “Want to join me?”
“Sure.” Tim opened to the first page, an author acknowledgment that was likely fake. He imagined what the real one ought to say.
Thanks to Tim, Andrew, Vince, and Audra Carter. For looking the bad things right in their eyes. Dreams really do come true.
He tore the page out, crumpled it into his palm, and flung it forward. It sizzled and quickly became ash.
They stood like that for another hour or so until they ran out of pages and the flames started to die out.
***
Andrew watched from the window. He knew he should be out there. They were his family, what was left of them, and now more than ever they needed to stick together. He had grown more distant this last year. Not because of grief or anger and not because he resented them in anyway.
The distance was because he loved them both dearly. He could not risk bringing them any more harm than they’d already endured.
From behind he felt a flutter, a draft, like someone entered from an unseen door.
“It’s not too late, you know,” the voice said. It was low and harsh. It seemed to worsen each time it spoke. It came more and more often these days. “You can still finish your first assignment.”
“Leave me alone.” He watched through the glass as Vince put a hand around Tim’s shoulder. A single tear leaked from Andrew’s eye. He wished he could be down there. It would feel good to be on the other side of his father, to be side by side with them. But he knew he couldn’t be trusted. Not now and maybe not ever.
“You will never be alone,” the voice said and left through whatever door it had entered.
Andrew watched a while longer from the window before the flames died out for the night.
After that there was only darkness.
About the Author
Patrick Lacey was born and raised in a haunted house. He spends his nights and weekends writing about things that make the general public uncomfortable. He lives in Massachusetts with his Pomeranian, his mustached cat, and his muse, who is likely trying to kill him. Find him on Facebook, follow him on Twitter (@patlacey), or visit his website at https://patrickclacey.wordpress.com.
Coming Soon
Dream Woods by Patrick Lacey
The Sisterhood: Curse of Abbot Hewitt by Annette Siketa
Flanagan by James H Longmore
Find these and other horrific books at www.sinistergrinpress.com
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
About the Author
Coming Soon
Dream Woods Page 19