by Taft Sowder
“Hey Grammy,” he said. “Do you remember last year when I asked for a bicycle and you got me new pants instead?” He didn’t wait for a reply. “What was it that Rodney got anyway?”
As he turned to go back inside, a wicked smile crossed his face. Before the storm door closed behind him, the sunlight glinted off the dirty metal blade of the blood stained chefs’ knife protruding from his back pocket.
* * * *
From the basement, Amber sat quietly in her dirt prison chained to the wall. Jessica was there to keep her company; Jessica rocked back and forth against the far wall, occasionally giggling and talking to herself.
Amber had lost all hope. She sat blank-faced against the wall realizing that she had no choice, this was her family now. She had nothing more to lose.
She heard a muffled scream from above and thought that it was better them than her. At least for now she was alive. At least for now she would see another day. Maybe being part of the family wouldn’t be so bad. After all, the family that slays together, stays together.
About the Author:
Taft Sowder took up an interest in writing while in middle school, but never took it seriously until he published his first novel. Factory work pays the bills, but writing is a passion that continues to burn. Horror is the genre of choice, which perhaps is due to an obsession of Heavy Metal and slasher films. When he’s not hard at work in the factory or slaving away behind the keyboard, he enjoys spending time with his family and playing video games. His wife (whom he likes to think is his number one fan) gets the pleasure of reading everything that gets put on paper and his son and daughter are encouraging and inspirational in their own rights.
To contact him, write, [email protected].
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