Black Horse and Other Strange Stories

by Wyckoff, Jason A.

  The restoration of my mind allows me to dream my body anew. I am but a shade now, but soon—soon, I will be physical again. The veil between worlds quivers when I wave my hand over the surface. Already I cast my will across the divide to enthral this unworthy scribe. Soon, I will do so much more than that. All I need is your assistance. By your belief I shall be made free. That is why I tell my story: to plant the seed of your destruction. You need only indulge that simmering instinct that there is something wrong in the reflection.

  So maintain your frivolous vigils. Keep keen eye upon the bloom that is you. Immerse yourselves further in the still pools before you. Across the dark divide, I will feel you, and with slow undulations I shall move across the deep to get to you. Stare too long and you might see a shadow move in the mirror, beyond the mirror. Take your time; I’ll wait. I’ll wait until after you turn to go. Even then I’ll bide my time—until the doubt is too great, until you turn back to reassure yourself that you couldn’t have seen what you think you saw. I’ll wait until . . .

  There! You see!? I slacken the reins slightly to see where this idiot will go, and he plunges through a clumsy rumination on narcissism into a workmanlike attempt at suspense. Don’t fool yourself; it is not your flaw that fuels me, it is my hate. And I won’t wait—as soon as you provide me one split second of fear to crack the final barrier, I’ll reach through the mirror and tear out your goddamn throat.

  Be seeing you.

  Contents

  BLACK HORSE

  CONTENTS

  The Highwall Horror

  Panorama

  The Walk Home

  Intermediary

  The Night of His Sister’s Engagement

  The Bells, Then the Birds

  A Civil Complaint

  The Mauve Blot

  Black Horse

  Raise Up the Serpent

  The Trucker’s Story

  A Willow Cat in Meadowlark

  Hair and Nails

  Knott’s Letter

  An Uneven Hand

  A Matter of Mirrors