by A.R. Wise
Widowsfield
March 14th, 1996
“She’s here,” said Jeremy Tapper.
He stopped the two boys that were carrying the bowl of steaming water into the bathroom. They had oven mitts on, and had accidentally spilled some of the hot liquid in the hallway.
“Who’s here?” asked Mark as he stood in the tub, his shirt off, waiting for the children to pour the searing liquid on him.
“The Skeleton Man is going to leave us.” Jeremy’s hand faltered. He had the razor pressed to his neck, prepared to kill himself if his father didn’t do what The Skeleton Man asked, but now he felt alone again. The chattering teeth quieted and Jeremy felt lost without the noise.
“What’s going on?” asked one of the younger boys holding the water. “Where did he go?”
Jeremy set his hand on the sink to steady himself. “He needs two of them, but only one came back. She forgot, but he can make her remember.”
“Jeremy,” said Mark. “Put the razor down. Okay?”
Jeremy glanced at the other two boys, both of whom had started to cry. “We’re lost now.”
“Who’s going to protect us?” asked one of the boys.
“I’ll protect you,” said Mark. He nearly stepped out of the tub, but stopped, fearful that Jeremy would hurt himself. “I’ll stop whatever it is that you think is after you.”
“No you won’t,” said Jeremy. “The Skeleton Man protected us. This time he’s leaving. He’s going to try and find the one he lost.”
“He loves her more than us,” said one of the boys.
“No,” said Jeremy in anger. “That’s not true. Don’t say that.”
“Yes it is true.” The boys set the bowl of water on the floor and took off their oven mitts. “He’s going to abandon us now that she’s here. He’s going to let the woman have us.”
“What woman?” asked Mark. “I’m coming out of the tub, Jeremy. Put the razor down and tell me what’s going on.”
“No!” Jeremy pressed the blade against his throat. “You stay there. If he comes back, we have to pretend like everything’s the same. Daddy, you’re going to get us killed again. If the woman comes, she’ll try to grab us.”
“What woman?” asked Mark.
“The melting one. She hates the children. She wants to carry us away.”
“Jeremy, nothing you’re saying makes any sense. I don’t know what’s going on, but something is messing with your head. There’s no Skeleton Man, there’s no woman that wants to kidnap you. You’ve got to believe me, son. Please.”
“Dad, you don’t know what’s out there,” said Jeremy. “We do.” He was crying as he held the razor to his throat. “It’s better not to see.”
Jeremy pressed the razor into his skin. Mark cried out in horror as his son sawed at his own throat. The boy fell to the floor and the other children scrambled to get the weapon, anxious to die next rather than face the town without The Skeleton Man to protect them.