9 Tales Told in the Dark 23 by 9 Tales Told in the Dark

Author:9 Tales Told in the Dark [Dark, 9 Tales Told in the]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-07-03T22:00:00+00:00

In the cool evening air as the mists formed in the salt marshes and the sea birds returned home to roost, the sound of a telephone could be heard, John Neville waited patiently for somebody to answer, the words ready on his tongue ‘It’s your turn.’

THE END.

WISH HUNT by George Strasburg

Droplets of water paused on a tattered leaf. The furthest reach of a far of breeze jiggled the droplets, but they didn’t fall. Avery trained his scope upon the droplets, imagined picking them off one by one. Except he was aware his bullets would rip the leaf to shreds. Still, he’d spent hours imagining his accuracy, like a bored child staring out a car window.

Avery could wait for days if he had to. The forecast promised mild weather. He had also paced his hydration, so as not to incite a full bladder. He had a second tube that would deliver a protein shake, and caffeine pills were laced in his collar. Only the slightest dip in his chin and minor tongue action, and he’d be fully aware again. But he hadn’t trained for this. He hadn’t realized his mind would wander off—focusing on morning dew rather than the task. He admonished himself, biting the inside of his lip.

He bit until he bled, welcoming the warm salty flavor. It masked the stale taste of halitosis and the onset of gingivitis—he had not considered dental hygiene in his preparation. Avery thought, my teeth will rot one day anyway. Everything rots away. Everything dies.

Sometimes, things need help dying.

I like to help.

Avery exhaled, pulled his eye back from the scope, and let the cool air dry the sweat that had accumulated. His ears perked. Something heavier than a squirrel disturbed a patch of leaves nearby. It didn’t repeat the mistake. Avery needed to hear the sound again. He hadn’t been expecting it. He only knew that it hadn’t come behind him or in front of him, but the slight echo of the quiet forest around him confused him.

Just walk in front of my scope.

He dare not move it. The sunlight would flicked off the lens and potentially share his location.

Avery kept quiet, still, and as patient as he had ever tried to be.

He heard it. A sound so soft, it would be missed by any other ear. But the decompression of leaves was one Avery had trained to hear. A soft compression followed shortly after—a lowered foot with a held breath.

Keep walking. You’re almost in my sight.

Promise?

Avery reeled back. The sound, it came from within his thoughts. His mind panicked, filling with betrayal and confusion.

Avery, I asked if you promised to kill me.

Avery didn’t respond—intentionally. His mind gave a dozen answers, each more vulgar than the last. But also offered his own questions. What are you? Do you want me to kill you?

But of course, Avery, that is why I have walked before your sight.

In his confusion, Avery had not been able to see what stood right in front of him. He squeezed the trigger—too much.

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