Bites Collection: Thirty Bite-Sized Horror Stories by Darcy Coates

Author:Darcy Coates [Coates, Darcy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B015HDASQU
Goodreads: 26808770
Publisher: Candlebreak
Published: 2015-10-29T16:00:00+00:00

17

Room for Rent

It was nearly sundown when Henrik slowed his car outside the stone cottage. The unassuming two-story building, with its garden of hardy shrubs and winter-dormant rose bushes, blended into the village’s old-world charm. Not for the first time that day, Henrik wondered if the buildings had been deliberately designed that way to lure tourists.

The BOARD AVAILABLE sign in the window had caught Henrik’s attention. He’d planned his trip across the country with the expectation that he’d be able to spend the night in the remote village, and had been surprised to find it didn’t seem to have any sort of hotel or motel. The next nearest town was four hours away, and he was keen to put it get some food and sleep.

Henrik parked off the side of the narrow dirt road. Unless there was a shed or garage out the back, the cottage’s owner didn’t seem to have a car—just two bikes, propped against the shadowed porch. Henrik cast a final glance back at the town, its gold lights glittering across the hill, then began climbing the steps.

“What’cha doing here?” a voice asked, and Henrik jumped. He hadn’t seen the boy sitting in the old wooden chair at the back corner of the porch, and an embarrassed flush crept over his face.

“Uhh… I need a place to stay the night?”

The boy’s dark eyes darted over Henrik’s face as a cold smile drew his lips apart. “Oh, really?”

Henrik hesitated, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. He was spared answering when the cottage’s door swung open and a heavy-set woman with a wide, reddish face leaned through the frame.

“What, Sam, are you scaring the guests off again?” she asked the boy. He lurched out of his chair and skulked past the woman and into the house. It wasn’t until Sam stood that Henrik realised he’d underestimated the boy’s age; based on his height, he had to be at least in his mid-teens.

The woman turned to Henrik and gave him a sad, apologetic smile. “Sorry about him, luv. He doesn’t mean any harm. Were you looking for a place to stay tonight?”

Henrik hesitated for a second. What’s the alternative? Sleep in the car? “Yes, please. How much…?”

“Twenty for just the room,” the woman said, glancing Henrik up and down as though to assess his worth, “Or thirty for dinner and breakfast included.”

“I’ll take that,” Henrik said, fishing his wallet out of his pocket and sorting through the contents for thirty dollars. “It’s been a long day. I’m Henrik, by the way.”

“Barb.” The woman took the money and ushered him inside with a wide smile. This time, Henrik only hesitated a half second before crossing the threshold.

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