Palimpsest: A Collection of Contemporary Horror by Caitlin Marceau

Author:Caitlin Marceau
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Ghost Orchid Press
Published: 2022-03-15T23:00:00+00:00

HELENA

It yells, the shrill scream growing louder as it echoes off the walls of the small room.

It must be hungry again.

If I had breath I would sigh, but I don’t, so I just get up and walk into the kitchen. No, not walk. Shuffle. I can’t fully move my feet like I used to, and it takes me a few minutes to sidestep the broken wooden chair in the doorway of the room. I approach the pantry and stop, trying to remember if the formula’s there or in the fridge. It takes me a minute, spit from my open mouth rolling down onto my chin, before I’m almost positive it’s in the cupboard.

I reach a shaky hand out, nails dragging against the wood until I finally find the small handle. I manage to wrap my fingers around it and pull the door open. There, on the middle shelf, sits the unopened pack of baby formula.

I found it at a bulk store—one of those stores people thought would make a great stronghold until the infection passed, but in reality was one of the first places in the city to become overrun—and then spent the next three hours trying to get it into the carriage, into the house, and into the pantry all while making sure little ’Na was safe.

Technically her name is Helena, but since I died a few weeks ago, speech has become increasingly difficult. I managed the whole name for a little while, then I called her ’Lena, and now it’s down to the pitiful single-syllabled ’Na. And to be honest even that’s exhausting to say. It’s only a matter of time before I stop calling her something altogether and just start grunting at her.

I extend a hand, trying to pick up one of the cans, but end up pawing at the plastic-wrapped package. My shoulders sag; I forgot about the wrap. I slide the cans closer on the shelf and try cutting through the wrapping with my yellowing nails. It doesn’t work, though, and I stare in disgust as two of the brittle nails crack and break off and fall pathetically onto the counter. I’m not actually repulsed, but I am concerned by the fact that it neither hurt nor bothered me.

I moan in frustration and, like a two-year-old in a grocery store that’s been told they can’t buy sweets, I flail my arms and throw my head back in a tantrum. Unfortunately, I haven’t quite let go of the cans, something I only realize as they fly off the shelf towards me, hitting me in the face and then landing with a loud bang and a wet crunching sound on my foot. I look down: my big toe and part of my second one are completely crushed. Blood so dark it could be black is splattered on the floor and smeared on a few of the cans.

Wonderful.

On the plus side, the chipped toe polish that was bothering me is gone.

I feel my face to evaluate the damage: half of my bottom lip has been peeled back, bone and tooth exposed and bare.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.