Growing Dark by Kristopher Triana

Author:Kristopher Triana [Triana, Kristopher]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781940967967
Publisher: Blue Juice Books
Published: 2015-05-14T22:00:00+00:00

* * * * *

It was like a geyser of pure molasses.

The boards at Mabel’s feet splintered and cracked, and the sludge shot up all around her in an instant. It had come up through the floor. The tar formed ropes that sprang up her bustle and coiled about her legs. It burned coldly through her stockings and then froze to her skin, securing a solid hold as more climbed the nuances of her flesh. An upward burst of snow decorated her flailing body, and she reached out to the others as she was devoured by the murk.

“Help me!” she sobbed.

Mercy tried to run to her, but Cheyenne scooped her up with one arm and clutched her to him.

“Ain’t nothing you can do for her,” he whispered in her ear. “Don’t let that stuff get on ya, too.”

The others seemed to know it was best to stay back, or else they were paralyzed by fear, especially when the pooling tar began to bulge and change shape, the end of the ropes turning into little hands that began to drag Mabel down. Rising up from between those hands came oil-slicked skulls, followed by shoulders and tiny torsos. It was as if the slime was birthing toddlers to do its horrible bidding. Cheyenne watched them twist into life, hearing their small bones pop into existence as they slithered up Mabel’s body, coating her in black ice. Even as she opened her mouth for a final scream, icicles formed between her lips, burying her final cry.

One of the oily midgets jumped upon her back and sent its claws into her shoulders. Cheyenne saw some of its malformed face now. The slime was slowly falling away from its head, revealing a pink layer of flesh so thin that he could see the thing’s veins pulsing underneath. It was the last thing he saw before Mabel was pulled under the black pool and was gone forever.

The barkeep ran for the door that led to the backyard. Cheyenne threw out a leg and tripped the boy, then kicked him over when he hit the floor. The barkeep tried to get up and lash at him, but he secured his boot over the boy’s throat.

“Don’t go fussin’, son,” he said.

“We must get out of here!”

“Ain’t nowhere to go to. You saw outside. If you open that door, you won’t be letting us out, you’ll be letting them in.”

“They’re already getting in!” he cried. “We’re sitting ducks here! If we don’t make a break, we’ll be dead!”

“Nothing’s out there but the ice, the tar, and those things. Best we can do is hunker down.”

“Until what?” Mercy asked.

He stood there, unable to answer her.

“We ain’t safe in here, Cheyenne,” she said.

“Don’t open the door!” Eva said.

She came to Cheyenne’s side and clutched his arm. Her eyes were frantic, and her makeup was running with her tears.

“They’re coming for us,” she told him. “Just like Verdie swore. When she left, she swore she’d get the vex on this place!”

“Who’s Verdie?”

With that, Sonny intervened.

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