Slice: Seven Tales of Horror
By Ty Johnston
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About this ebook
Seven short stories of horror, from the truly gruesome to dark, historical fantasy.
Forlorn
Struggling with eruptions in his personal life, a college professor suffers from blackouts. What he finds when he wakes is numbing to his soul.
Killing Just for Fun
There are worse things than serial killers, as mass murderer Jimmy Bob Haskins discovers. But who is more damned, the killer or the killer of killers?
Zombie Tears
A brother's last recorded words leave behind a message of anguish and hunger, as well as of warning.
Walking Between the Rain
She stalks the night in search of prey. She considers herself a vampire. But vampires don't really exist. Or do they?
Everyone is Zombies
Zombies are everywhere. And everyone. But if zombies are everyone, where does that leave you?
Interlude in Lombardy
The year is 1892 and in Italy the dark opera Pagliacci has received an encore from its first audience. But is there any truth to the harrowing tale behind the opera? An occultist with mysteries of his own is called upon to find an answer.
Hot Off the Press
What happens when everything you write becomes reality? One newspaper reporter finds out. The hard way. And it is the world which will suffer.
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Ty Johnston
Originally from Kentucky, Ty Johnston is a former newspaper journalist. He lives in North Carolina with loving memories of his late wife.Blog: tyjohnston.blogspot.com
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Slice - Ty Johnston
SLICE
seven tales of horror
by Ty Johnston
a Monumental Works Group author
Copyright 2009 by L. M. Press
visit the author’s website: tyjohnston.blogspot.com
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Publication acknowledgments
Forlorn was originally published at www.deadmanstome.com
Killing Just for Fun was originally published at www.deadmanstome.com
Zombie Tears was originally published at www.talesofworldwarz.com
Walking Between the Rain was originally published at www.everydayfiction.com
Everyone is Zombies was originally published at www.deadmanstome.com
Interlude in Lombardy was originally published at http://noctober.wordpress.com/
Hot Off the Press was originally published at www.raygunrevival.com/
Fiction available from the author
Demon Chains
Ghosts of the Asylum
City of Rogues: Book I of The Kobalos Trilogy
Road to Wrath: Book II of The Kobalos Trilogy
Dark King of the North: Book III of The Kobalos Trilogy
Blade and Flame (short story prequel to The Kobalos Trilogy)
The Kobalos Trilogy: Omnibus edition
Bayne’s Climb: Part I of The Sword of Bayne
A Thousand Wounds: Part II of The Sword of Bayne
Under the Mountain: Part III of The Sword of Bayne
The Sword of Bayne: Omnibus edition
The Castle of Endless Woe (novelette)
More Than Kin
100 Years of Blood
The Storm
American Crossroads: five turning points
Non-fiction from the author
100 Web Sites for Fiction Writers
100 Days of Fantasy: a memoir
Table of Contents
Forlorn
Killing Just for Fun
Zombie Tears
Walking Between the Rain
Everyone is Zombies
Interlude in Lombardy
Hot Off the Press
for D.G.
Forlorn
Walking through the dead lights of night, I spy lovers in a car. Beneath a tree. Behind the library.
He is young and strong, probably a student.
She too is young, also likely a student. Her pale hair hangs longer than his, though just barely. An inch or two below her shoulders. I can smell her perfume from twenty feet away. It is sweet, like the tang of marigolds on a dewy morn. It disgusts me.
It reminds me.
***
Blackness.
***
When I come around, I am bent over leaning against the car, breathing heavy. I blink several times to make sure I am awake, not dreaming.
The first thing I notice is red ink on my hands. Red ink? Where would I get red ink? I smear it so it runs beneath my nails, into the lines of my skin and through the down of the soft hairs on the back of my hands. It is sticky. Grossly so. I hold my hands up to see them better in the fluorescence of the parking lot’s lights.
It is not ink.
I look to the car. The passenger door is open. Smeared across the door window is something wet and gray. I do not ask myself what it is.
Inside the car. Two bodies. Him. Her. No longer lovers. Now just meat. They have not been dead long, possibly no more than five minutes.
I shiver.
Blood is pooled in the bottom of the driver’s floor. Sunk into the mess is a knife. A hunting knife. Covered with red mess and pieces of flesh.
I recognize it.
***
Later. Home. Bathroom. Shower.
The telephone rings as I am drying myself with a Mickey Mouse towel my son won at a game in Disney World several years ago. I let the phone ring. The machine will get it.
Roger, are you there? If you are, please answer the phone.
A voice from long ago. No. Only days since I have seen her.
You haven’t called me in two weeks. If I hadn’t bumped into you on campus the other day I wouldn’t even have been able to tell you.
Her voice is from long ago. It is