Something in the Shadows An Anthology of Horror Stories

Introduction Cathy Pace Matthews

Pig Headed D. K. Mason

A Dish to Die For S. J. Lucas

Panic Patricia Knight

Convert Amber C. Carlyle

The Room That Swallowed People Gary Jefferies

Big Dog J. A. Kyser

Hiding Cathy Pace Matthews

An Absent Child Gary Jefferies

Question to Kill Sitarra ‘LullaDIEs’ Sefton

One Woman’s Dream Mary Dunaway

Carpe Librum S. J. Lucas

The Back Door Cathy Pace Matthews

The Well J. A. Kyser

Someone in the Shadows Patricia Knight

Ghost Walk Gary Jefferies

Bargains Amber C. Carlyle

Covered Mirrors S. J. Lucas

The Inheritance Cathy Pace Matthews

The Tempestuous Teen J. A. Kyser

Consumables Sitarra ‘LullaDIEs’ Sefton

The Chosen J. A. Kyser

Doll Craft S. J. Lucas

Tom Awoke J. A. Kyser

Sisters Cathy Pace Matthews

Hers Patricia Knight

The God Strain Gary Jefferies

The God Strain II Gary Jefferies

The Hunted Cathy Pace Matthews

About the Authors

Acknowledge

Introduction

I was given the task of introducing our little collection. What better way than to give you a little sample of what you might find in our little tome of stories meant to make your blood run cold and give you nightmares?

***

Her First Story

She sat silently at her computer trying to get the words to come. It was only a few days away till the deadline for the short story she had been working on and she had been trying for hours to write. She wasn’t having much luck this night however.

She really wasn’t a writer but she had decided to try her hand at writing a short story for this book that someone was putting together which would be featuring the work of new writers. She didn’t know if she had what it would take to make it into the book but she was making an effort.

At first the words had come easily but toward the end of the story she had hit a brick wall as it were. The story was supposed to be a horror thriller type thing but the only horror she had known was her own day to day life that had come from the man she had been married to for ten years. The only thriller type experience she had ever encountered was when he had disappeared. Maybe that was the answer to her problem. Maybe she should be writing something along those lines. Of course she couldn’t, wouldn’t talk about that but she could write about something similar.

She got up and went to get her coat out of the closet. Reaching up to the shelf over where her coat had hung she retrieved the hand gun there. Smiling she slipped the gun into her coat pocket. She got away with it once, at least so far, she saw no reason why she couldn’t get away with it again. She thought this time it would be a stranger so there really was no reason what so ever why it should come back on her as she walked out the door into the cold wet night.

***

You will find something that will scare you in the pages of this collection of hair raising tales. The subject matter for this compilation of stories is a collection that cover a broad range of subject matter and come from around the globe. Within the cover of this book you’ll find ghostly figures, a library with a deep dark secret, several wickedly evil humans of all ages, a creature or two of the night you don’t want to meet in a dark alley, actually I don’t think you want to meet any of the antagonist in these stories in a dark alley or anywhere else for that matter. Whatever the monster or monsters were that have frightened you in the past I promise you’ll find ones far worse in our little collection. Not a whole lot scares me. I grew up watching and reading horror yet putting together this amazing collection of stories even I had trouble turning off the lights when it was time for bed. I may never turn the lights off again.

Of course none of the authors who were kind enough to submit their stories for this book would ever, could ever commit any heinous crime for the sake of a story. There is just no way, they couldn’t, wouldn’t, I mean I don’t think…

I hope you enjoy Something in the Shadows. A compilation of short stories by a group of amazing story tellers with wickedly evil minds.

I believe I’ll forgo that little dinner engagement with the group that’s coming up.

Enjoy and sleep well.

Cathy Pace Matthews

PIG HEADED

D.K. Mason

Pig Headed

This place is so cool! Samuel acted like a kid in a candy store as he ran back and forth between displays. His petite wife Mare rolled her eyes.

This place is creepy! See if you can find a phone, obviously there is no one around.

I seriously doubt if a phone will work in here! The place is abandoned. We may have to start walking. Lara held on tight to her husband’s arm as she glanced around the dusty shop. The place sold all things pig related, of course because it was a PIG FARM and Market.

Look, Barbeque sauce from the 70’s! Samuel laughed as Mare elbowed him in the side.

The storm is coming up fast. We need to find a phone, find help or start walking. Lara dug her nails into her husband’s arm as they passed a display of gruesome pig mask. Comet laughed at her reaction and yelled for Samuel who raced right over grabbing a mask.

Wow! Honey look at this! Samuel put on a mask and turned to his wife. He started dancing around.

Take that off RIGHT NOW! Look the rain has started. We need to leave.

Lara watched the scene in disgust. Samuel dancing, her own husband laughing so hard he had to lean against a display to hold himself up, and as usual Samuels snobby wife acting exactly like what she was, a snob. The woman had complained since they left the city, making the entire trip miserable. Maybe if she hadn’t been whining in Samuels’s ear he wouldn’t have missed the turn then ran the van into a ditch trying to turn around.

Mare stormed off toward the front of the shop as he continued to laugh and joke with Comet. Lara sighed. The road trip was supposed to be fun. They planned to take their time and have an adventure while getting to know each other better. Comet and Samuel were old high school buddies who lost touch until finding each other on social media. They discovered they were both on vacation and each of them were planning a road trip. Why not go together?

Mare whirled around when Samuel came up from behind still wearing the damn pig mask. She was watching the storm through a dirty window as the yard flooded and turned to mud. All she could think about were her expensive snow white sneakers.

I told you to take off that MASK! Mare yelled as she reached to snatch the mask off of him herself. She would give the man an earful once they were out of this mess. The large butcher knife sliced into the arm she lifted. Mare stumbled backwards as white hot pain shot through her body. Her arm fell to the floor with a thud. Before Mare could scream she was repeatedly stabbed. As she fell to the floor the Pig masked figure bent to slice her neck.

Here Piggy, Piggy! The voice cooing over her already dead body was not her husband Samuel.

Where is Mare? Lara glanced around after hearing a noise toward the front of the store. It was getting dark as the store was without electricity. The storm was roaring outside shaking the building, but the noise Lara heard was inside, with them.

She is mad at me! The woman doesn’t know how to relax and have fun. Samuel spoke through the pig mask as Comet continued to laugh at his antics. He remembered that wild dance from high school.

Well I have to agree with her this time. We shouldn’t be playing around in here. Lara decided to walk toward the front to find Mare. Maybe she could talk to Mare and calm her down.

Man I can’t get the mask off! Samuel pulled at the mask sending Comet into more stomach busting laughter. He hadn’t realized how much he missed his old friend. Nonstop laughter with their high school friends declaring they would be famous comedians one day.

You better take that thing off and go find your wife. I have a feeling you will be sleeping on the couch for a long time.

Comet, help me! This thing is on too tight; it hurts when I pull to get it off.

Man, come on! Remove the mask and stop playing around. My wife is probably mad at me now too. Comet’s grin slowly disappeared as he watched Samuel struggle with the mask. He reached out to help him then recoiled in horror.

The pig mask was warm to the touch, and instead of plastic, the mask felt like SKIN. A high pitched scream interrupted them before Samuel or Comet could react, the scream was repeated as Lara stumbled toward them. A Pig Masked figure holding a bloody knife was right on her heels. She kept screaming as she raced past the two men who swiftly recovered and ran along with her.

Two couples huddled in the farm house watching the storm increase in fury. They split up from the other couples when the van crashed into the ditch and they found themselves stranded. They decided it might be faster if some of them went into the store and the rest searched the house for a phone or help. The place was obviously deserted.

The worn out sign was emblazoned with the words FLETCHERS PIG FARM AND MARKET. The four couples read the sign as they continued up the long driveway toward the buildings in the distance. Angry gray clouds bellowed overhead threatening to release the fierce storm the weather report on the radio warned them about. Surely there would be someone here. Once they reached the yard devoid of vegetation leaving bare dirt it became obvious the farm was abandoned.

Look! There they are, but why are they running and screaming like damn fools? West pointed and the others crowded to the window to see.

Oh my God someone is chasing them! What is that? His wife Verna gasped.

West grabbed his pistol as he ran to the front door. Lara reached the front porch first nearly knocking West down, Comet was next. As soon as he ran past West fired his gun at the two Pig masked figures, one of them fell tumbling backward down the steps. The second one stopped, turned and ran back into the storm where he vanished.

You shot Samuel! Lara screamed.

Samuel? West stared at her in disbelief.

He was wearing a mask, just like that lunatic that killed Mare!

My sister is dead? Granger cried out. His sister Mare invited him and his wife at the last moment. They were renting an eight passenger van, the trip sounded like fun. Now she was dead?

Everyone make certain the house is locked tight so that thing can’t get in here! Comet yelled as he ran to a window checking the lock.

I need to check on Samuel! Granger raced outside where Samuel was struggling to get up, still wearing the pig mask. He helped him to his feet and brought him inside.

Everything is locked tight. Comet returned and gave Samuel a funny look.

Granger helped Samuel to a sofa where he laid down. He was still wearing the mask and Cornett remembered what happened when they tried to remove the mask.

The bullet missed him. Luckily for Sammy boy here you are a poor shot. Granger settled him down then reached to remove the mask. His hand encountered what felt like skin. As Granger started to back away he noticed the bloody knife.

Here Piggy, Piggy. The pig masked figure was swift as it leaped to his feet and attacked Granger with the knife.

Finishing his slaughter he turned to the group cowering at the front door watching in disbelief. Chomping on a limb he advanced on them. Comet managed to get the door open but before the group could escape they discovered more Pig Masked figures waiting with open jaws.

BARBEQUE!! One of them yelled.

FOUR YEARS LATER

There were no survivors? Tameka gasped as the speaker finished the story of FLETCHERS PIG FARM AND MARKET.

The group sat on the grass. The sky was blue with sparse clouds; the autumn sun provided welcome warmth. The professor glanced toward the buildings. This was his first year taking a group of his best student to explore paranormal at the abandoned pig farm. The story telling came first before a group meeting to discuss rules and regulations. They would be camping out but were not allowed to sleep overnight in any of the buildings.

There was one survivor which may surprise you. Samuel didn’t die. The pig mask somehow melded to his skin. Extensive surgery repaired the damage to his face but his mind was never again the same. No one knows where poor Sammy is, perhaps he stalks the grounds of the pig farm… The Professors voice trailed off as his dark eyes danced with merriment and mischief. There was nervous laughter as he continued.

Whew! I am glad to get away from there. Blah blah blah! All talk and no action. I have been dying to get in this place for years. Ben entered the unlocked farm house. His girlfriend clung to his arm looking around in amazement. The place seemed perfectly normal.

Separating from the group may not have been a good idea. She whispered.

It will be fine. First off, we find a bed. You know like in those horrible slasher movies? Ben turned to kiss her.

She giggled as she kissed him back. You are such a bad boy.

Ben swept her into his arms and headed up the staircase to where he hoped they could find a bed in the still furnished farmhouse.

Back at the campsite the other students who had made the trip wanted to know more about the legends of the old pig farm.

So tell us the original story? What really happened out here?

The professor nodded his graying head. I can only tell you of the rumors. Sit back and relax.

***

Fletchers Brothers Barbecue had stayed ahead of the competition for years. There was a bit of something in the meat the competitors couldn’t seem to put their finger on no matter how hard they tried. As the brothers aged, they worried over their operation.

The Fletcher Pig Farm with a Market later added was handed down from generation to generation, from the looks of things it seemed the family business would end with them. Until one day they noticed an advertisement in a newspaper for a Fletchers Funeral Home.

Heath Fletcher was aware that somewhere in his distant lineage he was related to the owners of Fletchers Barbeque. He thought it was a hoot if the story was true. He himself was a mortician, the handler of human flesh. He agreed to visit the men who insisted he call them Uncle.

The brothers couldn’t have been more alike; although they weren’t twins it was difficult to tell them apart. Age and hard work had bowed their once strong backs. Each man still had a head full of thick curly hair although iron gray replaced the jet black from their youth.

Bear was the younger of the two men as well as the weakest. An assortment of illness confined Bear to a wheelchair but he could still get around quite well. His older brother Lowell had him beat in age by a gap of two years. He took Heath on a tour of the farm with Bear trailing behind in his wheel chair until they climbed onto a golf cart.

The Fletcher Pig Farm was located in an isolated area a few miles from a tiny town. Due to age and health the brothers just couldn’t keep up with the amount of work the once thriving business created. Heath made the decision to help them if they agreed to add him to their will.

I can run the barbeque line but I do have my own business, the mortuary. He reminded the two elderly men as they toured the farm.

Of course he could relocate his business but Heath was aware he couldn’t run both. He had no intention of giving up his own successful company. The Pig Farm would be discontinued as soon as his Uncles were dead and buried; Heath hoped to make that happen sooner rather than later.

So you are not going to tell me the secret ingredient? He helped his uncles climb from the golf cart they rode around in to oversee operations. Bear was returned to his wheelchair and Heath helped wheel him to the farm house.

Bear cackled. Everything will be revealed in our wills, just you be patient.

Early the next morning Heath was standing in the window looking toward the pig pens when he noticed a commotion. To his knowledge the brothers rarely left the farm, allowing one lone farm hand to handle and feed the pigs. The market was already shut down. Heath had briefly met Jasper. The farm hand was a new hire, but Heath knew the sound of his voice. The voice was now yelling for help.

Heath raced from the farmhouse, past the startled weaker of the two uncles seated in his wheelchair. Heath was stunned to see Lowell, the older uncle, fighting the young farm hand, holding on tight as he persisted in trying to plunge a needle into him.

I warned you not to snoop around here. You are trying to steal our secrets and sell em! The older man rasped as he refused to let go of Jasper.

I wasn’t! I swear I wasn’t! I won’t tell what I seen! Jasper pleaded for his life.

Heath rushed