Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories by Clive Barker, Neil Gaiman, Ramsey Campbell, Paul Tremblay, Mercedes M. Yardley, Richard Thomas, Damien Angelica Walters, Kevin Lucia Page A
Authors: Clive Barker, Neil Gaiman, Ramsey Campbell, Paul Tremblay, Mercedes M. Yardley, Richard Thomas, Damien Angelica Walters, Kevin Lucia
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dad’s job, and the hours he’s spending at the office.
That’s partly true, but most of all, what she’s upset about and can’t mention to Hannah yet, is what David told her last night. He said he regretted taking the job, that he didn’t think the money was worth it, that his old boss had already indicated, strongly, that they’d love for him to come back, and that he’s seriously considering it.
Leanne said nothing, too shocked to speak. They’d uprooted their entire lives to move here. A good career step, David said. Unlimited potential. No more worrying about money for Hannah’s college fund. Over and over again, and now she wonders if he was trying to convince himself as much as he was trying to convince her.
They spent weeks hashing out the options, the downsides, the changes, and, once they decided the benefits outweighed the risks, several more weeks setting everything in motion. And now he wants to undo everything and move them back? Without even considering how this will affect Hannah or Leanne? Not to mention the logistical hassle. They signed a year’s lease for this house and rented out their old—thank god they hadn’t sold it, though it was a near thing. Breaking the lease will cost them money, and then they’ll have to find somewhere else to live in Edgewater until the tenants’ lease is up.
Leanne’s been doing remote paralegal work for the firm she worked for in Edgewater, so in theory, that won’t present a problem, but once they move back, her boss will expect her to come into the office and she likes working remotely, likes knowing she’s there when Hannah gets home from school.
She can’t even imagine how Hannah will react to the news. She took the move harder than any of them, and it was a huge relief when she made friends so quickly. Nice girls, all of them, especially Larissa. If they do decide to move back, will that only make things doubly hard for Hannah or will she be too happy to see Mira again to care?
Leanne pinches the bridge of her nose between finger and thumb. Readjusts the laundry basket. Maybe she should mention the possibility to Hannah and feel her out; then again, it might only upset her even more.
***
Beneath the overpass, through Hannah’s tears, trucks rush past in a blur. She wonders if her mom’s already figured out that she isn’t home. If so, she probably thinks she’s with one of the monsters. She touches a hand to her chest. In a way, she’d be right. If she peeled back the skin of her chest, she thinks there’d be claw marks in the chambers of her heart.
It isn’t the end of the world; that’s what her mother said. Hannah lets out a sharp sound halfway between laugh and sob. Her mom has no idea.
Her dad probably isn’t even home yet. He never worked so much at his old job. She told him that in the beginning, told him she missed him, and he said he missed her too and he wouldn’t have to work like that forever. She thinks maybe he lied and wishes he’d liked his old job a little more.
At least they won’t ever find out what she did.
She peeks over her shoulder, half-expecting to see the monsters standing there, smiling and waiting. No one’s there, of course, but she feels their presence, their hot breath on the back of her neck, their claws tracing the length of her spine.
For a brief moment, she wonders what it would’ve been like to talk to her mom. Then she shakes off the thought and checks over her shoulder again, this time to make sure no cars are driving past.
She climbs over the railing and stares down at the trucks, listening to the rumble of their tires on the asphalt. Inside, she’s cold and still and unafraid, but she hopes it’s fast. She hopes it doesn’t hurt.
***
Leanne stands outside Hannah’s room, arms crossed and elbows cupped in her palms. She fidgets in place, lifts one hand to knock, lets it fall. It’s almost ten o’clock; Hannah might be getting ready for bed.
At the low creak of Hannah’s
That’s partly true, but most of all, what she’s upset about and can’t mention to Hannah yet, is what David told her last night. He said he regretted taking the job, that he didn’t think the money was worth it, that his old boss had already indicated, strongly, that they’d love for him to come back, and that he’s seriously considering it.
Leanne said nothing, too shocked to speak. They’d uprooted their entire lives to move here. A good career step, David said. Unlimited potential. No more worrying about money for Hannah’s college fund. Over and over again, and now she wonders if he was trying to convince himself as much as he was trying to convince her.
They spent weeks hashing out the options, the downsides, the changes, and, once they decided the benefits outweighed the risks, several more weeks setting everything in motion. And now he wants to undo everything and move them back? Without even considering how this will affect Hannah or Leanne? Not to mention the logistical hassle. They signed a year’s lease for this house and rented out their old—thank god they hadn’t sold it, though it was a near thing. Breaking the lease will cost them money, and then they’ll have to find somewhere else to live in Edgewater until the tenants’ lease is up.
Leanne’s been doing remote paralegal work for the firm she worked for in Edgewater, so in theory, that won’t present a problem, but once they move back, her boss will expect her to come into the office and she likes working remotely, likes knowing she’s there when Hannah gets home from school.
She can’t even imagine how Hannah will react to the news. She took the move harder than any of them, and it was a huge relief when she made friends so quickly. Nice girls, all of them, especially Larissa. If they do decide to move back, will that only make things doubly hard for Hannah or will she be too happy to see Mira again to care?
Leanne pinches the bridge of her nose between finger and thumb. Readjusts the laundry basket. Maybe she should mention the possibility to Hannah and feel her out; then again, it might only upset her even more.
***
Beneath the overpass, through Hannah’s tears, trucks rush past in a blur. She wonders if her mom’s already figured out that she isn’t home. If so, she probably thinks she’s with one of the monsters. She touches a hand to her chest. In a way, she’d be right. If she peeled back the skin of her chest, she thinks there’d be claw marks in the chambers of her heart.
It isn’t the end of the world; that’s what her mother said. Hannah lets out a sharp sound halfway between laugh and sob. Her mom has no idea.
Her dad probably isn’t even home yet. He never worked so much at his old job. She told him that in the beginning, told him she missed him, and he said he missed her too and he wouldn’t have to work like that forever. She thinks maybe he lied and wishes he’d liked his old job a little more.
At least they won’t ever find out what she did.
She peeks over her shoulder, half-expecting to see the monsters standing there, smiling and waiting. No one’s there, of course, but she feels their presence, their hot breath on the back of her neck, their claws tracing the length of her spine.
For a brief moment, she wonders what it would’ve been like to talk to her mom. Then she shakes off the thought and checks over her shoulder again, this time to make sure no cars are driving past.
She climbs over the railing and stares down at the trucks, listening to the rumble of their tires on the asphalt. Inside, she’s cold and still and unafraid, but she hopes it’s fast. She hopes it doesn’t hurt.
***
Leanne stands outside Hannah’s room, arms crossed and elbows cupped in her palms. She fidgets in place, lifts one hand to knock, lets it fall. It’s almost ten o’clock; Hannah might be getting ready for bed.
At the low creak of Hannah’s
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