Welcome to FROST HARROW, my new modern (1990s) gothic horror series! If you’d like to support this and my other work, go to www.CushingHorrors.com and become my patron! You may also enjoy the Scribe Award-Winning MANOS: THE HANDS OF FATE – In print, for kindle, and for all e-book formats. And check out my retro-horror-comedy classic CANOE COPS VS. THE MUMMY as well as my other books. Now… On with the show!
THIRTY-FIVE – IVY’S NIGHTMARE
“IVY!”
The scream echoed down the road, seeming to come from everywhere at once. The urgency in the call froze Ivy for just a moment.
Cassie dashed up to her friend, panting and sweating in the cold rain. Warm mist rose from Cassie’s body into the dark night sky.
“Ivy, what in hell are you doing out—” she began. Then the concern on Cassie’s face turned to fear. “Oh… my… God!” she gasped, bringing her hand up to cover her mouth. “What is it?!”
“It’s Grant,” Ivy said, dreamily. “We’re going to be lovers.”
Cassie stepped back, her face frozen in terror. “Ivy, that’s NOT Grant!” she said, her voice rising to a shriek.
The creature standing before Ivy was almost seven feet tall. He had a huge, muscular body—the kind of body Cassie usually admired. But his legs and feet were those of a goat and his face… his face belonged to a living nightmare.
His head was that of a great black stallion. But the horse was diseased; its flesh boiled with pestilence, and its skin hung from its bones in ragged tatters. Beneath the skin, Cassie could see pus oozing, insects crawling, and a terrible, dark fire.
She tried to look away, but the demon caught her with his red eyes and turned her soul to ice.
Cassie stood there, unable to move, frozen in the cold rain.
“You see?” Ivy said, smiling. “Everything’s going to be all right. Grant’s here.”
The demon looked down at Ivy and smiled, and for a moment, Cassie saw Grant’s face amid the horror.
The thing brushed past Ivy and went to where her friend stood.
He took hold of Cassie’s raincoat and let it fall to the ground. It made a faint splash as it hit the wet pavement.
Cassie stood naked before him, transfixed by his wickedness. The demon took her pretty face in his hands and leaned forward. He pressed his horse’s snout to Cassie’s lips and kissed her.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Read my FREE Frost Harrow Halloween stories:
“The Weeping Ghost” (2012), “A Trace of Violet” (2013), “Lunchroom Zombies” (2014), “Omens & Visitations” (2015), “Fata Morgana” (2016), “At the Appointed Hour” (2017), and “Devil’s Lake” (2018).
