THE ODD AFFLICTION OF ROY MCCARTHERS -PART TWO-

By DRYDEN MONTES

A floorboard creaked. Not near enough for a terrible alarm, but down the hall; it was nothing, it had to be nothing. A mouse had scurried in the darkness, or perhaps the wind was shaking the old house. Yes, that had to be so. Another creak. This time right behind the closed door.

No doubt about it, the knob was shaking—a low rattily sound, unnerving in the gloom—and now it turned. The door just groaned open, and the yellow candlelight behind it shot forth in a thin beam; always a candle, the infernal, burning flame! Now it came, the same face, the same, terrifying face. The black dress, the curved cane, the leering, maniacal expression: all the same. The burning, maddened eyes peered into the gloom, and the withered hand tightened upon the black-wood support as the restless gaze fell upon the hated one.

Forward one soft step was taken, and a sharp intake of breath like a hiss whistled through the rotted teeth, as the tongue, brown like liver, curled behind them. There was nothing he could do—not even cry out—as the figure advanced into the room. Another step, silent as a stalking panther, was taken. There was a hoarse sound, like a hideous chuckle, coming from low inside the shriveled throat.

The heart of the victim, which had nearly stopped, now gave a dreadful, beating wrench, which seemed to reverberate in the silent room like a drum. It would not be long now.

Dust like ash fell from the yellowed flesh as one hand was extended straight forward. The cane, in the other hand, grew into an immense staff, and the curved top formed into a blade.

The black dress was blown as if by an unfelt wind, billowing into a great sable cloak, as the light against which the terrible figure was silhouetted turned red like hellfire.

From the black hood now jeered a skeletal face, bleached white bones, and the fleshless fingers scrabbled at the terrified victim which lay in front of the towering specter. A scream finally rent from the victim’s throat.

The Lorian is proud to continue our publication of Dryden Montes, a student-writer here on campus.

The Lorian has agreed to publish the stories in parts for each edition. We hope you enjoy.

To read the previous edition of the Odd Afflication of Roy McCarthers, please see the November 8, 2022 edition of The Lorian.