Horror Stories from Horrified - Volume One (2)

Cervidae
by Amy Easton
My favourite place is the Olympic National Forest. I was hiking among
the dripping pines when I found the rotting corpse of an elk and I was
fascinated that such a beautiful creature could be so terrifying in death.
That image and the horror it represents have stayed with me and in the
spirit of giving, I am sharing this horror with you.
18th November
I cl i ck ed of f t he r adi o and t ur ned m y head to t he bl ur r ed dar k ness as we joi ned t he
Nor t h Ci r cul ar . Red on w hite on r ed on w hite in the black. Steve made a low r umbling in
his thr oat, a familiar half-gr ow l that told me something was on his mind.
?What??
He lifted his finger s fr om the w heel, an instant sur r ender. I softened my voice, away fr om
confr ontation.
?What? I didn?t know you w er e a Boney M fan.?
?It?s not the song.?
He smiled w ith a flash of his teeth. I love his teeth.
?It?s star ted ear ly this year ,? he obser ved.
?Right? Ever y year , soon w e w on?t even get to Hallow een befor e they?r e playing this
shit? ?
?I meant you.?
We slow ed at the lights and sat in damp silence. Wet dog days, w e called these, w her e the
w eather comes inside and follow s you home. Sticks to your skin. His hand left the gear
stick to squeeze my knee.
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