The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

Marriage Retreat
by Bailey Hunter

“Sean, did you pick up more traps?” Millie’s shrill voice roared down the stairwell.

“Yes, Millie. I picked up more traps.  We have now officially bought every damn mouse and rat trap in the village.”  Sean rubbed the back of his neck and sighed deep.  The whole point of this trip to a nice quaint village on the moors was to try and settle things in their marriage.  So far, it wasn’t working.

“Have you called the landlords?” Her words grew louder. She was finally coming down.

“Yes. You know I have. You were in the same room as me.” Sean’s voice began to strain. He rolled his shoulders back trying to shrug off the irritation that gnawed at the nape of his neck. “Listen love, I’m sorry it bothers you. There are no exterminators in the area, and to hire one would cost more than they’re getting from us in rent for the month. It’s just skittering in the walls. They don’t seem to be even coming out.”

Millie appeared at the door of the kitchen, hand on hip. “That’s what bothers me. We never see them, and yet they run through the walls all night long. It’s unnerving. Not to mention the diseases!”

“I made some warm milk. It’s supposed to help you sleep. Why don’t you sit with me and try to relax. All this worry over a few mice isn’t doing you any favours.” Sean handed Millie a warm cup. “Come. Sit.”

“Fine. Next time I pick the destination, though. This is ridiculous.” Millie took a deep swallow of the milk. “Mmmm.  This is better than I expected. It’s a bit sweet.”

“I added a bit of honey,” Sean grinned as Millie slumped over the table, “to mask the tranquilizers, you bloody hag.”

Sean moved the old radiator from the wall. “You can come out now. She’s all yours. Remember, nothing left. Not even a scrap of her robe. I’m going to head down to the pub and I want her gone by the time I get back.”

One by one, tiny creatures made mainly of teeth and quills scurried out of a mouse hole in a seemingly endless stream. They swarmed the drugged woman chewing like piranha, stopping only for a moment as the door slammed shut.

Sean pulled his coat tight to his chin to ward off the damp, cold winds. Up ahead he saw a gnarled old man with impossibly long nails in a filthy red cap moving towards him.

Fiction © Copyright Bailey Hunter
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

More about Bailey Hunter:
Bailey is a publisher with Dark Recesses Press.

D.R.E.X. Blackout

Matthew Burke’s life is turned inside out when his wife is murdered and he’s forced to join  D.R.E.X., the supposedly defunct organization responsible for hunting and killing supernatural creatures,that his wife was once part of. As the investigation hes been dragged into deepens, the more he realizes how few people he can trust…

Available from Dark Recesses Publishing