The Ladies of Horror
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The Hotel
by Kathleen McCluskey

Alex was going through withdrawal and looking to find something, anything he could steal. He walked through the ruins of a once beautiful city. It was now home to the junkies and the destitute. Beginning down the stairs and towards the river he saw a one story building that he had never noticed before. He knew that there would be something in there that he could steal and get his fix.

He rubbed the dirt from the windows of each of the rooms. Alex was surprised to see an old trunk and bedroom furniture in one of the rooms. He couldn’t believe that nobody had stolen it yet. He elbowed the glass and it shattered.

Alex sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed his grimy palms together. He tried to lift the lid of the chest, it would not budge. He scratched his greasy hair and tried again. He screamed “God damn it!” The locks clicked and the lid of the trunk began to slowly open. Halfway opened a soft red mist began to float out and down the sides. He sprang backwards, “What the fuck?” he whispered. Coming out of the trunk was a beautiful woman. She spoke, “Hello, Alex. You have released me.  I shall grant you one wish.” Without hesitation, “I want an ounce of heroin.” She grinned and took his hand then pricked his finger. A drop of blood landed in the trunk. In his hand appeared an ounce of black tar heroin. She began to sway, chanting the entire time. Alex was frozen and could only watch as she began to change. Her once olive skin turned black and fangs descended onto her lower lip. A large tail began to sway back and forth. Alex was mesmerized. The tale lunged at him and pierced his throat with such force it threw him into the wall. With a shrill laugh she pulled him into the trunk.

The hotel vanished and reappeared in another city, with the same trunk, ready to eat once again.

Fiction © Copyright Kathleen McCluskey
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

More from Kathleen McCluskey:

The Long Fall: Book 1: The Inception of Horror

Lucifer always cunning and intelligent challenges father to a battle of wits. Being the angel of light he casts a judgemental eye upon mankind. He begins a war with his fellow archangels and God. Michael, along with his siblings defend their home and mankind from their deranged brother. Broad swords and hand to hand combat drench heaven in blood. The four apocalyptic steeds are released, each having their own destructive power. Betrayal and lust are at biblical levels. Understand the very creation of evil and the consequenses that transpire in the first of THE LONG FALL series.

Available on Amazon!