FLASH FEAR

“Listen.” Kim said.  Kim was in the car, parked on the bank of the lake. She was speaking to Troy.  Troy never listened.  This was why they were where they are now.  Troy just never listened.  “Ok. Look.” Kim said.  He had nothing to say. Just that dumb look on his face. It frustrated her to no end.  “I owe you an explanation.” Kim said.  Again, Troy sat silently. Surely he knew this was the end. The big fight they had. The volatile torment their relationship had endured in recent months. It would be an insult if he didn’t know this was actually the end.  “It’s not you, it’s me.” Kim said.  Really? Are you going with that? Did you just watch a 90s sitcom or a poorly written Rom-Com?  It’s not you - it’s me.  What’s next?  ‘I’m in a weird place right now.’  “Ok. Forget that.” Kim said.  Kim looked down at Troy’s chipped and cracked finger nails. She looked at his tatty jeans. She looked at his unkempt hair. She remembered her father’s words when he first met Troy.  That boy is going now

The Empty Car  Toni came out to the car and found it empty.  Rupert was just in the passenger side mere minutes before, and then she went into the store and then round the back to the bathroom - she got a coke and went for a piss.  He was just sitting there reading a book.  He had his headphones in and he was barely acknowledging her or the scenery around them and it started to grate on her.  Then she went into the store.  And then she came back and faced an empty car.  Completely empty.  Toni leaned through the window into the back seat and saw that there was nothing but the cheap upholstery of the 90s Audi. it stunk of leather and carpet.  She opened the boot. It seemed ludicrous that he’d even be in there and yet, she felt a crushing disappointment when the inevitability of an empty boot faced her.  She walked around the entire car four times. There were no footprints or any evidence that he was anywhere. That he’d even been there.  Even his book and headphones were gone.  She looke

 

One of my stories was recently dramatised for the DREW BLOOD DARK TALES podcast and I am delighted to share this with you.  Enjoy “Clinical” 

A Welcome Guest  My early childhood was spent on my father’s farm in the middle of nowhere. Literally, in the middle of nowhere.  We had no hospitals or police stations near us, everything we ate, we made from scratch. It was like being Amish or something.  The farm was called Beacon Farm and to even get to the store was a long old drive in my father’s four-by-four.  We had a plethora of animals. We had goats, sheep, cows and pigs. My father managed the slaughterhouse. My mother spent her time making butter, baking bread and preparing dinner for me and my father.  And I often walked the grounds. All-day long I wandered the grounds.  It was a fantastic time.  My childhood was defined by Beacon Farm, that was until, one day… Kenneth arrived. The stability of the farm and my childhood would be defined by the guests that came upon Beacon Farm to take what they felt they were owed.  Kenneth stood in the doorway. He was drenched from the rain. He wore a flat cap and he had a big bushy coat o