Death's Children (Book 3): Lucy's Chance Read online

  Baileigh Higgins

  Lucy's Chance

  Book 3 Death's Children

  First published by Baileigh Higgins in 2017

  Copyright © Baileigh Higgins, 2018

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

  First Edition

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  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  You're a survivor!

  Sneak Preview

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  Lucy huddled on the couch underneath a blanket. Only her eyes stuck out while she watched her favorite cartoons. She clutched her stuffed bear Caramel to her chest, named after her favorite treat.

  With her head buried in the soft wool, she tried to drown out the sounds from the kitchen. As usual, her parents were arguing. They fought about everything. From the color of the living room curtains to what they ate for breakfast.

  Their non-stop fighting was the one constant in her life. The one thing that never changed. Everything else did. From where they stayed, to the schools she attended, and the teachers she had. Daddy changed jobs a lot, so they moved often. This meant that Lucy never had any friends. Except for Caramel, of course. But Mommy says he doesn't count.

  With that thought, Lucy burrowed a little deeper beneath the covers. This muffled the strident voices until she could almost fool herself into thinking they were just talking. “It's okay, Caramel. They're excited about today, that's all.”

  She pretended to listen as the stuffed bear answered in her head, asking her what they had planned for the day.

  “We're going shopping. Me and Mommy. Isn't that fun? Maybe Daddy will come too. Wouldn't that be spectacular?”

  Spectacular was her new favorite word, one she’d learned in school the week before.

  She listened to Caramel’s reply then shook her head. “No, you can't go, you know what Mommy says. You're to stay at home.”

  After another pause, she said, “I won't be long, I promise. Now let's watch the rest of the show.”

  Silence fell as Lucy and Caramel focused on the TV screen. This fragile peace lasted only a few minutes, however, before her mother called. “Lucy, are you ready to go?”

  “Yes, Mommy.”

  Lucy wriggled off the couch, and ran to the kitchen, leaving her bear on the couch with a sigh of regret. She wore her Sunday best, a dress usually reserved for church. It was her favorite, red with white polka dots. Shiny black shoes over socks with lace edges completed the outfit, and in her hair, she wore a velvet ribbon of the same color as her dress.

  She paused inside the entrance to the kitchen and waited. Sure enough, her father eyed her with warm approval over his newspaper and patted his knee. “There's my pretty little girl.”

  She ran over and climbed onto his lap, ignoring the sour look on her mother's face. He hugged her to his chest, and she breathed in the familiar scent of cologne and cigarettes that always clung to his clothes. “Morning, Daddy.”

  “Morning, sweetheart. How are you doing today?”

  “I'm okay.”

  “She's fine. Now let the child go, or we'll be late,” her mother said with impatience coloring each note.

  With tender care, her father lowered her to the ground but only after placing a kiss on the tip of her nose. “Goodbye, sweetheart. Be good.”

  “I will, Daddy.”

  “Hurry up, Lucy. I haven't got all day,” her mother said, one court shoe tapping on the floor. Click, click, click.

  “Let her be, Eleanor.”

  “Don't start with me, Harold. If you didn't have to work all the time, you could come with us.”

  “You know I can't. We have bills to pay.”

  “Is that all you care about? Bills? What about us? Me?”

  “You know I love you, Ellie. Both of you.”

  “Don't Ellie me. I know you've only got eyes for that little tart that works in your office.”

  “Eleanor.” His face reddened.

  Lucy's eyes darted from one to the other, her limbs frozen in fear. Her father's voice had dropped to a warning growl while her mother's continued to rise until it became a shrill screech.

  “Why don't you spend a little bit of time with your family for a change? Instead of running after that cheap hussy all the time.”

  Her dad stood up so hard his chair fell over backward with a loud bang. Lucy flinched while silent tears poured down her cheeks.

  “Now see what you've done,” he roared while pointing at Lucy. “What sort of mother are you?”

  “A better parent than you'll ever be. At least, I'm there for her and not off doing other things. Or people.”

  “Get out. Now.” Harold gripped the edge of the table as if to prevent himself from moving, as if he feared what he would do once he let go.

  “Oh, don't worry. We're leaving.” Eleanor grabbed Lucy by the arm and dragged her out of the house. “Come on, baby. Let's go.”

  “But I don't want to...I want to stay with Daddy,” Lucy protested, choking back a sob.

  Her mother stared at her for a second with compressed lips until she spat the words, “If you only knew the truth about your precious Daddy!”

  With her arm firmly clenched between her mother's fingers, Lucy had no option but to obey even as she begged to stay. She was hustled into the car and her seat belt clipped into place without further ceremony. Her mother got into the driver's side and started the engine. As they pulled out of the driveway, Lucy stared at her father's figure silhouetted in the doorway.

  He stared at them with a sad look on his face, his shoulders bowed. Lucy's heart ached, and she raised a small hand to wave. He waved back and kept waving until they turned a corner.

  After a while, her mother looked at her and sighed. “Lucy, sweetie, please stop crying.”

  “But what about Daddy?”

  “Your dad will be fine, trust me. He's a grown man after all.” Her mother fumbled for a tissue. “Here, dry your face and blow your nose.”

  Lucy obeyed though she still sniffled from time to time.

  “Now, let's forget all this nonsense and have some fun,” her mother said with forced cheer.

  “Okay.” Despite herself, Lucy felt a twinge of excitement grow within her chest.

  Once a month, without fail, she and her mother went to town to do the grocery shopping. It was an event, one which she looked forward to with great anticipation. They'd put on their nicest clothes, ride in the car, and even listen to music on the radio. At the shop, her mother would buy her a cold drink and a sweet, and afterward, they'd stop for ice cream. Sometimes, they even got to buy new clothes or shoes, and if she was really lucky, a toy.

  “So, tell me. What cool drink would you like this time?” her mom asked with a teasing grin.

  Lucy thought about it. “A Fanta.”

  “Yeah? What flavor?”

  “Grape. No, orange.”

  “I thought you liked Cream Soda.”

  “Not anymore.” She'd gone off the color green weeks before when she stepped on a caterpillar and its green innards squished between her toes. She'd told Mommy, of course, but her mother rarely remembered anything Lucy told her. She didn't bother reminding her n
ow.

  “And the sweet? Which one?”

  Lucy thought about it with care. It was not a decision to be made lightly. She never got sweets at home, so this was her one chance to get it right. The key lay in choosing something that would last for a few days.

  “Sour worms or...I know!” She jumped up and down. “Marshmallows!”

  Her mom nodded in approval. “Good choice. Tonight, I'll even make you a cup of hot chocolate with a mallow on top. How's that?”

  They continued talking until they reached the town, their chatter easy after the tension of before. By now, Lucy had forgotten all about the fight earlier and looked forward to the day. She craned her neck to look out the windows, ever fascinated by everything she saw.

  Even though her mom called it a dump, seeming to hate the little community, Lucy loved it best out of all the places they'd stayed so far. It was a small but busy town, with everybody knowing each other by name. The neighborly women baked cakes and smothered her with kisses and the odd sweet when her mother wasn't looking, while the men were jovial and courteous.

  Lucy stared at the people in the street, taking in the bright colors, sights, and smells. Her nose twitched at the odor of fresh bread wafting from the bakery, accentuated by the tang of citrus from a roadside stall. As ever, she enjoyed it all.

  Today, though, something was different. Lucy frowned as she looked around, trying to pinpoint what was wrong. At first, nothing came to her, until she noticed the lack of animal life. The birds are gone, and the dogs.

  The pigeons that roosted in the eaves and the sparrows that scavenged the sidewalks for scraps were missing. As were the usual skinny runaway dogs that rummaged through the trash. Even the people were less. A lot less.

  Her mother drew to a stop three parking spots down from the hardware store and turned to Lucy. “Come on, sweetie. I've got a few things to get in here first.”

  For some reason she couldn't define, Lucy felt scared. “I don't wanna.”

  “None of your nonsense now. We've got lots to do still. Hurry up,” her mother said, growing impatient. Without waiting for a reply, she unbuckled Lucy's seatbelt and got out. When Lucy still didn't move, she slammed the door shut and walked around, yanking the passenger door open. “Get out. Now.”

  Her tone brooked no argument. Neither did the hand that hovered above Lucy's head, ready to deliver a smack.

  Despite her sudden irrational fears, Lucy climbed out with a duck of her chin. With her mom holding her hand, they entered the hardware shop while Eleanor fretted and clucked. “Honestly, Lucy. I don't know what's gotten into you today.”

  The door swung shut behind them, sealing them inside. Lucy shivered as goosebumps rose on her skin. Something was very wrong. She knew it, felt it in her heart. It was almost as if she had a superpower all of a sudden. As if she could sense things no one else could.

  From behind the counter, they were greeted by Jasper, the owner. He smiled at them through a graying beard and said, “Good morning, Eleanor. How can I help you?”

  “Morning, Jasper. I'm looking for varnish and a brush.”

  “Sure, sure, come right this way.” His bulky frame led the way into the shadows, and Lucy's heart beat faster at the thought of going into the darkness.

  As they walked further into the store, Lucy kept her eyes trained on the door. Though the glass was dirty, it was bright enough to make out the shape of a man shuffling toward them. He looked like he was hurt. One leg dragged behind him while blood stained his white shirt with the bloom of a red flower. The man reached the entrance and paused. His eyes locked with Lucy's, and in them, she saw...she saw a monster.

  He bared his teeth and snarled before launching himself at her. The door shook and shuddered in its hinges, groaning beneath the weight of the man trying to batter his way through.

  “What the hell?” Jasper said, his head turning toward the ruckus.

  “Oh, my,” Eleanor gasped, one slender hand fluttering at her throat.

  Lucy didn't hear a word. All she saw was the hunger in the monster man's eyes. Eyes that wanted to eat her, swallow her whole. Just like the wolf in Little Red Riding Hood.

  Her lips parted, and a shrill scream burst forth. It shivered through her throat in a non-stop litany of terror, refusing to stop despite her mother's pleas for her to calm down.

  “Lucy, quiet down, please. It’s just a man.”

  But Lucy knew what she saw.

  “Lucy.”

  The scream knew what she saw too.

  “Lucy, stop screaming!”

  It was death, and there was no stopping it.

  Chapter 2

  The monster man mashed his face against the glass door with a deep groan. Silver gobbets of saliva streaked across the surface, tinged pink with blood. Lucy backed away from the awful sight and came to a stop against her mother's knees. Her mouth was still open, screams issuing forth in sharp peals without her control.

  “Oh, Lucy, stop it, please,” her mother cried.

  Her entire body trembled and she hardly heard her mother’s pleas.

  When Lucy failed to respond, Eleanor swept her up into her arms and onto her hip. “Hush now, dear. That is quite enough.”

  The sharp note in her mother's voice cut through the haze, and she quieted before her mother could administer any further punishment. Even so, she still hiccupped her distress. “S...so...sorry, Mommy.”

  “That's all right, sweetie. Just be quiet while Mr. Burns sorts out the problem.” Eleanor turned her head away from her daughter toward the front where the situation continued to unfold. “I'm sure it's nothing serious.”

  Following her mother's example, Lucy also turned to watch. She stared with a mixture of fascination and fear as the burly shop owner, Jared Burns, waved a threatening hand toward the man still trying to claw his way inside the store. “Hey, what do you think you're doing? Go away, or I'll call the police.”

  When the intruder didn't back away, Jared grabbed a crowbar from the shelf nearest to him and advanced on the door with hulking strides. His brawny shoulders were puffed up with rage, and his face the hue of beetroot. A vein pulsed on his temple, thick and snake-like.

  The stranger never stopped or backed away. He didn't show any of the typical reactions an average person would. No alarm, no fear. Instead, he leered and growled at Mr. Burns, his fingertips digging at the transparent barrier that separated them. Lucy held her breath as the two faced off, barely the length of her arm apart.

  “Did you hear what I said?” Mr. Burns shouted. “Bugger off!”

  No reaction other than more frenzied clawing.

  Mr. Burns reached for the handle and opened the door. Lucy's mother sucked in a deep breath and backed away further into the store. Her arms tightened around Lucy and squeezed the breath from her lungs, but Lucy didn't mind. She welcomed the feeling of security in the face of the oncoming threat.

  The strange man shoved his way inside and reached for the shop owner with eager hands. Mr. Burns barely had time for a strangled yell before his attacker was on top of him. He raised the crowbar and walloped him on the shoulder, but Monster Man, as Lucy now thought of him, never stopped. He didn't even seem to feel the blow.

  Mr. Burns hit him again, harder this time, and the man stumbled as he lost his balance. His movements were awkward and slower than usual, but he recovered quickly and attacked again.

  “What in God's Name!” Mr. Burns backed away, his expression showing shocked surprise.

  Monster Man snapped his teeth together, the clicking sounds hard enough to be heard all the way in the back. Lucy’s fingers knotted in her mother's jersey as she watched. The horrid feeling of wrongness from before was back, but stronger this time.

  She watched as Mr. Burns hit the stranger again and again. Each time he stumbled but came back for more, never showing any signs of pain. Blood from a cut on his scalp spilled across his face, giving him a grizzly look. At that moment, she was more confident than ever that the man was a horrid mo
nster. Some ghoul from the grave, perhaps, like those stories she'd heard of in books.

  A scream bubbled up her throat as the two men grappled, each trying to gain the upper hand. Mr. Burns was massive and no doubt strong, but Monster Man was relentless in his assault, never slowing or tiring. His head twisted to the side like a snake’s, and his teeth latched onto Mr. Burns forearm. He pulled back, and the skin stretched, farther than Lucy could have believed possible. Fresh blood welled up from the puncture wounds around each tooth.

  With a final yank of Monster Man's head, a hunk of flesh ripped free from the shopkeeper's arm. Mr. Burns bellowed in agony and staggered back, one hand covering the gaping wound from which crimson fluid poured like a river.

  Eleanor's arms tightened around Lucy, and a terrified whimper escaped from between her lips. “Oh, my goodness. Jared!”

  Jared Burns turned his face towards the terrified mother and child. “Eleanor, get Lucy to safety. Call for help.”

  Eleanor's head bobbed back and forth between the beleaguered man and her daughter who clung to her in fear. Making a decision, she turned and ran to the back of the store.

  Over her shoulder, Lucy watched as the crazed intruder chewed and swallowed the chunk of meat in his mouth with gruesome relish. He attacked again, his head dipping in and out of view as he fought to get another bite. She lost sight of the duo when her mother ducked behind a counter and placed her on the ground.

  “Mommy,” Lucy cried as her mother pried loose her little fingers from her woolen top. “No.”

  “Stay here, Lucy,” Eleanor said.

  “No!”

  “Lucy.” Her mother's voice dropped into a fierce whisper. “None of your nonsense now, you hear? Stay here and keep quiet. I'll be right back.”

  Without waiting for an answer, Eleanor spun around and disappeared. Lucy was left on the cold floor, alone. Tears streamed down her face, but she kept quiet as her mother had told her to be.

  For a minute, she sat and waited, but the terror that had her in his grip was relentless. After a while, she got to her feet. With timid steps, Lucy made her way to the front where the sounds of fighting continued. She reached a corner and peered around it.