Classic Horrors Club

After meeting with Mrs. Stoddard, I took Carolyn to the Blue Whale. I wanted to buy her a drink to thank her. She doesn’t realize what a problem this whole thing with Amy has been for me. I reminded her, though, that staying at Collinwood was only a temporary solution.

When Carolyn responded that her mother said Amy could stay as long as she wanted to, I commented about the generosity of strangers. She reminded me that we’re not strangers. She was right; we’re not strangers. If anyone had asked me yesterday about Collinwood and the Collinses though, I would have said they’re strangers to me. I thanked Carolyn again.

She said that the terrible thing is they’d become attached to Amy and then I’d marry and want her back. But at least she’d have two families then. She ordered a daiquiri and I ordered a shot of Irish.

I told her it must seem really weird to her that I don’t take care of Amy myself. After all, Tom did. She reminded me that Tom didn’t travel as much as I do. (No, he didn’t.) But I stated the question in another way, “I mean surely someone must have asked why I don’t just stay here and settle down.”

She told me what I meant to say is that it worries me. (Yes, it does.) She also told me she thought I could settle down. When I replied, “Not now,” she asked if I was psychologically incapable. (I guess I am.)

She said I may change and that it would be good if I could stay around town for a week or so to help Amy until she felt secure. “Do you think you’ll be able to?”
Saved by the bell, a clock outside chimed and I looked at my watch. What I saw made me uneasy. As Carolyn talked about how dark it gets so early, I started to phase her out. “Check please!” I told Carolyn I forgot something I had to do.

When the waitress returned, I saw the image of a pentagram on her face and knew she would be the next victim. She noticed the look on my face and asked if anything was wrong. I became flustered and told Carolyn I had to go and would call her tomorrow… if I could… then hurried away.

Back in my room, I locked the door… looked in the mirror… looked out the window. I took the chain and leather strap out of my dresser drawer and attached my ankle to the radiator. I then sat back and endured the pain as I went through another change.

I returned to the Blue Whale, but I was not the same person who was there earlier. The door was locked but I stood outside the window staring at the waitress inside. My heart raced and I had only one thought on my mind as I crashed through the window and moved toward her. She screamed.

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