Sick House

by Jeff Strand

  "Gina's dead now."

  "I know that, obviously. If I'd known Gina was responsible, I could have used her blood to regain what she took from me, but sadly, she died in your home. However, I believe that you, your wife, and your daughters can serve the same purpose. It's an ugly cycle of death. I wish there was another way."

  "You need to leave," said Boyd.

  "Not quite yet."

  "No, now. You need to take your goons and leave my house immediately."

  The man didn't quite smile. "I feel that you don't understand how little power you have to intimidate me."

  "I'm not trying to intimidate you. I'm trying to warn you."

  "About what?"

  "I've been to Hell. Well, close enough."

  "Have you?"

  "Let me tell you something about paying a visit to Hell. Something that wasn't part of the warning I was given. There are side effects. You bring some of it back with you. It gives you horrible, terrifying power. That's something I have to live with for the rest of my life. I don't want to abuse it. Let me rephrase that: I'll never abuse it. But don't think for one second that I won't do everything I can to protect my family. So let me ask you one more time to leave my home."

  The man looked into Boyd's eyes as if trying to decide if he was telling the truth. Finally, he lowered the gun.

  "I apologize for disturbing you. We'll be going now."

  "I think you'll come back. And I can't let that happen."

  One of the men clutched at his face as blood spewed from his nostrils, mouth, and eyes. The other two men did the same. The blood burnt their flesh as it poured down their faces, as if it had come from a boiling cauldron.

  The first man tried to raise his gun again, but blood shot from his arm in several different places, like the limb had become a leaky pipe.

  "Leave the hoods on," said Boyd to his family. "Don't take them off."

  Soon all four of the men were spraying blood from random places on their body, blood that hissed as it struck the floor.

  It didn't take them long to die.

  Boyd held his hand to his mouth until the urge to vomit was gone. He prayed he'd never have to do this again.

  "Everything's fine," he said. "All of you keep the hoods on. I'll lead you to the other room. You don't need to see this."

  "I'm scared," said Naomi.

  "Don't be scared," Boyd told her. "Everything is going to be okay, I promise you. Daddy just has to get rid of some bodies."

  The End

  Acknowledgements

  Thanks to Tod Clark, Donna Fitzpatrick, Paul Goblirsch, Leigh Haig, Lynne Hansen, Xtina Marie, Michael McBride, Jim Morey, Becky Narron, Rhonda Rettig, and Paul Synuria II for their spoooooky help with this novel.

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  Books By Jeff Strand

  Bring Her Back. A tale of revenge and madness.

  Sick House. A home invasion from beyond the grave.

  How You Ruined My Life (Young Adult). Sixteen-year-old Rod has a pretty cool life until his cousin Blake moves in and slowly destroys everything he holds dear.

  Everything Has Teeth. A third collection of short tales of horror and macabre comedy.

  An Apocalypse of Our Own. Can the Friend Zone survive the end of the world?

  Stranger Things Have Happened (Young Adult). Teenager Marcus Millian III is determined to be one of the greatest magicians who ever lived. Can he make a live shark disappear from a tank?

  Cyclops Road. When newly widowed Evan Portin gives a woman named Harriett a ride out of town, she says she's on a cross-country journey to slay a Cyclops. Is she crazy, or...?

  Blister. While on vacation, cartoonist Jason Tray meets the town legend, a hideously disfigured woman who lives in a shed.

  The Greatest Zombie Movie Ever (Young Adult). Three best friends with more passion than talent try to make the ultimate zombie epic.

  Kumquat. A road trip comedy about TV, hot dogs, death, and obscure fruit.

  I Have a Bad Feeling About This (Young Adult). Geeky, non-athletic Henry Lambert is sent to survival camp, which is bad enough before the trio of murderous thugs show up.

  Pressure. What if your best friend was a killer...and he wanted you to be just like him? Bram Stoker Award nominee for Best Novel.

  Dweller. The lifetime story of a boy and his monster. Bram Stoker Award nominee for Best Novel.

  A Bad Day For Voodoo. A young adult horror/comedy about why sticking pins in a voodoo doll of your history teacher isn't always the best idea. Bram Stoker Award nominee for Best Young Adult Novel.

  Dead Clown Barbecue. A collection of demented stories about severed noses, ventriloquist dummies, giant-sized vampires, sibling stabbings, and lots of other messed-up stuff.

  Dead Clown Barbecue Expansion Pack. A few more stories for those who couldn't get enough.

  Wolf Hunt. Two thugs for hire. One beautiful woman. And one vicious frickin' werewolf.

  Wolf Hunt 2. New wolf. Same George and Lou.

  The Sinister Mr. Corpse. The feel-good zombie novel of the year.

  Benjamin's Parasite. A rather disgusting action/horror/comedy about why getting infected with a ghastly parasite is unpleasant.

  Fangboy. A dark and demented fairy tale for adults.

  Kutter. A serial killer finds a Boston terrier, and it might just make him into a better person.

  Faint of Heart. To get her kidnapped husband back, Melody has to relive her husband's nightmarish weekend, step-by-step...and survive.

  Mandibles. Giant killer ants wreaking havoc in the big city!

  Stalking You Now. A twisty-turny thriller soon to be the feature film Mindy Has To Die.

  Graverobbers Wanted (No Experience Necessary). First in the Andrew Mayhem series.

  Single White Psychopath Seeks Same. Second in the Andrew Mayhem series.

  Casket For Sale (Only Used Once). Third in the Andrew Mayhem series.

  Lost Homicidal Maniac (Answers to "Shirley"). Fourth in the Andrew Mayhem series.

  The Andrew Mayhem Collection. All four novels for one low price!

  Suckers (with JA Konrath). Andrew Mayhem meets Harry McGlade. Which one will prove to be more incompetent?

  Gleefully Macabre Tales. A collection of thirty-two demented tales. Bram Stoker Award nominee for Best Collection.

  Elrod McBugle on the Loose. A comedy for kids (and adults who were warped as kids).

  The Haunted Forest Tour (with Jim Moore). The greatest theme park attraction in the world! Take a completely safe ride through an actual haunted forest! Just hope that your tram doesn't break down, because this forest is PACKED with monsters...

  Draculas (with JA Konrath, Blake Crouch, and F. Paul Wilson). An outbreak of feral vampires in a secluded hospital. This one isn't much like Twilight.

  For information on all of these books, visit Jeff Strand's more-or-less official website at http://www.jeffstrand.com