Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #21 December 2015 | Page 56

***
Terry and Sandy ran through the open gates,
all the way up the drive to the front door, hand in
hand, laughing and giggling like young lovers. Which
they were. Apart from the young bit. And she kept
looking at the new ring on her engagement finger, and
mentally pinching herself with joy.
He pushed the doorbell again and again. No
answer.

around the mask had melted as if acid had been
thrown at the boy’s face. Deep lines cut through the
flesh, exposing bone and teeth, before dripping to a
puddle by his feet.
Sandy put her hand over mouth as she took
a deep intake of air and muttered “Oh My God.”
Into the silence that followed she dropped her newly
given engagement ring, which clattered noisily until
it came to rest. Dead still.

“Strange,” he said.
“Hello!” he called. “Max... Nichole... Jack...
We’re here. Sorry we are late. Been celebrating a bit
I’m afraid... “

Marol is publishing XMAS NIGHTMARE in
instalments as a Kindle eBook, with a new chapter
every day until Christmas. The complete book will
be available from 25 December as an eBook, and
later as a paperback book.

It was then he caught sight of Jack who sat
at the kitchen table. Still upright in his chair, ‘Merry
Christmas’ flashing on his mask, and Jingle Bells
barely audible from his headphones. And the flesh

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