Bloody Dreams: Hate Candy, #2

By Jon M. Jefferson

Hate Candy bites back. If you didn’t know it already, this is the tagline of the series. Seems a little strange right? What does this mean exactly?

In the first installment we were introduced to the familiar, monsters in many shapes and forms. Classics we come to know and love but at times we saw them in a new light, a rediscovery if you will.

In this next round of stories we will find much of the same. Monsters and ghouls that seem oddly familiar, but at the same time it is a chance to rediscover what made them special. This is our chance to find those odd bits of candy that still have the sweetness we crave.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: 10th Day Publishing
• Release date: Dec 17, 2014
• ISBN: 9781507017135

Jon M. Jefferson

Jon M. Jefferson writes Speculative fiction with forays into Noir and Bizarro. His stories have appeared in the 2013 Indies Unlimited Flash Fiction Anthology, and the Foil and Phazer Divide and Conquer Anthology.  A longtime fan of Science Fiction and Fantasy stories in all their forms. He has spent most of his life looking for magic in the everyday moments of life. He hails from the tundra of Southwest Michigan. The monsters in his life include his wife, two daughters and growing grand kids.

Book preview

Bloody Dreams

SHE PLACED THE SOLD marker on the real estate sign in the front yard, a huge win after the house sat on the market for over a year. Things are turning around, Annie said. She walked back to the front door of the brown and red Tudor and unlocked the key box.

She came to the house to do a final walk through before she gave the keys to the Lancasters, the homes new owners. The house needed a bit of work, but after sitting empty for so long that was to be expected. Annie wanted to make sure when they opened the front door what they saw greeted them with cheer and warmed their hearts.

The little things, she told herself, made all the difference. The little things brought her more customers through good will and word of mouth than she ever found through advertising. Stick with what works, words written on a card she kept in her coat pocket to check out whenever she felt like she was going nowhere.

A quick walk-through the house, she finished in the kitchen. There she left a vase filled with fresh flowers and a personalized card. Satisfied, she locked the front door and removed the key holder. She would give the keys to the Lancasters in the title office when they signed the final papers.

As she backed her car to the end of the driveway she noticed a flash of light in a bedroom window. A quick flash she assumed to be a trick in her mind, it was gone when she looked again.

THE RED STRATUS PULLED into the driveway and stopped a car's length from the garage door. Shan turned to Lisa in the passenger seat. Are you ready for this? he asked. Our first real home.

I can't believe it, she said. It's like this house has been sitting on the market just waiting for us. She took a deep breath with her hand on the door handle. On three?

He laughed and opened his door. No sense waiting any longer, he said. He stepped out into a soft summer breeze. The scent of wildflowers assaulted him in the fresh air. Can you smell that? Those flowers in back are like magic.

It's been way too long since we've been around flowers in the wild, she said. Shan's promotion lifted them to a level where they could seriously consider buying a new home. Lisa found the house online and fell in love with the interior pictures. Shan was sold on their first visit. Lisa saw it as a sign that the house sat for so long without any buyers. It was waiting for them.

They didn't go inside right away, instead they walked around the front yard enraptured with the wonder of the yards they now claimed. The landscaping in both yards bordered on feral but the underlying work was still sound and would make a great base for them to build upon.

Though the front yard was modest, the evergreen trees that lined the edges of both sides acted as a wall between their house and the neighbors, still connected but a small barrier to delineate the space. The back yard had been encased with a privacy fence all around. Lisa wanted to plant vegetable garden in a back corner and they talked of what they would plant and where. The possibilities of their new home overwhelmed them but invigorated them at the same time.

Can you believe this? Lisa asked. So much space, this is ridiculous.

Shan watched as she spun in place. Imagine one day when the baby can run through here.

She patted her belly. Soon.

You ready to step inside our new home? He asked. We can always come back out here later.

Lisa grabbed his hand and pulled him back through the gate into the front yard. You have the keys?

I thought you had them? he said. Don't tell me we need to call a locksmith and we haven't even been inside yet.

She shook her keys. Oh you mean these? She giggled then jogged up to the door. I suppose you want to come inside.

She turned the key in the lock and the door opened. The fresh scent of the flowers permeated the air as they stepped into the living room. At first Lisa could not see where the smell came from until she moved further into the house.

A larger opening led from the living room into the kitchen. She found the vase on the kitchen counter. Lying next to the vase, she found the card, no longer in its envelope. The top of the envelope had been slit open and the card sat on top of it, opened with its spine facing up.

Lisa picked up the card to read the inscription. The hand written missive inside said congratulations and was signed Annie. No business card or last name, she thought it a bit strange but assumed it came from their realtor. Shan, she called. Come look at what Annie left for us. No answer, he wasn't in the living room. She carried the vase and card with her as she walked down the hall to the bedrooms. Babe, where are you?

How soon can we have it turned on? Shan said into the phone. He stood in the middle of the larger bedroom, his cell phone glued to his ear. Really, that would be great. After a few minutes more he hung up. Great news, we should have power by Monday morning.

Are you kidding me? she asked. What are we supposed to do till then?

Candles? Well that might not be good either. I still have to call the city to get water turned on. Who knows how long that will take? He sighed, then smiled at her. Welcome to home ownership.

It isn't all that bad, Lisa said. We still have a few days before the moving truck will be here. Think of it as an adventure.

Maybe we should get a hotel room? he said. At least over the weekend we might want to. I have to report to work on Monday.

Let's jump that bridge when we come to it.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO believe this, Lisa said into the phone.