Erie Tales, VIII: Holiday Horror

By Great Lakes Association of Horror Writers

Authored by Great Lakes Association of Horror Writers
Contributions by MontiLee Stormer, Heather Kapusta, Peggy Christie, Shad Kelly, Cassie Carnage, Michael Cieslak, Justin Holley, Ken MacGregor
Edited by Michael Cieslak

There are holidays for everything - celebrations of birth, togetherness, loss, and victory. They mark the change of the seasons and the time spent apart from loved ones.

In this our 8th offering, Erie Tales takes note of 8 holidays, adding our own distinctive brand to the revered and forgotten, the hailed and the hidden.

Decorate your sacrifices, hang your trees, lay out your spread - the Holidays are coming, and they are hungry.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Great Lakes Association of Horror Writers
• Release date: Apr 27, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311419125

Great Lakes Association of Horror Writers

We are the Great Lakes Association of Horror Writers. Are you a writer? A fan of horror? So are we. Like being scared? We do, too! Let's explore our mutual passions across the spectrum: prose, screenplays, poetry, art, photography.Company OverviewWe're a collective and compendium of writers, artists, and fans exploring the genre of horror, science fiction, fantasy, true crime, and horotica.

Book preview

Erie Tales, VIII:

Holiday Horror

Presented by

The Great Lakes Association of Horror Writers

Edited by

Michael Cieslak

(with additional editing by Nicole Castle)

This anthology is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and scenarios are the products of the authors’ imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, places, or events is purely coincidental.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and didnot purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication can be reproduced by any means without the prior written permission from the authors of the work and from the Great Lakes Association of Horror Writers except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Collection and editorial content

Copyright © 2015 Great Lakes Association of Horror Writers

Cover art copyright © 2015 Don England

Great Lakes Association of Horror Writers logo by Dave Harvey Copyright © 2007 Great Lakes Association of Horror Writers

www.glahw.com

Individual works

BROTHERS OF DEATH copyright © 2015 Peggy Christie

ON THE THIRTEENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS copyright © 2015 Shad Kelly

WALPURGISNACHT copyright © 2015 Cassie Carnage

THE APRIL FOOL copyright © 2015 Michael Cieslak

THE BOY WHO KNEW THE ENDING copyright © 2015 Justin Holley

GIVING THANKS copyright © 2012 Ken MacGregor, Originally appeared in the anthology Horrific History by Hazardous Press 2012

IT CAME UPON copyright © 2015 MontiLee Stormer

GRANNY’S CHRISTMAS COOKIES copyright © 2015 Heather Kapista

Now’s the time to run…

Holiday Menu

Acknowledgements

Horror Folk Are The Most Giving

Brothers of Death (Memento Mori), Peggy Christie

On the Thirteenth Day of Christmas (Epiphany), Shad Kelly

The April Fool (April Fool's Day), Michael Cieslak

Walpurgisnacht (May Day), Cassie Carnage

The Boy Who Knew the Ending (Independence Day), Justin Holley

Giving Thanks (Thanksgiving), Ken MacGregor

It Came Upon (St Lucy's Day/Lussinatt), MontiLee Stormer

Granny’s Christmas Cookies (Christmas), Heather Kapusta

Contributing Authors

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

All of the members of the GLAHW, especially those who submitted work to this year's anthology.

The family members/Con widows and widowers who allow us the time and privacy to write, attend functions, and all of the other writing and horror related activities which occupy us.

The extended GLAHW family, including the traveling band of authors, artists, and fans we see on the convention circuit.

Nicole Castle for editorial assistance.

MontiLee Stormer for her tireless efforts formatting and finalizing the publishing details of not just the Erie Tales anthologies but all of the GLAHW publications.

Don England for his amazing artwork -- this is someone who turns in a art piece worthy rough draft and then proceeds to improve on what was already amazing.

Horror Folk Are The Most Giving

You hold in your hands the eighth installment of the Erie Tales series of anthologies written, edited, formatted, and published by the Great Lakes Association of Horror Writers. If you are a long time reader, you have our heartfelt gratitude. If this is your first time with us:

You are starting with number eight! How can you read things out of order?

Actually, it doesn’t matter what order you read them in. Each anthology, indeed, each story, is a stand-alone work. So, if you’re not the type of person who has to read things in the order they were published, feel free to dive in anywhere.

There are some things you might know, and some that you probably don’t, regarding the Erie Tales series. The first is about the group itself. The Great Lakes Association of Horror Writers is a collection of writers, readers, film-makers, artists, photographers, and fans of the horror genre. We are primarily based in south-east Michigan, but we have members all over the country. In addition to publishing the Erie Tales anthology, we hold workshops, attend conventions, host a Halloween party, and anything else we can do to promote the horror genre. Consider us stewards and evangelists of horror.

One of the benefits of the GLAHW is that we are able to pool our resources. We attend conventions as a group, which allows members to promote their individual works as well. This pooling of resources extends to other areas. We have taught many workshops about writing and horror. The proceeds from the party, the Monster Mash for Literacy Bash, are donated to the Siena and Dominican Literacy organizations.

Then there is the Erie Tales series itself. One way we promote our favorite fiction is by writing submissions for our annual anthology, one of which you are reading at this very moment. The first volume: Erie Tales: Tales of Terror had the loose theme of stories which are set in Michigan. Since then we have kept the Michigan setting, but added additional themes. We’ve covered zombies, ghosts, the end of the world, phobias, Hell, and myths from around the world. Once the theme is decided, the writers scurry off to write their submissions. Sometimes, like this year for example, there is some on-line discussion about what topics each story will cover. We want to make sure we don’t have a slew of stories about arachnophobia or which happen on Guy Fawkes Day.

The big what you may not know associated with the anthologies is that they are a labor of love. The authors donate their stories, as well as the time and effort it took to write them. The editors, a revolving position, donate their time as well. The formatter also donates her time, but is usually compensated with the beverages of her choice at the Halloween party. Proceeds from the sales of the anthology go into the GLAHW coffers where they are used to help pay for future appearances, events like the Monster Mash for Literacy Bash, and future anthologies.

Don’t worry, we have plenty of ideas left.

We hope that this provides some additional insight, a little behind the pages material, if you will. We also hope that you enjoy the stories contained in this volume. Feel free to check us out at www.glahw.com or visit us in person at one of our appearances.

As always, don’t be afraid...

...be terrified.

Michael Cieslak

Editor, Erie Tales VIII

Brothers of Death

Memento Mori, January 3

By Peggy Christie

January 3, 1627

Brother Luc stood over the mutilated bodies of Francois and Pierre. Their blood painted the stone floor and walls of the passageway and mingled with the sweat dripping down his naked body. He clutched a rough hatchet in his hand and heaved exhausted breaths.

Memento Mori. He has spoken.

Luc closed his eyes and tilted his head back, smiling.

Praise His name--

He never saw Brother Abelard walk up behind him with the plank of wood. He slammed it against Luc’s head and the bloody man crumpled to the ground. Abelard stood over his comrade as the head of the order, Pere Ferrand, made the sign of the cross and gave last rights to Francois and Pierre.

When Ferrand finished, he turned to Luc who had just begun to stir and moan.

Brother Abelard, please assist Luc to the infirmary. Make sure Brother Edmond sees to his needs. After all of this, I don’t want his recovery compromised.

Yes, Ferrand.

Abelard left the passage and returned minutes later with Edmond and Charles. It took the three of them to lift Luc and carry him off. He groaned again, still weak and disoriented but offered no resistance.

Pere Ferrand looked back at the mutilated corpses. As much as their deaths pained him, he understood the need for their sacrifices. Since the start of their order seven years earlier, Ferrand had been imprinted with the importance of their holy purpose. The Hermits of St. Paul were put here by God as a reminder to humanity of their frailty and mortality.

He crossed himself again, mumbled a quick prayer for the dead then went in search of help to clean up the carnage.

December 26, 1626

Report, Brother Bedell.

Pere Ferrand sat behind a large wooden table, Brothers Abelard and Edmond on either side of him. Bedell, his balding pate turned to the council as he studied his notes, cleared his throat before speaking.

Most of the brotherhood is faring well. Though the ritual fast is causing sluggishness and fatigue, they have had no trouble continuing their daily routines.

And the ones having trouble? Ferrand asked.

"Gilbert has been depressed and