Spookygirls

By Coda Napeland

Sugar and spice and everything nice might be what little girls are made of, but these ghouls were concocted with more gruesome ingredients.

Motherhood gets garish for a woman in a foreign land. Teenage girls learn the price you pay for popularity. A friend gets a shock in the woods. First love turns ugly. A woman's unusual job gets her in over her head. A mother fights back for her child. The script is flipped, and boys are the only ones afraid outside at night. Dreams and reality merge. Revenge is taken for someone dear and lost. The requisite vampire tale. Trucker meets waitress. An unlikely antiheroine. The plight of an abused child. A girl has a dark gift. Halloween secrets. And more...

Ready to cringe? These ghouls are waiting to spook you, gross you out, and make you look twice at every woman and girl you meet.

In 31 short tales of horror, the fairer sex gets beastly.


(Includes adult content. Reader discretion advised.)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Spookygirl Books
• Release date: Oct 10, 2017
• ISBN: 9781393926832

Book preview

An Arm and a Leg

An old shutter creaked in the wind. Della shivered and wrapped her hands around herself. In the distance, thunder rumbled, and dark clouds passed over the moon. She squinted at the boarded front door, then took a step back.

I don’t think I want to do this anymore, she said.

Aw, come on, Del! The girl in front of her turned and walked back down the porch steps. They said we can join. They don’t let just anyone in, you know. It took me six months just to get them to consider us.

Della looked up at her best friend and weighed her options. On the one hand, I can leave right now, desert Rosie, and be the laughingstock of the school. On the other, they could be planning to sacrifice me to some kind of demon and leaving would be worth never speaking to my friend again and being the laughingstock of the ninth grade.

Good evening, ladies.

The unfamiliar voice jerked Della out of her thoughts. Both girls looked up and their eyes fixed on a girl about their age. She smiled with one half of her mouth and looked them up and down, first one, then the other. Della had the peculiar feeling that she was being measured, and she rubbed her upper arms in their sweater to warm away the chill that passed through her.

Hi. Lena invited us, Rosie stammered.

The girl cocked her head to the side. Are you ready for everything that’s in store for you tonight?

Rosie snorted, as if meetings in abandoned houses in the middle of thunderstorms were commonplace. Yeah, we’re ready. Born that way.

Della groaned. The girl at the door shifted her gaze to take in Della’s yellow cardigan and khaki slacks. She barely suppressed a smile.

Are you sure? she asked. Your friend doesn’t seem up to it, she said to Rosie, but kept her eyes on Della, their gazes locked. Della couldn’t look away.

Rosie laughed, but it rang hollow in the dark. She’s just a little shy. She nudged Della’s shoulder, and Della shook her head to clear it. She’ll be fine once she gets in, she said more to Della than to the girl at the door.

Well, then, by all means, come in. The girl stepped back inside, pushed the door open with one hand and ushered them in with the other. We won’t keep the others waiting any longer.

As Della passed by her, she could hear the subtle sniff as the girl smelled her hair. She looked behind her, but the girl had already locked the door behind them and started into the house.

Our society is very exclusive for a number of reasons. You didn’t tell anyone you were here? She glanced back at Rosie.

No, I didn’t tell anyone but Della. She crossed her heart like a scout.

And you, Della. Did you tell anyone? She stopped and turned around and locked eyes with her, glossy pools of navy flecked with brown staring back at her plain, pale blue ones.

No, Della whispered. Not a soul.

The girl stared at her for another long, pregnant moment, then broke into the charming smile of a hostess. Great! Now that we know you can follow the rules, we can start.

Start what? Rosie asked, her eyebrows furrowed.

Della realized then that Rosie didn’t know any more than she did about this secret society and wondered what exactly her best friend had gotten them into.

Your induction into The Society for the Preservation of Old Souls.

She pulled a leather necklace out from under her blouse and over her head. At the end of it was an old, oddly shaped key that she slid into the ornate lock on the glossy black door. The tumbler clicked, and she took a deep breath. She turned the ivory handle, pushed with her shoulder, and gritted her teeth until a force from inside seemed to help her open the heavy door. She beckoned them to follow as she walked inside and disappeared into darkness.

Rosie took a step forward, but Della caught her by the elbow.

I don’t think this is such a great idea, she whispered. They seem kind of dodgy.

The shorter girl snorted and pulled her arm away. You’re starting to act dodgy. They’re the most exclusive clique in the whole damned high school, Della. Don’t you want to be in the Inner Circle? Don’t you want to finally be someone? Anyone?

Della chewed her cuticle for a moment, then dropped her hand and sighed. She walked in behind Rosie and hoped they hadn’t just made a huge mistake. The passageway was pitch black; not a sliver of light peeked through anywhere, and Della bumped her knees and shins on several heavy, stone objects, a few of which were pointy enough that she was sure they had broken skin. Just when she was totally losing her nerve and was working out a plan to sprint back from where they came and leave Rosie behind to enjoy her Inner Circle, the hallway opened up into a large, candlelit chamber.

Ladies, pardon the interpellation, their guide announced to those gathered below them. Allow me to introduce Rosie and Della.

They stood on a platform raised high above the rest of the room, and Della felt as if she were on display. The girls below them looked about their age, but something about them said they were wiser, more mature, and worldlier than small town girls could – or should – be. Some of them she had never seen before, and others she had, but from afar.

They wish to join us, their guide finished, and the girls below them murmured approval or dissent. She turned to them. Are you ready?

Rosie’s ponytail bobbed with agreement. Della inclined her head, not sure if she really wanted to agree, and silently wished she were anywhere other than this dank, shadowy chamber with these strange girls.

You’ll be fine, their hostess said, and made to retreat. Rosie caught her by the elbow.

Where are you going?

I’m sorry, I didn’t introduce myself, the girl answered. I’m Evelyn. I’m just the Gatekeeper. These are the women to whom you’ll answer. With that, she pulled out of Rosie’s grasp and left them through the hallway from whence they had come.

Ladies, please, join us, a voice called from far below, and Della tried to focus her eyes in the low light to identify the voice. She drew back in surprise for a moment at the young woman who had called up to her.

Bonnie?

The girl grinned and waved her down. You remember me? I can’t believe it. It must have been, what, ten years?

Isn’t that your cousin? Rosie asked in a whisper. Della’s head bobbed on her neck like a dashboard Jesus. Rosie broke into a smile. Great! Then it should be no problem getting in.

Della felt herself break into a clammy sweat, and she grimaced without knowing it. Rosie, my cousin Bonnie died. Like, ten years ago.

Bonnie’s smile faltered, but she kept her eyes on them; with a flick of the wrist, she sent two girls to bring them down into her chamber. Don’t worry, Della, everything will make sense soon.

Rosie gaped as the smaller of the two minions clasped onto her and brought her down the winding stone steps, then presented her to Bonnie. Della similarly allowed herself to be led; she didn’t know what else to do.

I know you must be a little confused. Freaked out, even, Bonnie said, and chuckled. The girls around her laughed, too, but it was a rehearsed one, meant in solidarity - and inferiority to their leader.

I went to your funeral, Della said.

Bonnie rolled her eyes. You were four, Delsita. You didn’t know a funeral from a fiesta.

Della pulled her arm out of the grasp of the girl beside her, and searched Bonnie’s eyes for the truth. It was all over the news for months. Mom wouldn’t let Juana go out alone anymore. She had to go everywhere in a pack, because they were afraid she was going to be abducted, too.

Della. Rosie’s lip quivered, and she looked at the faces of the girls around her with wide eyes. I want to go home, she whispered.

Bonnie shot her a venomous look. You’ll leave when I say you leave. She turned her eyes back to Della. If I’m dead, how am I right here in front of you? She stood. How could I be talking to you right now? Her warm hand closed over Della’s wrist, and burned finger-shaped welts into her skin.

Della tried to pull away, but Bonnie’s grip was too tight. Let me go!

You’re not going anywhere. You wanted to be in our club, right? She smiled, her eyes empty, her grip tightening. Well, guess what? You’re in.

I don’t want to be here anymore, Della whispered.

You’re going to get in trouble if you don’t let us go, Rosie said, her voice quivering but full of conviction.

Bonnie flicked her head at the girls flanking them, then stepped back. Before the two friends could move, their arms were wrenched behind their backs, and they were led to a flat marble podium at the far corner of the room. Around the podium, deep grooves carved like serpents had wound their way around then out a large, rusted grate.

The minions pushed Rosie and Della up onto the podium. Both girls struggled but were overpowered when two more of Bonnie’s followers held them prostrate while the original two tied their hands and feet.

Why are you doing this? Della asked. What do you want from us?

We have money! And phones! Rosie begged through tears. We’ll do anything. Just don’t hurt us, please.

The silent girls stepped back, their heads bowed, and Bonnie strolled up to the podium. Inches away from Della’s face, she leaned down, and her mouth spread in a slow, wide grin.

I have to do this. It’s in my nature, as it was in the nature of my abductor. She picked up a piece of Della’s pale brown hair and twirled it between two sharp, manicured fingernails. We have to survive just like anyone else.

Rosie’s face crumpled into sobs, and the podium around her pooled with hot urine. Della turned her head to look at her friend, but Bonnie pulled her face back; nails like talons bit into her tender flesh and drew pinpricks of blood.

You understand, it works better if you’re scared.

She let go. Della turned away and whispered consolation into her friend’s ear. Bonnie sauntered around the podium and ran her fingernails along the marble slab. Rosie shrieked, and pulled her torso away, but her hands and feet wouldn’t budge. She moaned and chanted a childhood prayer.

Please, Bonnie, leave her alone! Della cried.

Bonnie slid her fingernails from the marble to the flesh of the writhing, sobbing girl tied to it. She dragged them along the tanned skin, and blood welled to the surface and dripped down onto the marble. Della watched in horror as Bonnie slowly flayed her friend. Bonnie met her eyes, bit her lip like a schoolgirl with a secret, and then motioned with a tilt of her head for Della to look behind her. Before Della’s shriek could come to its full peak, the minions were on her, clawing, biting, sucking, and ripping her flesh from her bones.

Answered

The two girls were hopelessly lost. Beyond the swirling wind and branches scraping against each other, Jessica couldn’t hear the sounds of the parade. She couldn’t see anything, either. The trees were so thick here, it was amazing that they had been able to pick their way through this far.

She tripped on a tree root and fell into the swampy grass below it. I can’t believe you did this to me.

Don’t blame me. You’re the one who wanted to go see the cemetery.

I didn’t want to get lost out here, but you’re the one who thinks she knows where she’s going. Jessica was amazed at how strong her voice sounded. She felt very small as she stared up through the trees at the moon. It was so bright, it seemed like she could reach out and touch it. She imagined it would be cold, like dry ice. What happened to your innate sense of direction?

It’s called GPS, and if you hadn’t noticed, there’s no signal out here.

The two walked in sullen silence in one direction for a while, but when the trees hadn’t yet thinned, Jessica stopped and grabbed Bridget by the bicep. Bridget tugged out of her grasp but stayed put.

What’s your deal?

My deal is that I want to go back to the hotel, Jessica said. She tucked her dark hair behind her ears. My deal is what a witch you’ve been to me since we got here. What gives?

Bridget didn’t respond. She had been acting strangely since they got off the plane, different from the girl Jessica had known since grade school, as if she were a whole other person. Almost possessed.

"Like, what was that at the hotel about finding your mon amant? You got weird. And what’s with the clothes?" Jessica swept an arm up and down to indicate Bridget’s uncharacteristically dark ensemble.

Bridget looked away through the trees, squinted at something, then slowly started to move toward it. I wanted to get into the spirit of Halloween, she murmured.

Jessica tromped along behind her as they made their way to the edge of the forest and to a street lit with moonlight so bright it might have been morning already. Halloween isn’t for a week, Bridget. Oh my god, slow down!

As she reached forward to pull her friend to a stop, Jessica shrieked and kicked desperately to get away from something. Bridget should have heard the wrestling behind her, but she didn’t stop her determined, eerie pace forward.

With a loud crack, Jessica tumbled out of the forest and onto the bare patch of ground in front of the copse of trees. She stared behind her at the innocent branch that had assaulted her, and crazy laughter bubbled up from inside of her. She stopped as Bridget reached the middle of the little dirt road and froze.

Bridget! What the hell are you doing? You’re gonna get hit by a...

The car came out of nowhere. It honked at the last minute, but it was far too late, and Bridget didn’t move at all. Just as the car made impact, lightning lit up the sky, and Jessica could just see the faint outline of a man standing in front of her. The car slammed on its brakes and skidded to a stop as Jessica fumbled onto her feet. In the road, the lonely shape of her friend was still.

Bridget!

Jessica felt rooted to the spot. She couldn’t move to help the still figure that used to be her best friend and worst enemy. She just stared with her mouth open as the driver of the car sped away and the shadow of a man crouched down beside Bridget. He lifted the top hat from his head and moonlight fell upon his gaunt, almost skull-like face. She watched as he shed his dinner jacket and laid it over Bridget’s body.

"Réveiller, mon amour. You have come back to me."

She didn’t hear his words as much as feel them as they lifted on the softening breeze. A branch cracked behind her, and she spun around to face what lurked there. Nothing but woods stood behind her. When she turned back around, the road was empty but for a bloody smear and the faint odor of rum and tobacco.

Burnt Sienna

Y ou are the last person in the world who should judge me.

She sat down in front of me in a steel chair with a fur-lined seat and dropped her head into her hands. I held my breath as the lifeless blue contacts pierced through blonde bangs. They were blunt cut, and meant to