I See Monsters

By Shaun Kilgore

Tom Fineman has a problem: He sees monsters. The trouble is... no one else can see them. Tom has struggled for years and nothing has made the terrible images go away. Now he's on the verge of losing his family. If he wants to salvage his life, he will have to face these demons. But what if they are real?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Founders House Publishing LLC
• Release date: Apr 21, 2021
• ISBN: 9780463388914

Shaun Kilgore

Shaun Kilgore is the author of various works of fantasy, science fiction, and a number of nonfiction works. His books appear in both print and ebook editions. He has also published numerous short stories and collections. Shaun is the editor of MYTHIC: A Quarterly Science Fiction & Fantasy Magazine. He lives in eastern Illinois.

Book preview

I See Monsters

Shaun Kilgore

No, Tom, I’ve had enough. I want you to leave. Get out before Lizzie gets home from school.

Please, Clare, don’t do this. We can work this out. I can do better. I will do better. I’ll stop drinking again.

Clare’s face was red and puffy from crying. Her eyes were swollen. She dabbed at her nose with a piece of toilet paper then shook her head. No. Not again. You’ve made promises before and nothing changed. She gasped for breath. The tears rolled down her face. You can’t change, Tom. Please just go.

I couldn’t summon a single tear. I was writhing inside and wanted to scream, but my face was dry as could be. I reached out to touch Clare’s arm and she jerked away. She started sobbing right in the doorway. I just sat there on the bed, wringing my hands and feeling utterly helpless.

Clare, I whispered. Clare, please, don’t do this."

Just go! Clare screamed. Leave, Tom. Just go. She slid down to the floor and pressed her face against her knees, covering her head with her arms. She was moaning and crying.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. Okay, I said softly.

Without another word, I pulled a suitcase from beneath the bed and tossed clothes inside. I left the bedroom and entered the living room. I paused there, standing in front of the door. I trembled. My heart was pounding so hard and my head was throbbing. I was still drunk from last night.

I listened to Clare’s cries for a moment longer then retrieved the keys from the mantle and left the house. I didn’t look back. It was probably one o’clock in the afternoon on a dreary Monday. The car was parked at an angle on the street with one half up on the curb. I didn’t remember coming home last night either. There were no other marks so I felt safe believing I’d made it back from the bar without any mishaps. I got behind the wheel and pulled