‘Now,’ Eileen announced, hushing the chatter around her. She clasped her hands together with a proud smile. ‘In the spirit of Halloween, I thought it would be fun to read something a little spooky this week.’
A sigh came from Gemma who she knew did not like horror but Philip fixed her with the widest smile she had seen on him in weeks. There was no pleasing everyone, years of book clubs had taught her that.
Eileen reached into the box beside her, lifting out the stack of Penny Dreadfuls. ‘We were selling these at work and I thought they would be perfect.’ She laid them down on the table in front of the group.
‘Eileen, you’ve outdone yourself!’ Philip leapt for the pile, spreading them out, fingering each one with careful scrutiny. ‘The original horror stories, these are,’ he said, turning to a squirming Gemma, ‘snippets of blood, gore and fantastical, nightmarish stories for their time. They only cost a penny so even the poor masses could read them.’ He picked up one entitled, Feast of Blood, handing it to Gemma who tried to push it away.
‘God, Phil – you’ve given me a paper-cut. I’m not reading that.’
‘It’s probs not even scary these days Gem,’ Freya stated, eyeing Robin as she spoke. She picked up the one closest to her without looking, but Eileen caught the title, The Black Forest.
She grinned.
‘Oh aye, you won’t be scared reading that by yourself?’ Robin winked at Freya who raised an eyebrow at him.
Eileen wondered why that pair bothered coming every week when they never paid attention to the literature. Robin took his own time, flicking through the assorted covers with concentration before choosing, The Skeleton Lover, much to Eileen’s disappointment.
He held it up to her with a nod, ‘cool idea, didn’t know you were a fan, Eileen.’
She shrugged, ‘something a little different for us all.’
‘Great idea,’ Priyanka said, a reassuring expression plastered on her face.
Eileen was the closest with Priyanka, who shared her love of stories large and small. Their lives were quite different but people like her were the reason Eileen still did the book club. That was before, anyway.
She was almost sad to see her enthusiastically choose, The Revenge of The Blighted One.
Freya on the other hand, was the best saleswoman Eileen had ever met. Eileen had lost count of how many times she had managed to lead the group, talking about a book she had clearly not read, or finished. It was a skill in itself.
Freya gazed at her cover with a frown, ‘this would make a cool instagram if I actually took it to the forest.’ Her eyes lit up at the idea and she pulled out her phone.
‘Do you want company?’ Robin asked, nudging her as if the rest of them were not watching. ‘Don’t be a creep,’ Priyanka said and he winked at her.
Eileen sighed, turning to Jack who had barely noticed anything that was going on, engrossed in his phone as usual.
‘Jack? Which one will you choose?’
He snapped up to look at her with surprise that he was being addressed. Usually they all let him get on with the work he brought with him and occasionally he would interject with a strong opinion when he felt it was needed. At least he read the books.
He held up two fingers to her and mumbled, ‘two secs, just finishing this email, love.’
She rolled her eyes, casting them over the remaining Penny Dreadfuls, then pulling one from the bottom with a smile and handing it to him.
He glanced at it, ‘Spring-Heeled Jack – ha! Fitting.’ He flicked through it with raised eyebrows before stashing it in his briefcase.
‘That’s a good one, mate,’ Philip leaned towards Jack, ‘he was the big, infamous, devil back then. Red eyes, claws and all.’
Gemma shifted from her seat, gulping the last of her wine, her thumb rubbing the paper-cut on her finger. ‘I’m gonna head off, think I need an early night – but thanks for this Phil, it’ll be a sleepless one.’
Philip laughed, ‘you’re so welcome. Don’t forget to read it right before bed for the real scares.’
Gemma fixed him with a stare before reaching down to the table and handing him, The Maniac Father. ‘Fitting, don’t you think. I’m sure Thomas would agree.’
Eileen laughed with him and he tucked it away in his bag. ‘I’m going to savour it.’
Gemma said her goodbyes and left just as Jack was slipping his phone away in his pocket – a telltale sign he was going too. ‘A pleasure as always Eileen,’ he said while picking up his briefcase, moving his untouched wine from one table to another and nodding to the others.
‘Jack was chatty tonight wasn’t he?’ Robin smirked. Eileen suspected Robin was mildly jealous of Jack.
Soon enough, none of it would matter.
‘C’mon then, Eileen – what did you pick?’ Philip asked.
Eileen held up her own Penny Dreadful, one she had chosen long before the rest.
‘A Woman’s Secret – Eileen! Do tell!’ Freya said, sitting up on the sofa and leaning forward with interest.
Eileen scoffed with feigned embarrassment, ‘I can only dream my life is exciting enough to have secrets.’
‘Oh, sure you do! You’re always asking us to share, now its your turn,’ Freya pressed. Eileen gritted her teeth, her patience waning. ‘Have you got a new friend?’ she giggled, a piercing noise that hit Eileen’s last nerve.
‘It is really none of your business,’ she snapped, ‘head to that forest of yours and find out.’
She should not have said it, but Freya had pushed and her facade slipped. Before she could fix it back in place, Priyanka gave her a frown of suspicion. But there was no chance she knew anything. Nor would she find out so long as she did not open the cupboard in the hall.
Freya slumped in her chair like a scolded child. Eileen smiled, feeling the grip on her shoulders tighten. It was time for them to leave and face their fates.
Eileen cleared her throat at the whispering pair on the sofa who were far too old to be behaving the way they were. After finishing their wine, Freya and Robin left. Separately.
‘Gosh, is that the time? Philip, your babysitter will be wanting to get home before dark.’ She knew Philip did not like using a babysitter, particularly when she had to stay late because Thomas was not home yet. And he never could rely on Thomas being home on time.
‘Shit, you’re right. I’ll grab these glasses and plates for you before I head off.’ He cleared the table, tidying the remaining Penny Dreadfuls into a neat pile.
‘Are you sure you’re alright?’ Priyanka asked, concern creasing her forehead.
Eileen had thought she hid it well, but perhaps Priyanka was more intuitive than she had given her credit for. Perhaps all that yoga and meditation gave her an insight. Or perhaps, she just knew Eileen better than the rest of them.
‘Of course, tired I think. Ready for my bed,’ she smiled.
Priyanka nodded, ‘if only I could sleep so easily,’ she sighed, ‘takes me hours sometimes and nothing really helps.’
‘Maybe some light reading before bed.’ Eileen gestured to Priyanka’s Penny Dreadful with a grin and she laughed, ‘definitely not, that’ll do quite the opposite.’
Priyanka headed for the door, her hand on Eileen’s shoulder before she left. ‘Get a good sleep, ring me tomorrow.’
Eileen gritted her teeth and smiled, suppressing the flinch at Priyanka’s touch.
The house was quiet when they had all gone. Deadly so.
Eileen tidied away the rest of the books, ignoring the looming shadow that followed her across the room. It grew as she washed the plates and dried the glasses. Until it towered above her and her chest tightened. She had to dispose of the body before it got worse.
The husky whispers grew louder until she could not ignore them anymore. Each curse, bound to a story as horrific as they are. Until summoned by their reader. It would not take long, although some were more stubborn than others. Eileen herself had been more difficult to crack than planned.
Padding down the hall in her slippers, she opened the cupboard door slowly. A wrinkled arm fell through the gap as the body rolled out.
She gazed down at it, the familiar face of herself staring blankly back. Except, it was not really herself. That Eileen was long gone, and in her place was a woman, with a secret.
Or maybe, seven.
Words, editing & design by N.S.Land
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