Welcome to the serialized version of my debut novella, Cherry Kills. If you’re just joining us, head over to the Navigation Page, or start directly from Episode One. If you’d prefer to read this in another format, head on over to Tiny Worlds Publishing and pick up the book!
CK was edited by S.E. Reid
Episodes:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | …
“…a dark, weird, emotionally bruised horror novel with punk energy, grief, occult chaos, and a protagonist who feels jagged in a very human way.
Down on the street, Cherry looked up at her darkened apartment window and blew on her wrist. Her arm throbbed where the static-eyed creature had grabbed her with its molten grip, but the cool air helped.
“That was fun,” she said, then turned and walked down the street. Where she was going, she wasn’t sure. Anywhere far away from what had just happened would do.
“This ain’t going away on its own,” said Uncle, following behind Cherry. “It’s that floppy-haired doofus. It has to be! Those doodles or somethin’? A hex?”
Elwood nodded in agreement while Daisy, jumping and splashing in a puddle in the middle of the street, smiled as if nothing had happened.
“This might shock you, big guy,” Cherry said to Uncle, “but I agree. That floppy-haired creeper made this happen.”
“We gotta call the cops and—”
Cherry turned to face Uncle. “Officer, a monster came out of my TV.”
“You have to tell someone about—”
“Officer, I was attacked by a nightclub squid—oh, but don’t worry, my imaginary friend saved my life.”
Daisy laughed and walked side by side with Cherry. “You’re funny, Mama.”
Cherry pulled away from Daisy and stormed down the street. “Ugh, shut the fuck up, Daisy—can’t you see I’m not in the mood. I’m not your goddamn mama. I can’t even take care of myself.” Cherry regretted saying it as soon as it came out of her mouth, but it was true—she wasn’t her mama. Daisy wasn’t even real. A made-up little girl to cope with the horrors of this world. Why a little girl? She couldn’t say.
Daisy lowered her head.
Elwood knelt and wiped the tears from Daisy’s eyes.
Cherry walked on. It was either a motel or Ramon’s, and seeing how she didn’t have any money, Black Garlic it was. Besides, she needed a friendly face right now. A real one.
It was well past closing time at Black Garlic, but Ramon was still inside the dining room folding napkins. Cherry tapped on the window and waved. She explained to Ramon the situation; a man was stalking her, and she didn’t feel safe—all true, of course—but she left out the part about the mural coming to life, the static-eyed creatures in her apartment, and—even though she liked Ramon more than most people—she continued to keep her Alternates a secret.
Cherry covered up her wrist with her left hand; it throbbed where the static-eyed creature had grabbed her.
Ramon ushered her inside the restaurant.
“I’m not sure why I’m here…I should go.”
“A stiff drink first, then decide what you want to do.” He led her to a small room in the back with a couch, a desk, and a computer. He picked up a bottle of whiskey from the desk and poured the brown liquid into two glasses. “Bottoms up.”
Cherry raised her glass. “May the Devil learn we’re in Hell half an hour before he’s ready for us.”
Ramon laughed and shook his head. “You know, if you want to sleep here tonight you’re more than welcome. Solid locks on this place. Security system. I have a blanket in my car, should I go grab it?”
Cherry looked at the couch—she was exhausted. “You sure you don’t mind?”
“I insist. Just for the night! No dogs or cats, right?”
“What about rabbits?”
Ramon chuckled and went to fetch the blanket from his car.
Cherry walked around the office. On the wall, an award given by the mayor for “Best New Restaurant.” Next to that, a framed newspaper clipping declaring Black Garlic as “The hottest restaurant in the City.” Cherry loved the food at Black Garlic, but it certainly wasn’t the hottest restaurant. Even on the weekends it wasn’t busy, not by hottest restaurant standards.
“Not sure how we’re all gonna fit,” said Uncle, pointing to the couch where Elwood and Daisy were cuddling.
“We? You three are waiting in the dining room while I sleep—”
Ramon walked into the room. “You say something?”
Cherry stepped away from the desk and smiled. “Bad habit—I talk to myself when I’m stressed, ya know?”
“Well, tell yourself not to set off the alarm tonight, okay? Just stay put, and if you need anything, here’s my number. Call me, no matter how late. I should get going before I fall asleep on my feet. You all good?”
“All good, Ramon. And thank you. You’re a lifesaver. I’ll make it up to you. I swear.”
“Yeah, yeah. Go get some sleep.”
After Ramon had locked the door, Cherry motioned to Daisy and Elwood to get up, stretched out on the couch, and stared at the ceiling. I’ve been watching too much television anyway, she thought.
Elwood went to explore the dining room.
“Let me guess,” said Uncle. “We’re going to see Bullring tomorrow?”
“What else is there to do?” said Cherry. “We need to find out what the hell is going on. Besides, he owes me money for trashing my apartment—that’s going to come out of my deposit.”
Cherry turned to face Uncle. “I can’t help thinking this is somehow connected to that symbol I see in my dreams.” Cherry narrowed her eyes. “And the book my dad kept hidden in his closet, before it burned up in the fire. You know, those marks on the wall are Egyptian—I’m sure of it. But what does Owen have to do with any of that? And how the hell does he know about you three? None of this makes sense.”
Elwood rushed into the office, motioning to come quickly.
Cherry, Uncle, and Daisy followed Elwood to the dining room and looked out the front window. Written across the front window in black, dripping like wet eyeliner, were the words:
“CHERRY, CHERRY, QUITE CONTRARY.”
Cherry shook her head and backed away. “He’s been following us.”
Sean Thomas McDonnell is a contest-winning Bay Area-based author specializing in horror and dark speculative fiction. His debut collection, Beneath the Valley Oak—a fierce blend of western grit and creeping dread—sold out within 48 hours. He is a founding creator of The Midnight Vault anthology and the author of the standout story Blink Twice If You Can Hear Me. His breakout punk-noir novella, Cherry Kills, is available worldwide through Tiny Worlds Publishing.
This episode hits hard the way you cut between Cherry's dark humor ('a nightclub squid') and the real dread underneath (the Daisy outburst, the message on the window) gives it such a jagged, human rhythm. One question though... Elwood never speaks, he just acts (wiping Daisy's tears, rushing in to warn them). Is his silence intentional as a character trait, or is there more to his backstory coming? Curious how the three Alternates each represent something different for Cherry...