The Innocent Have Nothing to Fear And Other Stories of Chilling Modern Horror Fantasy is a collection of ten short stories written by me and is available to buy on Amazon here and here. Below is an extract from Underhill Drive, part of the collection.
Underhill Drive
‘Oh,’ Juliette exclaimed looking up at the stately two-storey semi-detached house nestled in the curved basin of Underhill Drive’s cul-de-sac. ‘Look,’ she said pointing in delight, ‘it has window boxes. Actual windowboxes.’ Juliette had never seen a house with window boxes outside a fairytale picture book. She was immediately charmed by the profusion of different sorts of yellow flowers nestled in flower boxes under each window ledge.
Will checked the auction house paperwork, a sceptical frown on his face. ‘Whoever took these pictures did a crap job,’ he muttered. ‘There doesn’t look like there’s anything wrong with the place.’
‘Well that’s a good thing, isn’t it?’ Juliette laughed. ‘Come on, Will. We found a diamond in the rough, admit it.’
Will dragged his gaze from the deed to her. His answering smile was lopsided at best. ‘Let’s take a look inside,’ he suggested. ‘Maybe there’s some damp patches or something.’
‘You sound like you want there to be something wrong,’ Juliette said. ‘Will, seriously. Why can’t you just be happy we finally found the house of our dreams?’
‘Well, ‘cuz at these prices there’s got to be a catch.’ He pointed out. ‘Look at this place,’ he waved a hand up at the house’s façade. ‘This is 1930’s construction. Four bedrooms, upstairs and downstairs toilets. Front and backyard –and we got it for less than a hundred grand. I tell you, Jules, if there isn’t a catch I’m gonna feel like a crook.’
Juliette laughed again and hooked her arm through Will’s. ‘You’re such a pessimist,’ she chided with affection, dropping her head onto his shoulder and leaning into him for a moment. She squeezed his arm in excitement. ‘Look at this place, though,’ she said. ‘There’s a green for kids to play on and look at that mound thingy,’ she said releasing him so she could point to the odd hillock sitting in the centre of the green common in the middle of the cul-de-sac, the street and the houses all spaced around the hill as if it was the keep inside a castle mott. ‘Isn’t is picturesque?’ she cooed dreamily.
Will squinted at the mound through his glasses, pushing them up the bridge of his nose. ‘Don’t look natural,’ he said. ‘The developers probably built it to give the street’s name some legitimacy.’
Juliette rolled her eyes at him, ‘You are such a cynic.’
A car pulled up beside the house. A blue Vauxhall Corsa. A middle-aged woman with dark glossy skin stepped out. ‘Mr and Mrs. Pritchard?’ The woman’s appraisal was frank, her gaze piercing. Juliette straightened her posture and brushed her hair from her shoulders in response to that cool, silently demanding gaze. ‘I’m Cheryl Fintner,’ the woman said not waiting for an answer. She pressed a business card into Juliette’s hand. ‘I’m to show you around and explain the rules.’
‘Rules?’ Will and Juliette asked simultaneously.
Cheryl Fintner’s flinty regard hardened. ‘You did read the paperwork before you signed, didn’t you?’ she demanded.
‘Yes but—‘
‘Well, then you know what you signed up for,’ she said simply. ‘Underhill Drive is a special community. There’s rules.’ Cheryl stared them down. ‘This could be a good place to live,’ she said seriously, ‘if you remember to abide by the rules.’
Juliette squeezed Will’s arm, sensing he was about to object. He could be difficult about the silliest of things sometimes. ‘Thank you, Mrs. Fintner,’ she said, ‘We don’t want to break any rules,’ she smiled winningly. ‘We’re hoping to start a family here.’
The look Mrs. Fintner gave her could best be described as glacial. ‘Rule number one,’ she said, ‘never say thank you. You want to express thanks, you say “I appreciate” this or that. Never thank you.’
Juliette blinked. ‘Ah—alright,’ she said.
Mrs. Fintner continued. ‘You see them plants?’ she asked nodding her rounded chin toward the flower boxes Juliette had admired on arrival. ‘That’s Yarrow, St. John’s Wort and foxglove. You got hawthorn trees in the back garden. You know what’s good for you, you’ll make sure them flowers survive, got it?’
‘Now hold on a minute,’ Will said. ‘I don’t think I like your tone, Mrs. Fintner—‘
‘Don’t go out on the full moon,’ the woman spoke over him, delivering her declaration with the rushed efficiency of someone determined to get a job done fast. ‘You’re gonna hear funny noises at night. Dogs baying and maybe horses. Don’t look out your window.’
‘Are you serious?’ Will was getting angry. His pale cheeks were flushed.
‘Keep all pets indoors. Best not to have ‘em at all. But if you do, keep your cats inside at all times and don’t let dogs off the lead. And whatever you do, never step inside the flower circles out on the green.’
‘I don’t understand,’ Juliette admitted in a small voice. ‘Who made these rules?’
‘Them under the hill,’ Mrs. Fintner replied smartly. ‘You live in their demesne, you obey their rules.’
*****
If you would like to find out what happens when you don’t follow the rules, you can read the rest of Underhill Drive in The Innocent Have Nothing to Fear
ALDLIS CHRONICLES 