The Hand That Feeds: A Horror Novel Read Online Free PDF Page B

eyes. Looking back at them, watching every move from within the darkness, were the soulless eyes of his son.

 
    5
     
    John realized he was holding his breath. Slowly, he let it out and took a step towards the door. He felt Angela grab a hold of his hand and pull. She was looking at him; he could see her from the corner of his eye.
    “What?” he asked.
    “We can’t leave,” she said.
    “Like hell we can’t. Don’t you see Rex?”
    “That’s your son down there , damn you.”
    John could argue the point, but hearing it made him think. It was the most inopportune time, but his mind was flooded with memories. He remembered holding Alex for the first time in the hospital. He remembered how small his hands were when he pushed his thumb into the center of his palm. In that moment, John remembered it all.
    “ Alex?” John said.
    Angela’s grip tightened.
    “Alex,” she said.
    John felt paralyzed. Tears formed in the corners of his eyes. He couldn’t find the strength to move. Nothing made sense. “Alex, please, it’s daddy…” He went quiet as a sound came from underneath the bed. A hissing noise grew louder for several seconds then died away. A sudden movement from underneath the bed caused John and Angela to jump. Alex’s hand reached out from the dark space and into the light. The skin was thin and grey. Dark lines crisscrossed over the top of his hand, running down each frail and boney finger. His nails were caked in something John wouldn’t guess, but the stains on the tips of the fingers were clearly blood.
    Alex ’s other hand lurched from underneath the bed, clawing at the floorboards. The hissing noise returned as John saw his son’s face pull out into the light. The color of his cheeks were more blue than grey. The jaundice-like glow was gone, but the dark veins were more prominent in his forehead and neck.
    J ohn felt Angela’s hand pushing against his back, but he held his ground. He gave her a shove in return with his elbow, and then planted his feet firmly. He did not intend to move closer to the bed until he better understood what was going on. He was horrified by Alex’s appearance, but as far as he could tell, Angela wasn’t affected by it at all.
    “ Hey, baby,” she said as she got down on her hands and knees, looking into Alex’s eyes for some sign of her son. As she tried to move closer, she was crying. John put his hand on her back to stop her and was forced to step in front of her.
    John got within a few feet of the bed before Alex lunged forward. He made it a foot away from his father and then collapsed on the floor with his hands outstretched. John didn’t react quickly enough and if Alex would have had the strength, he would have had a hold of his legs. The boy laid motionless on the ground and the hissing turned to a growl. His exposed arms looked battered and bruised. Angela reached out and stroked his hair before John could stop her. Alex didn’t move.
    “He’s dying,” she said.
    That’s an understatement, John thought.
    “Do something,” she said.
    John crept to his right so he could keep an eye on Alex’s face. He saw the outline of blood on the boy’s ear and the side of his head. There was a dark brown clump stuck to his hair. It took John a few seconds to realize it was Rex’s fur. Now, closer to the bed, John could see the rest of the dog’s remains underneath. He could also see Alex wasn’t breathing. Even so, the boy’s fingers moved every couple of seconds.
    “I think he’s…” John thought about what he was saying. “I think he’s hungry?”
    “So, I’ll go get him a sandwich,” Angela said, then jumped up.
    “I don’t think so, ” John said and she stopped at the door. “I don’t think a sandwich will do it.”
    “What does he need?” she asked.
    John looked over at the bloody pile in the corner of the room, but didn’t answer. Angela took a deep breath and held it for a moment.
    “He’s our baby , John,” she said then released