Harlan County Horrors Read Online Free

him. She would always love
him.
    Priscilla picked up the knife and walked closer to the rift,
standing on the very edge. She slashed her wrist again and let the
blood fall into the black hole.
    “ Bobby Lee, come back to me. Come back to me,
please.”
    Pris felt a slight tremor run underneath her feet. She threw
the knife over the line of salt and stepped back from the grave’s
edge, fearing that it might give way.
    A
noise like a small avalanche reached her ears. She shivered as the
temperature dropped to freezing.
    “ Prisssssssssssss. Prissssscilla.”
    That couldn’t be Bobby Lee’s voice. It sounded so deep and
strange.
    Pris felt like the air was being sucked out of her lungs. She
stood paralyzed, listening to the shifting movements of the earth
and the guttural utterances that emanated from the rift.
    The
full Waking Moon lit the scene before her and Pris wanted to look
away from the grave, afraid of what she would see, afraid of what
she had summoned. But she could only stand there, transfixed and
trembling, as the thing she had once loved crawled out of the hole
and collapsed on its back a few feet in front of her.
    What was left of Bobby Lee writhed on the ground, moaning in
agony. His hands clawed the air as though he were still trying to
dig his way out of the grave.
    Pris’ eyes welled up with hot tears and she let out a
strangled sob. The white T-shirt he’d been wearing the day he died
was filthy and streaked with blood. His black jeans were torn and
his sneakers were caked in dirt.
    And
his face…
    “ Oh, Bobby Lee. I’m so sorry.”
    She’d thought she would only be summoning his spirit, and he
would look as handsome as before. His body shouldn’t have been
raised. This wasn’t supposed to happen.
    Priscilla hugged herself and stared down at Bobby Lee’s
mangled face. His sunken eyes were watching her, reflecting the
moonlight and his pain and confusion. She wondered why she couldn’t
smell the stench of decay—like they were trapped in a cold, sterile
vacuum.
    His
mouth opened and closed, his blackened tongue darting sideways.
“Prisssssssssss.”
    The
moonlight intensified, glowing bright around him, and Priscilla
watched, amazed, as his appearance began to change.
    The
wounds on his face healed first—new skin filling in the gaps and
gashes, making him look normal. His dark eyes were perfect again.
When his hands and arms were healed, the glowing light around him
disappeared.
    Bobby Lee struggled to his feet, his eyes filled with fearful
questions. He was shaking all over and Pris wanted to take him in
her arms.
    “ Baby, it’s okay now. Please don’t be scared.”
    He
took a faltering step toward her. “I’m so cold, Pris. What’s wrong
with me? I don’t feel right.”
    I
can’t tell him the truth. I can’t do it. I just want to pretend
he’s alive again until it’s time for him to leave.
    Pris forced back the tears and smiled. “You were chasing me up
the trail, silly, and you had a bad fall and hit your head. That’s
why you’re confused.”
    Bobby Lee glanced down at his soiled clothing, and then gave
her a familiar lopsided grin. “I look like I’ve been to hell and
back. Why are you wearing that fancy dress?”
    “ I
wanted to surprise you. We had a date here in this new special
place I made just for us.” Priscilla held out her arms. “Come here
and let me warm you up.”
    “ But I’ll ruin your—”
    “ I
don’t care. I just need to hold you.”
    He
wrapped his arms around her, squeezing her tight. His skin felt
icy, but he didn’t carry the scent of death. Priscilla thought he
smelled of moonlight and wildflowers.
    “ I
can’t wait for our weddin’ day,” Bobby Lee said, stroking her hair.
“You’re about to make me the proudest man in Russell
Fork.”
    His
words tore at her heart. “I’ve always loved you, Bobby
Lee.”
    “ Well, you’re gonna find out how much I love you on our
weddin’ night.”
    Priscilla let out a squeal as he lifted her