A Head Full of Ghosts

by Paul Tremblay

“Are you good at keeping secrets, Merry?” “I’m better than some.” I pause, then add, “More often than not, they keep me,”

The rest of my teammates yelled my name, begging for me to pass them the ball. I wouldn’t. I dribbled the ball past the moaning and writhing Olivia as fast as I could because you couldn’t coach speed.

“The flooding black river of blood will be the only thing to ever pour out of your mouth again. No more words. No one will listen to you. That’s the worst part, Merry. You will not be able to speak ever again, which means you will never be able to tell anyone about what will happen next to you and everyone else in this house. All the awful, terrible, unspeakable shit that will happen to you, and it will happen to you, and to everyone else…. I know. I’ve heard about it and I’ve seen it. No one escapes.”

“Yes, I’ve made my lips turn blue, willed goose bumps to appear on my skin, and I’m fake shivering. Just like all those women the church had drowned and burned as witches were trying to trick the faithful with their screams.”