The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires

by Grady Hendrix

One day, she would be the same age as Ann Savage and Miss Mary. Would Korey and Blue act like Carter’s brothers and ship her around like an unwanted fruitcake? Would they argue over who got stuck with her? If Carter died, would they sell the house, her books, her furniture, and split up the proceeds between themselves and she’d have nothing left of her own?

From sunup to sundown, the whole world felt flooded in boiling honey.

Her stomach slowly turned inside out. He passed Alhambra Hall and she wanted to shove open the door and jump out of the car. She wanted to feel the asphalt slap and cut and scrape her. It would feel real, not like this nightmare.

What are you made of, Mrs. Cavanaugh, that lets you walk away from your friends?”