Today, we are thrilled to announce our October contest winner: “In Ribbons” by Paul McQuade. This exquisitely eerie story, told from the point of view of a child, builds to a moment of horror you will never forget.
“In Ribbons” by Paul McQuade
‘It’s fox-work,’ Hiro’s grandmother says, her eyes gleaming like jaspers, her thin fingers winding a needle through thinner cloth, closing a rift in father’s shirt. Each week grandma washes the clothes so hard her knuckles redden, but still some specks of coal-dust twine themselves into the weave.
‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ says his mother. ‘It was just a gas leak in the shaft.’
Grandma snorts. Mother rolls her eyes.
‘When did they say the doctor’d get here?’ mother asks, this time turning toward father, prone on a floor cushion and veiled in tobacco smoke.
Congratulations to our October Scarefest Finalists:
“The Village of Hands and Feet” by McKenzie Hightower
“Most Subtle of Creatures” by Andrea Robertson
“Book Boy” by Zack Graham
“October’s Son” by Will Kaufman
“Living Impaired” by Dustin Hoffman