Free Sawyerville: Horror Short Stories From Another Earth Vol.3 by Remi Aubert Page A

she began to look around the place. Not much has changed in the Sawyerville post office, except that it looked even more run down, like it could fall apart at any time. The paint on the wall was peeling, and it looked like the termites have taken residence in the wooden benches next to the postman's desk.
    She sat down on one anyway, and started picking at a loose splinter. The piece came off, exposing a line of termites. They began to scamper back into a nearby hole.
    "Gross!" she exclaimed in disgust. She began to use the splinter she had pulled off to crush the tiny creatures, causing their bodies to get stuck into the little canal where they were passing. Some of them still wiggled feebly after this little act of genocide.
    "Here you go, Gail Fuller."
    Gail didn't notice Ronnie coming out from behind the counter. He approached her and handed her a small package.
    "A parcel?" She stood up and took it from him, a confused look on her face. She had been expecting a letter from one of the universities in the city to which she had applied. She applied for a scholarship without her father's knowledge, and she had been anticipating for the reply for weeks.
    "Yep, s'all that was in your box, now." Ronnie shrugged.
    "Must be for Pa," Gail said, more to herself than to Ronnie.
    "Naw, s'for you," Ronnie assured her. "It's got your name on it, an' all."
    Gail looked at the package. Sure enough, her name was scribbled on it. There didn't seem to be a return address.
    "Oh, okay. Well, thank you, Ronnie."
    "Sure, come back anytime." Ronnie replied, a bit awkwardly.
    "I will," Gail replied.
    As Gail walked out of the post office, she started to press the package gently with her fingers. She could feel that there was something inside. It was round, and it felt a bit firm, yet soft enough to become indented if she would press too hard on it. She began to wonder deeply what it was, so she approached a nearby bench underneath a large oak tree and sat down.
    The sun was setting and the people around her were getting ready to close their shops and go home. Shops usually closed up at 6 o'clock in Sawyerville.
    Gail peeled the tape off the back of the package, then started unfolding the paper. When she finally unwrapped it, she clumsily let what was inside drop onto her lap, and when she bends down to look at it, the first thing she felt was confusion, as if it were some sort of joke. But when she finally realized what it really was, she began to scream.

Chapter 2 – The Ride
     
    The people of Sawyerville rushed toward Gail, eager to come to the rescue. It had seemed like yet another bland evening to them, which somehow made the young woman's scream a welcome change to the dullness in the small town.
    "What's wrong, child?" Samuel McLaw, the town's most trusted tailor, asked anxiously. Mr. McLaw was always known for helping people around.
    Gail's hands were held against her cheek, but she slowly dropped them to her sides and said in a panicked voice, "An eye! It's an eye!"
    Shivering, she pointed to the small, reddish white orb on the ground. It had collected some dust after it fell, but sure enough, everyone could tell what it was.
    The crowd erupted in gasps and oh, my Lord’s. Mr. McLaw pulled out a handkerchief from his trousers' pocket and gingerly picked up the eye. He scrutinized it and pressed it gently, his fingers protected by the flimsy cloth.
    He looked at Gail, his forehead lined with worry. "Who on earth would send such a horrible thing?" he asked her.
    Gail could only shake her head. She shakily bent down to pick up the paper, which had been the package. She thought she had seen something written on it before she noticed the eye. On the paper, scrawled in thick, black letters, was: I'm coming for you.
    She let out a whimper and dropped the paper. Someone in the crowd picked it up and read it out with wide eyes. Suddenly, people started to whisper fervently to each other.
    One plump, middle-aged lady by the name of Mrs. Travis