Free The Color of Fear by Billy Phillips, Jenny Nissenson Page B

taste is never enough,” the long-haired said. “It only makes us want a bigger second bite. I mean it, Cinderella! Let her go!”
    Wha—?

    Cinderella?

The dainty, dead hands spun Caitlin around. She was now staring directly into the face of the real, live … Cinderella? Only Cinderella wasn’t really alive . She had the silvery-white complexion of death and the slightly sunken cheeks and dark-rimmed eyes of a ghoul risen from the grave. And yet she was elusively beautiful. And even though she was decomposing, her blonde hair and polished nails seemed well-groomed. Caitlin had always adored the tale of Cinderella. She gazed at her with awe.
    Natalie’s eyebrows practically popped off her forehead.
    “This gets more surreal by the moment,” Girl Wonder said.
    Cinderella released Caitlin with a huff. Caitlin stood there, mouth agape, certain now that she was in the middle of some epic lucid dream. Perhaps, when she had fallen asleep in her room after school, she had gotten a high fever that was fueling these curiously symbolic imaginary events.
    Long-haired dead girl flashed an apologetic smile.
    “Please, forgive me. Where are my manners? I never did introduce myself. My name’s Rapunzel.”
    The little girl in Caitlin was now doubly star struck—and surprised.
    How could I not have recognized Rapunzel after seeing those exquisite, long, golden locks?
    “Where am I?” Caitlin asked.
    Rapunzel smiled. “A universe of extraordinary kingdoms and spellbinding worlds … at least they were before this degenerative affliction broke out.”
    Natalie elbowed Caitlin. “Aka zombification.”
    Cinderella sauntered over to chili-pepper Natalie. She circled her as if perusing a buffet. Then she turned to Rapunzel. “Perhaps a nibble on the hot and spicy one?”
    Natalie swung her arms in the air. “Stay back, royal zombie chowhound!”
    Rapunzel shot a disapproving look at Cinderella. Just then, another zombie appeared as if out of nowhere. This one was gracefully slender, with midnight-black hair, cherry lips, and a pale, metallic-white complexion.
    Like … like … snow? It couldn’t be! Could it?
    “I’m Snow White,” she said as she curtsied. “Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
    Caitlin blinked.
    Natalie just sighed. “The hypnagogic hallucinations keep on coming.”
    Caitlin’s vacant stare faded as the corners of her mouth curled into a wide smile. She forgot about being frightened or angry as a warm and pleasant feeling arose inside of her.
    “I feel like I’ve known you all my life.”
    Rapunzel smiled broadly. “You must meet our other friend; look behind you.” Caitlin whirled around. A captivating, ash-blonde zombie stood a few feet away.
    Caitlin’s eyes sparked with wonder. “Sleeping Beauty?”
    Beauty held out her pale hand. “An honor to meet you, Caitlin.”
    Something must’ve clicked for Natalie, because her eyes grew big as billiard balls. “Are you guys, like, authentic flesh-eating zombies?”



“Indeed we are,” Snow White said, her voice warm and gentle.
    Natalie spun around to Rapunzel.
    “You mean you’re not wearing special-effects makeup and costumes? For Halloween?”
    “Nope,” said Rapunzel. She pinched a stitched scar seared into the pale flesh of her arm. “It’s real.”
    “How radically intriguing,” Natalie said.
    Cinderella folded her arms across her chest. “Being dead is hardly intriguing.” She eyed Natalie hungrily. “Especially when you’re always famished!”
    Sleeping Beauty pulled out a compact mirror and began patting her nose with a small powder puff. “Our complexions are always under the threat of mold. You try living up to the name ‘Beauty’ when your face is susceptible to mildew.”
    Natalie smiled at the zombie princesses. “I think you’re hauntingly beautiful.”
    Caitlin also found it strange that these dead princesses had managed to remain attractive and regal. She always thought of zombies as slow-moving, drooling