Free Six Days With the Dead by Stephen Charlick

then Penny danced barefoot into the refectory humming a nameless tune. As always there was a touch of wildness in her eyes. She existed in a world of her own making, shutting out the horrors that had surrounded her. Occasionally though, fo r unknown reasons, this block would slip and she would briefly get a glimpse of her nightmarish memories. Penny’s unpredictable nature made some people feel uncomfortable. It had even been discussed by a few whether Penny was a danger to the other members of the Convent. What if she opened the gates while they slept? They could be literally eaten in their beds.  But Sister Josephine had stepped in angrily, saying all were welcome at Lanherne Convent and who were they to say who could stay. To calm people’s fears, Lars had promised to lock Penny in her room each night. Hers was now the only Nuns cell with a bolt on the outside, keeping possible trouble in, rather than out.
    ‘ Come sit by me and Anne,’ Lars said to Penny trying to catch her attention, ‘Sister Margaret and Sister Rebecca have made some lovely soup for us Penny.’
    Sister Rebecca got up to guide Penny over to where Lars was sitting.
    ‘Come along dear, we don’t want it to get cold now do we?’ Sister Rebecca said, but the moment her hand touched her elbow the tune died on Penny’s lips.
    The silence became a solid thing in the room, as conversations stopped and spoons paused half way to mouths. Lars could see where this was going and began to rise. Frozen where she stood, Penny’s focus a million miles away, her mind was lost somewhere in her past. As scenes played themselves like a horrific film, her breathing became faster and faster. A wet patch blooming on her dress and running to the floor, the horrors only she could see taking away control of her bladder.  Then a scream filled with hysteria broke the silence that had taken hold. Lost in her own living nightmare, unable to break free, Penny screamed again. A loud cry, filled with horror and pain. Her shaking hands pulling at her hair, as she tried to pluck the images from her mind.
    ‘ Penny!’ Lars shouted, trying to break through to her, ‘Penny, stop it. Penny you’re safe, Penny!’ But she could not hear him where her mind had taken her.
    Then with a swiftness, Sister Rebecca pulled her around and with a loud crack, she slapped the hysterical Penny across the face. Abruptly the scream stopped.
    ‘ Sister!’ Lars said, slightly shocked by her action.
    ‘ You’re back with us now aren’t you Penny, hmm.’ She said, as she cupped Penny’s chin to look directly in her eyes. Penny, blinking as if waking up, focused on Sister Rebecca momentarily before gliding over to Lars.
    ‘ It’s alright Sir, I won’t forget my homework’ she said already drifting off into an alternative present. 
    Lars sat back down with a thump, a sadnes s enveloping him as he watched Sister Rebecca and Sister Margaret lead Penny away to wash. Now it was his turn to remember. Face after face of the sixth-formers he had been given charge of, each looking up at him eager for the knowledge he could share. Each with hopes for a future, a future where they planned and loved and lived, a future where they died when the time was right.  But all their futures had been cruelly snatched away by unknown dead hands.  Leaving them bloody and dying as hungry mouths tore into their flesh.
    Anne glanced over at Lars , concern on her young face. Then placing her small hand in his
    ‘ Would you like some bread, Mr Lars?. It’s a bit hard though,’ she said, making a show of banging the hard bread on the table.
    L ooking at this small child trying to cheer him up almost made him want to weep.
    ‘ Thank you Anne, you’re right it is a bit hard isn’t it,’ he said, with a sad smile, taking the chunk of bread Anne was offering him.
    Liz smiled at Anne with a nod, ‘Well done.’ she mouthed. 
    Slowly conversations began and once again , William was the centre of attention.
    Has