Coco and The Black Box
Leilanie Stewart © 2018
The black dog crouched in the corner of the kitchen. Its teeth were bared and a low, steady growl rumbled from its throat as it fixed its eyes on Mandy. Any minute now the animal would spring and devour her. Mandy’s shaking hand gripped the phone. The dialling tone sounded in her ear.
“Pick up, Deanna, please pick up,” she whispered.
Deanna’s voice cut across the tone. “Hello?”
“Oh thank God – it’s Coco. I don’t know what to do.”
“Not again Mandy. I’ve told you, you have to get rid of this thing for once and for all.”
“Please. I don’t know what to do. This devil dog is gonna kill me.”
“Because you let it. If it eats you up, it’s your own fault. Kick this beast to the curb – put it to rest for your own good, I’m telling you.”
“It’s not that easy.”
“You let it take over your life. Look, I’ve given you my advice, take it or leave it.”
The call ended. Mandy listened to the dead tone. And then, in a flash of black, Coco pounced.
***
~END OF EXCERPT~
This story is included in Diabolical Dreamscapes: Strange and macabre short stories.
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