Page 19 | Chapter 1 | The Ghost Ship | A Free Serialized Novel by Scott Telek

A moment later she was gone, door swinging ajar.

John’s eyebrows leapt upward in surprise. He had time to turn to his wife with an expression of joy on the happy coincidence, but was checked from saying anything by the great and sudden commotion created by the barkeep. Her expression changed on the instant to that of an excited young girl. Her hand flew to open mouth as she convulsed forward with a gasp of joy. She threw off her apron and tossed it behind the bar, issuing a light musical laugh. Turning, on her way out, she clasped Iris’s hands in hers. Iris stared at her thin delicate hands, crushed within the woman’s gray flesh.

“My son!” the woman exclaimed. “He’s returned!”

Her large backside was visible scrambling through the bright doorway, then she was gone. The patrons from the back followed behind her, shuffling and limping as quickly as their aged bodies would allow. John saw one man’s red toothless mouth, lips contorted in happiness. Then they were gone. John and Iris were alone in the tavern, door hanging open.