Darkness Falls by Keith R.A. DeCandido

louder.
    Walsh kicked Ray off him and got over to the light.
    Then Ray saw the look in Walsh’s eyes.
    His eyes looked dead.
    Then he saw something else.
    The noise got louder.
    Ray Winchester had been many things in life. He’d been happy, he’d been bored, he’d been pissed off—mostly pissed off. He’d been in love, he’d been consumed by rage, he’d been hurt.
    But he’d never really been scared of much of anything.
    Until now.
    Until he saw the decaying thing that flew straight toward him in the night and ripped his chest open.
    Ray Winchester screamed until he could scream no more.
    His last thought was disappointment that he hadn’t got to kick Walsh’s ass one last time. That would’ve made everything worthwhile . . .

ten
    1841
    William Ames sat in back of Malachy’s General Store, forcing himself not to be afraid.
    On the one hand, he didn’t want to disappoint Emma. On the other hand, he’d been hearing stories for the last year about the crazy old Tooth Fairy. He still remembered that fire up at Lighthouse Point. And he heard the grown-ups talking about how they didn’t trust that lady up there, even if the other children liked her.
    William was just sorry that he never got any treats from the Tooth Fairy.
    His father, of course, kept saying that she wasn’t a fairy of any kind, that it was just stuff and nonsense. She was just a crazy old woman who was corrupting the youth of the town, whatever that meant.
    Father thought she should have just remarried and had children like a proper woman. Mother usually muttered something after that and changed the subject.
    All William knew was that he was never able to get any treats.
    “William?”
    He looked up to see Emma, her pretty red curly hair sticking out from under a kerchief. The late afternoon sun shone on her curls, making her look like an angel.
    Walking up to where he was sitting, she said, “William Ames, I’ve been looking all over for you!”
    “I—I’m sorry, Emma. I’ve been waiting, like you said.”
    “I said to meet me in front of Malachy’s, not behind it.”
    William looked down at his feet. He thought she had said the back, but he couldn’t bring himself to say that, as it would make him feel even stupider.
    “Is everything all right?”
    “Uh-huh,” William said quickly.
    “Well, since no one’s watching, can I see it?”
    She smiled as she said it. Emma had the prettiest smile in all the town.
    “If you’re sure it’s okay,” William said, taking the item in question out of his pocket. “I kept it safe, just like you said.”
    He held the baby tooth out, and Emma took it, holding it up to the light.
    “Oh, William, this is perfect!”
    William smiled a gap-toothed smile. “Thank you, Emma. I’m glad you like it.”
    Emma handed William his tooth back, then grabbed his hand and led him toward the coast.
    “Now, we won’t be very long at all. Back in time for supper, by my estimate.”
    “It doesn’t matter,” William said happily. He would gladly spend as much time with Emma as she wanted.
    It was certainly better than going home to Father.
    “What about your father?” Emma asked, as if she could read William’s mind. “Won’t he holler and raise hell if you’re not home before—” She cut herself off when she saw the look on William’s face. He had cast his gaze downward. The last time he was late, Father—
    He cut the thought off.
    It was best not to think about Father. That would just make him unhappy and scared.
    The trip they were taking was making him scared enough.
    “Oh, William,” Emma said, “I’m sorry. I heard about what your father did the last time you—”
    “It’s okay,” he said quickly, not wanting to dwell on it.
    “No, it isn’t.” Emma sighed. “We’ll just have to hurry, then. We’ll head over to Matilda’s house, collect our reward, and be back before anyone knows we’re gone.”
    William was just glad to spend time with Emma. And away from Father.
    “Tell