Matt Hults: Anything Can Be Dangerous

“Piss off,” says Jane.

Phil grins wearily. “Wish I could, sweetheart. Really wish I could.”

“So what do you do?” I enquire out of mild curiosity.

“That’s for me to know and for you to find out.”

“He works in an estate agents,” Jane informs me.

“Thanks a bunch,” Phil grumbles.

“What about you?” I ask Kavi.

“Aw, who gives a shit,” Phil breaks in before he can answer. “That was in the outside world. In here you’re just another plaything.”

I look again at the empty cage. “Why did they do that? Burn that person up, I mean.”

“Nick,” Jane says quietly, her eyes glistening. “His name was Nicholas.”

“They don’t need to give a fucking reason,” Phil explains. “They’ll just come in, douse you with petrol and strike a light.”

“Phil, please,” begs Jane.

“Especially if you make a fuss, draw attention to yourself,” he carries on, ignoring her. “Just like Nick did.”

It was Jane’s turn to glare now, at Phil. “He didn’t do anything wrong. He was just—”

“He asked one too many questions,” Kavi points out, looking at me.

Phil nods in agreement. “Every time they came in, he was at it. What the fuck did he expect?”

“Come in? Hold on,” I say, switching the subject, “so you have seen the people holding us then?”

Phil considers how to answer that one. “They don’t exactly let us get a good look at their faces.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You will,” Kavi promises.

“Nick didn’t do anything wrong,” Jane continues, as if the conversation hasn’t moved on at all. “It wasn’t because of that—they just enjoy it.” Without thinking, her hand goes to her neck and now I see the scar. It’s a fresh one, still quite raw. “They enjoy hurting us.”

“But why? What could they possibly gain from this? What do they want?”

“That,” says Kavi, “is precisely what Nick wanted to know.”

BEST NEW ZOMBIE TALES (VOL. 1)

BEST NEW ZOMBIE TALES (VOL. 2)

BEST NEW ZOMBIE TALES (VOL. 3)

CLASSIC VAMPIRE TALES (VOL. 1)

BEST NEW VAMPIRE TALES (VOL. 1)

MATT HULTS ~ HUSK

MATT HULTS ~ ANYTHING CAN BE DANGEROUS

JAMES ROY DALEY ~ TERROR TOWN

JAMES ROY DALEY ~ 13 DROPS OF BLOOD

JAMES ROY DALEY ~ INTO HELL

JAMES ROY DALEY ~ THE DEAD PARADE

GARY BRANDNER ~ THE HOWLING

GARY BRANDNER ~ THE HOWLING II

GARY BRANDNER ~ THE HOWLING III

PAUL KANE ~ PAIN CAGES

This book is a work of fiction. All characters, events, dialog, and situations in this book are fictitious and any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission except in the case of reprinted excerpts for the purpose of reviews.

For more information, contact: Besthorror@gmail.com

Visit us at: BOOKS of the DEAD

FIRST EDITION

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2011 by Matt Hults

Edited by Matt Hults and James Roy Daley

Photo Credit — Danielle Tunstall

Cover Model — Paige Rohanna Walker

Graphic Design — Cynthia Gould

E-book Design — James Roy Daley

“Anything Can be Dangerous,” copyright 2011. Original for this anthology.

“The Finger,” copyright 2007. First appeared in Undead: Skin and Bones by Permuted Press.

“Feeding Frenzy,” copyright 2007. First appeared in Fried! Fast Food, Slow Death by Graveside Tales.

“Through the Valley of Death” copyright 2011. First appeared in Best New Vampire Tales Volume One by Books of the Dead Press

“Husk (Preview)” copyright 2011.