Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #20 November 2015 | Page 30
rules?”
“They’re in the kitchen. Do you remember the
“No running. Hold them like this.”
Emily stuck out an arm, imaginary scissors
encased in her fist. Christopher nodded with a small
smile and Emily ran from the room laughing. He
heard drawers being pulled open and the sound of
cutlery clinking together. Christopher leaned back into
the sofa and closed his eyes.
Even if nothing else happened, he would need
to talk to Claire. Emily’s behaviour had been too
strange. She would blame him without a doubt. Even
if he hadn’t found the box she would have blamed
him.
He sighed and opened his eyes.
Emily stood in front of the chair, brandishing
the scissors. Face dark. Smiling.
“Daddy I need your hair.”
Christopher laughed nervously.
“My hair?”
“Uncle Jack needs it. So I need it.”
With two hands she opened the scissors,
holding them like shears, then lurched forward
towards him. Christopher dived off the chair, rolling to
the ground, missing the scissors by inches as he stood
and grabbed them.
Emily screamed, pushing forward and
snapping at his hands. She clung to the scissors with
an impossible grip, strong as a man. Christopher
grunted and heaved, ripping the scissors from her
hands. She jumped and scrambled for them, still
screaming, face filled with a dark rage. He ran to the
kitchen and threw the scissors on top of the large
fridge freezer then whipped around, ready to defend
himself.
Emily stood in the doorway, shoulders
hunched, face turned upwards towards him. Her teeth
were bared.
“Give them back.”
“Emily this has gone on long enough.”
“Give them BACK!”
“Emily, stop. I will not accept this behaviour.
You could have hurt me. You could have hurt
yourself!”
“GIVE THEM BACK.”
Christopher stared her down, then said quietly,
“I warned you Emily. Little girls who don’t behave
don’t get to keep their toys.”
He began walking forward and realisation
flashed in her eyes. Emily screamed again and fled the
room, but was not quick enough. Christopher swiped
the box from the living room floor and walked away.
Emily pulled at his clothes, screaming and crying.
Begging him, apologising, but it did no good. The box
was transforming his daughter into something ugly,
and Christopher had had enough.
It was early afternoon and he was wide awake.
There would be no mistaking it this time.
Christopher would lock the box in his shed and
that would be that.
***
“I’m telling you Claire, she’s not right. I think
she needs to see a doctor.”
“Oh for God’s sake Christopher, do you have
to overreact about everything?”
“She ran at me with scissors!”
“She’s seven!”
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