Please help me welcome myself with the next story in the Friday the 13th Series, Little Darlings...
Fun Fact:
I got the idea for my story from my cousin during a family reunion. He mentioned the legend of the Black-Eyed Children and it sparked the idea. (While our family members were discussing their children and grandchildren and swapping recipes, he and I were discussing horror and the best ways to creep people out. :)) Supposedly, people have actually encountered these frightening little beasts, though I haven’t actually heard of the Black-Eyed Kids murdering anyone…until my story. 🙂 The below is an interesting article about the legend:
Blurb:
Mollie Burrows and her friends, Caroline and Beth, rent a cabin in Colorado for a therapeutic getaway. Beth is despondent after a recent miscarriage and Mollie hopes the trip will alleviate Beth’s depression. The owner of the general store in town warns them about the Black-Eyed Kids—supernatural entities who pose as children and terrorize anyone who allows them into their homes—but Mollie scoffs at the ridiculous notion.
Not long after they get settled, four children knock on their door—and their eyes are as black as a starless night. Beth is drawn to them and is ready to offer them shelter, but Mollie and Caroline are freaked out and refuse.
When Mollie discovers the bodies of obviously murdered victims, she realizes the store owner was telling the truth. As the evil children begin their homicidal rampage, their determination to gain entry into the cabin becomes terrifying. Help won’t arrive until the following morning and a long, torturous night looms ahead. Can Mollie and Caroline prevent Beth from opening the door to the Little Darlings? If not, they could all end up dead.
Taking a deep, fortifying breath, she stood again, this time remaining on her feet. Unsteadily, she crossed the room and gripped the curtain in her hand, tugging it back just enough to peer around it. Involuntarily, she yelped. The same four children stood on the other side of the glass. Rain poured down on them, but they seemed oblivious to the fact they were getting soaked.
The tallest girl swiveled her head toward Mollie, black eyes gleaming beneath the patio light. Mollie’s heart leapt into her throat, and she let the curtain fall back.
“Hey, miss. Please let us in. We’re cold and wet. Won’t you please let us in?”
Mollie pressed her back against the wall, willing her heart to stop racing. What was the deal with these kids? What were they doing all alone at night, and why did they creep her out so badly?
“Come on, miss. We can’t hurt you. We’re just little kids. We just want to play.” That sounded like a boy, though his voice was high. He probably hadn’t yet reached puberty.
Maybe she should call the police. The parents needed to be reported for not keeping a closer eye on their kids. But for now…should she let them in?
On the one hand, she couldn’t stand the thought of leaving children outside alone in the dark, but on the other hand… she was quite frankly terrified. Something was not quite right. And she couldn’t dismiss the stories about the Black-Eyed Kids. Most rumors were based on some kind of fact, so there might have been some truth to the legend…
But then…if there really was a killer on the loose, how would she feel if she found out these kids had been murdered?
She blew out a long breath and shoved the drapes back. She reached for the latch to unlock the patio door but stopped. Her gaze fell on the object the smallest boy held in his hand. A large rock. He hefted it, his black eyes staring through the glass at her. “We wanna play rock with you. Just let us in so we can playyyyy…” The last word was drawn out, ending on a keening wail.
About the Author…
It’s me…I’m the author. 😀
Alicia Dean began writing stories as a child. At age 10, she wrote her first ever romance (featuring a hero who looked just like Elvis Presley, and who shared the name of Elvis’ character in the movie, Tickle Me), and she still has the tattered, pencil-written copy. Alicia is from Moore, Oklahoma and now lives in Edmond. She has three grown children and a huge network of supportive friends and family. She writes mostly contemporary suspense and paranormal, but has also written in other genres, including a few vintage historicals.
Other than reading and writing, her passions are Elvis Presley (she almost always works in a mention of him into her stories) and watching (and rewatching) her favorite television shows like Ozark, Dexter, Justified, Breaking Bad, Sons of Anarchy, and Vampire Diaries. Some of her favorite authors are Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, Stephen King, Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Ridley Pearson, Joseph Finder, and Jonathan Kellerman…to name a few.
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Author Alicia Dean 
Don’t open the door!
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Excellent advice!
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I love hearing that you were talking horror in the middle of a family reunion. And I can’t believe the black-eyed children is really a thing! Now I’ve got to read…
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Ha, yeah, that’s how I roll. 😀 I hope you enjoy!
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Black eyes at family reunions usually are the result of discussing politics! ‘Looking forward to playing with these little monsters!!
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Hahaha, yes, that could cause black eyes too!
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Alicia always manages to give me the creeps in her stories…..I’ve read this one and it doesn’t disappoint!
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Thank you so much! You know I love to give people the creeps.
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CREEPY! Your story and the article you attached! I love how the black-eyed children you created are so resilient and determined to “play” with the grownups. The fact that they’re children adds an extra aspect of horror, because–who wants to harm a child? Even when they’re wielding an axe, in the back of our minds they are still precious and innocent…aren’t they? (mwaaah haaa haaa haaa) Great job on your scary tale. But I, for one, know that the basement is the real threat. 🙂
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Aww…thanks! I was hoping the conflict of not wanting to harm children would come through in the story but, a person can only take so much and the children gotta go. 🙂 Yes, you know all too well the dangers of a basement.
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Creepy. Creepy. Creepy. Your story was just what I love when I read horror.
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YAY….thanks so much!!
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This story scares the snot out of me!
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Oh my heavens. This sounds frightening. And I’ve never heard about black eyed children. I’m going to have to read more about them even though it’s going to scare me to death. There’s something about horror stories where children are the scary people. Gives me such chills!
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Good grief! This sounds creepy–and I’m just talking about the ‘real’ stories. Yours sound even scarier. But I have to love that you and your cousin talked writing at a family gathering. Loads of luck with this collection, Alicia.
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Definitely creepy!
Count me out LOL!
Good luck and God’s blessings
PamT
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