Skullworm

(Note: Skullworm is a short story.)

Love hurts. Breakups hurt more.

When Hank Headley gets dumped, he’ll do anything to forget his girlfriend. His high-pressure career depends on making clear, rational decisions.

Some lovesick people turn to booze or drugs. Hank does them one better: He rents a hideous creature specially bred to nibble his cares away.

It works like a charm.

But some things are hard to shake loose, once they get in your head.

* * *

Skullworm is a 7,500-word short story, just one of six short stories in the Arm of Darkness collection.

The full collection, available separately, contains six short stories of horror: Skullworm, Roadhouse, Glow, Kin, Sunshine Lady, and the origin story, Arm of Darkness.

Author Joseph D'Agnese is a frequent contributor to Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine.