Ankle Snatcher
by Grady Hendrix
Summary
Obey the rules. It’s the only way to survive the night in a short story about what hides in the dark. Marcus grew up believing his father killed his mother, then blamed it on the boogeyman under the bed. Always leave the lights on, his father warned, or the boogeyman will get you. Marcus still heeds the superstition, especially when he invites his new girlfriend over.
Is Marcus haunted by a creature, or has he just inherited his father’s murderous delusions? The night will tell.
My Review
This short story is part of Creature Feature, a collection of horror short stories on Amazon Prime.
I thought this was an intriguing concept, but ultimately, it fell short for me. It definitely needed to be expanded upon to feel like a fully realized story. I needed (and wanted) a lot more. It felt rushed and sloppy.
I enjoyed the first half of the story and was curious where it would go, but then it took a turn that I didn’t care for. I didn’t like the new direction it took, and I didn’t like the ending. It was also too ambiguous and open-ended for me. I usually don’t like those types of stories.
But in true Grady Hendrix fashion, there were enough horror elements to make it feel like a creepy horror short story. There wasn’t anything over-the-top grotesque, but some descriptions were a bit gross and graphic to read.
I don’t know if I would recommend this short story, but if you’re a fan of the author’s, then you may enjoy it. It was super quick to read. I think it only took me about 20 minutes to read. It will also make you think twice about stepping out of bed at night without the lights on after you finish reading it.