Ivan K. Conway wrote his first book at four years old using crayons and construction paper. He’s rarely stopped writing since. Yet, it was only after graduating from college that he finally chose to share his tales with the world. His debut short story, “Til Death”, can be found in The Cursed Items Anthology. Ivan currently resides in his hometown of Helena, Montana.
Check out Ivan’s work right HERE.
THE LOVEBUG
by
Ivan K. Conway
“Roses are red. Violets are blue,” Peggy reread aloud, “And beware the lovebug hunting for you!”
Nora Tiller left the odd valentine in Peggy’s locker last week. Said school paper journalist had recently vanished while investigating the disappearance of several other young women.
“Weird thing to send,” she observed before returning the card to her purse. “But that Nora always was a weirdo.”
Fearful that she’d been overheard, Peggy anxiously covered her mouth and looked around. Greg Dean, her longtime crush, had asked to meet in his family’s red barn. Her mind raced with possibilities as to why.
She sighed in relief upon confirming there was nobody in earshot. Being kept waiting by the handsome football jock still made her fidget, however. “Where is he?”
He’d put the invitation in her locker yesterday. After convincing her parents that she was leaving to work on a science project with Julia, she’d biked to her beloved’s rendezvous.
“Better get here soon,” she grumbled while tapping her foot. “This place smells God awful.”
She wouldn’t’ve lowered herself to visit a barn for anyone except Greg. The smells of dust, straw, and animal turds weren’t surprising. The heavy stench of blood shocked her, though.
“Oh, my God! I can’t stand this stink! These rednecks butcher their own animals in here?” she mused before beginning to gag.
Mother would’ve fainted if she’d known Peggy had entered this place. Their family may’ve had farming roots, but that’d been before great-grandpa struck oil while pounding fenceposts.
Peggy finally found relief from the stench by breathing through her mouth. “Come on! Am I supposed to wait all day in this pigsty?”
The afternoon sun shined through cracks in the wallboards. Otherwise, the barn was pitch black. Peggy began to hear a faint dripping sound overhead.
“Great. As if this place couldn’t get more disgusting. Ugh! I better get at least a kiss for this!” she declared while putting her hands on her hips.
There must’ve been some amorous motivation for this meeting. While Greg already had a girlfriend, Tanya North’s only redeeming trait was her large bust. And Peggy’s other features more than compensated for that ugly cow’s utters.
The constant drippage was beginning to drive Peggy nuts. “God! What is that?”
Just enough light filtered into the barn to reveal a candle sitting by a pack of matches. Peggy’s eyes rolled as she approached the table those items sat upon. “A candle? Is this his idea of being romantic? He better not be expecting us to have a date in here!”
It took her several tries, but Peggy finally managed to light a match. She made a frustrated huff. “This is why people invented electricity, you hicks!”
Fortunately, using the match to light her candle proved much easier. Success left her sighing resignedly. “Suppose I can finally find where that stupid noise is coming from.”
Her new light exposed straw piled in bales and scattered on the floor. Various pieces of farming equipment were covered in dust and rust. Leather straps and saddles hung from the ceiling. There was also a big net she could barely discern from the surrounding blackness above her.
She squinted at that later item and lifted her candle for more illumination. “What in the world would they need that-”
“Happy Valentine’s Day! Sorry to keep you waiting,” said Greg with a sheepish laugh. The barn door barely opened a crack as he slipped in. “Had to wrap things up with Tanya.”
Her brows rose excitedly as that tall, tan blonde entered the candlelight. “Wrap things up? Does that mean you broke up with her?”
“Thought it was high time I moved on to someone better,” he answered with a dazzling smile.
She gave an elated hop. “Oh, I knew it! Tanya didn’t deserve you! She never did!”
He ran a hand through his gorgeous locks. “In fact, I was hoping that you and me could get a lot closer.”
Peggy’s heart began beating faster than hummingbird wings. “Yes! Absolutely, yes!”
He grinned at that. “Alright. Just close your eyes. I’ve got a surprise for you.”
It was all she could do to stand still as he took her hand in his and began guiding it down his back. That’s when she suddenly felt a sharp sting.
Peggy’s eyes snapped open as a hot prickling sensation ran up her arm. Her palm was marked by what looked like a giant bug bite. Its venom soon left her limply slumped on the floor. “What the?”
“Really glad you came,” he grinningly said while prying the candle from her other hand. “Nice looking bodies are hard to find in this town. And Greg’s about nearly sucked dry.”
He took off his shirt and turned around. Attached to his back was what looked like an enormous spider made of bones. A throbbing heart served as its abdomen.
“Glad I got here when I did, too. Wouldn’t’ve wanted you to find this first,” he confessed before lifting the candle up. His longer reach revealed a dripping web of congealed blood dangling from the ceiling. Nora’s desiccated corpse was wrapped in it.
“What are you!” exclaimed Peggy as her lips went numb.
“You’re kind’s last natural predator,” said Greg with a shrug. “Nora called me a lovebug. Suppose that name fits as well as any.”
She could barely feel tears sliding down her face. “No! Don’t eat me!”
“Oh, I’m not going to eat you. Least, not right away,” he reassured before backing closer. “I need pretty bodies to control and use as bait. And you’ve never looked more beautiful.”
With that, the spiderlike thing detached itself from Greg’s corpse as he fell to the floor. It then scurried towards Peggy faster than she could scream.