{"id":11302,"date":"2021-05-04T10:38:27","date_gmt":"2021-05-04T10:38:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.horrifiedmagazine.co.uk\/?p=11302"},"modified":"2023-01-03T13:58:51","modified_gmt":"2023-01-03T13:58:51","slug":"lowly-and-solemn-be","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.horrifiedmagazine.co.uk\/fiction\/lowly-and-solemn-be\/","title":{"rendered":"Lowly and Solemn Be"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"11302\" class=\"elementor elementor-11302\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-80aa333 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"80aa333\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-be23b84\" data-id=\"be23b84\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-85ddcc4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"85ddcc4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Lowly and Solemn Be<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-85ff8d1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"85ff8d1\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-549136c\" data-id=\"549136c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b114812 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b114812\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">While inspecting an abandoned school with his granddaughter, a maintenance worker begins to experience strange and disturbing feelings. This story, the debut of writer Carrie Mills, is based in part on a real experience...<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f92a063 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f92a063\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2018Gramps?\u2019<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2018Come on Rhiannon, keep up or we\u2019ll be soaked to the skin.\u2019<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I\u2019ve been doing this for about a year now, moved to Caerphilly for a job, can you believe it?\u00a0 My daughter hasn\u2019t been so well, so I\u2019ve been bringing my little sidekick along with me to give her a run.\u00a0 Truth be told, she\u2019s just about my favourite person in the whole world.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The job\u2019s easy enough, I manage a few school buildings for one of the academies, overseeing maintenance and the like. Today I\u2019ve been sent to one of the buildings they own that\u2019s been shut for a few years now.\u00a0 Only been here once before, but it\u2019s not my favourite place to go, bit creepy.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Getting the bloody padlock to work is a job in itself, seems more jammed than last time I was here.\u00a0 Better put it on my list.\u00a0<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I have to give the gate a good shove to get it to move, overgrown with weeds that tower over little Rhiannon, wild as her hair.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The pathway up to the school goes through the playground and next to it is what I\u2019m guessing was an old swimming pool.\u00a0 Must have been filled in when the school was closed, not really sure why they bothered.\u00a0 Nothing grows around it, but the concrete is cracked and a few plants have taken root.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I steer well clear and herd my little granddaughter through into the main building which smells musty and damp.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I see the problem straight away, one of the windows has been smashed in.\u00a0 Bloody kids, they like to hang out in places like this.\u00a0 Nowhere else to go and nothing better to do with themselves.\u00a0 I better clear away some of this mess and go down the hardware store for some MDF to cover the gaping hole until I can get the glazier here.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Rhiannon is running around the edge of the hall in circles, shouting boo through each open doorway as she goes past. I grab the big bunch of keys off my belt and slide them across the open space towards her.\u00a0 She giggles and chases after them.\u00a0 Running back to me.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2018Again Grampa, again!\u2019<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2018Go on then Rhiannon, see if you can catch this one!\u2019<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I hurl the keys again and they skid into a wall on the other side of the room.\u00a0 I better get clearing quick while she fetches them back to me.\u00a0 There\u2019s broken glass all under the window, I\u2019ll keep her the other side of the hall for now.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2018Again!\u2019<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2018Alright, alright, but you\u2019ve gotta let Grampa do his job too while we\u2019re here or we\u2019ll be late home for your tea.\u2019<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0This time I skim them right out the hall into one of the classrooms and she tears off after them.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I find a broom propped in a corner and sweep the shards into a pile. Back feels stiff, it complains while I stretch it.\u00a0 I\u2019m feeling my age.\u00a0 The cold and damp of the long grey days get right into my bones.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Looks so odd seeing a school hall without any sign of life in it.\u00a0 Nothing on the walls except blank boards and a large wooden cross looming down on me from behind the stage. Feels like I\u2019m being watched.\u00a0<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0There are stacks of chairs covered in dust in a corner, someone\u2019s been moving them.\u00a0 I can see the trail left in the dirt on the floor where they\u2019ve been dragged, and fingerprints on the seats.\u00a0 Bloody teenagers.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0There are footsteps behind me and I turn to catch hold of my little Rhi when she comes past.\u00a0<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2018Haha! Gotcha.\u2019<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0But I can\u2019t see her.\u00a0 My hands are empty.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0She\u2019s a funny little thing, finds it hard with her mam sick.\u00a0 She\u2019s tough though, she\u2019ll be fine.\u00a0 I\u2019ll make sure of that.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I sigh and set to work fixing an old dust sheet over the open window, balancing on one of the chairs.\u00a0<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Last time I came here there was a leak.\u00a0 Rainwater was running right through the roof and into the music room.\u00a0 The skirtings and floorboards had swelled where it soaked in, bulging and paint peeling.\u00a0 It\u2019ll all need re-doing if they ever open the place again.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2018Back again? Go on then, where\u2019s the keys?\u2019<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2018You get them.\u2019<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2018Me? Can\u2019t you find them Rhi?\u2019<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2018Don\u2019t want to.\u2019<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2018What\u2019s the matter, too dark in there?\u00a0 I\u2019ve got my torch with me if you want.\u2019<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0She shakes her head looking every bit as stubborn as her mother.\u00a0 She normally loves playing in the dark with my torch.\u00a0 It\u2019s only getting to dusk, should be plenty light enough to see by still.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2018Shall I come with you then?\u2019<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2018Grampa go get them.\u2019<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0She stands closer to me and puts her hand in mine.\u00a0 She\u2019s such a little thing, I remember when her mother was this age.\u00a0 Might be my favourite age.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2018Ok then, come on, I need to check that room anyway.\u2019<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The keys had gone straight into the music room, rather handy.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Rhiannon is pulling on my hand, holding me back a little.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2018Can we go home now Grampa?\u2019<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2018Don\u2019t be daft, we can\u2019t go anywhere without Grampa\u2019s keys.\u00a0 It\u2019ll only take me a minute.\u00a0 Why don\u2019t you just come in with me? I\u2019ll need those sharp little eyes of yours to help me hunt down those sneaky keys.\u2019<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2018I don\u2019t like the singing.\u2019<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I feel a chill run up my spine.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2018What singing sweetheart? I can\u2019t hear anything.\u2019<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2018The children.\u2019<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I can feel my palms get sweaty as I listen to nothing but silence.\u00a0 Pull yourself together old man.\u00a0 Amazing how you can get yourself in a state somewhere like this, your mind running off with ideas.\u00a0 Probably some kids outside playing or something, funny how sound travels sometimes.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2018Ok Rhi, you stay here and I\u2019ll just be a minute.\u00a0 I\u2019ll leave the door open so you can see me.\u00a0 Just get my keys and we can go home. Your mam\u2019s probably wondering where we\u2019ve got to anyway.\u2019<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Walking into the room I\u2019m holding my breath. Stupid old fool.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Feels colder in here.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Oh, bloody hell! There\u2019s water running down the wall again, it\u2019s spread almost across to the doorway this time. I knew I should have trusted my gut with those roofers.\u00a0<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Probably why it\u2019s so damn cold in here, must be one hell of a hole letting that much through.\u00a0 Doesn\u2019t even look like it\u2019s properly raining out there now. I shudder and goosebumps run right up into my hair.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Where are those keys?<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2018Gramps?\u2019<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2018Yes Rhi? I\u2019m right here.\u00a0 Just looking for my keys, did you see where they went?\u2019<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Her voice has gone higher pitched, I can hear she\u2019s getting all worked up, \u2018Gramps, I don\u2019t like it.\u2019<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2018One minute, honey.\u2019<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0There they are, how did they get all the way over there?<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2018Did you throw Gramps\u2019s keys over under the tables miss?\u00a0 You\u2019re gonna have to wait a second, they\u2019ve gone right underneath.\u00a0 Could really use a little one like you to go under for me.\u2019<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0That\u2019s a small gap.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I shift the top few tables off and move the bottom one out of the way. The feet make a high-pitched screech as the rubber drags across the wooden floor.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Rhi runs behind me and I nearly jump out of my skin. I spin round to tell her to stop messing about but she\u2019s not there again.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2018Rhi.\u00a0 Where you hiding, honey?\u00a0 It\u2019s time to go home now, come out to Grampa.\u2019<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Her voice comes from the doorway, \u2018I\u2019m not hiding. I don\u2019t like it Grampa, please can we go now?\u2019<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Something brushes behind me.\u00a0 Just a breeze, a draft from the broken window.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Pull yourself together, you\u2019re just scaring Rhi.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2018I\u2019ll just get the keys, Rhi, and we can go now.\u00a0 Nothing to be scared of honey.\u2019<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Dear God.\u00a0 I feel the blood drain from my face and my head swims.\u00a0 The keys have gone.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Rats, just rats.\u00a0 Got to be full of \u2018em in a building like this.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Is that laughter?\u00a0 Doesn\u2019t sound like Rhi.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The door slams, the sound ringing around the room until I\u2019m left in a deeper silence.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0My legs feel weak, like I can\u2019t trust putting my weight forward to walk.\u00a0 Feels like there\u2019s a pressure building around me.\u00a0 Christ, I\u2019m too old for all this.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2018Rhi? Did you shut the door honey?\u2019\u00a0<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I can hear it in my voice now.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Stop it, old man, you\u2019ll scare her.\u00a0 You\u2019re the grown-up here, bloody act like one.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0What\u2019s that banging?\u00a0 I run back to the door but the handle won\u2019t turn.\u00a0 I can hear Rhiannon on the other side, singing.\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t sound right.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The children join in from behind me and I\u2019m falling to my knees.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2018Hear, hear our suppliant breath.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Keep up, in life and death.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0d5b1c0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0d5b1c0\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-16a44d9\" data-id=\"16a44d9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9afd6eb elementor-widget elementor-widget-author-box\" data-id=\"9afd6eb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"author-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-author-box\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"elementor-author-box__avatar\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.horrifiedmagazine.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Carrie-Mills.jpg?fit=139%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Picture of Carrie Mills\" loading=\"lazy\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-author-box__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-author-box__name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCarrie Mills\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-author-box__bio\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Carrie was born in Wales, now living in London with her violinist husband and two children. Coming out of the fog of early parenthood she found her love of reading had bred a passion for writing. Her day-to-day life now revolves around books, music and food.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9a4ca20 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9a4ca20\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b2f6d3a\" data-id=\"b2f6d3a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1a58e2a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1a58e2a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/@munjay?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText\">Mwesigwa Joel<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/s\/photos\/creepy-classroom?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText\">Unsplash<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c6e60e9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c6e60e9\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-63ef943\" data-id=\"63ef943\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-305a30b elementor-share-buttons--view-icon elementor-share-buttons--skin-framed elementor-share-buttons--shape-circle elementor-share-buttons--align-center elementor-share-buttons--color-custom elementor-grid-0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-share-buttons\" data-id=\"305a30b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"share-buttons.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_facebook\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\trole=\"button\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Share on facebook\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fab fa-facebook\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_twitter\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\trole=\"button\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Share on twitter\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fab fa-twitter\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_linkedin\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\trole=\"button\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Share on linkedin\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fab fa-linkedin\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_reddit\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\trole=\"button\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Share on reddit\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fab fa-reddit\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_pocket\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\trole=\"button\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Share on pocket\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fab fa-get-pocket\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_whatsapp\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\trole=\"button\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Share on whatsapp\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fab fa-whatsapp\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_email\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\trole=\"button\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Share on email\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fas fa-envelope\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2fdefa2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2fdefa2\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-22370b8\" data-id=\"22370b8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0158994 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"0158994\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-34a2796 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"34a2796\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b2a5e8b\" data-id=\"b2a5e8b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d67eb0c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d67eb0c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">More To Explore<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8427e0a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8427e0a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-35b288d\" data-id=\"35b288d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e6517e elementor-post-navigation-borders-yes elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-navigation\" data-id=\"4e6517e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-navigation.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation__prev elementor-post-navigation__link\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.horrifiedmagazine.co.uk\/fiction\/mccleod-bloodline\/\" rel=\"prev\"><span class=\"post-navigation__arrow-wrapper post-navigation__arrow-prev\"><i class=\"fa 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class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Next<\/span><\/span><\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d65cb5d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d65cb5d\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e11ec04\" data-id=\"e11ec04\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-91eb659 elementor-posts--align-center elementor-grid-3 elementor-grid-tablet-2 elementor-grid-mobile-1 elementor-posts--thumbnail-top elementor-card-shadow-yes elementor-posts__hover-gradient elementor-widget elementor-widget-posts\" data-id=\"91eb659\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;cards_row_gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:30,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;cards_columns&quot;:&quot;3&quot;,&quot;cards_columns_tablet&quot;:&quot;2&quot;,&quot;cards_columns_mobile&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;cards_row_gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;cards_row_gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"posts.cards\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-posts-container elementor-posts elementor-posts--skin-cards elementor-grid\">\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-128092 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-amicus-retrospective\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.horrifiedmagazine.co.uk\/amicus-retrospective\/tales-from-the-crypt-1972-2\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tTales From The Crypt (1972)\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Tales From The Crypt 1972 \/ Freddie Francis Where does one start with examining arguably Amicus\u2019 greatest portmanteau film? Well, for me, wiping away the<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.horrifiedmagazine.co.uk\/amicus-retrospective\/tales-from-the-crypt-1972-2\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Tales From The Crypt (1972)\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\t20\/09\/2023\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-127835 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-amicus-retrospective\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.horrifiedmagazine.co.uk\/amicus-retrospective\/the-people-that-time-forgot-1977\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tThe People That Time Forgot (1977)\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>The People That Time Forgot 1977 \/ Kevin Connor The success of Amicus\u2019 first two Edgar Rice Burroughs-based fantasy adventures in 1975 and 1976 led<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.horrifiedmagazine.co.uk\/amicus-retrospective\/the-people-that-time-forgot-1977\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about The People That Time Forgot (1977)\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\t19\/09\/2023\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-127833 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-amicus-retrospective\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.horrifiedmagazine.co.uk\/amicus-retrospective\/at-the-earths-core-1976\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tAt The Earth&#8217;s Core (1976)\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>AT THE EARTH&#8217;S CORE 1976 \/ Kevin Connor Amicus\u2019 first foray into the science fiction adventure, The Land That Time Forgot (UK, Kevin Connor, 1974)<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.horrifiedmagazine.co.uk\/amicus-retrospective\/at-the-earths-core-1976\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about At The Earth&#8217;s Core (1976)\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\t19\/09\/2023\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While inspecting an abandoned school with his granddaughter, a maintenance worker begins to experience strange and disturbing feelings. This story, the debut of writer Carrie Mills, is based in part on a real experience&#8230;\u200b<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11303,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2028],"tags":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.horrifiedmagazine.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/mwesigwa-joel-FXdIjVRFh24-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.horrifiedmagazine.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11302"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.horrifiedmagazine.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.horrifiedmagazine.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.horrifiedmagazine.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.horrifiedmagazine.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11302"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.horrifiedmagazine.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11302\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":122796,"href":"https:\/\/www.horrifiedmagazine.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11302\/revisions\/122796"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.horrifiedmagazine.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11303"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.horrifiedmagazine.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11302"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.horrifiedmagazine.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11302"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.horrifiedmagazine.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11302"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}