Review Time: “The Road That Takes You There”

“My God, her face… what happened to her face?”

From the opening lines, “The Road That Takes You There” immediately draws you in. Jason Sechrest, writer of Cemetery Dance Magazine’s column, “What I Learned From Stephen King,” definitely channeled his inner King with this story. You can find an excerpt to this wonderful story on Jason’s Patreon page!

After those ominous first lines, we are introduced to George Tinker as he is driving down an old farm road, a road he has known his entire life. Upon our meeting him, George notices something that was never there before: a church with an accompanying graveyard.

George drives past this new fixture twice a day. We never know where he is going or coming from, only that the church has become something he cannot look away from, something dwelling on him. George talks to his wife about his growing concerns, only his wife isn’t there.

Sechrest mixes in interludes like the opening lines to build the eerie air of the story and give readers insight to George’s life and sanity. This is a sad, creepy and seamlessly written tale. Sechrest delivers in just over 6 pages of work. It left me wanting more, in a good way.

“SALEM, that lone word which hung in the air over the tombstones, was the only commentary the place would offer… The word meant peace. He remembered that now from his Sunday school days as a kid. ‘Funny thing,’ he called up to it. ‘That’s just what I’m looking for.’”

Don’t read beyond here if you don’t want me to spoil the ending! Just know that Sechrest wrote a very fine story and I’m looking forward to seeing reactions from more readers.

One night, George finally decides to face this abnormality and he visits the church and graveyard. Once in the graveyard, George finds the grave of his wife and one next to it with his own name on it. Upon seeing his wife’s name, George is flooded with memories of the car crash that killed them.

After this memory dump, George sees his wife and finally can apologize and move on. They drive off together down the road, the road that will take them there.

Overall, Sechrest put together a great little tale and I’m excited to read more from him.

4.5 out of 5

Author: Tony Petro

I’m Tony, I love anything horror! this is my space to read, watch, review, and notify everyone of anything going on in the world of horror! View all posts by Tony Petro