"Waiting at the Crossroads Motel"

by Steve Rasnic Tem

originally published Black Wings II, 2012

Walker, an extremely sociopathic drifter, checks into a motel almost literally in the middle of nowhere, for no particular reason known to him.  He cuts himself and discovers his blood can form into an independent creature.

Walker comes to realize that he is descended from something inhuman.  He waits at the motel, not actually knowing why.  He realizes that his children, too, are descended from this or these inhuman things.

Other people come to the motel.  They too are half-human.  They wait in the desert.  Their fathers emerge out of the night.

Somewhat reminiscent of Clive Barker's "Skins of the Fathers", and an interesting, updated take on the spawn of Yog-Sothoth theme.  An evocative but minor story, with very unappealing characters.