The Dark
Excerpt
A cold finger brushed against her neck. She cringed and moved away, trying not to cry out. That hand! There had been hands like that on that night two years ago . . . But no! She didn’t want to remember.
A dark laugh escaped the goon's lips, a laugh so distorted that it didn't sound human.
“I didn't plan to murder Mrs. Ingersoll, you know. She was a big, fat tub of a woman who didn't know how to mind her own business and got in the way. Now you're getting in my way. So guess what could happen to you?"
She groaned.
“I'm up for murder one if anybody catches me. One more victim would hardly make much difference, would it? The jury would find me just as guilty either way."
Dear Lord! How much longer could this go on? If he was going to kill her, why didn’t he do so and get it over with? Why this prolonged torture?
Those big, fat monster hands tightened about her windpipe. They were pressing down until her breath came in short, little gasps.
“You'll do anything to save your life, won't you?" He purred.
She nodded her head vigorously “yes!"
“Nobody can catch me as long as you keep your trap shut. Right?"
She nodded.
“You won't rat about me cornering you in the rest room tonight, not even to those policemen in the audience? It'll be between you and me. Deal?"
She moaned.
“Remember, if one little hint gets out to those policemen, I’ll know where it had to come from."
She repressed a sob.
“Then I'll have to waste you. Got it?"
She sniffled.
“It won't be pretty. I had to rush when I killed Mrs. Ingersoll. I won't have to rush with you. I can take my time and enjoy every moment of your slow, lingering death."
Reviews
"Teens rarely need an excuse to stay up late, but The Dark by Linda Cargill would give pause for thought to even the most steely-nerved youngster. A genuinely gripping horror story. Approach with caution."
From The Sunday Independent
A cold finger brushed against her neck. She cringed and moved away, trying not to cry out. That hand! There had been hands like that on that night two years ago . . . But no! She didn’t want to remember.
A dark laugh escaped the goon's lips, a laugh so distorted that it didn't sound human.
“I didn't plan to murder Mrs. Ingersoll, you know. She was a big, fat tub of a woman who didn't know how to mind her own business and got in the way. Now you're getting in my way. So guess what could happen to you?"
She groaned.
“I'm up for murder one if anybody catches me. One more victim would hardly make much difference, would it? The jury would find me just as guilty either way."
Dear Lord! How much longer could this go on? If he was going to kill her, why didn’t he do so and get it over with? Why this prolonged torture?
Those big, fat monster hands tightened about her windpipe. They were pressing down until her breath came in short, little gasps.
“You'll do anything to save your life, won't you?" He purred.
She nodded her head vigorously “yes!"
“Nobody can catch me as long as you keep your trap shut. Right?"
She nodded.
“You won't rat about me cornering you in the rest room tonight, not even to those policemen in the audience? It'll be between you and me. Deal?"
She moaned.
“Remember, if one little hint gets out to those policemen, I’ll know where it had to come from."
She repressed a sob.
“Then I'll have to waste you. Got it?"
She sniffled.
“It won't be pretty. I had to rush when I killed Mrs. Ingersoll. I won't have to rush with you. I can take my time and enjoy every moment of your slow, lingering death."
Reviews
"Teens rarely need an excuse to stay up late, but The Dark by Linda Cargill would give pause for thought to even the most steely-nerved youngster. A genuinely gripping horror story. Approach with caution."
From The Sunday Independent
