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27 pages

English

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Description

Eyes Like Hell is the thrilling first chapter in the All Hallows' Eve series.

Something is lurking in the mountains of North Georgia. A handful of locals have been missing for weeks, and a group of unwary travelers are about to discover Appalachia's hideous secret.

Sujets

Horror

Fiction

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Publié par	eBookIt.com
Date de parution	21 février 2013
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9780988254107
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0150€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

Eyes Like Hell

by
G.S. Dial

illustrated by
C.H. Duckworth

Copyright 2012 G.S. Dial,
All rights reserved.

Published in eBook format by G.S. Dial

ISBN 978-0-9882541-0-7

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

Eyes Like Hell by G. S. Dial

"Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing"
-Edgar Allen Poe
October 19th, 1850 2:00AM

"Why in the hell are we out here this late, Sam?"
U.S. Marshalls Samuel Ellijay and James Harris had been on the road from Blairsville since just after midnight. Winding through the North Georgia mountains after midnight wasn't a good idea, but assuming they didn't run into any trouble they ought to be in Dahlonega by dawn. The sooner they got to their destination the better.
"Because some of the local law reported hearing gunshots coming off the roads yesterday. Not to mention the gunshot we heard just a moment ago. Considering our present company I thought it to be more prudent if we got an early start." Sam replied. Their present company was a man by the name of Thomas Duckworth. Duckworth was an honest miner who turned to crime when Dahlonega's gold-laden mines ran thin. Now the honest miner was wanted for five murders and a bank robbery.
"How do you know that wasn't a hunter? People don't exactly have farmer's markets out here. They have to find their food."
"It may have been, Jimmy, but I'm not takin' any chances. I'm going to watch this man hang for what he's done, and I ain't about to let his boys have a go at us."
"Gotta admire a man with a plan." Duckworth solemnly sighed.
"You'd do good to shut your mouth, Duckworth. I ain't opposed to dropping you here... now." James, being that he had been a marshal for the better part of a year, was stereotypically quick to anger and never knew when to keep quiet.
"Some partner you got there, Marshall Ellijay. Seems like he'd do better in my crew than yours. It's too bad you boys ain't willin' to strike a deal."
"Don't be too eager now, Jimmy; he's gonna pay for his crimes the right way. His legs'll be swingin' in the gallows by..." Samuel was cut off by a distant howl up the mountain; a howl that was followed by a gunshot. "Quiet. James, put out your torch." Samuel's hushed whisper carried such urgency that James immediately obeyed.
"Y'all gettin worried? It ain't too late to reconsider, gentlemen. I walk away free, y'all walk away rich. And alive"
"Damn it to hell, shut your blasted mouth, Duckworth. James, he makes one more sound you put him down." Even with his eyes still adjusting to the absence of torch light, James couldn't miss the satisfied smile stretched across Duckworth's face. For all his satisfaction, though, Duckworth kept his mouth buttoned with a rifle trained on him.
"Take it nice and slow, now. If we walk into a trap your fist shot is through Duckworth's back. You got that, Jimmy?"
"It'd be my pleasure." Now that'd he been given orders , James wondered if he'd actually be able to shoot a bound man in the back.
Coming around the bend, Samuel noticed the unmistakable form of a man lying on his back in the road. Not taking any chances, and not wanting to make a sound, he signaled James to come to the front and take the reins of the horse Duckworth was riding. He then dismounted, and with his rifle drawn and ready he slowly made his approach.
"This wasn't my men. They wouldn't kill like this; there's no money in it." Duckworth had a peculiar way of always speaking as if he were rolling a cigar between his teeth.
"Keep quiet, if you're telling the truth it would behoove you to not to draw any undue attention. Just cause Sam wants to see you hang doesn't mean we'd have any problem burying you right here."
"Just saying something doesn't feel right. I mean, by god man, look at the horses."
Having been so focused on being ambushed James hadn't even noticed that his horse's ears were pinned alertly forward.
"Easy there boy." There was likely nothing he could do to calm the horse down but it made him feel better to try. As he patted his horse on the side of the neck he looked over to Sam who had set down his gun and was squatting over the figure in the road.
Doesn't make any damn sense . Sam was looking down on what had to be the most grisly killing he'd ever seen. The man, if that's what it indeed was, had been completely devoured from knee to waist. His white femurs were showing in the lantern light. Further up, his abdomen had been torn open, and his viscera had been pulled out and gnawed on. Sam wanted to believe it was wolves, but the gored face told him it wasn't. Whatever had done this had pulverized the bones of his face. The teeth marks around the man's hairline and underneath his jaw suggested something had bitten through his face.
Wolves wouldn't have done that. Hell, Wolves couldn't have done that . Though Sam was still focused on the scene before him, he heard the horses approaching and felt frustration with his rookie.
"Don't believe I signaled for help, Jimmy. What's the matter."
"Somethin's got the horses spooked. To be quite honest somethin's got me spooked too. What's happened to this man."
"May have been wolves. Not sure really."
"Why would wolves leave him like this? Wouldn't they have finished their meal?"
Samuel stood up and felt a wet squish underneath his boots. Kneeling back down he felt the ground. It was wet and warm. Too warm. Holding his fingers to his nose he detected the unmistakable coppery scent of blood. Shit .
"They were interrupted." Sam whispered.
"What?"
"We interrupted them. They ran off because we got too close. Blood's still warm. We're being watched right now."
"You said it was wolves?"
"I said I thought it might have been, but not likely."
"Why 'not likely'? Bear?"
"No, whatever did this bit right through the poor man's face. Through the damned bones of his face. Wolves and bears wouldn't do that."
"Jesus, well then what the hell did.." James nearly jumped out of his saddle as he was cut off by an unearthly howl. Low pitched and raspy, James almost felt he could hear anger in whatever made it. It sounded close.
As the howl ended Samuel's horse whinnied and began to jerk free of James' grip. Sensing his horse's unease, Samuel lunged towards the horses reins.
"Damn it, Jimmy hold her tight."
Right as Sam's fingers were clasping around the reins his horse broke free of both men, and tore off back down the mountain.
"Damn it, boy! DAMN IT!"
"What the hell was that, Sam? What are we gonna do?"
"Would you kind gentlemen PLEASE consider untying me?" Duckworth's calm was starting to crack.
"I don't know what that was, it didn't sound like anything that lives out here. We're going to have to continue on without the horse. Duckworth, you'll be on foot, and shut your damn mouth. I'm not going to tell you again."
As Samuel began to help Duckworth down off his horse, the men heard a mix of the panicked shrieks of Sam's horse and the enraged snarls of something that was apparently attacking it further down the mountain.
"Jesus, Sam, look!"
Following the direction of James finger, Sam saw by the reflection of moonlight the largest pair of eyes he'd ever seen. Something was crouched in the distance watching them. Something that was poised to pounce. Teeth glistening.
Not a damn wolf, not a bear either . What the hell is that? That skeletal face. Those eyes.
Sam and James whipped around at the sound of rustling leaves behind them. Sam spun around to see a monstrous creature not twenty feet away running at him full speed. Life slowed to a stand-still and he could feel his ears ringing. He heard a gunshot to his side, and saw Duckworth fall to his knees in corner of his eye, as his stalwart rookie did exactly as he was told. As the creature leapt through the air towards its quarry ,with rage twisted on its face, Sam found that he was unable to move. Unable to raise his rifle.
Those eyes. So filled with hate.