Devil’s Nightmare Premonitions Hallowe'en Blog Tour

We are here today with Author, Robert Pruneda. 

Robert has a new exciting and spine tingling book available and he has agreed to answer some questions about his craft and book today.

http://amzn.to/1rHFi6S

The follow-up book to  

http://amzn.to/1qVqe0d

Now I have to be honest I’ve been privileged to read both of these outstanding books and I found them riveting, nail biting and truly scary. I’m sure your readers will too. But since we have you here Robert we’d like to ask you a few questions your readers might like to know.

1.)  What aspects do you think a good story has?

A good pace is important to me in storytelling. While I appreciate backstory to help build up characters or settings, too much of it can turn me off and make me want to put the book down and do something else for a while before coming back. It doesn’t have to be action from the first page all the way to the end, but the pacing should move the story along with enough conflict to keep me interested and turning the pages.

2) How did you pick the names of your characters?

I drew them out of a hat. Seriously, though, when I choose names for characters I think about who the character is and try to pick a name that seems real and fits the personality. For example, there is some significance to Cody’s surname Sumner. I also jot down names (first or last) that I like when I see or hear them for future reference. I have done quite a bit of transcribing for a university professor through my administrative support business and have come across some very strong and interesting names. I now have a “character names list” for future reference.

3)    What or who inspired you to write?  And how long have you been writing?

I’ve always been a fan of the horror genre in film and print, and Stephen King has been my greatest influence to date. However, I would have to say my brother was my first inspiration because of his interest in story telling when I was a kid. He and I would spend hours playing Dungeons & Dragons, where using your imagination is key while playing the game. He was also a decent artist. He would create his own stories through comics and even wrote a short-story about one of his Dungeons & Dragons characters. I always looked up to my brother when I was a kid and began creating my own comics, drawing them and writing the stories during summer breaks late at night while watching cartoons, usually The Flintstones. It wasn’t until getting laid off from a job in 2001 that I began writing my first novel while working odd jobs until I found something that stuck. I self-published Pursuit of a Dream in 2004, and then began a career in the newspaper industry. My goal at the time was to become a journalist, but ended up running the obituaries department, which turned out to be a more interesting job than I ever thought it would. I also gained some professional experience with writing, editing, and page design. The job steadily turned into a sales-oriented position (no joke), so due to some major differences in opinion and conflicts with new management, I decided to end my newspaper career in September of 2011 to start writing the next chapter in my life as a full-time self-employed individual.

I’m an entrepreneur at heart, always have been, and deciding to leave the traditional workforce to pursue my own dreams was both exciting and terrifying. A big part of that dream was writing. I did that part-time while also operating an small business administrative support and resume writing service from home, which I did on a part-time to full-time basis while working on my first horror novel, which I published last year. The sequel to Devil’s Nightmare comes out on Tuesday.

4.) Do you have a day job?

Yes and no. I am now self-employed working from home, but I do work at a funeral home from time to time (perfect for a horror author, right?). Nowadays, I’m devoting more and more of time to the business of writing fiction as the months go by. My goal is to be able to support myself as an author without the need of additional employment in the next five years. That’s the plan, anyway. I need to write more novels!

5.) What kind of books do you like to read?

My favorite genre is horror, but I also enjoy reading fantasy, science fiction, and thrillers. I read books from both traditionally published authors published by the big publishing houses, such as Stephen King, Michael Crichton, and Dean Koontz; independently published authors, such as Michael R. Hicks and Lorna Suzuki; and books published by the small traditional publishing houses and hybrid publishers (such as Booktrope). I just wish I could read faster. You should see my TBR list.

6.) Some writers find they plot their novels then write them; they are known as plotters. Others just write as the ideas come and are known as pantsers. Which are you or are you a bit if both?

I wrote Devil’s Nightmare completely as a pantser on the most part and found it both very challenging and quite enjoyable. I think it worked well because as I wrote the story I didn’t even know what to expect next. This led to what readers have said to be a surprising ending, which is what I was shooting for. I wrote Devil’s Nightmare: Premonitions in much the same way, although I did have a better idea of how the book was going to progress and how it was going to end. Everything else just fell into place. The sequel has an even more shocking conclusion than the first, so I’m really looking forward to getting that one into the hands of readers. I’m currently plotting another book, but I’ll probably end up writing that one as a pantser too. It may not work for other authors, but I find it is what works best for me.

7.) How did you conceive the ideas for the series?

Devil’s Nightmare is very loosely based on an experience I had when I was somewhere between ten to twelve years old. I can’t remember exactly, but I’ll never forget the experience. Without going into too much detail, when I was a kid some friends of mine and I started playing with a Ouija board. I got obsessed with it and started playing with it by myself (something which is taboo). After playing with the board (and even making my own) I started having nightmares and then began to hear voices in my head (okay, that still happens; I’m an author after all). I started having anxiety attacks and then one night I woke up and had a hard time breathing. I felt something pressing against my chest. I tried to get up, but the unseen force kept me down. Then I saw a pair of inhuman eyes and a silhouette appear hovering just inches above me in the darkness. I froze there, unable to move as this demon, or whatever it was, stared into my eyes. I’ll never forget those eyes and the amount of fear I experienced at that moment. I finally screamed louder than I’ve ever screamed in my life. I cried out for my parents, who soon came rushing into my bedroom. When my mother turned on the light, the apparition disappeared. I never saw it again and never played with a Ouija board after that night.

Maybe it was my imagination. Or maybe it was a demon oppressing me for toying with the occult and breaking some rule of the spirit world. Real or not, it was the most horrifying experience I have ever had. When you read Devil’s Nightmare you will find hints of this experience, but the story in itself goes in a completely different direction.

8.) As a writer do you find yourself trying to put yourself into your character’s mind?

Yes, I do. And I’m still talking to my therapist about it.

I wrote the first book in the Devil’s Nightmare series in first person perspective, so it was kind of a prerequisite for writing my protagonist’s story. The second book is in third person perspective, but it still required getting into the minds of my characters, one of which resulted in some emotional reactions, because I had to think like that particular character and experience some pretty horrendous things a couple of times; this actually opened up some old wounds from my childhood. It was well worth it, though, because it made the scene more genuine to me, as upsetting as it was. On the most part, however, getting into the minds of my characters is a lot of fun. The problem is my characters can be very stubborn and always tend to win our arguments.

9.) I understand you are a gamer. What particular games do you like to play? Did any of those games help you visualize the situations in your books so you could then make such epic mental pictures for the reader that they feel they are there?

Oh, yes. Anybody who knows me personally will vouch for my love of video and computer games. It’s my favorite pastime. I’ve been playing video games since the days of Pong and haven’t stopped since. Hell, I even mention the fact that I’m a gamer in my author bio. J As far as what I enjoy playing the most, I would have to say military style first person shooters (Call of Duty, Battlefield), real-time strategy (Command & Conquer, Total War, Age of Empires), role-playing games (Baldur’s Gate, Elder Scrolls, Dragon Age, Fallout), and racing (Gran Turismo, Forza Motorsport). I also enjoy open world games like Grand Theft Auto. My absolute favorite genre is survival horror, with the Silent Hill series (particularly the first two) being at the top of my list.

I use video games as an outlet to relax and escape the stresses generated from work, finances, and sometimes the inevitable family issues that sometimes arise. Video games haven’t really influenced my writing directly per se, but now that I think about it, the survival horror games that I play probably have in fact had some impact. The one time I would say that video games specifically and directly assisted me was when I wrote my first novel Pursuit of a Dream, which was about a kid with a dream of becoming a professional stock car racer. I played quite a bit of NASCAR video games during that time, which did help with writing the racing scenes.  

10.) Please tell the readers about your latest book Devil’s Nightmare Premonitions.

Devil’s Nightmare: Premonitions is the sequel to the Amazon bestselling horror Devil's Nightmare. Fans of the first novel are in for another horrific thriller full of twists, chills, and a shocking conclusion. It takes place two years after the first novel. Aaron Sanders is retired from the Austin Police Department and he moves his family out of the capital city to start a new life as a small town cop in Lost Maples, Texas (which is a fictional town), where the population count is updated more often than the murder rate. That bit of reputation is about to change when Aaron is once again caught in the middle of a mysterious investigation that has an eerie familiarity. This time, however, he is certain what is responsible for the violent deaths . . . Or is he?

Evil knows no boundaries, and it is up to Aaron to figure out how to protect the residents of his community, and his family, from becoming its next victims.

11) Do you have another book planned to follow up Devil’s Nightmare: Premonitions?

I do have another book planned to follow up Premonitions. I could end the story where it is, but I have a feeling, based on feedback from my beta readers, that readers will want me to continue the series. Devil’s Nightmare was originally supposed to be a single story, but I received several requests for a second novel, so I wrote Devil’s Nightmare: Premonitions. While I’m on that subject, I want to thank all of my readers for your support and for pushing me to continue writing in the horror genre. I have several other stories brewing in this twisted mind of mine, so be sure to follow me on Twitter, Facebook and via my website for news on future projects.

Connect with Robert Pruneda:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/SharkbaitWrites

Facebook: http://facebook.com/AuthorRobertPruneda

Official Website: http://SharkbaitWrites.com

Thank you for visiting us today, Robert. As for you, reader, what are you waiting for? Go read Robert’s new book and if you haven’t read the one before that Devil’s Nightmare I highly recommend it. See review here  http://welllread.blogspot.ca/2013/03/review-devils-nightmare-by-rob-pruneda.html 

and for Devil’s Nightmare: Premonitions here http://welllread.blogspot.ca/2014/10/devils-nightmare-premonitions-review.html

Three Word Wednesday - The Gravel Pits-Part 9 - Conclusion

Three Word Wednesday - The Gravel Pits-Part 9

Carcass, noun: The dead body of an animal; the trunk of an animal such as a cow, sheep, or pig, for cutting up as meat; the remains of a cooked bird after all the edible parts have been removed; the remains of something being discarded, dismembered, or worthless.

Geek, noun: An unfashionable or socially inept person; [usually with modifier] a knowledgeable and obsessive enthusiast; a carnival performer who performs wild or disgusting acts; verb: Engage in or discuss computer-related tasks obsessively or with great attention to technical detail; be or become extremely excited or enthusiastic about a subject, typically one of specialist or minority interest:

Slash, verb: Cut (something) with a violent sweeping movement, typically using a knife or sword; reduce (a price, quantity, etc.) greatly; noun: A cut made with a wide, sweeping stroke; a wound or gash made by a cut with a wide, sweeping stroke.

If you missed Part 1 click here

If you missed Part 2 click here

If you missed Part 3 click here
If you missed Part 4 click here
If you missed Part 5 click here
If you missed Part 6 click here
If you missed Part 7 click here
If you missed Part 8 click here

    This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. 

The Gravel Pits-Part 9 -Conclusion

     Just when she thought she might have lost him a hand reached out from in front of her and grabbed her saying, “Found you.”

     “Don’t panic it’s me Karl.” he said, “Are you okay Kathleen? He didn’t harm you?” 

       “I have some bruises, but I’m okay.” she answered, “I'm so glad you're here.”

      Kathleen relaxed for a moment in Karl’s arms that he put around her, but then she remembered the man was still out there.

     “I saw his car parked in front of the Sulphur springs, you weren’t in it and I saw him enter the woods so I assumed you were in here. I slashed one of his tires, but he's the kind of geek to drive on it. We better get moving to my car before he gets here. My car is that way,” Karl said pointing.

     Kathleen heard a noise behind Karl and then saw the man come into view. He swung a log at Karl’s head and then with the other hand reached out to grab Kathleen but missed. As Karl fell down, Kathleen ducked, grabbed a log herself with her other hand and swung it at the man connecting with his head. The man’s head bled profusely and he dropped like a stone. Kathleen bent over Karl and helped him up as he pointed the way to his car. Kathleen dragged Karl to the car where he insisted she drive.

      “I can’t. I don’t know how,” Kathleen protested.

    “You can do this I can direct you, but I can’t see well enough to drive. I’ve got double vision.”

     Karl then showed her how to shift the gears and drive before buckling himself and her into the car. Kathleen wanted to take him to the hospital, but Karl insisted they go straight to his dad. Kathleen floored the car driving as fast as she could to the police station, but it was at least twenty miles away and it seemed like forever as she drove. she was terrified but she would not let this man catch them she decided as her adrenalin kicked in.  Karl seemed groggy and Kathleen kept talking to him to keep him awake. Just before they got to the out skirts of London the man caught up to them and banged the back of Karl’s dad’s car almost pushing them off the road. Kathleen kept the car steady and headed towards the police station. Kathleen raced through the city with the man on her tail. Finally turning into the police station driveway, the car disappeared. Kathleen got out and took Karl into the police station.

    “Can I help you?” asked the policeman at the desk.

    Kathleen burst into tears and then still shaking, she blurted through sobs, “I....kid ...”

   “You’re not making sense miss. Did this boy hurt you?”

   Karl took Kathleen in his arms and let her cry into his shoulder as he explained, “I’m Karl Ward, my dad works here.”

   “Oh you’re Lieutenant Peter Ward’s boy,” the policeman acknowledged.

   “Yes, I am,” Karl replied.

   “So what happened Karl? Can you tell me while I summon your dad?”

  “This is my friend Kathleen Jones. You have a BOLO out on her. That weirdo that you look for, kidnapped her. You know the guy who may have killed that girl Gina Waterstone? I spotted his car and I found Kathleen running from him in the woods. He caught up with us and hit me on the head but Kathleen saved me hitting him on smack dap on the head when he tried to grab her again. Then we drove here and he followed,” Karl said.

   “Your head bleeds.  I believe you both need to go to hospital. Now is the perp still out there?”

   “No, he took of once we turned into the station. But he did hit the back of our car when we were on the highway outside of town. There may be some paint scrapings you could get there,” Karl said and then finishing he said, “My head hurts.”

   “And here’s help right on cue,” the policeman said.

     The ambulance attendants arrived and diagnosed the Kathleen was in shock and said that Karl needed stitches and probably had a concussion. They loaded the two teens up and into the ambulance.

     “I’ll have your father meet you at the hospital Karl,” the policeman promised.

    The teens were seen almost immediately, though Kathleen refused to be far from Karl; so they set him up in a bed near her with the curtain drawn so they could examine her.

   Great-Aunt Frieda arrived at the hospital a half an hour after the ambulance and crying she said, “Thank, God you’re alive.”

  After the tears and reunion took place, they recommended an overnight stay for Kathleen because of shock. Karl’s father arrived three hours later to find Karl sitting beside Kathleen’s bed holding her hand his head sewn with twenty stitches.

    “We got him. You’re safe,” Lieutenant Ward reassured them.

    “You got him dad?”

    “I’m safe? He won’t get out on bail?” asked Kathleen

    “No he won’t get out of jail. I’m afraid he’s dead.”

   “Good! I'd like to kick his carcass, ” Karl exclaimed vehemently, “How did it happen, anyway?”

    “Karl!!”

   “He hurt Kathleen. He would have raped and killed her and he killed other women. He deserved to die, dad. you have to admit that,” Karl insisted.

   “No one deserves to die. Jail can be a terrible punishment. He tried to get away, but he was trapped and when he got out of the car he shot at us and my colleagues fired back. He died in a battle of gunfire,” Lieutenant Ward explained.

   “He can’t hurt me...”Kathleen said and then began to cry again.

   Karl went to her and hugged her again as the nurse came in and told his father and Karl that they had to go.

   “I’m not going home. Kathleen needs me,” Karl insisted.

   “It’s very unusual and I better be able to trust you young man. This young lady needs you for assurance only understand?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Karl replied politely.

  “Fine then you can stay, but only if you lie down in that bed there. You have a head injury and should rest. She’ll hear your breathing and know you’re there. I’ll check you in a couple of hours,” the nurse said.

   Karl’s dad left smiling, reassured the teens were going to be fine and went back to work. In the morning Kathleen was escorted home by Karl and his father. Karl saw Kathleen to the door.

  “Terri is anxious to see you, but dad said she had to wait until tomorrow,” Karl stated.

   “Thanks for coming to save me Karl,” Kathleen said.

  “It’s nothing any boyfriend would have done. Besides you could have saved yourself. You are so brave,” Karl insisted.

  “Karl, are you my boyfriend now?” Kathleen asked surprised.

  “I’d like to be,” Karl said.

  “Then it’s settled you’re my boyfriend,” Kathleen claimed then kissed him gently on the cheek and said, “See you later, Karl.”

 “See you later Kathleen,” Karl cried planting a soft kiss on her lips and then leaving.

   Kathleen danced as she came in the house, “My first real kiss, because you can’t count Tommy Gunderson,” she called out to no one and then said, “I have a boyfriend and he’s handsome and older. All the girls will hate me. I love it!”

Then she giggled happily. Great-Aunt Frieda heard Kathleen’s record player turn on and the song ‘And then he kissed me’ by the Crystal’s come on full blast and sounds of Kathleen dancing around the room.

   Great-Aunt Frieda went into the kitchen made herself a cup of tea and took out a cookie from a batch she kept back from the bake sale. Great-Aunt Frieda smiled, Kathleen sounded herself again after that horrible kidnapping.She had come out of this with very little harm thank goodness. It had been a hairy situation but it was over.The boy Karl had finally declared himself. Karl was a good boy brought up properly he wouldn’t take advantage of Kathleen.  God had seen their family through this tribulation and all was right with the world. She could relax for a while until the next teenage drama, of course, hopefully not anytime soon.

      Next on her agenda making a fabulous picnic lunch for Kathleen; Karl and his family were meeting them at the gravel pits for a swim and a picnic. Time to make peace with the gravel pits and the terrible thing that almost happened nearby. They could make some new happy memories for the all the teens Terri, Karl and Kathleen. It would be a beautiful day the weather was perfect. If she hurried she could just about make her German potato salad in time, before she let Kathleen know about the picnic and swim.

The End

©Sheilagh Lee  September 17, 2014

Three Word Wednesday - The Gravel Pits-Part 8

Three Word Wednesday - The Gravel Pits-Part 8

Carcass, noun: The dead body of an animal; the trunk of an animal such as a cow, sheep, or pig, for cutting up as meat; the remains of a cooked bird after all the edible parts have been removed; the remains of something being discarded, dismembered, or worthless.

Geek, noun: An unfashionable or socially inept person; [usually with modifier] a knowledgeable and obsessive enthusiast; a carnival performer who performs wild or disgusting acts; verb: Engage in or discuss computer-related tasks obsessively or with great attention to technical detail; be or become extremely excited or enthusiastic about a subject, typically one of specialist or minority interest:

Slash, verb: Cut (something) with a violent sweeping movement, typically using a knife or sword; reduce (a price, quantity, etc.) greatly; noun: A cut made with a wide, sweeping stroke; a wound or gash made by a cut with a wide, sweeping stroke.

If you missed Part 1 click here

If you missed Part 2 click here

If you missed Part 3 click here
If you missed Part 4 click here
If you missed Part 5 click here
If you missed Part 6 click here
If you missed Part 7 click here

                                        The Gravel Pits-Part 8

  This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. 

     Stuck in the trunk Kathleen panicked she needed to find a way out, She found her mind going to the car magazines that had belonged to her dead father. He had considered him self a car geek and she had loved to browse those magazines with him. Kathleen remembered seeing in one of those magazines with a description of this car. Karl had been correct that it had been a Ford Fairline but this was also a muscle car and a rare edition that. It was some kind of weird name like a snake or something. Cobra, that was the name. She’d remembered the name for all the good it did her trapped her in its trunk.

     She hit her arm out and hit the spare tire. Banging it she managed to dislodge and move to the front of the trunk so she could get at the seat. Some of these seats folded down if she could somehow get it to do so she could escape. If only she could find the switch. She pushed at the seat at several places. Nothing happened, no movement. She began to think she’d die in here. She took out the knife again and tried to slash through the edges of the seat and triggered something. The seat began to fold down.

     She was free she could escape as long as he didn’t come out. It was dark and the parking lot was empty she observed through the bag Plexiglas window. She saw the bar with its name in neon lights After Hours.

     Kathleen had never heard of the bar. Where was she? She looked and saw woods at the edge of the property on the other side of the property and on the other side the gravel road that the car had travelled in on. If she escaped to the road, it’s the first place he would look for her.  She’d have to brave the woods and hoped they would come out to somewhere she could seek help.

   Kathleen climbed over the seat and opened the front driver’s door quietly as she watched the bar hoping he wouldn’t see the light on in the car. She entered the woods stealthily and ran quickly through the woods. She came upon a path and followed it to a clearing. The dim light from the moon revealed a sulphur water fed spring. She was at the Sulphur Springs and the nearest home was four footballs fields away but it was there. She could seek help and be safe. She ran around the front of the springs to the road and then she heard it. With the rumbling of a car Kathleen darted to the woods, but not soon enough as she was caught in the headlights. She picked up her pace as she heard the car door open and him call to her.

   “Give it up little girlie. I’m not going to kill you. I won't leave your carcass on the road, if you come to me now. I kind of like your feistiness. I’ve decided you’re the one I’ll keep. After all we were destined to be together.”

   This sent chills down Kathleen's spine. Kathleen picked up her pace, but heard him hot on her trail, as branches started hitting her in the face. Just when she thought she might have lost him a hand reached out from in front of her and grabbed her saying, “Found you.”

©Sheilagh Lee  September 10, 2014

To be continued

Stalking the Demon author is looking for reviewers #HighFantasy #FREEBIE

Stalking the Demon by Writer CIARA BALLINTYNE 

The cracks in our souls bleed darkness. High fantasy. 

EMAIL – info@ciaraballintyne.com
WEBSITE – http://ciaraballintyne.com
TWITTER – @CiaraBallintyne

STALKING THE DEMON ~ Advance Review 
EBOOKS by @CiaraBallintyne

 #HighFantasy #FREEBIE

Available for a limited time

FREE Advance Review ebooks (Review Copies only) 

STALKING THE DEMON

(Book 2 in the Seven Circles of Hell)

by Ciara Ballintyne

40K word short novel - Genre: High fantasy - 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23156116-stalking-the-demon?from_search=true 

Date of Publication – 31 October 2014

Genre:  High Fantasy (Adult)

About the Book:

Alloran lost his hand to thwart his renegade friend–but the 
world is still going to hell. 

Six months after Ladanyon's defeat, Gisayne is fading away
 from a baffling illness. Alloran is desperate for a cure, but he has 
a secret–the seven circles of hell are unstable. His worst fear is that 
the terrible mirror spell cast upon Gisayne has wrought some connection
 between her and the demon dimensions. 

As everything Alloran loves races toward destruction, he does the 
unthinkable and refuses to obey the council of wizards. The only people
 who can help him are the two research assistants assigned by the
 council–but he knows he can't trust them. All the answers are 
locked away in the last place anyone wants to go: hell!! 

Add it to your Goodreads TBR

here

My fellow writer Ciara Ballintyne is looking for honest reviews, 
if you would like to read this book in e-Arc , and have a 
valid Amazon account and will cross post to Goodreads 
she would like to hear from you.

ALL REVIEWERS PLEASE COMPLETE THE FORM at

 https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RZLV37Y

Must be able to provide an honest review before October 31

N.B. :  eARCs may not be identical to the final published version 
and therefore may contain some minor editing and typographical 
errors prior to the final proofread.
 eARCs are expected to be available 2 weeks prior to 
the publication  date. 

Three Word Wednesday - The Gravel Pits-Part 7

Three Word Wednesday - The Gravel Pits-Part 7

Bribery, noun: The giving or offering of a bribe.

Clobber, verb [with object] hit (someone) hard;

treat or deal with harshly; defeat heavily [with object].

Skeptical, adjective: Not easily convinced; having doubts or reservations.

If you missed Part 1 click here

If you missed Part 2 click here

If you missed Part 3 click here
If you missed Part 4 click here
If you missed Part 5 click here
If you missed Part 6 click here

                                        The Gravel Pits-Part 7

  This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. 

     Terri came over and for two days they baked and cooked. Terri and Kathleen made muffins and cookies and cakes. Great- Aunt Frieda offered bribery some of the baked goods, but the job was tedious. They made casseroles and other meat dishes and Jell-O salads, until they thought they'd scream because it seemed so boring. Great-Aunt Frieda said they'd soon be done but Kathleen was skeptical, at least until they took the last cake out of the oven. 

  “Kathleen we need some linens, there are about fifteen white table cloths in the far closet upstairs near your bedroom. Please bring them here,” requested Great-Aunt Frieda just when Kathleen thought she take a break.

   Kathleen ran up the stairs and went to the cupboard and took out the linens that Great-Aunt-Frieda would loan to the church for the sale. She then started thinking about her lucky escape two days ago and grew frightened. Even going to the church seemed terrifying so she decided to tuck her dad’s Swiss army knife down her go-go boots before she went to load the car with the linens and food; after all better safe than sorry.

They loaded up the car and Great-Aunt Frieda drove them Terri and Kathleen to the church while she went to pick up Terri’s mother and the food from there house and a few other church ladies houses. There she opened the church with a key she took out of her purse. Then she helped them set up one table and then they placed all the food at that one. Great-Aunt Frieda instructed them to set up the tables, (twenty of them) while she left to pick some other foods from Terri’s house.

    The tables were soon set up and Terri became bored then she said to Kathleen, “I need to go to the bathroom. Want to come?”

   “I don’t have to go besides I want to put the Jell-O salad in the church fridge until it’s served,” Kathleen answered, “Do you think my chocolate cake will do okay in the raffle?”

   “Yes and my dorky brother will probably bid on it. See you in a couple of minutes,” Terri replied.

   A few seconds later Kathleen heard footsteps and asked, “Terri is that you,”

   “Hardly brown eyes,” a voice answered.

  As Kathleen turned she saw a man sticking his whole hand into her raffle cake and taking a big chunk.

   “Mmm yummy cake,” he said.

    Kathleen’s whole body filled with chill and her feet felt cemented to the floor. Then without thinking, she turned to flee, but in seconds her hands were grabbed and twisted behind her back.

   “Now is that anyway to treat a guy who offered you a ride the other day?”

   “Please, let me go!” Kathleen begged as he propelled her towards the door.

   “No I’m taking you for a ride, unless your friend Terri is here? She could join us too.”

   “No, I’m alone. But my Great-Aunt and Terri are due back any minute,” Kathleen insisted.

   “Then we better take that ride before they get back,” the man demanded.

   Kathleen struggled kicking back with her feet and even biting his left hand, but he still managed to push her into the car. Instead of putting her in on a seat, he opened the trunk. He clobbered her on the head, took out some rope trussed up her hands and feet and threw her in the trunk. Kathleen started crying as the car started up and her whole body felt the bumps as the car when down a gravel road. At least Terri was safe maybe Terri had heard and would call the police to save her? No, somehow she had to save herself. She tried moving this way and that and then realized if she bent her right wrist back she could slip it out of the rope. Being double jointed did come in handy. She managed to get her wrist out and reach down for her dad’s Swiss army knife in her boot. It had moved almost to her foot. She had to move around awkwardly, in the small space of the trunk to get it dislodged and to propel it to the top of her boot. This seemed to take hours but she knew it was really minutes as the knife dropped into her free hand.  She cut away at the rope on her left wrist and then was able to remove the rope from her feet. Now how could she get out of the trunk? She worked at the catch but it wouldn't budge. She was trapped and the car was still moving. would she become a statistic like that poor girl they had found two days ago? No, she had to think of another way before he stopped this car. 

    The car's engine came to an abrupt stop and Kathleen's heart felt like it had entered her mouth. This was it, her time was up he'd open the trunk and do whatever he was going to do to her, she thought. She heard a bang on the trunk and she hit her head on it. 

    "Hey little bitch, I'll be back to deal with you in a few hours after I have some beer. Maybe the time we'll teach you not to bite the hand that holds you. If you're a good girl when I get back we'll have some fun and maybe I'll even bring you a beer. No, maybe not, you're not old enough to drink. Are you?" he laughed.

   Kathleen then heard his boots hitting pavement. So they were in parking lot? Parking lots meant people. She started to scream and bang, but no one came. What kind of a dive had no people. The kind of dive a serial killer hang out at a little voice said.

   Kathleen felt herself baking in the late afternoon sun; it was so hot in the trunk. She had to find a way out not only because he was coming back to kill her, but because the heat in the trunk might kill her before that.

©Sheilagh Lee  September 3, 2014

To be continued