The Killing Moon by A. S. French

Author:A. S. French [French, A. S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Neonoir Books

15 Hounds of Love

Astrid pushed the door open. Grace’s hand rested on her gun as they went inside. It was the smell that hit them first as the stench of bleach hung in the air. The only illumination was from the open door and the flickering fire in the far corner.

‘Where is he?’ Astrid waited for the howl to come again, relieved when it didn’t.

‘I can’t find a light switch,’ Grace said in a half-whisper.

‘I don’t think there’s any electricity in here.’

Astrid removed the phone from her pocket and turned on the torch. She swept it in front of her, catching glimpses of tattered furniture, bunches of newspapers and a pile of crumbling bricks on the carpet. Jam jars brimming with nuts, bolts and screws sat stacked on top of each other on a bench in the corner.

A large shadow moved on Astrid’s right. She stepped back from it as it growled. The growl grew into stereo, two pairs of red eyes flashing into life, porcelain-white teeth baring their fangs.

‘You shouldn’t have come here, Gracie.’ The voice came from the space in front of them, drifting between the dogs. ‘Now, they’ll get you as well.’

Astrid heard the striking of a match as he lit candles at his side. His long elephant-grey hair cascaded on to his shoulders, the shaky light shadowing his aquiline features: Manny Burns wearing mismatched hunting clothes and patterned slippers at least a size too big. Two bored-looking Alsatians flanked him. He stood with the help of a giant silver cane gripped in his hand. The dogs took a step forward with him. His face was so grim it could haunt a house; the blue of his eyes piercing Astrid’s gaze. Grace gave him that warm smile that had so enchanted Astrid.

‘You’re not in trouble, Manny.’

‘Your friend won’t be able to help you, Gracie.’ One wave of his fingers and the dogs slipped into the background. He reached down and flicked a switch, a cluster of small light bulbs springing into life through the room like fireflies dancing on the wind. ‘Please, take a seat.’ He sat in a large chair.

Grace strode over and threw her arms around him. Astrid stiffened her back, expecting the dogs to charge out of the dark, happy when they didn’t. She took the seat closest to her. When Grace pulled from Manny, Astrid scrutinised him some more. The flesh hung off his face like snake skin, while the remains of his teeth were as yellow as rotten mustard. Grace gazed at him as if he was a long-lost friend.

Which, I suppose he is. He’d saved her life, and she’d never had the chance to thank him until now.

But they weren’t there for reminisces or Grace’s childhood; they were there for Alex and Katie, and who knew how many others? She kept her eyes on the dogs and inched forward. ‘Who do you think is coming for you, Mr Burns?’

‘Call me Manny, Ms...?’

She smiled at him. ‘Astrid.’

‘Someone is always coming for me, Astrid.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.