She was face down when the beast caught her. It thrust a warm, slimy arm under her shoulder and down her chest. As the arm clamped her between her breasts, the beast’s other hand clutched her between the legs.
It hoisted her off the concrete. Hugging her sideways, her back tight against its chest, it swung around.
Tuck in the spa with her Magnum and Darke running toward Dana whirled by in a blur.
Then the spinning stopped.
The world jerked and bounced as the beast ran along the edge of the pool.
“SHOOT IT!” she cried out.
But she didn’t hear another gunshot.
Tuck must’ve missed that first time. Now, she was probably afraid to try again—afraid of hitting Dana.
Oh, my God, don’t let it take me away!
Chapter Sixty-four
DREAM KISS
In his dream, Karen was kissing him.
A deep, wet kiss, her tongue thrusting into his mouth.
Owen squirmed under the weight of her body. His hands roamed feverishly up and down the smooth bare skin of her back.
Coming up out of the depths of sleep, he realized it was more than a dream.
She was here with him.
Here in the darkness of his hospital room.
Here in his bed.
On top of him.
The mouth eased away, leaving his lips wet.
“Karen.” he whispered.
“Owie.”
Chapter Sixty-five
DANA
He’ll kill me when he gets done.
Kill me, eat me.
Maybe not.
Maybe be likes me too much.
Maybe he’ll keep me alive.
If I can stay alive, maybe I can escape.
Or they’ll rescue me.
Tuck and Darke.
No, no, be lost them.
Long time ago.
Way too fast for ‘em.
OH!
Did they give up, go home?
Call the cops?
Call Eve, guys.
Call Eve.
OH!
Get Eve out of the hospital.
She’ll find me.
She’ll save me.
Eve of Destruction!
OH!
She’ll nail him.
Nail him good.
Nail him!
OH!
OH!
YES!!!
RICHARD LAYMON
Richard Laymon is the author of over 30 novels and 65 short stories. Though a native of Illinois and a long-time Californian, his name is more familiar to readers in Great Britain. Australia and New Zealand, as well as much of the rest of the world, where he is published in fifteen foreign languages. He has written such acclaimed novels as The Beast House. The Cellar, After Midnight, The Lake, Into the Fire, Come Out Tonight, Body Rides. To Wake the Dead. No Sanctuary, Island, Among the Messing, One Rainy Night, In the Dark, and Bite. The Traveling Vampire Show won a Bram Stoker Award for Novel of the Year in 2001. Two of his earlier novels (Flesh and Funland) and a short story collection (A Good, Secret Place) previously had been nominated for Bram Stoker Awards as well.
Check out the Richard Laymon Kills! Web site at www.rlk.cjb.net.