An Excerpt from Cherie Reich’s Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection
“Are y’all really
going?” Denise glanced from James to Cassie to Mary. How dare they consider leaving me in the truck alone! It was so
unfair. All of her good spirit and fun for driving around evaporated like
morning dew under a hot sun. She stomped her foot. Stupid, piece of shit truck
had gotten them into this mess. She pounded her foot against the floor again
for good measure. A huff of frustration burst from her lips. “I’m not going.”
“I definitely am.” James buttoned his coat. “Y’all shouldn’t come along.”
“I’m walking. There’s no way around it.” Cassie zipped up her winter coat.
“I’m coming too,” Mary said.
Denise stared at them. They’d lost their freakin’ minds. Mary didn’t have proper shoes to go hiking. Only Cassie was appropriately clothed for a December walk. “We’ll freeze to death out there!”
“We’ll freeze in here too.” Cassie sighed. “Walking will at least keep us warmer than sitting in the truck.”
“We could turn the heat on.” Denise pointed to the air vents.
“It’s almost on E.” James tapped the gas gauge. “Don’t know how much longer the engine’ll run. If somethin’ is seriously wrong with the truck, we shouldn’t start it up.”
“We can’t just sit here.” Mary bounced in the seat. “Denise, we all have to go. Please.”
“Let’s face the facts.” Cassie turned toward Denise and held up one finger. “No one knows where we are.” She added a second finger. “The cell phones don’t work here. We have to move and try them elsewhere.” She put up a third finger. “It’s cold out, and we’ll freeze just as much in the truck as we will outside. We have to go now.”
“Do you have reason number four and five too?” Denise couldn’t keep the snide tone from her voice. She knew she was outnumbered. Did she want to stay in the vehicle by herself? Hell no! She flung her hands up, almost smacking both James and Mary in the process. “Fine! Let’s leave, but this is a bad idea.”
A monster hunts us. After hibernating for a decade, it’s ravenous. We long to stop this nightmare, but the end of the road is far. There is no waking up once a legend sets its sights on you.
Purchase Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection by Cherie Reich at Amazon. From June 22-28, the collection is only $0.99!
“I definitely am.” James buttoned his coat. “Y’all shouldn’t come along.”
“I’m walking. There’s no way around it.” Cassie zipped up her winter coat.
“I’m coming too,” Mary said.
Denise stared at them. They’d lost their freakin’ minds. Mary didn’t have proper shoes to go hiking. Only Cassie was appropriately clothed for a December walk. “We’ll freeze to death out there!”
“We’ll freeze in here too.” Cassie sighed. “Walking will at least keep us warmer than sitting in the truck.”
“We could turn the heat on.” Denise pointed to the air vents.
“It’s almost on E.” James tapped the gas gauge. “Don’t know how much longer the engine’ll run. If somethin’ is seriously wrong with the truck, we shouldn’t start it up.”
“We can’t just sit here.” Mary bounced in the seat. “Denise, we all have to go. Please.”
“Let’s face the facts.” Cassie turned toward Denise and held up one finger. “No one knows where we are.” She added a second finger. “The cell phones don’t work here. We have to move and try them elsewhere.” She put up a third finger. “It’s cold out, and we’ll freeze just as much in the truck as we will outside. We have to go now.”
“Do you have reason number four and five too?” Denise couldn’t keep the snide tone from her voice. She knew she was outnumbered. Did she want to stay in the vehicle by herself? Hell no! She flung her hands up, almost smacking both James and Mary in the process. “Fine! Let’s leave, but this is a bad idea.”
A monster hunts us. After hibernating for a decade, it’s ravenous. We long to stop this nightmare, but the end of the road is far. There is no waking up once a legend sets its sights on you.
Purchase Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection by Cherie Reich at Amazon. From June 22-28, the collection is only $0.99!
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Cherie Reich is a speculative
fiction author and library assistant living in Virginia. Visit her website and blog for more information.
