Written by Phil Colvin,
Chapter 1
St George’s Rare Books
New Orleans, USA
Two Days Earlier,
The carol singers were on their fourth verse by the time Gabriel could finally slam the door on them. He wasn’t quite sure how much they’d appreciate the signed copies of his latest horror novel, but hey, they’d gone down a treat at Halloween. Behind him, Grace was putting up the last of the decorations she’d brought in.
"Is that really necessary?", asked Gabriel, "I think the occult section looked better without the tinsel"
"Just get into the spirit of things!", laughed Grace. "Ho ho", said Gabriel.
"You’re not really a big Christmas fan, are you?"
"I never had much time for it before, I didn’t have anyone to celebrate it with other than my grandmother, and it wasn’t exactly a huge party, I can tell you."
"Oh yes, did you invite your Grandma over?"
"Yeah, but she can’t come. She’s gone off with one of her groups."
"Where did they go?"
"New Zealand. Two weeks of sun, sand, sea and for the over sixty-fives"
"Sounds enchanting"
"Yeah....but you know...we don’t have to go to New Zealand to..."
"No way, Knight."
"Oh well, worth a shot I suppose." Gabriel looked out of the window. To tell the truth, he hated Christmas. The last two years in Germany hadn’t exactly been a hoot either. Other than the plot for his third book which lay in his head begging to be written, there was nothing really new to look forward to at the moment.
Grace wasn’t in any desperate need to celebrate at the moment. For the last few years she had been estranged from her parents, now she hadn’t even spoken to them in three months. This was the first time she’d spent Christmas without speaking to her family and she was trying desperately to think of a reason to be happy. Having Gabriel in ‘depression overdrive’ was not helping. She hated being stuck in the shop, especially now. But after everything she’d been through with Gabriel over the past few years, with the voodoo cults and werewolves she figured they’d probably survive through Christmas. It wasn’t as if any major problems were going to arise, anyway.
"Hey kids!", came the voice from the door. Grace began to bang her head repeatedly against the wall. "Well, this is some party Gabe", smiled Bruno, "Nice to know two years in a European cess pit hasn’t clouded your great taste in decor"
"Bruno, either get to the point or swivel on this one", snarled Gabriel, jabbing up a finger. Bruno smiled.
"That holiday spirit is kickn’ in, eh?"
"More like kickin' you out, actually"
"What do you want", asked Grace, "Surely you’re not here as a customer..."
"Oh yeah, I’m sure my kids would LOVE a book from your little morgue. Heck, it might even cure my mother’s insomnia." Gabriel just stared out on the window, he really wasn’t interested. "Well, it looks like I’ve worn out my welcome", smiled Bruno.
"Yeah, that was about three years ago", murmmed Gabriel.
"Well EXCUSE me! And I was going to wish you Merry Christmas....but I don’t think I can be bothered now." and with that he turned and walked out of the door.
"I hate him", snarled Gabriel, "I hope he drowns in his own saliva."
"That’s a wonderful attitude, Gabriel. And I wondered why you don’t have many friends..."
"I do have friends!", snapped Gabriel, "They’re all just very busy....."
"Yeah, and because of that I’m stuck with you over the whole holiday season."
"Not just me..."
"Oh yes, we’ve got Mosely coming to eat you out of house and home....Shouldn’t he have been here by now?"
"He said he might be late, it’s the NOPD’s Christmas bash. He’s probably throwing up in the punch bowl and trying to grope Officer Franks by now."
"Charming, I’m sure."
Suddenly there was a huge rumbling noise from outside. Gabriel looked outside, there were two lights coming down the street towards him....they were fast...very fast....and they weren’t stopping.
"What the heck is that?", said Grace. She could see the lights too.
"I don’t know, but I think we’re about to find out.....", Gabriel jumped back as the window in front of him shattered.
"Get down!", he shouted. Grace threw herself behind the counter as glass splintered to the floor. Gabriel impulsively grabbed his talisman and dived down too. He could hear the glass falling all around him. There was now a cold wind blowing in from outside. Slowly Gabriel got up.
"Are you OK?", stammered Grace as she appeared from behind the desk.
"Well, my pride sure needs some CPR."
"What the heck is that thing?"
"I don’t know, but I’m going to find out." Gabriel steeped out of the broken window.
There was a large object in front of him, the window had been smashed by a litter bin which the object had hurled at it. The lights were still on and were dazzling Gabriel, but he could see a window. He walked over and looked inside.
"What is it, Gabriel?", stammered Grace from inside the shop.
"Oh my God....", was all that Gabriel could say....
If you have any comments, you can email Phil Colvin at sculder_mully@geocities.com.
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