Excerpt: Darkside

Chapter 6: Insecurity

“Be careful, okay?” Rose Seville whispered to her friend, “It’s going to rain tomorrow. And you know, they haven’t caught that killer yet.”

“Oh, I know.” Her friend and co-worker, twenty years the college student’s senior, had much on her mind that night. Being butchered and left in the middle of a public road wasn’t one of them. “Don’t worry about me, honey. My husband’s meeting me at the station. He’ll walk me home.”

Rose smiled. “That’s good.”

“You feelin’ alright?”

“Yeah, I just… I have a bad feeling.”

“Well, you take care of yourself, you hear me?”

Rose nodded. “I will. Goodnight.”

“See you on Monday!”

Rose watched her friend go from the doorway of the coffee shop. When she was sure she’d made it to the station down the street, she hung up her apron and locked up the store. She pulled her coat on as she stepped into the late November chill. Maybe it wasn’t rain that was coming at all, but snow instead. She hoped so. It might make her feel better next time she had one of these days.

Ever since she was a child, Rose had known when things were going to happen. At least, that’s the impression she’d gotten after years of feeling giddy the day before a windfall, and depressed the day before a death. She didn’t know how she did it, but she knew, somewhere inside of her, that she did. It was like breathing; it just happened without her knowledge of how or why it worked. And without her consent.

Rose pulled her coat tighter and zipped up the front. Her nerves were on edge. She’d been feeling this way all day –since the night before, in fact, and she couldn’t shake the notion that it meant something terrible was about to happen. A bad snowstorm, perhaps? An earthquake? Or maybe it was the option that she wanted to think about least of all. The killer.

The press didn’t have a name for him yet, but he’d been stabbing people to death for about two months. Every time it rained –though thankfully it hadn’t much- a new body would appear. And the night before each incident, Rose would feel as if the killer were at her own front doorstep. It was as if she knew when he would strike. And this time, the feeling was stronger than ever.

Unfortunately, her misgivings were worsened by the fact that the subway didn’t take her anywhere near her home, and that the only reasonable place to park all day was a public garage two blocks away from work. Like it or not, she would have to walk. No one else seemed to be out at this time of night, except for a man all bunched up in his coat. He passed her, heading the opposite direction, and she shivered. Was there something to it, or was she just that paranoid?

Get a hold of yourself, Rose. It’s not like you have some kind of psychic power or anything. You’re probably just worried because the forecast predicted rain. That’s all it is. And besides, the killer takes his victims days before he kills them. That’s what the newspaper said.

But somehow, she wasn’t able to reassure herself.

After a few moments, she became aware of the sound of footsteps behind her. She didn’t look back at first, maybe afraid, maybe not. But as the steps got closer, faster, she craned her neck to peer over her shoulder. It was the man she’d passed before. Now he was headed towards her.

She quickened her steps, trying not to make it obvious, and failing. It seemed to her as if the man quickened his as well. She tried to remain calm. She tried to fight the urge to break into a sprint. The man was gaining on her.

Just as she thought she could take it no longer, she reached the entrance to the parking garage. She turned toward it, jogging until she reached the security guard’s station. She half-expected it to be empty, but the woman inside waved pleasantly over her People magazine. Rose smiled and waved back. She’d made it.

Disaster averted. See? No reason to be so scared.

She took the elevator up to the garage’s third floor, just to be safe. She knew that half of the place wasn’t lit, and she still didn’t feel much like being alone. Her car was parked close to the doors, and she hurried to get the key in the lock. Once safely inside the car, she sighed and leaned back. Maybe she didn’t have the proverbial “Gift” after all. Or maybe she just needed to start taking anxiety medication. Either way, she was safe for now.

She leaned forward and stuck the key in the ignition. She twisted it toward the dash, but the engine didn’t turn over. She frowned, a sinking feeling beginning to form in her chest. Maybe this was what she’d seen coming? No, it couldn’t be something as trivial as-

There was a shuffling from behind her.

Not behind the car. Behind her. Close. The back seat.

She jumped, yelped, and dove for the door handle. She had to get out.

But she wasn’t quite fast enough.

A strong arm seized her around the neck from behind, pinning her back against the seat. She struggled to breathe as the limb broke off her supply of oxygen. She clawed at the sleeve, kicking at the dashboard and steering wheel. If she could just honk the horn…

She felt a sharp pain at the back of her head, near her neck. She struggled for a few seconds more, but her strength faded alarmingly fast. Seconds after it had begun, the attack was over. The arm released her, and she slumped forward onto the wheel.

The last things Rose Seville saw before utter darkness were the lights of the parking garage.