Erin, Ben, and Forester, oblivious of the alarmed crowd swarming, limped their way back to the sidewalk. There they stood staring at their handiwork until a Chicago cop shouted, “Hey!” for the third time. “You got a lot of explaining to do.”
Ben stared blankly. “How do you figure?”
“With that laying in the street,” the cop said, pointing. “You got the nerve to ask—?”
“I stop to visit a friend,” Ben said, cutting him off, pointing himself. “And that comes through the window. What the hell kind of town are you running here?”
The cop stared at Ben, then the thing on the sidewalk, then Erin and Forester, and finally, at Ben again. “What is that?” he asked, with an adjusted attitude.
“I don't know,” Ben said. “But do yourself a favor. Burn it as quick you can. And whatever you do, leave that stake alone until you do.”
The cop looked again, to see the glinting copper rod protruding from the gore. For a minute, he seemed as if he might ask another question, then decided against it. “Right,” he said. “Right.”
Ben took Erin in his burned arms. “Don't you answer your phone?”
“I was busy.”
Neither Erin nor Ben lost their jobs, but the details of their return to Duncan… would take another book. Their first steps on the road back were slow and limping ones as they returned to the hotel. The night manager lost his mind, screaming at them, but the trio barely heard him. Erin was too busy holding Ben up. Ben was too busy reminding Forester, “I kept my promise. There's your story.”
“Story? It's the record of a nightmare. Nobody will believe a word of it!”
Turned out, the reporter was worried for nothing. Nobody would even print it.
About the Author
Doug Lamoreux is a father of three, a grandfather, a writer, and actor. A former professional fire fighter, he is the author of five novels and a contributor to anthologies and non-fiction works including the Rondo Award nominated Horror 101, and its companion, the Rondo Award winning Hidden Horror. He has been nominated for a Rondo, a Lord Ruthven Award, a Pushcart Prize, and is the first-ever recipient of The Horror Society's Igor Award for fiction. Lamoreux starred in the 2006 Peter O'Keefe film, Infidel, and appeared in the Mark Anthony Vadik horror films The Thirsting (aka Lilith) and Hag.
Other Books by the Author
The Devil's Bed
Dracula's Demeter
The Melting Dead
Corpses Say the Darndest Things: A Nod Blake Mystery
Apparition Lake (with Daniel D. Lamoreux)
Obsidian Tears (with Daniel D. Lamoreux)
Dear reader,
Thank you for taking time to read When The Tik-Tik Sings. If you enjoyed it, please consider telling your friends or posting a short review. Word of mouth is an author’s best friend and much appreciated.
When The Tik-Tik Sings Page 26
