Snatchers (Book 3): The Dead Don't Cry

by Whittington, Shaun

  There are also a lot of characters in this book that seem unstable, psychologically scarred. Well, just imagine losing a family member, especially a child, and having no counselling, medication or even a funeral for closure. Sounds terrible? Now imagine seeing a family member ripped to pieces or being turned with no help. You'd be scarred as well. Even the antagonists in the book like Mangy and co must have had tragedy in their life, but I decided not to go into their backgrounds.

  One thing I had noticed in the series so far was the mention of The Lord's Prayer. This is prevalent in every book so far. In book one, when Pickle and David Pointer said their farewells to Davina, and Pickle admits that he can't think of anything else to say, David suggests The Lord's Prayer that he still knew from school. It is also spoken almost in full in book two, when the Snatchers are trying to get in the house where Jocelyn Parker and her daughter, Hannah, are hiding. And now in book three, the prayer is mentioned when Pickle uses it after burying Wolf's wife. I'm not a religious individual, so it was kind of weird when I had realised I had unintentionally done this.

  My introduction to the character of Vince was purposely done to throw a little light on the story. The books really are quite dark, and I thought maybe introducing a vile, sexist, non-politically-correct character would lighten things up. Personally, I love characters in books and movies like Vince, and was originally going to introduce him in the second book. In real life someone like him would make your stomach turn, but in fiction I do feel that these characters can raise a smile or two; he's someone you're going to either love or hate.

  I also decided to throw a few twists in the last chapter(s) of the book. Jack coming across Jade was a sad episode for him, and then Claire telling Jack the story about a 'run' they went on and finding a father and his daughter gassed in a car in a garage, which we all knew had happened in the first book, and the two bodies that Claire and Vince had found were actually David Pointer and his daughter, Isobel. Then there was the fact that Wolf was Vince's father and that Karen was pregnant.

  As for the ending of the book; I didn't want the structure of the book to be the same every time. In book one it was introduction to characters, minor incidents along the way, then a big climax at the end. In book two, it was similar with a few climaxes at the end. With book three I decided to end it on a more gentle and positive note (some may argue, anti-climatic and weak) and instead of having the 'horde' climax that was in books one and two, where our group are running from scores of the dead, I decided to incorporate isolated incidents at the end of the book instead.

  Also, the layout of the first two books was that the characters would find somewhere safe, then at the end of the story they would have to flee their safe haven because of a horde invasion. With book three, instead of having another invasion and the group having to leave another place where they were staying (yet again!), I decided to keep them at the cabin, and keep them safe for the ending of the book. But, of course, that could all change once I begin to work on part four.

  The fourth instalment of this series will possibly be out in early 2015, and it may be the last. I don't really want the series to become too tired, or people wondering if I'm trying to cash in on something that some people think should be wrapped up and put to bed.

  So in book four, loose ends will be tied up, but there are a few things I haven't decided yet: Will Jack be reacquainted with Pickle and Karen, who thinks he's dead when they had left him in the sports centre in book two? If he does, does that mean Vince will meet up with his father, Wolf? I also can't wait when/if Vince meets Karen; as we know she isn't going to put up with his sexist nonsense.

  I have no idea or plan at the moment how book four is going to pan out. I'm not even sure if the characters from the start of book one—Jack, Karen and Pickle—will make it to the end of book four.

  Anyway, that's my rambling finished. Thanks again for reading.

  Kind regards,

  Shaun

  Available in 2015

  Snatchers 4: The Dead Don't Pity

  For more information on the fourth instalment, or if you want to ask me anything about any other books, feel free to contact me, or follow or friend request me on Facebook

  Also available in 2015

  MONSTRA (an apocalyptic novel)

  Harry Burns is on is way back from his Grandma's funeral. Alone, he takes the long, lonely road of the Pennines to get back to his go home in Gretna. As he drives through the driving rain and the murky conditions of the terrain, he finds a stationary car. The owners are inside of the car and claim that they had hit a person, but are now unsure where that particular person is.

  After hopelessly searching for the individual, Harry goes back to his own car, only to witness the destruction of the man and woman of the stationary car by a possessed being. They both reanimate in under a minute and attack Harry Burns, who, in response, drives off in panic. Once he can't use his car no more, he makes the dangerous decision—his only decision—to go out foot, and finally comes across a guest house in the dark, eerie area of the Pennines.

  In the guest house, Harry is looked after by the owners, only to find on TV that what happened to him wasn't an isolated incident. The nation has fallen foul of an aggressive virus, making other humans turn on one another.

  The question is: what does Harry Burns, the owners, and their guests do next? Stay where they are, or leave the guest house? Events happen afterwards that forces them to make such a decision, but not all will survive.

  Not for persons under the age of 18.

  The following is the first chapter of the up and coming novel, MONSTRA.

  Chapter One

  The drive from County Durham had been a long and arduous journey. It wasn't as if Harry Burns had driven for a long while, or that he was feeling tired, but as soon as he came across the country road and entered the start of the Pennines, his boredom had multiplied. He was certain that it was a beautiful part of England once it was drenched in sunshine, but his overall goal was to get home to Gretna and get away from this never ending, miserable place.

  The heavens were open and the grey clouds lashed down as much rain as they could, making the drive along the windy lanes a treacherous journey. He slowed down as his vision was becoming impossible. Even though the windscreen wipers were at number three, their fastest speed, his paranoia of slipping off a hill and crashing the car never left his mind.

  The car was now reasonably high up, and what alerted and unnerved Harry Burns was the fact that there were no crash barriers along this huge stretch of road. If he did indeed crash on this night, he was aware that if he could not get out of the car, he could be there for a very long time before any kind of help would turn up.

  Harry Burns was forty-one years old, and was returning home from his Nan's funeral. It was hardly a shock; she was eighty-eight when she dropped in a heap in the living room, and he had always had a soft spot for the old dear.

  When he arrived at the small town of Wingate, he was bombarded with the usual questions from his aunties and uncles. All were asking why he never kept in contact; why he wasn't married, and what was the deal with him and his dad. His dad was the son of his Nan, and was someone he had never really bothered with since he was ten years old, since the divorce from his mum.

  Harry's mum had been dead for ten years, thanks to cervical cancer, and his dad, his aunties and uncles, and a cluster of cousins, may as well be dead. Since Harry Burns had moved to Gretna fifteen years ago, he never bothered with any of them, and vice versa.

  Harry was a mail man in a jewellery office and had taken a few days off for the funeral. He was due holidays anyway, and once he heard about his Nan, he decided to take the next week off and return on the fourth of June, Monday.

  Harry had now arrived at a hill and although his knowledge of the Pennines was poor, he was pretty certain he was driving up a mountain rather than a big hill. The steep incline of the road seemed to be never-ending, and he was pretty sure his Mazda was eventually
going to stall and conk out due to the severity of the hill. He dropped the car into first and had to make do with climbing the incline at a snail's pace.

  The day seemed like night because of the black and grey clouds that threateningly hung overhead, and once the car got to the brow of the huge hill, Harry blurted out the words, "Fuck me," once he looked to see how high up he was.

  Despite the lashing rain, he could see the view was incredible, but frightening at the same time. Now over the brow of the hill, the car went on a straight decline, but only for a hundred yards. Once the car reached the bottom of the lane, he followed the road to the left and smiled when he saw that this part did have crash barriers. The whole point of this expedition was for a shortcut back to the M6 North, which would eventually lead Harry back over the Scottish Borders and into Gretna, but he was now beginning to regret the advice that was given to him by his Uncle Jimmy at the funeral that the Pennines was a quicker way to the M6.

  He looked back up to the sky and sighed. Darkness wasn't too far away.

  He looked at his watch. 8pm. The goal was to get through the Pennines before darkness, but the weather and the paranoia of driving off one of the hills made him reduce his speed. He did toy with the idea of staying the night at one of the pubs in Wingate, but he was bemoaning the amount it had cost him already with the petrol he had had to use.

  As the weather continued to hurl everything it had against Harry's Mazda, more speed was reduced as darkness crept up. His full beam was making no difference to his vision, and he even contemplated on pulling over and waiting until the rain had died. But there was nowhere to pull in to, and he didn't want to leave his car stationary in the middle of The Pennines where it was quite possible another vehicle could plough into the back of him.

  Maybe he should stop and keep his hazard lights on.

  He decided to continue.

  Once his driving continued through the awful weather, his headlights picked up, fifty yards away, another vehicle that was sitting stationary on the long and empty road. Although his journey had been a lonely and monotonous one, the sight of the vehicle unnerved him. He dipped his headlights, preparing the car to come to a stop.

  Harry could have easily have driven around the car that was situated to the left, but his conscience wouldn't allow this. He slowed his car down, and once it eventually came to a stop, he reached for his jacket in the back of the car.

  He tried to see what kind of car it was, but the lack of light made this impossible. But he could see the backs of a driver and a passenger.

  He then sat and stared and wondered if she should go out at all. He was losing his nerve. What if it was a couple having sex in the car? he thought. But why would they put their hazards on?

  He decided to investigate.

  With his seatbelt off, he still struggled to get his jacket on with the little room provided, and the rain still continued to beat down so hard that it sounded like a hundred birds were pecking the roof.

  He opened the car door to feel the water from above drenching his hair already. His jacket provided no hood, so he unzipped it and pulled the back of the coat over his head to protect his already drenched hair. He then stood for a minute and wondered what the hell he was doing. He had no idea what or who was in that car, and he was unsure if there were people inside that needed help, although he was a little perplexed that neither person left their car to greet him.

  Harry walked toward the driver's side and could see blurry figures inside. Harry tried the door and as soon as it opened, the female sitting in the passenger seat released a frightened yelp, as she had no idea who Harry was.

  "It's okay." Harry held his hand up to let the female know he was there to help, if he could. Harry could see the male driver was breathing heavily and was holding onto his left shoulder and neck. "Didn't you see my headlights from behind?"

  She shook her head.

  Harry asked, "What's wrong?"

  The woman sniffled, and it seemed to take an age for her to get her sentence out. "My husband was driving and this man came out of nowhere."

  Harry appeared confused and looked around in the rain; all he could see in front of him was darkness.

  "Er..." Harry began to scratch his sodden hair. "What man?"

  "He must be a few yards in front of us." She pointed into the darkness, which Harry thought was a pointless thing to do.

  Harry cackled in frustration. "Where?"

  The woman stared at the man and Harry could see her struggling to gulp. She slowly raised her right arm and pointed toward the middle of the road. She was clearly shaken. "Over there."

  "Okay. When did this happen?"

  "About ten minutes ago. my husband thinks he's broken his neck. he cant move. It was like hitting a brick wall."

  Harry smiled warmly, took out his phone from his trousers and was about to dial the number for the emergency services, but was interrupted by the woman's voice again. "I think the man that we hit might be dead."

  The male driver tried to say something to Harry, but the woman shushed him and said, "Don't try to talk, darling. Don't move at all. Your neck could be broken."

  Harry couldn't see any sign of the body, but he could hear a strange growling noise coming from the darkness.

  Harry asked the woman to put her full beam on. She had no idea where it was and he assumed she was someone who couldn't drive as she was unfamiliar with the ancillary tools. Harry went back over to the car itself, opened the driver's door, smiled at the injured male driver sitting motionlessly in his seat, and found the stick for the full beam. He pulled the stick back and the full beam came on, but the only thing the lights lit up was more road. Nothing else could be seen.

  "Get in," she said. "You're getting soaked."

  He opened the back passenger door and got in to take a break from the driving rain. The female passenger turned to face him; she went to say something, but she seemed too upset at what had just happened. In her eyes, her partner was in a bad way, and they may have also killed a pedestrian. A pedestrian at this time of the day, in the middle of the Pennines? It didn't make sense to Harry Burns. The whole scenario seemed surreal.

  "I can't see anything out there," Harry said. "Are you sure you hit a person? Not an animal of some kind?"

  The woman, who hadn't introduced herself, nodded. "Definitely."

  "Well, the lights aren't picking up anything."

  The woman asked, "What about further up?"

  Harry was exasperated and took a look at the man who was still nursing his neck.

  Ignoring her query, Harry asked the woman, "Have you rung the paramedics?"

  The woman nodded. "They're on their way." She then asked her question once again. "What about further up? Maybe the body's further along the road."

  Harry sighed," "I'm not walking any further. We'll leave it to the experts."

  She nodded in agreement. "I perfectly understand. It's very scary out there."

  "I'm not scared," protested Harry.

  She gave him a thin smile and said, "That's fine."

  Harry puffed out his cheeks and snapped," Right. Just a quick look."

  "No, I wasn't—"

  "A quick look," Harry snapped, and opened the passenger door.

  He stepped back out into the rain, pulled the back of his coat over his head, and then began to walk forward.

  After a minute, he looked behind him to see that he had walked about fifty yards, but there was still no sign of a body. Even if someone had been struck by a vehicle going 100mph, he was sure that the body wouldn't be pushed that far forward.

  He looked to the sides of him, but his 'investigating' was futile. He could not see a damn thing! He took his phone out and used the flashlight app. He walked near the edge, asked himself what the hell was he doing, and shone the weak torch downwards, but it wasn't picking anything up. He shook his head and turned on his heels, making his way back to the car with his head down, eyes looking at the floor. His clothes were sodden, and he was selfishl
y beginning to wish he had driven by the car now and left them to it.

  "Anything?"

  "Shit!" Harry placed his hands on his chest after his fright. He thought she was in the car and had no idea she had got out and was standing ten yards behind him.

  "No. Nothing," Harry answered.

  "He must be somewhere."

  Harry was beginning to lose his patience with this woman. "When the ambulance comes, they can find him."

  "But what if someone else comes by, drives past us, then drives over him if he's still in the middle of the road somewhere?"

  Harry never answered her query verbally, but he nodded his head. She had a good point.

  He huffed and decided to walk back along the road, away from the cars. He turned around and placed his hands over his eyes from the glare of the full beam. The further he walked along the road to find the alleged victim, the less light there would be coming from the car that was now many metres away. He knew that if he continued, he'd be back in the darkness, in a countryside that was more eerie than the Yorkshire Moors.