Chase, page 31
‘There was no other way.’
The voice came from behind him but even when he turned his head he couldn’t see the face of the man who spoke the words.
‘Where’s my wife?’ David asked, his voice cracking.
‘She’s with us,’ the man told him.
David tried to swallow but his throat was dry. A combination of fear and the extreme heat.
‘Why did you bother taking the arrow out of my leg if you’re going to kill me anyway?’ he wanted to know.
‘Does it matter?’ the voice murmured.
David turned his head to the other side in an effort to see the man.
‘Please don’t hurt her,’ he said, quietly. ‘Don’t hurt my wife.’
The man stepped in front of him and ran appraising eyes over him.
‘The child she’s carrying has to die,’ the man told him. For the first time, David could see that he was carrying a large double bladed knife, the razor sharp edges glinting in the sunlight.
‘For God’s sake,’ David gasped, helplessly. ‘Not this again. She can’t be pregnant and even if she is...’ The words faded as he bowed his head.
The man stood for a moment just looking at David who finally raised his head once again to stare at him.
‘Where are the others?’ he wanted to know. ‘Aren’t they going to watch too?’
‘They don’t need to,’ the man told him. ‘Not this time.’
‘You’ll never get away with this.’
The man raised his eyebrows.
‘Do you believe in God?’ he asked.
David looked puzzled.
‘In your God,’ the man went on. ‘Do you believe?’
David allowed his head to loll back against the upright part of the beam.
‘Does it matter?’ he sighed.
‘Everyone should believe in something.’
‘Like you believe that killing my wife and I will stop your world from being destroyed.’ He laughed bitterly. ‘You’re fucking idiots. All of you.’
‘It was foretold,’ the man insisted. ‘That is what we believe. We have to stop that prophecy from coming true. Destroying your child is the only way we can be sure.’
Again David shook his head.
‘And after us?’ he grunted. ‘How many more will there be? How many more will you murder?’
‘There won’t be any more,’ the man said, flatly. ‘There doesn’t have to be. The only one that matters is your child. Once it dies this is over.’
‘What if you’re wrong,’ David gasped.
The thought didn’t seem to have occurred to the man before now and David was sure he saw a flicker of uncertainty cross his face. It was a small, brief second of victory.
The man held his gaze for a second longer then drew the knife swiftly across David’s throat. Even before the blood had finished spurting from the savage wound, he cut the ropes that held David to the wooden beams, pushing his body forward into the flames.
Shock and blood loss ensured that David was spared the agony of the flames. He was unconscious before his body reached the fire. Dead before the flames began to devour him.
The man stood for a moment looking down into the pit, watching the flames leap and dance. Then he turned and walked away, glancing up occasionally at the pure blue sky.
There wasn’t a cloud to be seen and, as he watched, he saw the dark outline of a hawk against the heavens. It was a good omen. He hoped the bird would still be circling when they brought the woman out.
He glanced down at his knife and decided it needed sharpening as well as cleaning before he used it again. The man nodded and glanced up once again in the direction of the hawk.
He could hear its strident call and he smiled.
It really was a beautiful day.
‘Someone has to die in order that the rest of us
value life more.’
Virginia Woolf.
Thank you for reading Chase.
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More books by Shaun Hutson from Caffeine Nights
Monolith
Assassin
Relics
Renegades
Nemesis
Lucy’s Child
Spawn
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Slugs
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Did you love Chase? Then you should read Monolith by Shaun Hutson!
On the banks of the river Thames a new building is being completed. A stunning creation of glass and concrete that will be a new landmark on London's skyline.
The only problem is that people are dying because of it. Dozens of mysterious accidents have claimed lives during the construction of the Crystal Tower.
The owner, an enigmatic Russian businessman, has links to the site reaching back to the 1930s. Is he hiding a dark secret of unstoppable force and malevolence, created by one of his ancestors?
Something evil has been reawakened and no one can stop it.
Read more at Shaun Hutson’s site.
Also by Shaun Hutson
Assassin
Relics
Renegades
Spawn
Monolith
Lucy's Child
DeathDay
Nemesis
Slugs
Chase
Breeding Ground
Testament
White Ghost
Watch for more at Shaun Hutson’s site.
Shaun Hutson, Chase
