Was it over? Oh god, it was over. Over, over, over, over. The words rang again and again in Nadine’s mind. She gasped, eyes opening suddenly. It was dark, not the dark of the desert at night but the dark of a windowless room with no lights. Was hell dark? Did hell have lumpy beds? Where was….
Nadine sat up. This wasn’t hell. Hell was fire and brimstone, hell was eternal torment. But it sure as hell didn’t look like Las Vegas, either. It looked like…a little cell, as far as she could see in the darkness. Her eyes widened and she sucked in a deep breath, leaping out of the bed and holding the sheets closely to her body, like a shield.
“Hello?” she called, retreating to a corner and taking in the room. It was familiar. Little room, all locked and cozy and keeping her in. Keeping him - (the Dark Man, oh god he was so cold) -out. No, nothing kept him out. The walking dude walked anywhere. Had he put her here? Oh god, what was he going to do to her now? She didn’t even remember what he’d done to her last night. But she remembered his face - that awful face! Teeth and claws and horns and skin that bubbled and twisted like it was melting, touching her, ripping her clothes....
That thing had….
No. No, this wasn’t his work. She couldn’t feel him here. The others? The old woman?
“I’m sorry I killed Nick and Susan!” Nadine yelled, moving into the center of the room and shouting at the ceiling. “It wasn’t even me, it was Harold! Harold’s the one who pressed the button!”
Oh god, oh god, oh god, what had she done? What were they going to do to her? Would they kill her? Nail her to a telephone poll like he did to their people? What would Larry say? Oh god, Larry. She had almost killed Larry. Sweet, kind Larry….
Larry who had caused all of this! If he’d just slept with her, he could have prevented it. It was all Larry’s fault, really. None of it was hers. She’d just been a tool, that was all. A mouth-piece for Flagg, a donkey, that was all. She hadn’t done anything!
Was anyone going to come for her?
God, she wanted a pill!
No one came. Nadine swallowed hard. Shakily, she felt her way along the wall until she came to a door. The handle turned. It wasn't locked? Why wasn't it locked? If the old woman's people had her, they wouldn't be stupid enough to let her wander off...
no subject
Nadine sat up. This wasn’t hell. Hell was fire and brimstone, hell was eternal torment. But it sure as hell didn’t look like Las Vegas, either. It looked like…a little cell, as far as she could see in the darkness. Her eyes widened and she sucked in a deep breath, leaping out of the bed and holding the sheets closely to her body, like a shield.
“Hello?” she called, retreating to a corner and taking in the room. It was familiar. Little room, all locked and cozy and keeping her in. Keeping him - (the Dark Man, oh god he was so cold) -out. No, nothing kept him out. The walking dude walked anywhere. Had he put her here? Oh god, what was he going to do to her now? She didn’t even remember what he’d done to her last night. But she remembered his
face - that awful face! Teeth and claws and horns and skin that bubbled and twisted like it was melting, touching her, ripping her clothes....
That thing had….
No. No, this wasn’t his work. She couldn’t feel him here. The others? The old woman?
“I’m sorry I killed Nick and Susan!” Nadine yelled, moving into the center of the room and shouting at the ceiling. “It wasn’t even me, it was Harold! Harold’s
the one who pressed the button!”
Oh god, oh god, oh god, what had she done? What were they going to do to her? Would they kill her? Nail her to a telephone poll like he did to their people? What would Larry say? Oh god, Larry. She had almost killed Larry. Sweet, kind Larry….
Larry who had caused all of this! If he’d just slept with her, he could have prevented it. It was all Larry’s fault, really. None of it was hers. She’d just been a tool, that was all. A mouth-piece for Flagg, a donkey, that was all. She hadn’t done anything!
Was anyone going to come for her?
God, she wanted a pill!
No one came. Nadine swallowed hard. Shakily, she felt her way along the wall until she came to a door. The handle turned. It wasn't locked? Why wasn't it locked? If the old woman's people had her, they wouldn't be stupid enough to let her wander off...
Would they?