Drive Through

by Keith Brooke

About the Author: Keith Brooke is the author of fourteen novels, seven collections, and close to a hundred short stories; his most recent novel alt.human (published in the US as Harmony) was shortlisted for the Philip K Dick Award and his story "War 3.01" was shortlisted for the Seiun Award. Writing teen fiction as Nick Gifford, he has been described by the Sunday Express as 'The king of children's horror'. His crime fiction has been published widely in anthologies and magazines around the world.

Excerpt

Carrie had forgotten the olives.

That was her last normal, everyday thought, before …

She saw the guy in her peripheral vision as she glanced down at her shopping bag, her attention drawn by his sudden appearance, and the way he half-stumbled as he came to a halt before her in the supermarket parking bay.

He was tall, with shaggy brown hair and an unkempt beard. Big glasses with fashionably thick frames. Dark eyes that met hers and then danced from side to side.

Nervous. Very nervous.

Something in his look was both off-putting and compelling—the stranger in need who you really don’t want to help.

She thought then that he might be some kind of salesman, or a religious crank out to sell her his particular brand of god.

“I …” Hesitating, out of breath.

Not nervous, but scared.

“Just stay with me, okay?” he said. “It’ll be safe that way.”

Carrie dithered, uncertain, unsure what to do or how to respond. A part of her didn’t want to get drawn in and was prepared to simply turn away, keep walking across the supermarket car park back to the safety of her car. This wasn’t her problem, this man, with whatever issues he had. Whatever that need in his eyes was all about.

But an equal part of her was all too conscious of the man’s anxiety, his fear.

She couldn’t just turn away.

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