A Gray Life: a novel Read Online Free PDF Page B

hunting because we heard the heavy front door open and close. That hardly ever happens anymore.
    He came back a couple hours later, and there was shuffling, muffled voices, and then shouting. I waited for Him to throw new captives down here, but it never happened. Whatever trials He brought on them, He visited it on them in the privacy of His own living room. Poor devils.
    I wonder how He got them to follow Him here in the end. Everyone’s story is different. Did He catch them at the nearest house? Did He pull them over with false pretenses? Or did He scan the streets, looking for the perfect people to abduct?
    Wait. I hear the basement door opening. More to come later.
    * * * *
    July 23rd
    They’re a strange couple.
    Of course, they're scared and keeping to themselves, so I can’t tell much about them. I can tell they don’t know what to think, like about the Wasters. The Wasters shock newcomers, with their skin-and-bone frames, clothes hangin’ off ‘em like sacks, (the few who still wear clothes). It’s their eyes; there’s emptiness in them, because they’re dying to eat, but at the same time, they’re starving themselves.
    Anyhow, the newbies still have a look to them. Like if one of us approached them, they’d attack. Erin and I kept our distance. Right away, I could tell Erin wanted to talk to them ‘cause they look to be close to her age. Well, closer than any of the others. When she saw how terrified they were, she thought better about speaking with them.
    While I would never wish o ur fate on anyone, it’s nice to have new people down here. They‘re going to be able to tell us how things are, on the Outside. 
    I f He doesn’t break their spirit first. He’s been splitting them up, throwing the young guy into the spare room, and taking the girl into the kill room with Him. It might seem like He’s doing them a favor that way, but really He’s making it worse for the guy (or boyfriend, whatever). If He brought the boyfriend into the kill room, then at least he could see what was going on. By locking him away in the room right next door, He's jump-starting the guy’s anxiety. I bet he’s chewin’ his nails the whole time, wishing the walls would melt away so he could charge in and stop his girl from getting hurt.
    Then again, he might welcome the solitary sessions, because before He takes the girl into the kill room, He likes to get things rollin’ by torturing the boyfriend. When the boyfriend comes out, he’s bleeding from lotsa different places. Last time, he vomited all over the cement floor.
    Tomorrow, I think I might say hello.
    * * * *

5

    Twenty minutes later, the rain stopped. Ashley huddled under the awning of a closed restaurant to keep dry. She thought about what a terrible night it was, the most terrible of her life. No, it had been the most terrible night for her father.
    Ashley got to crying again. Her misery clouded her awareness, and if she had been of clear mind, she would have heard someone approaching, but she didn’t. Not even when a young man emerged fully from the alley behind her. She jumped when he spoke.
    “What’s wrong?”
    The boy was older, handsome, and didn’t appear threatening. However, not many non-threatening handsome young men went out past midnight. Not anymore. Ashley’s hand caressed the gun in her pocket.
    “Nothing’s wrong. Go away.”
    If he didn’t leave in two minutes, Ashley would shoot him. She was surprised at how quickly the decision came to her.
    The boy ignored her and sat down on the bench. Okay, maybe three minutes. She thought he would ask her what she was doing out at night, but he didn’t. It would have prompted her to return the question, but the conversation took a different direction.
    “I know why you’re sad.” H e said.
    “You do?”
    “Uh-huh. You’re sad because you’re alone.”
    Ashley didn’t lose hold of the gun, though she didn’t see the need for it anymore.
    “Look, I’m not sad.” She lied. “Just go,