Asylum - 13 Tales of Terror Read Online Free PDF Page B

and Julian knew that their luck could not possibly hold a second time, his fears were founded. The rear corner of their rental was clipped as the vehicle behind attempted a “fishtail” stopping technique that Julian had once seen on a TV show. The car pulled up alongside the rear corner of their car; it then turned into them. The rental attempted to maintain its traction as the vehicle continued to steer into them but it was no match for their more powerful adversary. Julian felt them begin to spin and knew that they were lost. Gemma wrestled manfully with the steering wheel but the end was inevitable. The rental car spun and skidded around. Julian’s stomach heaved with the motion. Metal screamed and crunched and Julian knew that they would eventually come to a controlled stop. For once he attempted to run from control and embrace the chaos.
    “HOLD ON!” He yelled to Gemma and wrenched up the handbrake. The impact was instant and terrifying as the car shrieked and squealed. The odour of burnt rubber and failing break disks filled the air and the car flipped over and rolled. Julian was dimly aware that he was tumbling through the air; all sense of control and order lost as his world spun madly. The headlights shattered under the crash and the black night invaded the car’s interior as they eventually shuddered to a halt.
    The next thing he knew was when he felt himself being pulled; the pain from his shoulder wound waking him from his unconscious slumber. He felt his back being shredded by broken glass as he was dragged free of the car. His sweatshirt had rucked up and exposed his flesh to the painful shards. His mind reached for a grip as to his whereabouts; he had been travelling to an important meeting, but he had been delayed by the incompetents of the world. He remembered driving through the night, and then…, and then the girl; he suddenly remembered the girl. He looked up through his spotty vision to see Gemma pulling him desperately through her own pain. Her face was a crimson mask as blood flowed from a scalp wound that looked serious. Her already battered body had gone another ten rounds in the crash.
    “You alive?” She panted.
    “I think so,” he mumbled through a swollen mouth.
    “Then get up, I can’t drag you all the way,” she snapped.
    Julian heaved himself drunkenly back to his feet. He swayed unsteadily and his vision swam for a moment or two before kicking in. B ack on the clock , he thought. Back on the plan , he demanded of himself.
    He turned and looked back towards the twisted mess on the road; both cars were now twisted carcasses, joined together in an eternal burning embrace. He could see a blackened roasted arm sticking through the window of what had been the pursuing car. Scorched flesh hung loosely in flaps like fried chicken skin and his stomach lurched violently.
    “Are they…?” He asked through a lump in his throat.
    “No-one has left their car; I ventured a closer look while you were out and before the fire started. I could see two bodies in there. Both looked dead to me.”
    Julian looked towards her as the spite fell from her mouth; he could guess that she wished there had been more bloated and roasted bodies inside.
    “Where do we…?” was as far as he got before the night was once again shattered by another approaching siren’s wail.
    “Quick,” Gemma said as she grabbed his arm with adrenaline fuelled strength and pulled him towards the woods. “We have to go, they’re still coming. There were more than two of them and they’re going to be pissed when they find their fried buddies here.”
    Julian staggered after her as they crashed through the dark trees; wet dewy branches slapped him viciously across the face, blinding him with painful scratches. He ran clumsily with only her back for guidance. Thick undergrowth tore at his trousers and attempted to snag his feet and hinder. He ran with his head down and one hand up to protect his face. He ran until his