Read Online Predator by Kartik Iyengar - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kartik Iyengar
Tags: Fiction
Ads: Link
train, you fool!’ growled Hound, wiping his face with a cold towel, ‘We were at a railway crossing. Now freshen up, we’re almost there.’
‘Huh? Lionel Ritchie in the stereo, and strawberries? Sheesh!! What’s going on here, you morons? Somebody please yank that soppy guy out of the stereo now! And pass me a can of beer, for pity’s sakes!’ Goose lowered the side window and spat out the remains of the offending strawberry.
Chief fiddled with the stereo and Metallica came to life.
‘I can’t wait to see Grace again. My baby sister, she grew up so fast! Almost four years now since we last met. Drive faster!’ commanded Hound. He slid the windows down and let in the cool, morning breeze.
‘Bro, I’m more excited to meet her than you are. You know, I’ve always had a crush on her. I hope she’s still the same person I knew back then; unpretentious, nice and elegant,’ said Derek, manoeuvring Motormouth into the narrow lanes and winding roads towards the vineyard. ‘Sometimes I wonder if I’m in love with her … ’
‘You touch Grace and I’ll smash your face, asshole. Stay away from her. Go for that Salmonella chick instead!’ snarled Hound. But he couldn’t help smiling. The natural beauty that surrounded them was breathtaking. ‘My little sister hates you!’
‘He means it in a nice way, Hound, you know it. Who knows how it’ll all work out? By the way, I know for a fact that that wimpy dude, Chris – Salmonella’s brother, has the hots for her too,’ quipped Goose as he emptied out a bottle of water.
‘Dude, don’t you dare mess with Chris, bro, after all, he is our host. You’ve had your share of fun with Salmonella before, and we know it. Stay away from both of them and spare us embarrassment just this once!’ said Chief, trying to set the record straight. Derek’s glad eye had always gotten all of them into all sorts of trouble.
Derek didn’t react. Grace was different, and they all knew that and Derek did love her truly, madly, and deeply. She was probably the only woman he’d ever fallen selflessly in love with, hopelessly too. But even when they were in college, Grace had been too sensible to fall for Derek.
He secretly hoped she was still sensible enough to stay away from him.
‘Hey, guys, do you know about the legend that haunts this one-stoplight town?’ asked Goose, his eyes lighting up like two zero-watt bulbs.
‘Aw! Don’t tell me you believe that sorry-ass old wives’ tale, bro,’ sniggered Hound and lit up a cigarette.
They were by now cruising down narrow, winding roads. The roads were lined on either side by big Gulmohar trees. Lush, green fields lay comfortably ensconced between picturesque hillocks. The scenic drive through the long, winding roads was accentuated by the perfect weather. ‘No, seriously, bro, what’s the legend?’ asked Derek.
‘OK, legend has it that once every six years the devil comes to visit this town. It preys upon six hot, young chicks and drinks their blood for six days! I once saw it on Discovery Channel,’ said Goose excitedly. Chief and Derek listened to him in silence.
‘No shit! What a horny, bloodthirsty beast! Anyways, tell us more … ’ chortled Chief.
Goose continued with morbid relish, ‘Now, hold your breath, folks! It happens only once in six years and always ends on the 18 October. They say that six days after they were reported missing, the bodies of the victims were found at the graveyard, the bodies completely drained of blood. The graveyard is right next to the vineyard … Add the digits one and eight and you get nine. Divide eighteen by three and you get a six. That makes it a combination of 3 sixes which is the symbol of the devil … 666!’ said Goose in a hushed whisper, as Derek and Chief pretended to swallow the urban legend.
‘Hogwash! That’s what comes of watching too much television,’ exclaimed Hound, as Chief, Goose and Derek seemed lost in their thoughts.
‘Well, 18 October is
‘Huh? Lionel Ritchie in the stereo, and strawberries? Sheesh!! What’s going on here, you morons? Somebody please yank that soppy guy out of the stereo now! And pass me a can of beer, for pity’s sakes!’ Goose lowered the side window and spat out the remains of the offending strawberry.
Chief fiddled with the stereo and Metallica came to life.
‘I can’t wait to see Grace again. My baby sister, she grew up so fast! Almost four years now since we last met. Drive faster!’ commanded Hound. He slid the windows down and let in the cool, morning breeze.
‘Bro, I’m more excited to meet her than you are. You know, I’ve always had a crush on her. I hope she’s still the same person I knew back then; unpretentious, nice and elegant,’ said Derek, manoeuvring Motormouth into the narrow lanes and winding roads towards the vineyard. ‘Sometimes I wonder if I’m in love with her … ’
‘You touch Grace and I’ll smash your face, asshole. Stay away from her. Go for that Salmonella chick instead!’ snarled Hound. But he couldn’t help smiling. The natural beauty that surrounded them was breathtaking. ‘My little sister hates you!’
‘He means it in a nice way, Hound, you know it. Who knows how it’ll all work out? By the way, I know for a fact that that wimpy dude, Chris – Salmonella’s brother, has the hots for her too,’ quipped Goose as he emptied out a bottle of water.
‘Dude, don’t you dare mess with Chris, bro, after all, he is our host. You’ve had your share of fun with Salmonella before, and we know it. Stay away from both of them and spare us embarrassment just this once!’ said Chief, trying to set the record straight. Derek’s glad eye had always gotten all of them into all sorts of trouble.
Derek didn’t react. Grace was different, and they all knew that and Derek did love her truly, madly, and deeply. She was probably the only woman he’d ever fallen selflessly in love with, hopelessly too. But even when they were in college, Grace had been too sensible to fall for Derek.
He secretly hoped she was still sensible enough to stay away from him.
‘Hey, guys, do you know about the legend that haunts this one-stoplight town?’ asked Goose, his eyes lighting up like two zero-watt bulbs.
‘Aw! Don’t tell me you believe that sorry-ass old wives’ tale, bro,’ sniggered Hound and lit up a cigarette.
They were by now cruising down narrow, winding roads. The roads were lined on either side by big Gulmohar trees. Lush, green fields lay comfortably ensconced between picturesque hillocks. The scenic drive through the long, winding roads was accentuated by the perfect weather. ‘No, seriously, bro, what’s the legend?’ asked Derek.
‘OK, legend has it that once every six years the devil comes to visit this town. It preys upon six hot, young chicks and drinks their blood for six days! I once saw it on Discovery Channel,’ said Goose excitedly. Chief and Derek listened to him in silence.
‘No shit! What a horny, bloodthirsty beast! Anyways, tell us more … ’ chortled Chief.
Goose continued with morbid relish, ‘Now, hold your breath, folks! It happens only once in six years and always ends on the 18 October. They say that six days after they were reported missing, the bodies of the victims were found at the graveyard, the bodies completely drained of blood. The graveyard is right next to the vineyard … Add the digits one and eight and you get nine. Divide eighteen by three and you get a six. That makes it a combination of 3 sixes which is the symbol of the devil … 666!’ said Goose in a hushed whisper, as Derek and Chief pretended to swallow the urban legend.
‘Hogwash! That’s what comes of watching too much television,’ exclaimed Hound, as Chief, Goose and Derek seemed lost in their thoughts.
‘Well, 18 October is
Similar Books
