It Runs at Night Volume 1 The Water Boils

By L. Danny Perez

"Suddenly, I hear a low gurgling behind me, but still, at a distance. I quickly turn around, but all I see is the dry flat landscape. I realize that I’m short on breath. I feel anxious. The same anxiety I feel when I turn off the lights in a room and sense this weird prickling on my back, anticipating something to come from behind and pull me into the darkness.”
After her brother Federico goes missing, Lolita embarks on a lonely journey through the valleys of Mexico to find him and earn her family’s forgiveness. Deep into the valley she loses her way and soon realizes that she is not alone. As day turns into night, Lolita becomes more certain of what she must do to stay alive and find her brother. Does she have what it takes to survive the darkness?

• Language: English
• Publisher: L. Danny Perez
• Release date: Jun 28, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311542205

L. Danny Perez

L. DANNY PEREZ WAS BORN IN HUNTINGTON PARK, CA, THE YOUNGEST OF FIVE. HE BEGAN WRITING FAN FICTION AFTER READING HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE AT THE AGE OF TWELVE. SOON AFTER, HE BEGAN WRITING HIS OWN FICTIONAL STORIES, KEEPING THEM ALL PRIVATE. AFTER LIVING IN HIS CAR FOR A PERIOD OF EIGHT MONTHS, 21-YEAR-OLD DANNY BEGAN WRITING WITH A PURPOSE. HIS DEBUT SHORT STORY IT RUNS AT NIGHT VOLUME 1 THE WATER BOILS WAS RELEASED IN 2016 AND WILL BE FOLLOWED BY VOLUME 2 THE JACKAL.DANNY IS CURRENTLY A TEACHER WHERE HE WAS BORN AND RAISED. HE ALWAYS WANTED TO GIVE THE YOUTH OF HUNTINGTON PARK A BETTER EDUCATION THAN HIS AND PURSUED HIS TEACHING CAREER AFTER GRADUATING WITH HIS B.A IN LINGUISTICS FROM CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH. HE CONTINUES TO WORK WITH INNER-CITY YOUTH AND HOPES TO PROVIDE THE EDUCATION THEY DESERVE.

Book preview

IT RUNS AT NIGHT

It Runs At Night

Volume 1

The Water Boils

L. Danny Perez

If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as unsold and destroyed to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this stripped book.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher. For any information regarding permission, write to [e-mail] Attention: Permissions Department.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

ISBN-13: 978-1523850051

ISBN-10: 1523850051

It Runs At Night Series created by Author L. Danny Perez

Copyright © 2016 by L. Danny Perez

Cover design by Coverquill.com

Published through CreateSpace. All associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Author L. Danny Perez

12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5/0

Printed in the U.S.A

First paperback printing, February 4, 2016

For my mom, the most courageous person I know.

For my family, who believe in me.

For my intended reader, fiancée, and best critic Angie. Without you, my writing would be meaningless.

For The Crew, who continue to support me through my several endeavors.

And for those who have helped me see the light in dark places.

Oh! To have died that night, I realized it wouldn't last.

Our days were numbered and the reaper tipped the hourglass,

the final mayday of our sinking ship had come at last.

Oh! To the west, you don't know what it is you're running from,

but everybody's laughing loud,

your last chance to make your mother and father proud.

A Moment of Violence

-Streetlight Manifesto

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Volume Two: The Jackal

1

Today is Federico’s thirteenth birthday. There aren’t any balloons, there isn’t any cake, and his gifts are nonexistent. My depressed family just sits at the dinner table, motionless.

I’m waiting to hear his laugh, waiting to see his smile, waiting to see something. Anything. I look over at Mamá and see the face of a woman who hasn’t slept in three months. I look at Papá and I don’t see anything. He’s empty.

This is a moment I’ll never forget. My parents have given up their search for my brother. But it isn’t that they want to give up. It’s because the loss of Federico has taken every little broken piece of them, and they have nothing left to give.

May I be excused? I ask.

No reply. They sit there, hardly breathing. I stand up, give Mamá and Papá a kiss, and walk towards my room.

Lolita? Mamá asks eyes still fixed on the table.

Yes, Mamá?

It’s not your fault, she says.

Then why does everybody blame me? I cry. Why does everybody hate me?

She shakes her head and says nothing. I see tears rolling down her cheeks. Papá remains unmoved. They never say it, but I know a little part of them blames me too.

Three months ago Federico and I were together at El Tianguis, a colorful and busy open local market, doing what we do best: having fun. We bought spicy candy and raced to see who ate it faster. We bought Tronaditos, tiny twists of gunpowder wrapped in white paper that exploded with a sharp bang when we threw them on the ground. We threw them at each other’s feet, laughing at the bystanders who were startled at the sound of them. I bought sweet bread and gave Federico the biggest half, as usual. We played