Ian's Gang: Damned

By Ian Kidd

In the chilling and thrilling season 8 finale of Ian's Gang, a massacre in a small English village heralds the beginning of a Biblical battle between the forces of Good and Evil - but caught in the middle, Ian's Gang are finding it harder and harder to tell which is supposed to be which.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ian Kidd
• Release date: Jul 31, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310101182

Ian Kidd

I grew up in South Yorkshire, England, before emigrating to South Australia at the age of sixteen. My writing ambitions began as a child, when I became notorious in my class for writing short horror stories that would probably have them calling in the child psychologists nowadays! I have written everything from non-fiction ebooks to published short fiction, and served as script editor on two proposed horror feature film scripts for an LA based director. In terms of fiction I have written dozens of novellas, including more than 70 stories in the "Ian's Gang" sci-fi adventure series. I still live in Queensland, where I work as a freelance writer.

Book preview

IAN'S GANG - DAMNED

BY

IAN KIDD

Ian’s Gang (c) Ian Kidd 2014

Published by Smashwords

IAN'S GANG

Are:

Ian Williams

Matthew Parker

Steve Botham

Philip Vasquez

Sean O'Reilly

Commander Wilburts

Paul French

CHAPTER ONE

Earth. England. The year 1861.

The spacecraft landed on the rolling green hills in almost complete silence, remarkably sophisticated for the period. Even the sheep grazing in the next field were undisturbed and unimpressed by the unexpected new arrival. Inside the craft, one of the passengers, a handsome middle aged woman named Edith Whedon was talking to the pilot. One month, Edith was saying. One month exactly, and come back for us. We'll meet you in this exact spot.

The pilot visibly shuddered. "A month? Here? Earth is the goddamn backwater of the universe, Mrs Whedon. Are you really sure you want to be stuck here alone for a month?!"

My husband and I are not just scholars, sir, Edith informed him haughtily. We are also archaeologists. We are quite accustomed to - as you say - 'roughing it'.

Whatever you say, Mrs Whedon, the pilot shrugged. It's your funeral.

Edith turned. Lawrence! she shouted into the bowels of the ship. Are you coming?

Coming, dear. Lawrence Whedon emerged into the cockpit, carrying several light suitcases. Whedon, a tall, thin man with a hooked nose and a shock of fiery red hair on his head, regarded his wife with undisguised affection. Are we ready?

We are, Edith nodded.

The pilot activated the controls and the door slid open. The husband and wife team departed the comfort of the ship and stepped out onto an unfamiliar, alien world.

One month, Edith told the pilot one last time.

Yes, ma'am, the pilot saluted. He closed the door.

Quickly, and as silently as it had landed, the ship took off into the sky and soon disappeared from view.

Here we are, my love, Edith took her husband's arm. Earth. We finally made it.

Indeed, Lawrence nodded, barely able to conceal his excitement. The trail of the Great Old Ones leads here. The look in his eyes was almost maniacal. And who knows where it will lead us now? The couple set off across the plains.

* * * *

Earth. The village of West Chesterfield, present day.

Sophie Robinson walked along the village green, whistling a happy tune. The sun was bright, the sky was blue and all was well with the world as the twenty-eight year old sauntered along, nodding to various residents as she passed. Hello Alan, hi Vicar, Mrs Trebloor - how's Arthur? Oh, I'm so glad to hear it!

Sophie was happy. For the first time in her life. A few years ago... no, that was in the past, she didn't want to remember. She wouldn't. It no longer existed. But here in West Chesterfield, all was well. She knew everyone in the village, knew them and loved them all. And everyone knew and loved her. The future was bright here - for everybody.

A cloud suddenly passed over the sun, darkening the village and Sophie's mood. Something flittered past the corner of her eye. Sophie jumped. Nothing. Just her imagination. But she wasn't the only one to have noticed it. Trev the butcher was standing, looking about, unnerved. Everyone was waiting, hardly breathing. Something was going to happen. Something bad.Then it did.

Suddenly, the streets were full of them, hooded spectres, dark shadows flitting from one corner to another. From one person to another.

Reverend McAuliffe went up in smoke, and then the screaming started. The sky went dark, and then Sophie saw him, standing in the middle of the road, watching. He'd found them. Somehow, impossibly, he'd found them. Sophie turned to run; not caring about West Chesterfield; not caring about her fellow residents, just caring about escaping, about getting out. But then two of the shadows caught her, their black hands reaching out to touch her.

A terrible smell filled Sophie's nose, and two terrible realisations hit her at once: She wasn't getting out of West Chesterfield. And that terrible smell was her own burning