The Haunting in Barry's Lodge: A Suspenseful Horror Novel

By Annie Walters

What lurks within the spectral woods of Skiddaw?

 

He's Alone, frightened and trapped. He thinks he knows fear, but he is about to find what it means to be truly scared. He hears someone drawing close, RUN. She is coming for him...

Alfred, a washed-up author plagued by failures, can't believe his luck when his father-in-law, Frank, provides him with a chance that he direly craves for:

Seven days alone in an isolated Motel with the task of finishing his upcoming book!

But little does he know about the Motel's unsavory history. Hidden in the copse of trees and about 400 miles away from his home, it is a two-story facade located in the dark forest of Skiddaw. With no WIFI, poor signals and weird set of rules, the dark atmosphere soon turns his seemingly idyllic trip into a living nightmare. Apart from the usual creaks, groans, and moans of the motel, he soon finds himself face to face with an entity. An urban legend that is lurking in the woods long before the motel found its existing foundations.

The Motel's dark and deadly history quickly becomes tangled with Alfred's life as he frantically searches for answers. Barry, the caretaker, is hiding something. But what is it? Is there someone else living in the motel besides him? Or is Barry not what he seemingly appears?

Alfred rapidly begins to lose his tenuous grip on reality as he sinks further and further into an intricately designed game of deceit and lies that might put his life in danger! Or is he a threat to himself and everybody around him?

Barry's Lodge is A Suspenseful Horror Novel by the upcoming British Author, Annie Walters.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Black Raven Books
• Release date: Jul 8, 2018
• ISBN: 9781540163325

Book preview

Prologue

HURRY!

A woman’s voice called out from behind the tree, only slightly audible.

"I’m COMING," the man growled back from the other side of the road. He waited impatiently for the car to pass and then, panting and limping, he began to cross it, hissing savagely, "Nearly got me killed— damn leg."

A few minutes later, they were standing with their backs against the willow tree. Every inch of their bodies burned and ached, relating the details of the horrendous expedition. The harsh, raspy breaths plumed in front of their faces as they tried to expel the anoxic air out of their lungs. Glistening beads of sweat trickled down their puffy faces, leaving salty trails in their wake, which teased their warm chests as the beads rolled over each rib before settling into the sickly white fabric.

The night was crisp and bleak, yet the pair were dripping like broken faucets.

It had taken them more than a year to craft their perfect plan.  And after months of revising, analyzing, and practicing every move—they had not only managed to escape but were fortunate enough to be still alive.

I don’t believe it. We did it! the woman cried out, punching the air in delight. She sucked in a deep breath and closed her eyes.

The air was thick with the smell of damp earth.

Sweet and acrid.

Believe it or not. We’re out of that sick place for good, if you ask me. The man let out a tense, long sigh.

The broad moon played hide and seek in the thickest of the clouds, throwing its intermittent, lambent light on their glowing faces. They exchanged jaunty glances, and then, before they could help themselves, they were holding one another in a tight embrace, feeling the thrill of each other’s overly jubilant hearts.

What do we do now? the woman asked, brushing away the loose tangle of hair from her eyes as she pulled free of the hug.

First, we need to find a place to spend the night, the man replied as he straightened his left leg. "The cops will be all over the area like rabid dogs. They will realize sooner or later that we weren’t exactly headed north as they might have initially speculated. Are you sure that the warden heard you loud enough?" he added, throwing her a worried glance.

"Yes...yes, I’m pretty sure that the brute heard it. Got ears better than a sly wolf, I should say. By the way, what took you so long to get out of there? God— I was so worried about you. I thought maybe—"

The man groaned as he slouched forward and took off his shoes. Heaving a sigh, he settled near the base of the tree. He could feel the damp, cold earth shifting beneath him, while it slowly eased the stabbing pain in his gluteal muscles.

What kept you? she asked again but this time more emphatically.

The man stuttered over a few inaudible sounds and pulled out a gun from behind his back. The woman straightened as a tiny flutter of excitement escaped her throat.

No, you didn’t? she stage-whispered, her eyes narrowing on the glimmering, black metal.

Stole it from his office. I made a deal with old Bill...told him— I’d pay him fifty pounds if he allowed me to sneak into his room. Old fool, eh? Thought that I had some cash on me. You should’ve seen his face when I pointed this at his temple.

The woman eyed him for a minute, looking thoroughly impressed.

You don’t think we’ll make the news tonight, do you? she asked after a small pause.

I don’t know, he said uneasily. "We can and we can’t. It all depends on how long they’ll search on their own. My best bet would be early morning. That’s when they’ll give up and start thinking about involving higher authorities, but it’s only going to happen if they don’t manage to find us tonight."

They won’t be able to find us, she said firmly.

Not if we keep moving forward and hoping that your false alarm worked like a charm.

She tore her eyes away from him to the maze of tall, dark woods ahead.

We aren’t going through them, are we?

Yes. We are, my darling. Don’t have a lot of choices, do we? grunted the man as he quickly worked his feet back into the battered-looking shoes but then, catching the look on her face, he added hastily. Come on. We are running late already—everything’s going to be fine.

But we can snatch a car. We’re on the highway, and we got the gun. It would be easier that way, she grumbled in protest.

"I know, honey. Now please, don’t make me go all over it again? Look—we both know that taking the road will be way too risky. Remember what they did to poor Jeffrey? He couldn’t last a day on the highway. And possibly, they might’ve warned the public over the radio. So let’s follow the plan. All right?

The woman nodded uncertainly.

He took her hand and said:

Trust me. We’ll make it through this together. I promise.

Squeezing her fingers rather coarsely, he smiled at her and began to walk toward the silent forest. His limp gave way to a purposeful, energetic gait. Leaves and twigs crunched noisily under his shoes, announcing their arrival to the inhabitants of the woodland.

Sighing heavily, she followed after him. Extremely wary of potholes on the grim soil, she placed each step cautiously, making sure there was nothing underfoot that might slide, roll or snap.

Few birds screeched and escaped the treetops, shooting upward in a spiral toward the dark sky.

Keep walking, the man called back firmly over his shoulder. The woman, who seemed to have stopped due to the sudden upheaval in the trees, cursed under her breath and scampered after him, trying to keep pace with his long strides.

Slow down, will you? she hissed angrily, but he continued at the same pace, paying very little attention to her gripes and bickering.

The ground soon became uneven, and the forest began to grow thick with vines snaking down tall trees, twisting around their trunks as if suffocating them. A bellowing howl of animals penetrated the air. The man did not stop to investigate but seemed to have picked up more speed. The woman was now nearly running to keep up with him. Wet leaves and branches brushed against her cold, clammy arms as she swept past the mossy boulders, and the sound of running water hit her ears.

There must be a stream nearby!

She needed to quench her thirst and have some rest, but her partner seemed to be going deeper and deeper into the woods, showing no signs of stopping. And if she didn’t keep pace with him, there was little ambiguity that she would lose him in the thickets of tangled weed and trees.

She felt dizzy, and her lips were numb. She wanted to scream at the top of her lungs to make her partner stop so that she could catch her breath. But her throat was now so dry and itchy that not even the faintest of the sounds escaped her vocal cords.

And then suddenly, after a dozen grizzly scratches and loud rants, the man stopped abruptly in his tracks. Clutching her chest, she doubled over and peered at him. He was keenly observing something in distance, one hand resting on a wiry branch of a towering pine tree.

He paused for a moment and then with two long strides was standing beside her.

Are you all right? he whispered, patting her genially on the back.

"YOU— BLOODY— GIT— I — Was— about— to— pass— out," she spat indignantly, slapping him hard on his arm.

I’m sorry, the man mumbled, as he bent down and stroked the sweat off her brow. We’ve found ourselves a perfect place. It’s all good now. No worries.

A loud hoot was followed by the sound of something slithering over the dead leaves.

Look, please. Get up, now. It’s never safe to stop in the forest, he pleaded in distress.

Fear overwhelmed her anger, and she rushed to her feet.

Don’t you ever do that again, she mumbled, brushing the grime and sweat off her clothes.

The man ran his fingers through her bushy hair in a silent apology and then grabbing her hand abruptly, he dragged her away from their resting point.

Look, that’s the place. He pointed between the two gnarled branches of an auburn tree.

A two-story dwelling, with smoke issuing from one of the chimneys, stared emptily back at them. They could appreciate the saffron light, which stole its way through some of the windows, appearing as floating blobs in the distance but, otherwise, the building sat dark and silent. An old blue mini-van was parked out front next to what looked like a swing that wailed intermittently under the soft sighs of the wind.

Are you sure? The woman sounded worried, tense. I can see the lights and you know what that means?  There are going to be people inside. I don’t reckon—

We have to find out one way or the other. Can’t spend the night in the woods. I’ve got no freaking idea where this forest ends.

But — what are we going to say? She raised a disbelieving eyebrow.

"Oh, the usual talk. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten it all—Ahem!—Oh, hello there. We are husband and wife...our car broke down in the middle of the forest...um...and we had to travel on foot to get here. Would you be kind enough to provide us with a room for a night? We’ll be long gone before you wake up." The man scoffed, making an innocent face.

We’re not hurting anyone. All right?

The man cast his eyes downward as he began to trample a wild weed with his shoes.

Are you even listening? she said frantically and gave him a sharp poke on the head.

Ouch...okay...okay. What’s got into you?

I want you to promise.

No, I can’t, he retorted furiously. Those people ...they...they might be armed in there. What do you want me to do, huh? Lay my gun. And then what? We’re back inside that hell.

No— I don’t want you to surrender the gun. If they fire, we fire back but not to hurt them. J-just to frighten them. That’s all I’m saying. Is that okay?

Jeez, Oh God! the man mumbled. Sometimes I wonder if you’re the same woman I met twenty years ago.

What did you say? she huffed, rolling her eyes threateningly.

All right...I promise. No harm will be done. We just need a place to rest. If they’re willing to provide it— well and good— if not ... then we’re out of here. No one gets hurt. Are you happy now?

Yes! she said promptly, not taking her eyes off his face.

And don’t you dare get fussy if we have to spend the night in the forest. I won’t be able to help any of us then. Okay? Be careful now! It’s slippery here.

Taking care not to slide and fall, they began to climb down the slope leading to the building. They could feel the ground sink with each step as the incline became steeper. Clenching each other hands tightly, they began to pick up speed and then ran down the last few meters in the hope that they wouldn’t fall over.

They came to an abrupt halt as something icy and wet fell with a distinct tap on the top of their heads.

"It’s about to rain, hurry! said the man restlessly. I’ll check the van. We might not feel the need to ask their favor if we’re able to get it. Let’s just hope that the keys are still inside. Say what?"

Good idea, the woman replied, her eyes flicking back and forth between the entrance door and the van, making a mental note of the distance between them.

You wait here, he whispered and hurtled forward.

She watched him as he crept down the dirt road, heading for the bushes leading to the van. With his back stooped low enough, he soon disappeared from view.

Her fingernails dug deep inside the palms. She could make out someone moving behind the dimly lit windows and felt immediately grateful that she was at least well hidden.

Hearing a fluttering sound above, she looked up and saw the top of the cedar trees swaying slightly. She couldn’t make out anything that might have caused them to move.

Reviews for The Haunting in Barry's Lodge

[natasha matney · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this. The story, the setting, the crazy! It's my kind of read! Hope author has more like it! Definitely recommend reading!