The Hitchhiker

By Michael Maine

“Cliff’s Run,” a flash science fiction piece, follows Cliff as he attempts to escape the ultimate predator.

“The Lycan of Calyphon County,” a story of young love and werewolves.

In “The Box,” Bryson returns home to find a mysterious package on his step. What horrors does it contain?

“The Hitchhiker,” the collection’s suspenseful titular piece, tells of one man’s journey down an impossibly dark road. When he finally hitches a ride, is it actually his salvation? Or something worse?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael Maine
• Release date: Oct 21, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463643150

Michael Maine

Michael Maine is an apprentice meat cutter by day, dreaming wordslinger by night. Born and raised in Columbus, Ga, his work has been published in both the September 2017 print edition and the October 2018 online edition of The Scarlet Leaf Review. Currently attending Full Sail University, he works diligently toward a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. He can often be found in the wee hours of the night, after everybody has gone to bed, explaining the intricacies of his plots to his cat, King Tom. Contact: Michael Maine [e-mail] Ph: (762)-583-5447

Book preview

The Hitchhiker and Other Stories

by Michael Maine

Copyright 2018 Michael Maine

Smashwords edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Cover image copyright:

Railton, H. (1896). The haunted house. [monographic]. Retrieved from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/britishlibrary/11235131183/in/album-72157659990533249/

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Table of Contents

Cliff's Run

The Lycan of Calyphon County

The Box

The Hitchhiker

About the Author

Cliff's Run

Cliff ran through the corridor, the stitch in his side crushing his lungs. He stopped for a moment and leaned against a wall, catching his breath in large gulps. Doors lined the length of the hall and he grabbed the handle of the one nearest to him, turning it violently back and forth in his distress. Locked, like everything else in the facility. They would not open again until someone on the outside entered the override codes. The roar echoed from the end of the corridor.

Cliff’s head snapped in its direction, sweat slinging from his brow. He had to keep moving. Find somewhere to hide, wait for help, and get out of this alive. He couldn’t fight the thing stalking him any more than the lab rats that created it could. He had seen the video of its escape, of it rending steel bars like they were butter, then flesh like paper.

He pushed off the wall, shuffling down the hall on exhausted legs, trying every door one by one. He knew they’d be locked, but he tried them anyway. The thing would be on top of him momentarily, and he could almost feel its breath on his neck.

He saw the open door and paused in wonder for a moment, thinking that his fear addled mind was playing tricks. The roar came again, so close that he felt it in his bones, and he made a dash for the safe haven it promised.

His legs had other plans, however. Collapsing under him, his ankle twisted to the side and Cliff felt the bones splinter from his weight. His face was a symphony of his agony as he sat up, seeing the awkward angle of his foot.

Not now, he said to himself. Oh God, not now.

Shivering, he