Dark Hearts

By Gary Kittle

DARK HEARTS. COLD BLOOD.
Four friends meet every Halloween in their local pub. But who is it that knocks on the front door on the stroke of midnight? And why are they all so afraid when that door opens?
A young girl finds herself in the care of her grandparents on a ramshackle farm. But what do they know about her mother’s disappearance? And what other dark secrets have they hoarded that she might be better off not discovering?
An editor reads a short story about a girl imprisoned in a cellar whose only contact with the outside world is through competitions. But is it just the writer’s talent that convinces her the story might be true? And if she does nothing about it, what happens when the author’s words run dry?
A childless couple invoke an ancient fertility rite guaranteed to give them the baby they crave. But what will they have to pay in return? And will the would-be father prove to be as desperate to start a family as the child’s mother when that price is revealed?
A time-traveller has the opportunity to change history forever. But are the consequences of his actions as straightforward as he supposes? And if he fails, or even partially succeeds, will that make the future better or worse?
DARK HEARTS is a collection of thirteen heart-stopping, thought-provoking short stories destined to linger in the mind’s sleepless corners, even with the bedside lamp left on all night.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gary Kittle
• Release date: Oct 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463905852

Gary Kittle

Gary Kittle is the author of thirteen eBooks. He was twice shortlisted for the Essex Book Festival Short Story Competition and his play 'Walking Through Wire' was staged (and filmed) in London in 2014. Many of his shorter screenplays have been filmed by Film Colchester and DT Film Productions. 'Data Protection', written by Gary for Dan Allen Films, was shortlisted for the Sci-fi London 48 Hour Film Competition. He has won the 1000 Word Challenge with 'The Uncertainty Principle', and twice been shortlisted, finishing runner-up with 'Kismet'. He was also runner-up in the Storgy Halloween Short Story Competition with 'The Gag Reflex'. He is also the author of a serial horror novel, 'A Town Called Benny', with episodes published fortnightly. Outside of self-publishing, Gary is also heavily involved with DT Film Productions. Their first full feature film, Dragged Up Dirty, on which Gary is an executive producer is due for release in 2023. The full-length documentary, Hearts Without Homes, on which Gary contributed as a writer, is also out this year. 'Crowded House' follows on from the success of 'The Hanging Rail'. Gary lives and writes in Wivenhoe, Essex, and strongly suspects that given his frantic writing schedule, he has developed the ability to travel through time. Visit him now at https://gkittle.wixsite.com/gary-kittle-author Where darkness rises.

Book preview

Dark Hearts

Gary Kittle

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be produced, stored in a

retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any method, electronic,

mechanical, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of

The Author – Gary Kittle

Dark Hearts Copyright Gary Kittle, 2019

Second Edition, 2020

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This eBook is a work of fiction. While reference may be made to actual

places or events, the names, characters, incidents and locations within are

from the author’s imagination and are not a resemblance to actual living or

dead persons, businesses, or events. Any similarity is coincidental.

Cover design by ‘germancreative’.

Acknowledgements:

This eBook is dedicated to:

Anthony James Rose (1978-2019)

The brightest stars never cast shadows.

Contents

Introduction

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1. Black Ice

2. Curiosity

3. Deliverance

4. Kismet

5. Semi-precious

6. Swing

7. The Gag Reflex

8. The Invitation

9. The Very Thing (A Vignette)

10.The Uncertainty Principle

11.Toe the Line

12.Where the Sky is Tainted Red

13.Extract from ‘A Town Called Benny’

14 On the Level

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About the Author

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Introduction

My first attempt at writing a novel in my early twenties was in the horror genre, and at least half the stories in this collection have a supernatural theme. I also have a serial novel, A Town Called Benny, published on my website, which is definitely horror. So, in some ways, you could say I’m back where I started from.

I have a particular fondness for so many of the stories here, for a variety of reasons. Swing, for instance, was my first short story to be adapted for the screen, by DT Films. Come to think of it, Where the Sky is Tainted Red was also filmed and then later turned into a mini-series, which you can read in my collection of screenplays, Dumb Angel. The Gag Reflex came runner-up in a Halloween short story competition, the first time I’d got beyond being short-listed and a real shot in the arm. The following year, Kismet was also a competition runner-up, so I was getting closer all the time. The Invitation and Deliverance were also subsequently short-listed; but eventually I got there. The Uncertainty Principle won the ‘1000 Word Challenge’ earlier this year. I’ve been too busy to submit anything since, but maybe I will soon; deadlines and word restrictions are a writer’s best friends.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this dark collection. If you want to ask me anything about the stories (where did I get the idea, what is the subtext, etc.), feel free to drop me a line. My contact details are at the back.

And thank you for downloading this book.

Gary Kittle,

Wivenhoe,

October, 2019.

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Where will you catch it?

Black Ice

‘Listen,’ said Terry; so they did.

From the North came the sound of a solitary car engine.

‘That’s him.’

‘Unlock the door.’ Ed glared at Dave. ‘Now.’

Dave stood firm. ‘Are we seriously going to do this every year for the rest of our lives?’

‘This is my pub. I open it. I close it. No one else.’

‘But it’s been five years, man!’

‘I’m not asking you, Dave.’

Keith looked up from a corner table. ‘Besides, this was your idea. Remember?’

‘So it’s my fault?’

‘We were all responsible for what happened that night,’ Terry snapped. ‘So yes, we’re going to do this every year for the rest of our lives. Okay?’

Dave caught his breath as the car slowed outside and crunched its way unhurriedly across the gravel. Keith was right, of course: it had been his initiative. Seemed like the decent thing to do at the time - until Jimmy appeared in the pub doorway that first anniversary, as if nothing was wrong. No one had to be told what they were seeing. They’d all been at the funeral.

The engine died and a car door slammed.

‘But five years?’ Dave pleaded.

Footsteps crunched towards the door.

‘You’re not getting out of this, Dave.’

‘He’ll only be in here ten minutes.’ Terry didn’t try to disguise his contempt. ‘At least we get to go home afterwards.’

The metal latch rattled, and the door shook. Ed made for the bar hatch, shoulders tensed for confrontation.

‘All right! All right!’

Dave marched over to the door, and having slid back the two bolts, quickly retreated. The temperature inside dropped before the door swept inward.

The new arrival was somewhere in his mid-twenties, his eyes shining like frost under moonlight. He closed the door behind him, swaying slightly.

‘Another lock-in, Ed? They’ll have your licence if they catch you.’

Ed forced a smile. ‘The usual, Jimmy?’

‘Actually, no,’ he smiled. ‘I’m not stopping. But I will have a whiskey, just to keep the cold out.’

Dave stared, as he did at this moment every year. However many times this scene was replayed, he knew he would never get used to it.

‘What’s up, Dave? You look like you’ve seen a...’

‘Haven’t you had enough, Jimmy?’ Dave barked.

All eyes were on Dave now.

‘Easy, Dad. I’m not driving far.’

‘Make him a coffee, Ed,’ Dave snapped. ‘Black.’

‘He doesn’t have time!’ Ed hissed, his boots