The Vampire Next Door

By James Loscombe

Step into a world where the thin line between life and undeath blurs into a chilling tale of love, loss, and the macabre. In this gripping horror novel, meet Adam and Debbie, a couple seeking a fresh start in a quaint, new home. Their idyllic life takes a haunting turn when Debbie meets a tragic demise shortly after their move.

 

But death is not the end for Debbie.

 

Unbeknownst to Adam, his beloved wife is reborn into a nightmarish existence—one fraught with darkness and an insatiable thirst for blood. Across the street, a mysterious figure lurks, a man shrouded in shadows, harboring a secret that plunges Debbie into a haunting world of the undead.

 

As the threads of reality and horror intertwine, Adam grapples with the inexplicable circumstances surrounding Debbie's demise, unaware of the malevolent force that has taken root in their new neighborhood. A tale of chilling intrigue and supernatural entanglements, this novel explores the twisted web of deceit, revealing shocking truths that will leave readers spellbound until the very last page.

• Language: English
• Publisher: JRV Press
• Release date: Jul 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393789864

James Loscombe

James Loscombe has been publishing under various pen names for the last five years. He lives in England with his wife Tamzin and their sons Jude and Oscar.

Book preview

1

Adam stopped at the garden gate. He was carrying three heavy boxes. The first three of what seemed like hundreds. Debbie walked on ahead of him, staggering under the weight of two more boxes. She got to the front door and put the boxes down to fumble for the keys.

This is it, he thought to himself. This is the start of it. Their own house, a place they actually owned. They had been dreaming about this moment for years. Through all the time spent living in crappy rented accommodation. While worrying about when the landlord was going to jack up the rent or decide to sell and kick them out. It would not be like that anymore.

He hurried after her, caught suddenly by the desire to make the moment memorable. He put the boxes he’d been carrying on top of the ones she’d put down. She turned the key in the lock and he grabbed her from behind, swept her off her feet, and kicked the door open. Adam carried her into the hallway of their own house for the first time.

It was dark by the time they finished unpacking the van. The front room was full of boxes. Their bed was lying in pieces. They didn’t own a sofa yet.

Pizza? Adam said.

Debbie threw him the keys. You can pick it up on the way home.

You want to come with me?

She looked at the boxes. Put her hands on her hips and shook her head. No, I’ll start unpacking.

Gotcha, Adam said. He turned around and walked out of the room.

He closed the front door behind him. The security light came on as he went through the garden. The grass would need cutting. He needed to buy a mower first. He closed the gate. They didn’t have any curtains, so he could see right into the house. Debbie was walking around, trying to figure out where to put things.

The van rental place was twenty-minutes away, but it was rush hour and the traffic across the river doubled that. The guy was about to close the shop. He looked impatiently at his watch when Adam pulled up.

You almost missed me, he said.

Sorry if I kept you, Adam said.

The guy shrugged as if it didn’t matter to him either way. Sign here, he said, sliding a piece of paper onto the counter. Adam bent over to skim read it. Any damage?

Nope, Adam said.

Okay then, the guy said, taking the piece of paper back. Have a good night then, I guess.

You too, Adam said. He walked out of the Portakabin and took out his keys. His car was parked in the petrol station. He got in, switched on the radio, and pulled away.

He stopped at Pizza Depot and ordered dinner. A large margarita and a vegetarian feast. They said it would take about twenty-minutes to cook, so he waited in his car and read the news on his phone. Then he got the pizzas and drove home.

The path from the road to the garden was dark. He used the torch on his phone and balanced the pizzas in one hand. When he reached the gate, the security light came on and he could see his way to the front door. It was unlocked. He went inside.

I’m back, he called.

We’re in the kitchen, Adam.

He kept his shoes on and walked past the unopened boxes in the living room to the kitchen. The previous owners had left behind a table and chairs. Debbie was sitting on one side of the table facing him. Someone else was sitting opposite her.

Adam put the pizza down on the side next to the sink. He turned to look at the visitor. He was an old man. His hair was white and his face was hanging in wrinkles.

Hello, Adam said.

Debbie stood up. Adam, this is Mr. Compton.

Hello Mr. Compton, Adam said and held out his hand.

Please, call me Haywood, the man said. His voice was a throaty wheeze. He didn’t stand up.

Okay, Adam said. It was an unusual name. He didn’t think he’d met a Haywood before. Pleased to meet you, Haywood.

Likewise, I’m sure, Haywood replied.

Haywood didn’t shake his hand, so Adam let it fall back to his side.

No disrespect intended, Haywood said. Adam leaned closer to hear what he was saying. I have a skin condition. It’s very uncomfortable.

Adam nodded.

It was lovely to meet you, Haywood, Debbie said. She stood up. Her chair made a scraping noise on the wooden floor. I’m sure you understand we’ve had a long day.

Haywood smiled, showing no teeth. Of course, my dear. He struggled out of his chair. Adam stepped forward to help him, then remembered the skin condition and stopped. I hope you have a pleasant night. You know where I live if you need anything.

Debbie nodded.

I’ll show you to the door, Adam said.

Adam led him out of the kitchen, through the living room full of boxes, and into the hallway. He opened the door.

Nice to meet you, Adam.

Likewise.

He switched on the outside light and watched Haywood down the front step and out through the garden gate.

They ate pizza at the kitchen table, then built their bed. Although he was exhausted, it took Adam a long time to fall asleep. He was used to the sounds of the city around him. It was much quieter here. He could hear a cat attacking a bird somewhere and nothing more. Debbie was asleep. He considered getting up and reading on the sofa for a while, but almost as soon as the thought was in his mind, he fell asleep.

2

They both woke early the next morning. Debbie lay in bed reading her phone. Adam got up to find the coffee maker. It was in the third box he tried. While he waited for the coffee to brew, he found two cups, then walked from room to room, trying to get a feel for the house. It had two bedrooms at the front, a large open plan living, dining and kitchen at the back and a bathroom in the middle. He went into the bathroom and used the toilet. When he came out, he could still hear the coffee machine working. He went into the spare bedroom, which would be his office when they finished unpacking, and bought a desk. Right now, it was empty except for a dull blue carpet and peeling wallpaper. It had been a child’s bedroom once.

There were no curtains. He could see right across the overgrown garden to the house opposite where Haywood lived. Adam looked at the house. The garden was at least as bad as his own, but Haywood was old and probably couldn’t manage a lawnmower anymore. The curtains were shut.

The coffee machine clicked off, and he left the room. Haywood, he decided, was odd, but probably harmless. Even if he wasn’t, Adam had forty years and half a foot on him. He turned away from the window, went to finish making coffee and get on with their day.

They drank coffee in bed and then lay there for a while longer. They thought about the mountain of boxes in the living room that all needed to be unpacked and didn’t want to do it. Once they started, they would have to finish.

Shall we go shopping? Debbie said.

Shouldn’t we unpack first? Adam said.

We need somewhere to put it all. Let’s go shopping.

Adam nodded.

They showered, got dressed, and went out. Debbie locked the door behind them.

Where do you want to go? he said.

There are a few second-hand shops in the next village over, she said.

They got in the car. Adam drove. It took twenty-minutes to navigate the winding country roads. They went to three different shops and bought a sofa, an armchair, a