Go It Alone

By Monster Smith

From Monster Smith, author of Monsters in the Dark, comes a new novella – Go It Alone.

The mean streets are awash with violence, with robberies and murders taking place in every dark corner of Dodge City. While the police know who is to blame, they find themselves up against something never encountered before and catching the madman will be no easy task. Go It Alone is an explosive tale of revenge and bloodshed unlike anything else.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Red Cape Publishing
• Release date: Sep 29, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215919040

Book preview

Go It Alone

Monster Smith

DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author's imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2022 Red Cape Publishing

All rights reserved.

Cover Design by Red Cape Graphic Design

www.redcapepublishing.com/red-cape-graphic-design

For B & C

One

In life, there are unwritten laws we must abide by in order to keep things safe. Thou shall not steal, thou shall not kill, thou shall not be a burden to society, thou shall contribute to humanity. Choices we make on a minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day basis, in most cases, determine our individual outcomes. There can be no good without evil, no right without wrong, it’s just the way things work.

It’s often believed that our lives are on a preordained course, over which we have no control. Some people are just born bad, and that’s that, there’s nothing you can do about it. Most times it’s attributed to their upbringing, or lack thereof.  A tragic yet all too common stereotype that’s usually more true than not. However, sometimes life throws us curve balls when we’re least expecting it, and it’s how we deal with those circumstances that really shapes our existence. This is one of those stories.

The yellow moon clung suspiciously low against the stark evening backdrop as if it was actively seeking out victims to torment and torture under the dark and vengeful veil of night. Creatures of all creeds and sizes stalked and hunted, looking to make a clean getaway before the early crack of dawn. Only then would things revert to normal and the madness would cease, at least for the time being.

Glass shattered on the floor, causing the woman to cringe as she cupped her hand over her mouth, preparing for the worst. A man with spiky red hair and a pointy face rummaged around downstairs, searching for anything to steal that wasn’t bolted to the ground. She was petrified, hiding in the closet, listening for any sign of footsteps coming up the stairs.

The anchorwoman on the tv had said that the suspect was yet to be apprehended, and to call the authorities immediately if anyone had any information which could lead to the capture and arrest of the man at large.

It’d been three grueling weeks since the insanity had started, and the city was officially on edge. Panic had set in, unfortunately, and you could practically cut the tension with a knife. She hadn’t slept in weeks, scared that something like this might happen, and now it was all coming true. Holding on as tight as she could, she hoped that help would arrive soon and put an end to it all, but as she smashed the buttons on the phone, she suddenly became aware that she was in serious trouble.

911. What’s the location of your emergency?

66 Brookside Drive.

What’s happening ma’am?

Someone’s in my house.

Who’s in the house?

The man from the news...the one the police are looking for.

Sutter Krypton?

Yes, that’s him.

And you’re sure it’s him?

Yes. Please hurry, she said, afraid for her well-being.

Where is the intruder at? Can you see him?

No, he’s downstairs. We’re on the second floor, in my room.

You said we? Is there someone else with you?

Yes, my daughter Kylie. She’s seven. We’re in my closet.

Ok, ma’am. Just stay put. I have multiple units en route.

You’ve got to hurry, I’m begging you!

Officers are close, ma’am. Stay on the line with me until they arrive.

Ok, but please hurry. I don’t want to die!

They should be there any minute now.

I can’t believe this is happening.

Is he still downstairs? What do you hear?

I don’t know.

Suddenly the handle of the door to the bedroom began to shake and jiggle, followed by a series of bangs and thuds. The woman was terrified and just about jumped out of her skin as a voice spoke up from the other side of the door.

Hello, is anybody there? it said, in a deep scruffy tone.

Unsure of what to do, they remained silent, their arms wrapped around one another, squeezing as tightly as possible. Tears streamed down their faces and they quietly said their goodbyes, knowing this was probably the last time they’d ever see each other again. Oh please god, please don’t let him hurt us, she thought, positive that they were screwed.

Just when it seemed as if all had been foregone, the voice spoke up once more.

It’s the police, it said, pausing for a split second.

Come on out. It’s safe...

As much as she wanted to believe the man and get the hell out of there, she was paralyzed with fear. She hadn't heard any sirens, and there was absolutely no way the police had made it there and diffused the situation so quickly. Then again, the dispatcher had said that officers were close by, although how close? That was the real question.

She didn’t know what to do, everything was so surreal. All she could manage was to close her eyes and pray that they'd be spared, whatever the outcome. Raising the phone to her ear, she listened carefully as the dispatcher informed her of the whereabouts of the officers.

They’re almost there, she said, trying to reassure the woman.

Someone’s trying to get into the room!

Stay where you are. Don’t move.

He said he was with the police.

Whoever it is, he’s not one of ours.

The moment the words graced her ears, her pulse raced like a deer caught in headlights and she immediately felt ill. Her instincts had told her that everything was ok the second she heard the P-word, however, she knew now that that wasn’t the case. Sutter Krypton was incredibly deceptive and extremely dangerous, and she wasn’t taking any chances.

I know you’re in there, said the voice, startling them. Come on out. A second later the man said, Fine, have it your way then...

Just like that, there was a loud bang and her bedroom door rocketed inward, slamming against the adjacent wall. The floor creaked as the intruder slipped through the threshold, a gleaming nine-inch blade nuzzled firmly in his fist. Scanning the area, he began to toss the room, hoping to find something worth boosting.

Man, did I hit the wrong place, he said, shaking his head back and forth in disapproval. There ain’t shit here.

He checked all the drawers, the nightstand, and under the bed, but it was useless - there was nothing there. It enraged him to no end and he desperately wanted to smash something; anything. He’d broken into the one place with nothing to offer, but he wasn't going to leave without a souvenir. He’d get what he came for, one way or another.

Just as he was about to exit the room and investigate the house further, he heard a faint whispering noise coming from somewhere near the closet. As he inched closer to the door, he realized that he wasn’t alone after all, someone was in there. Unable to control his excitement, he snaked his tongue across his teeth, grinning wildly like a drunk Irishman on St Patty's day.

Here kitty kitty, he said, snickering as he traced the tip of the knife along the length of the door.

They held their breath, hoping against all odds that he’d give up the game and call it quits, but it was a stretch. There was no way he was going to leave without causing a little chaos first, and she primed them for the confrontation. This is it, here it comes, she thought, praying it would be quick and painless.

Krypton took a long tantalizing whiff of the air, cracking his neck in anticipation of satisfying the festering bitch of an itch. He fed on fear, and he was going to thoroughly take pleasure in this. It wasn’t his first, and it most certainly wouldn't be his last.

It was as if every fiber of his being was ablaze, like a junkie riding the sweet spot for a spell. He was jonesing for a fix, and he knew exactly how to get it. Adrenaline flooded his system and he relished in the excitement of it all.

These muthafuckers are gonna pay for what they did to you, every single fucking one of them. They’ll learn, he thought, grinning like a ghost, even if I have to make them understand!

Out of the blue, there was a thunderous crack and the woman jumped where she sat, causing her daughter to squeal in horror. Inadvertently they’d given away their position - as if there was anywhere else they could have hidden. There was another loud thud and the man thrust his shoulder against the door, trying to bust it down.

What’s going on? asked the dispatcher.

He’s in here, trying to get into the closet. Please, help us! Please, pleaded the woman.

Whatever you do, don’t hang up.

Suddenly, the woman yelled as another loud bang bounced through the airwaves.

She dropped the phone and clutched her daughter in her arms, shading her from the unsolicited assault, but it wasn’t enough. The door shattered and splintered into a million pieces, exposing them, leaving them vulnerable to any sort of callous inhumane attack the man could possibly muster up. They were at his mercy now, and unfortunately for them, he didn’t have any.

He grabbed for the girl, seizing her by the arm, tearing her from her mother’s warm loving embrace. The youngster kicked and fought back with all her might, but it was useless. The woman struggled to get to her feet, grasping for her daughter, but the man was too strong and there was nothing she could do.

His eyes were wild and