The Dead Herder: The Dead Herder, #1

By Nicholas Fadden

Mysterious things happen on Halloween night, and this was no change for Peter. He grew up in a small Maine town, where his Dad owned a local store, and he was just a kid who went to the local high school. Peter had his teenage crush, his troublemaking friends, but still could be classified as a "Good" kid. This Halloween was the first time Peter would be able to go out with his friends without parental supervision. As the night progresses, Peter and his friends get into a little mischief, and escape from the cops hiding in Gardyle Manor. Once inside the old house, strange things start to happen. Peter is thrown into a supernatural mystery, and finds out about his special abilities and what he is destined to become. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nicholas Fadden
• Release date: Apr 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215391334

Book preview

Chapter One

Halloween Night Events

IT WAS THE LAST DAY in October, and the air rang with excitement. Peter jogged home from school, his head swam with all sorts of different ideas for his costume. This was the first year that Peter’s mom was going to let him go off with his friends by himself. He had been asking for this over the past three years, and finally his father had coaxed his mom into allowing him. He is becoming a young man, Phyllis. He needs to be given a little freedom, Pete’s Dad explained with a quick wink to Peter. Peter was staring pleadingly to his mom, trying to give her those big puppy dog eyes. Pete could remember the huge pride he felt for his father then. And with a little reassurance, and some discussion his mom finally gave in and allowed Pete his first Halloween night away.

Ralph, Pete’s newly acquired friend, was going to meet him at his house at seven thirty and then the night of fun began. Ralph said earlier, Peter I have the whole night planned out for us! And this made his heart race with anticipation.

Peter’s house was located at the end of his street. It was situated on top of a hill that overlooked the entire town. He had always looked out his front picture window and felt like he was king of the town. It was a great location, and the entire town knew his family. His Dad was a very wealthy businessman, and owned the only store at the center of a small town.  Peter had worked for his father over the long summer nights, making a lot of money for an average teenager. But when he was in school, he didn’t work except on some sporadic weekends. His father had always told him, school work first, then you can come and work for me.

The town itself was an old Maine town. It was located fairly far up the eastern coast, which made it a distant vacation spot for the New Englanders from down South. The beach season was fairly busy but after September the town shut down and life went back to the usual.

The door to the kitchen swung open almost smashing the door knob through the yellow painted drywall. Peter? His mom yelled from downstairs. Is that you? You could tell she was startled and quickly made her way up the cellar stairs.

Ya, Peter dropped his bag by the couch. The clock read three thirty; to think that he had another five hours before Ralph was to meet him. I am sure you know those times when you wait in anticipation for something, seconds seem like minutes and minutes seem like hours. Peter was feeling this anxiety at this very moment.

His mom didn’t really like the new acquired friend, Ralph, too much. Like she always said, That Ralph boy is trouble. Purely trouble; I don’t know why you have to hang out with him Peter. How about that Josh Evans, he seems like a nice boy? He seems like such a nice young man. I think you should hang out with him more. Pete knew and liked Josh, but Josh wasn’t as much fun as Ralph.

But she did not forbid Peter from seeing Ralph, she told him. You are old enough to make your own decisions. And she was right; Peter was sixteen now and was old enough to make his own choices. At least that was her suggestion he was going to stick too, no arguing from him.

So, Peter hung out with Ralph, almost every day this past summer when he got out of work. Ralph lived two streets over, in a small one-story house. Ralph was very athletic, outgoing, and played every kind of sport. Ralph enjoyed football the most, and as a freshman he started for the varsity high school team in the town. This made Ralph a very popular guy in the town’s high school. And when Pete hung around Ralph he got too hung around with the popular click during and after school.

Ralph enjoyed it most when the neighborhood kids got together and played a game on the street after school or on a weekend afternoon. Ralph was usually the star quarterback in these pickup games with Peter being his favorite receiver. The contests always went late into the evening, with a parent breaking them up for dinner or the younger kid’s curfew.

Peter, are you going out tonight? His mom said as she came up from the basement. Peter didn’t reply, just took a swish of milk and downed another cookie that was resting on the counter. Mom’s cookies were always the best. They both knew the answer to this question; his mom was just trying to convince him otherwise.

Ya Mom, Peter gulped. Ralph should be here at seven thirty. He grabbed another cookie off the counter.

Oh yeah, She said as she entered the kitchen. You’re going out with that boy tonight. His face twisted into a scowl. I don’t want any trouble. I want you to behave yourself. She looked at the cookie as he shoved in his mouth.

Yes, I know. Pete did not acknowledge her stern look, and continued to concentrate on the other cookie he had grabbed in his hand.

I know you have a good head on your shoulders. But that kid just seems like trouble to me. His mom kissed his forehead. She gave him a quick hug and started to prepare supper. As Peter reached for one last cookie his mom quickly put the lid over the container and placed it on top of the fridge. That was it for the cookies; at least he got three while the fun lasted.

There was an awkward silence, and then finally Pete brought it with, I will Mom.

The next couple of hours seemed like a blur. Peter’s head ran with the anticipation of the upcoming night’s events. If you asked Peter he would not even be able to tell you what he had for dinner. The shows he watched with his father sitting on the couch, or the fact that he actually completed his homework at the kitchen table.

The one thing he does remember is his Dad walking up to him while he was concentrating on a math problem. His father pulled the chair out the opposite side of him, and sat down placing his hands on the table. Peter, he began. These conversations were very few but Pete knew that his Dad wanted to tell him something, and when his father was this serious he knew he had to listen. I want you to be careful tonight, he looked at him over his glasses, I did stick up for you and got you this privilege. So, you have to show me that this was not a mistake. Otherwise your Mom will have it on me and you both. His stern look told Pete that he was serious.

Ya I know Dad. Pete closed his math book. Thanks for that, I will not let you down.

I know you will not, son. His Dad used his hands to pick himself up off the seat. I know you will make the right choices. Peter hated when he put it that way, it was even worse than the eye his Mom would give him.

Finally, at seven thirty the doorbell rang; Ralph was right on time, not a second late. And Peter made a mad dash to the door. He knew if his mom answered it would not be good, and he pushed by her on his way there. The door flew open and there was Ralph standing on the stoop in the afternoon dusk. Ralph wasn’t dressed up in a costume but simply wore black, all black. Hey Pete, what’s up? Ralph gave Peter a smack on the hand. Hey, Mrs. Pete how ya? Pete’s mom had come up right behind him staring intently at Ralph over his shoulder.

Fine Ralph. How are you? She growled, turning away and walking back into the living room.

I’m great! Ralph gave a quick glance at Peter. Hey get that silly costume off man. We're not going trick or treating tonight. But leave on the black, a little hide and go seek. Ralph whispered and gave Peter a nudge. The kind of nudge that symbolizes a lie.

Ok. Pete said little hesitantly. Give me a minute. He took off down the hall. Why didn’t Ralph want to go out? Didn’t he want candy? I would think that any kid on Halloween would want to go house to house for free candy. Pete washed his face, took off the vampire makeup and cape. Soon he was dressed just in black, ready for this night, which now turned out to be a mystery.

Are you almost ready killer? Ralph yelled from the front door. Ralph had not entered the house; he probably knew how Pete’s mom felt about him. So, he was just waiting on the front porch, with the door wide open. We got to get busy!

Ya. Pete now looked like his counterpart dressed to the nines in black. Ok Mom I will be home later. He said quickly as he closed the door.

How about we say twelve, no later, the shout came from inside the house. Peter saw his Dad relaxing on the couch, a bowl full of candy by the armchair in expectation for the treat-or-treaters.

Ok. Pete turned and stood on the front porch looking out into the sunset over the town. The world seemed to slow down for a second; the small wind picked up and blew through the trees. Pete could see the sway of the large pines down the street, and he could barely make out what sounded like a thousand tiny voices all talking at once. Then it stopped suddenly, and time seemed to pick up. Hey man did you hear and feel that? But he was stopped short; a low barely audible growl seemed to come from around the side of his house.

Huh? Ralph said turning back with a queer look on his face. Pete froze halfway down the stairs. His heart began to race, his face went flush. He stared at the side of the house, expecting to see a dog, wolf or any other kind of animal come