Night of the Pig

By Rich Cole

Five English tourists plan a relaxing trip to Italy, but trouble arrives when they become lost. Luckily some villagers invite them to a yearly festival. The crew decides to take the invite and what follows is a night that will expose and change each of them in ways none of them could have foreseen. They will run for their lives and if they can work together they might just see the light of day. Murder, torture, and worse lies ahead of them as they become hunted. The past is alive and five friends are going to meet it head on.

Night of the Pig is a horror story in the splatterpunk tradition.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Seagull Editions
• Release date: May 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223076070

Book preview

Prologue

Rachel startled as she woke on a cold stone floor, she pulled herself to her feet, but there wasn't enough space to stand. Her heart was racing and her thoughts were spinning wildly in her head. She was naked, apart from her bra and panties which were covered in mud and grime. Her body was aching, trembling with fear, and exhaustion. She tucked her knees under her chin and rocked in place trying to formulate a plan. She knew she couldn't stay here long. They would be coming for her soon and she needed to be strong. Nausea swept over her as her head spun, probably a concussion, she thought to herself. Concussion was currently the least of her problems. She was in some kind of cave. That much she could discern. She wasn't sure how long she had been there, minute or hours. Her sense of time was gone. They will have noticed she escaped and would be looking for but she blacked out and couldn't remember just how she got to the cave. What was absolutely clear is that she had to keep moving.

Rachel crawled closer to the entrance of the cave and looked around carefully. She listened for any signs of the villagers. An owl hooted somewhere and she could hear the wind rustling against the trees, but it was otherwise quiet, too quiet. Suddenly, she heard laughter and singing. It started softly but was getting closer. Panic grew from the pit of her stomach and before she consciously realized it she started running. Pine needles ripped into her delicate skin and her feet were throbbing from a thousand cuts. Branches swatted at her like they held malice and she was flailing her arms like a madwoman. Her foot was caught by an unseen branch in the underbrush and she fell to the ground with a thud. The wind was knocked out of her and her ankle was painfully twisted. She howled in pain and cursed herself for not being stronger. She stifled her cries by biting into her forearm. She tried to stand, but it was too painful. The laughter was louder now as they whooped and howled in her direction. Their tone was positively jovial. She looked around the woods with wild eyes. There was no time to lose. She picked up the branch and using it as a crutch stood up.  Rachel took a few steps, but the branch snapped, and she fell again. Her face was wet from tears; she tried to wipe them with her elbow, leaving streaks of dirt on her face. She looked around and saw silhouettes appearing from behind the trees.

Fuck you! She bellowed as she pulled herself up against a tree. She heard a glass bottle break and the sound of metal scraping metal. She saw them step forward like they had earlier one with cloth twisted around his hands, the metal hook, and the knives reflecting the moonlight as they stepped into view.

Chapter 1 

Samantha was the hot one. That was the dynamic she and Rachel had established. It wasn't that Rachel was unattractive, she was lovely with blonde hair and blue eyes. She dressed conservatively and held herself to a high standard of decorum. Rachel was the girl you brought home to meet the parents. Samantha was the one you wrote to Penthouse Forum about. Her coffee-colored skin, her long, dark, curly hair, and hypnotic blue-green eyes. She always wore short skirts and cropped tops to highlight her shapely body. She knew how to use it to get what she wanted. Italy was full of handsome men, and she just couldn't wait to meet them. She reached into her purse and took out her red lipstick and a compact mirror to make sure her make-up was spot on. She smiled as she spotted Steve staring at her again. He could want her all he liked, she was here for those hot Italian men and their legendary passion. Steve was a solid maybe when they returned home, but for this trip she'll play the tease unless she couldn't find anybody more suitable for her needs. Especially if all they were going to do was drive through the countryside.

Hey Rachel. she called out, How do you say 'creep' in Italian? 

She affected a thoughtful look and answered, I'd use strambo, but you could just as easily say, Steve. They both laughed.

You know you love me Sam. Steve smirked, But what I'm really looking for is one of those big-titted goth girlfriends He added as he turned to Amy who answered with the most demure middle finger she could muster. You know I'm just giving you shit. Steve was a fit dark-haired Englishman who looked prepared for rugby at any given moment.

Amy shrugged and said, I expect nothing less from the poster child for toxic masculinity. She turned her attention back to the rolling hills. Amy dressed in a black sundress and was made up with heavy eyeliner and purple lipstick. Her hands were covered in rings and she wore a silver crow skull around her neck. She was quietly dreading her decision to come on this holiday. Rachel invited her and sold her on the trip. The term friends could only be loosely applied to their grouping. She got roped in by Rachel more often than not and she didn't have the strength or wherewithal to turn her down. Pete went to some of the same pubs she went to and they had spoken once or twice, but otherwise, she didn't  get on with the others.

Oh snap, Pete answered from the driver's seat. I like that necklace Amy. Pete was a red-headed Irishman with glasses, a button-down shirt, and khaki pants. Pete was considered by all to be the money of the operation and often admitted the fact when he was drunk, which was frequently.

Thank you. She said without looking at him.

Rachel piped in, I read about the Basilicata Region before. There's a legend that Lisa Gherardini...

Who? asked Amy, stretching her arms.

Mona Lisa. Rachel explained, you know? From Da Vinci's painting, she died in Lagonegro, which is a small town in Basilicata

Are you going to do this for the whole trip? Samantha moaned.

I'm just excited. Rachel perked. anyway, Lisa Gherardini was traveling with her husband to buy some sheepskins. Suddenly she got a high fever, so her husband left her in Lagonegro while he continued the trip. Unfortunately, she died before he came back.

Classy. Samantha rolled her eyes.

I heard they have some weird tree festival over there Pete chimed in.

They're a bunch dendrophiles, Steve added.

.  What? Samantha asked, What does that even mean?

They get turned on by trees, Steve explained.

That's mental, Samantha said before she pulled her phone from her purse. No reception out here. Sam said with frustration before chucking her mobile back into her bag.If we don't get something to drink soon I'm going to have a fit. 

Do you know what the festival is about? Rachel asked ignoring Sam.

Yeah, Pete explained. Every year they cut down two trees and carry them back to the village. There's some really weird ceremony. They get married to a tree, or maybe it was about marrying the tree trunk to the top branches.

Have you ever fucked a tree Pete? Steve asked.

No, have you?

Nah, wouldn't want to get splinters. He said it with such deadpan conviction they all laughed.

Why did you ask me that?

Well I figure you probably get bored with your hand, might try something different. He ribbed Pete.

Rachel dropped out of the conversation and focused on the beautiful view. It was early autumn, so everything was still green. The sky was clear, and it played so nicely with the hills. They were covered with high pine trees, and the fields were filled with dense green grass. She imagined how nice it'd be just to lie down there or have a nap. She was in love with the view of hills and grass gently swaying with warm wind.

Hey Rachel. Pete brought her back to reality Can you please check the GPS? There's something on the screen, but I can't read it while I'm driving he said, pointing to the small device.   Sure thing. she leaned over and read the words aloud. It says, destination canceled, did you click on something?

He shook his head. No I haven't touched anything I've been driving haven't I. He said defensively. Rachel gave him a reprimanding look. I swear.

Alright then, I'll just re-enter the village coordinates. She typed it in and leaned back in her seat as the GPS searched for the data. The icon rotated for several minutes before displaying the same message, destination canceled.

Shit! He yelled and hit the GPS, I just bought this bloody thing.

Don't hit it, that's not gonna help.

Are we lost? Samantha called from the back.

No. It's a straight road isn't it. Pete was getting frustrated.

How do you get lost on a straight bloody road Pete, Steve added.

We're not fucking lost! Pete yelled.

Rachel jumped in. It's alright. You probably just need to reset it. Rachel reached for it at the same time as Pete, but his hand was a little faster and he grabbed it and chucked it out the window. What the hell! Rachel yelled.

It's junk. He yelled in frustration. The mood in the car shifted to anger as everyone yelled back and forth over the thrown GPS. Amy plugged her ears. Finally Pete yelled. It'll be fine. We've got cellphones.

Yeah, without reception idiot! Samantha added.

Well, he pondered, we can just buy a map at a petrol station.

Steve patted him on the shoulder. You're awesome. Pete couldn't be sure if it was sarcasm or sincere, but he assumed the former and seethed quietly on the inside.

Half an hour later they spotted a sign for a petrol station and the mood returned to relative peace. I hope they ave something to drink. Samantha groaned. Rachel gave her a look, What? We're in Italy on holiday. Samantha shrugged.

I've got some grass, Amy added.

See, that's what I like about her. She doesn't say much, but when she does, it's always pleasant. Sam high-fived Amy across Steve. Amy smiled as she slapped Samantha's hand.

No smoking that in my car, Pete ordered.

You're such a big girl's blouse Pete, Samantha added.

Fifteen minutes later they pulled up to an old petrol station. A young olive-skinned man waved at the students as they got out stretching and twisting as they looked the place over. The interior was nothing special it looked like a small grocery. Samantha moaned with pleasure as she found a bottle of wine and clung to it like a lost lover. The map they found was old and written in Italian, as the expert in the region Rachel looked it over. We're way off the path. She said grimly.

How long will it take? Samantha asked.

Don't know, but it was an eight-hour drive from where we started and we've added about five to it from the look of it.

Shit! Pete exclaimed and wandered off in frustration.

Could you sort him out? Rachel asked Steve.

Why me?

Aren't you two mates?

He pondered the question for a moment then said, Shit. before walking in Pete's direction. After some discussion they decided on a path and filed back into the car. The day was winding on and Rachel's map reading skills were not as adept as she would have preferred. Samantha, Amy, and Steve eventually fell asleep. Steve looked content in his slumber with his arms stretched out over both Samantha and Amy's shoulders. Amy was nestled against the window with a t-shirt for a pillow. Samantha was snuggled against Steve as she passed out with a pleasant wine buzz working. They had to backtrack several