J P Leonard

Never Die on a Cold Night II J P Leonard

Detective David Neal had wakened from the deep sleep which the injection from the dart had placed him. When he opened his eyes, he found himself wishing he could have stayed in a deep sleep forever. He realized he had awakened back into the deep black noisome nightmare he had been compelled to exist in some time before. He was in that dungeon of a cell again. His old companions were also there. Maybe some of the same rats which had so graciously avoided him before were now stuck with him again. At least it seemed to be the same ones just as before which would not come near him. He began to remember everything. It all came back to him in a flood of thoughts. What did these guys want? Why were they willing to spare his life? They had already framed him, what more did they want? Just then a bright light seemed to come from nowhere started to invade a corner of the room adjacent to his position on the floor. He couldn't move very fast. He wanted to raise his hand to his eyes to wipe them thinking maybe his eyes were playing tricks on him again as before. Then he saw her; it was the same woman he'd seen before. She was looking at him with tearful eyes. Who was she? Then she spoke to him."Help him David, please help him. He's going to die.""What do you mean help him? Help who?" David asked her. He tried to get up, but he didn't seem to have the strength."Help him, David, he's going to die."And with that, she disappeared, and it was dark again. David wondered, am I losing my mind? He didn't know. It must have been the drug they shot into him. Maybe that was the reason he'd seen the woman this time but what about the other times? Then his strength seemed to return. He got to his feet and went over to the door. He pushed it gently, and it gave a little. He continued to push on the door, and it opened all the way. He looked around and again just as before the scenery was the same. There were electric lights so many feet apart down the wall until it got to the stairs. Everything was the same. Only this time he didn't think he'd been there long. Other than the slight grogginess from the drug he felt strong. This time he raced down the hall to the stairs. He had to see what was in store for him. Would it be as the last time or would he step into something more bizarre than he had dreamed before?