"A Darker Shade"

“A Darker Shade”

By Cody Williams

 

            Toby “the rat” Foster, as many people liked to call him, pushed the door buzzer as he waited patiently at the doorstep of author Preston Goodman’s home in Little Rock, Tennessee. The door swung open and Preston stood there. He had short back hair cut pretty sharp. He was wearing a denim blue button up shirt and a pair of blue jeans along with a pair of brown leather cowboy boots. He face was hairless and baby smooth and he had baby blue colored eyes.

            “Can I help you?” Preston asked him looking down at the short reporter. The rat just smiled and looked at him.

            “I’m here from the Little Rock Herald! I’m here for an interview Mr. Goodman.” Toby said happily. Preston just looked at him with a look of distrust for a moment before moving aside. He motioned for Toby to come in and Toby did just that. Preston stepped out in front of him and leads him down the hallway. As they walked down the hallway, Toby gazed in amazement of the home of Mr. Goodman. The men continued to walk down the hallway before Preston finally turned walking into his home office.

            The office was surrounded by book shelves filled with books and straight across from the door was a wooden desk. On the desk were a desktop computer and several notes containing story ideas. Preston pointed to one of the chairs sitting on the opposite side of the desk and Toby sat down in it. Preston walked around and sat down in his big leather computer chair. Preston sat up and folded his hands and looked at Toby.

            “Let’s begin shall we?” Toby asked. Preston nodded and toby grabbed a pair of reading glasses that were dangling from the neck of his shirt and put them on. “What a lovely home you have here Mr. Goodman!” He stated.

            “Thank you.” Preston replied as he nodded his head.

            “Tell me, how does someone of your positing afford suck a lovely home?” He asked him. Preston looked at him surprised for a moment.

            “What do you mean?” He asked mysteriously. Toby got a big smile on his face and just stared at him.

            “I mean, you’re a critically acclaimed literary writer…but you’re not exactly a James Patterson are you?” He asked. “You may be a very prestigious literary writer, but you’re not that popular are you? In fact, I would go as far to say you’re not that popular with the readers at all. You’re not a Dean Koontz. You’re not a Stephen King. You’re not a Danielle Steele or a JK Rowling. In fact, compared to them you’re sales are quite disappointing.” Toby Stated with a snobbish grin on his face. Preston looked at him shocked at what he was hearing.

            “Did you come here to insult me or to talk about my latest novel The Long Walk Home?” Preston asked him. Toby just smiled again.

            “But that’s just it Preston! That’s not your latest novel is it?” Toby asked him. He reached into his bag pulling out a hard cover novel called The Last Ride written by George Tucker. “Mr. Goodman, would mind signing my copy of your latest novel please?” Toby asked as he handed the book over. Preston grabbed the book and looked at it.

            “This is not my book.” He said reluctantly. “See.” He said as he pointed to the author’s photo on the back cover. The photo was a black and white photo of a man with long black hair reaching down past his shoulders. The man was wearing all black and in no way looked like Preston. The rat just laughed and stood up from his chair.

            “The photo’s a phony!” He declared. “I know!” He whispered. “That’s how you’ve been able to live in such a nice home! As Preston Goodman, you’re mediocre at best, but as George Tucker, you’re a f*****g celebrity!” He said. “So you know what you’re going to write me next don’t you? You’re going to write me a nice fat check so I keep my mouth shut! I’m talking six figures! 400,000 dollars!” Toby demanded. Preston just looked up at him. He sat there in silence for a few moments before finally speaking.

            “And what happens if I don’t?” Preston asked. The rat giggled again.

            “That’s no going to happen now is it George…I mean Preston. You want me to keep quite about this. What do you thinks going to happen when you’re cover is blown? You can kiss those entire literary merits goodbye and the sales of the Tucker novels will lag! You need me to keep this a secret! You need George Tucker!” He said. Preston sat in silence again and then looked back up at Toby and smiled.

            “You’re absolutely right! I do need George Tucker! Just as much as he needs me!” Preston said. He stood up from his chair and walked over to the office door and opened it. “Before I write your check, how would you like to be the first ever person to see George Tucker’s office?” Preston asked him. Toby looked at him confused for a moment.

            “George’s office?” He asked.

            “Why yes! You honestly didn’t think that one of the greatest horror writers of all time wrote in an office like this did you? George has a separate office!” Preston told him.

            “Okay.” Toby agreed unsure of himself. Preston turned his back to him and led him out of the office. They walked back down the office until reaching the staircase. Preston reached out his hands and pressed inward. A secret doorway opened revealing a dark basement. Preston turned back at him and smiled then he began to make his way down the stairs. With each step they took, the steps squeaked. When the two men reached the bottom of the floor and Toby jumped at the sound of the door slamming shut and latching behind them. Now in total darkness, Preston walked along the basement floor and turned on a light that was hanging from the ceiling. The light revealed a worn out wooden desk. The center of the desk was an old Royal typewriter and a glass gar with a pig’s heart inside of it. Toby swallowed hard and began to sweat bullets.

            “Okay, can I just get my check and…” Toby started before being interrupted by Preston.

            “You know, I never thought anyone would figure it out! It never crossed my mind!” He said.

            “Look man, you’re starting to creep me out! Can I just get my check and go?” He asked.

            “But don’t you want your autograph?” He asked. Toby swallowed again and nodded. Preston grabbed a Sharpie and began to sight George’s signature but stopped. “Wait a minute! This isn’t right!” He said. Toby looked down at him puzzled. Preston stood up from the chair and walked away from the desk. “I think you should meet George! I bet George would love to meet a big fan like you!” He said. Preston began to change. His body began to shake all over and he began to morph. His clothes were now all black and his hair was long and black reaching down past his shoulders. He had a clean-cut black beard covering his face and his eyes turned brown. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pocketknife.

            “Well, well, well, if it isn’t the rat!” George said. He reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a cigarette. He lights it and then exhaled the smoke. He pulled out the blade of the pocketknife and reached over grabbing Toby by the hair. He dragged him over and slammed him on the desk pressing the blade up against his throat.

            “You shouldn’t have fucked with me man! I don’t take kindly to being blackmailed! Now, you’re just going to become an inspiration to my next novel. You really shouldn’t have fucked with me!” He stated as he slit the bade across his bare slicing his throat. “Because when you f**k with me, you’re f*****g with the best!” George said proudly. Toby “the rat” fell from the desk onto the floor as George licked the blood off of the knife.

Copyright 2014 by Cody Williams

Courtesy of TRUE TERROR PUBLICATIONS

A division of TTP Entertainment

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Author's Note

This one took a few starts and stops. I hope you enjoy it!

-CW

Reviews

[Dayran]

Readers ... when they buy a book buy more than simply a story ... they are also buying the persona of the author ... such as it is ... as the medium they relate to in the story. For authors of course ... its ethics to ensure that they represent themselves accurately. Its like being typecast ... I guess ... but how else does anyone convey a meaning about themselves. An inspiring write about ethics ... or the lack of it.

[Cody Williams]

Thanks for reading Dayran!

-CW

[Mark]

Rat should be capitalized. I know you have to compact the story to keep it brief but I would have liked a little more. Like Preston asking questions to find out who else knows about he and George... might be good to know b4 he offs him.

[Lyn Anderson]

I like the end. Very nice. I did notice you're where it should be your and I wonder about "The Long Walk Home" being too similar to the Dark Tower "Long Road Home" -- anyway, good story.

[Cody Williams]

Thanks for reading KL!

-CW

[Sami Khalil]

An amazing story of intrigue and blackmail that indeed in a murder and another novel. I love how you keep us intrigued till the end. Excellent...:)......................

[Cody Williams]

Thanks so much Sami!

-CW

[Sami Khalil]

You are welcome...:).......................

[nseddy]

Nice story,I like how Preston actually morphed into George. Well Done!

[Cody Williams]

Thanks for reading!

-CW