Cades Cove 01 - Cades Cove: A Novel of Terror Read Online Free Page B
Author: Aiden James
imagine it was no picnic for her,” he concurred, pausing to brush his fingers through his thick blond bangs. “I wonder when our food’s coming?”
Ready to move on to other business, he wanted to forget about the strange afternoon and enjoy their last night together in this quaint mountain town. Miriam seemed lost in her own thoughts as she stared at the flickering candle in the center of their table. When she looked up again, he could tell she had more questions. Luckily their food arrived.
The conversation shifted to other, more pleasant things, and before long the issue of Allie Mae and her mysterious bag of treasures seemed truly behind them. After dinner they walked along Gatlinburg’s historic strip, where they picked up a few souvenirs for their kids and Janice. Hand in hand, they walked back to their car, enjoying the town’s ambience and the cool autumn evening.
The embers from their earlier passion were still warm upon returning to their secluded chalet nestled on a heavily wooded hillside above the town. David thought it especially nice not having to worry about what the kids and neighbors might hear or even see, and Miriam soon let her desires run wild with his. They retired to the master suite just before midnight, holding each other close. The only interruption in their intimacy was when she set the bedside alarm for 7 a.m., as they planned to find a nice place for breakfast in Gatlinburg before flying home.
***
Ping!
David awoke, for a moment disoriented.
Pi-i-i-n-n-ng!
There it was again. The sound came from the kitchen, down the hall from the bedroom and across from the living room.
Ping!... Pi-i-i-n-n-ng!
Two distinct rings...like someone’s fingernails being flicked against a drinking glass in the kitchen. An intruder? He checked on Miriam, who slept soundly next to him.
Ping! ... Pi-i-i-n-n-ng! ... PI-I-I-N-N-NG!!
The rings ominously spaced apart, the loudness of the last one quickened his pulse. He slipped out of bed, quietly putting on his jeans and grabbing one of his hiking boots to serve as a weapon. He then ventured out of the bedroom and down the hall toward the kitchen. Miriam had left a small nightlight on in the living room.
Ping!
Softer this time… whoever made the sound had to hear him coming. The small hairs along the back of his neck sprang to life. Danger near, he checked inside the game room and bathroom, fearing a second intruder. Both were empty.
Once he reached the living room, he tiptoed to the front door and then over to the sliding porch door. The extra bar restraints were still in place and the locks set. As far as he could tell, nothing had been tampered with. That left only the back door in the kitchen.
Pi-i-ng—!
The last ring was abruptly muted once he stepped through the dining room and peered into the kitchen. He flicked on the overhead light and stepped under its bright glare. There was nobody there.
“ What in the hell?” he whispered, his tone bewildered.
He moved toward the far end where the chalet’s washer and dryer were hooked up, next to the back door. Still no sign of anyone and the door was locked tight. Mystified, he turned around to leave the kitchen and investigate elsewhere. That’s when he noticed the two wineglasses from the previous afternoon sitting on the counter next to the sink. He’d assumed Miriam already washed them and placed both inside the cupboard with the fancier glassware.
He picked up one of the glasses. Maybe it wasn’t the very same one since six more like it sat in the cupboard next to the stove. He flicked his finger against the glass, and a ring similar to the one he heard filled the air around him. He set the glass next to its mate and walked out of the kitchen, turning off the overhead light on his way out. Perplexed, he returned to the living room.
He’d just reached the hallway, when one of the two wineglasses slid noisily across the Formica countertop in the kitchen. A loud crash resounded as
Ready to move on to other business, he wanted to forget about the strange afternoon and enjoy their last night together in this quaint mountain town. Miriam seemed lost in her own thoughts as she stared at the flickering candle in the center of their table. When she looked up again, he could tell she had more questions. Luckily their food arrived.
The conversation shifted to other, more pleasant things, and before long the issue of Allie Mae and her mysterious bag of treasures seemed truly behind them. After dinner they walked along Gatlinburg’s historic strip, where they picked up a few souvenirs for their kids and Janice. Hand in hand, they walked back to their car, enjoying the town’s ambience and the cool autumn evening.
The embers from their earlier passion were still warm upon returning to their secluded chalet nestled on a heavily wooded hillside above the town. David thought it especially nice not having to worry about what the kids and neighbors might hear or even see, and Miriam soon let her desires run wild with his. They retired to the master suite just before midnight, holding each other close. The only interruption in their intimacy was when she set the bedside alarm for 7 a.m., as they planned to find a nice place for breakfast in Gatlinburg before flying home.
***
Ping!
David awoke, for a moment disoriented.
Pi-i-i-n-n-ng!
There it was again. The sound came from the kitchen, down the hall from the bedroom and across from the living room.
Ping!... Pi-i-i-n-n-ng!
Two distinct rings...like someone’s fingernails being flicked against a drinking glass in the kitchen. An intruder? He checked on Miriam, who slept soundly next to him.
Ping! ... Pi-i-i-n-n-ng! ... PI-I-I-N-N-NG!!
The rings ominously spaced apart, the loudness of the last one quickened his pulse. He slipped out of bed, quietly putting on his jeans and grabbing one of his hiking boots to serve as a weapon. He then ventured out of the bedroom and down the hall toward the kitchen. Miriam had left a small nightlight on in the living room.
Ping!
Softer this time… whoever made the sound had to hear him coming. The small hairs along the back of his neck sprang to life. Danger near, he checked inside the game room and bathroom, fearing a second intruder. Both were empty.
Once he reached the living room, he tiptoed to the front door and then over to the sliding porch door. The extra bar restraints were still in place and the locks set. As far as he could tell, nothing had been tampered with. That left only the back door in the kitchen.
Pi-i-ng—!
The last ring was abruptly muted once he stepped through the dining room and peered into the kitchen. He flicked on the overhead light and stepped under its bright glare. There was nobody there.
“ What in the hell?” he whispered, his tone bewildered.
He moved toward the far end where the chalet’s washer and dryer were hooked up, next to the back door. Still no sign of anyone and the door was locked tight. Mystified, he turned around to leave the kitchen and investigate elsewhere. That’s when he noticed the two wineglasses from the previous afternoon sitting on the counter next to the sink. He’d assumed Miriam already washed them and placed both inside the cupboard with the fancier glassware.
He picked up one of the glasses. Maybe it wasn’t the very same one since six more like it sat in the cupboard next to the stove. He flicked his finger against the glass, and a ring similar to the one he heard filled the air around him. He set the glass next to its mate and walked out of the kitchen, turning off the overhead light on his way out. Perplexed, he returned to the living room.
He’d just reached the hallway, when one of the two wineglasses slid noisily across the Formica countertop in the kitchen. A loud crash resounded as
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