The Rift

THE RIFT is a new horror/adventure story I’m working on and currently 120 pages into. It’s about a mixed group of people who suddenly find themselves transported from a scenic Pacific Northwest highway to a nightmarish place where death hovers only heartbeats away. They know there must be a door back home somewhere and they’ll have to risk exploring this deadly place to find it. Along the way, they discover that building-size creatures and giant, flying parasites are the least of their worries. Their greatest threats might come from themselves…and not necessarily while they’re alive.

Here’s a short excerpt:

Brandon opened his mouth to apologize to everyone, when Mark abruptly shot up. He’d been staring back the way they’d come after Sarah pointed in that direction. He raised his own arm, “Hey, what’s that?”

Everyone swiveled to look back at their footprints trailing away in the dust, pulse rates jolting up as everyone expected to see another huge flying bug or something even worse heading their way.

Mark got to his feet and stared hard, “You guys see that?”

It was a dark mote at the edge of clarity, at least a half mile or more away; a black blob easily discernable against the lighter colors of the sand. It shimmered slightly in the haze coming off the ground, making it appear to be moving.

Trevor said softly, “What the hell is that?”

Burt squinted at the object, “My eyes ain’t what they used to be. Looks like a big rock or a small tree but…did we pass anything like that?”

Brandon’s brow was deeply furrowed. He shook his head, “No. We didn’t pass anything bigger than my hand.” He glanced at Trevor and saw worry in his friend’s eyes, “That wasn’t there.”

Jen muttered half to herself, “What now?”

A tremor of fear fluttered in Sarah’s chest. She moved up between Brandon and Trevor, “You’re sure we didn’t pass anything? I was half in a trance that last couple miles.”

Mark traced their trail of footprints with a finger, “It’s right in line with our path and all of us missed it? Whatever that is, it looks to be at least man-size. I think we’d have noticed something like that.”

Brandon nodded, “Mark’s right. We didn’t pass anything at all. This is something new.”

Jen started to back away, “Maybe it’s another creature. We should-”

Mark spun and looked back at her, “What, run? It isn’t a giant and it isn’t flying. If anything, it does look like a person. It’s the right size.”

Margaret squeezed Burt’s arm, “He’s right.” Her voice rose in hope, “Maybe someone else is here too.”

Trevor bobbed his head excitedly, “And they’re following us! We’re a group, easier to see out here.” 

He moved to step forward and Brandon put a hand on his arm, “Wait. We’re not sure yet. It could be anything-”

Trevor stopped and frowned back at him, “What? Bran, it could be someone needing help, or someone who could even help us.”

Burt said, “Hold on there. With everything else we’ve seen here so far, I’m with playing it-”

Mark tossed a hand in the direction of the object, “What, safe? Nothing here is safe, big guy, in case you didn’t notice.” He took a step away from the group, “I vote we go see what it is.”

Sarah said quietly, “I don’t think we have to. Look,” she pointed.

In just the few moments they’d been talking, the object had moved closer, and now they could see it more clearly.

It was a figure, distinctly human in shape, moving slowly across the plain, following in their footsteps, moving like a man.

Jen jerked forward again, “It is a person! Someone else is here!”

Brandon squinted at the distant figure. Something struck him as wrong. It sure looked like a person…but a chill ran through him and the hair on his neck stood up.

He reached out to grab Jen’s arm as she moved forward, “Hang on. Something’s wrong.”

She tried to shake him off, “What do you mean?” She pointed, “Look! It’s someone! Maybe they need help!”

Trevor said, “She may be right, Bran. Whoever that is, they don’t look like they’re walking too well.”

Everyone peered at the shape. It was moving in a strange fashion, jerking back and forth.

Even Mark was cautious now, “You’re right. It looks…like they’re in trouble…drunk or exhausted, maybe.”

Sarah put a hand on Jen too, “I…think Brandon’s right, something’s off about this.”

The figure had closed to within several hundred yards. It was easy to see now that it was a man; tall and thin with what appeared to be blond hair, wearing dark pants and a lighter shirt that swung and billowed about his body.

But the face…

Jen saw it now. She backed up closer to Sarah and Brandon, “He…what kind of person is that?”

The figure’s face was dark, the features not clear. Even from a distance there was a recognizable familiarity to a human face – lighter and darker areas denoting eyes, cheeks, a mouth – but none of those were apparent on the approaching figure. Even the shape of the head seemed odd. 

Zoe suddenly stumbled forward, pushing between everyone, her arm up and a limp hand pointing. She sucked in a deep breath, “It’s…it’s Barry!” She took another halting step forward, “Barry!”

Mark looked at her and then back at the figure, “Zoe? What are you talking about? Barry’s-”

“He’s not dead! Look! That’s his shirt, his pants!” She started forward, “Barry!”

Mark made a grab for her, “Zoe! I saw Barry. He was dead! His head was crushed.” He took her by the shoulders and turned her around, “You saw it too!”

She pushed him off violently, “You’re wrong! It’s Barry! He’s alright!”

 Mark stumbled backward, landing on his backside. Before anyone else could grab her, Zoe turned away and started running toward the figure, shouting Barry’s name over and over.

Mark got back to his feet and started after her, “Zoe! Wait!”

Brandon and Trevor lurched forward to follow. Brandon shot a hand back at everyone, “You guys stay here.”

He and Trevor pelted after Mark and Zoe.

Mark was faster than Zoe, but she’d had a head start and was almost to the figure while he was a good thirty yards behind her. He knew he wouldn’t catch up before she reached it.

The dry air scraped his throat as he yelled, “Zoe! Stop!”

All he heard in response was the thin sound of her constantly shouting Barry’s name.

A few seconds later, he heard heavy thumping behind him, and Brandon and Trevor came into view on either side. They were both younger and fitter and quickly passed him, not bothering to waste their breath calling out to her.

He gasped after them, “Stop her…that can’t…be Barry.” He felt his pace slowing as he realized they wouldn’t reach her in time either.

I hope you enjoyed this excerpt. I’m not sure when THE RIFT will be finished but I’ll post when I have news.

Find me and my published books at:

amazon.com/author/jaygould