BooksBarbecue
Back The Game
Chapters (68)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. NOW
  4. One
  5. BEFORE
  6. Two
  7. Three
  8. Four
  9. Five
  10. Six
  11. Seven
  12. Eight
  13. Nine
  14. Ten
  15. Eleven
  16. Twelve
  17. Thirteen
  18. Fourteen
  19. Fifteen
  20. Sixteen
  21. Seventeen
  22. Eighteen
  23. Nineteen
  24. Twenty
  25. NOW
  26. Twenty-One
  27. BEFORE
  28. Twenty-Two
  29. Twenty-Three
  30. Twenty-Four
  31. Twenty-Five
  32. Twenty-Six
  33. Twenty-Seven
  34. Twenty-Eight
  35. Twenty-Nine
  36. Thirty
  37. Thirty-One
  38. Thirty-Two
  39. Thirty-three
  40. Thirty-Four
  41. Thirty-Five
  42. Thirty-Six
  43. Thirty-Seven
  44. Thirty-Eight
  45. NOW
  46. Thirty-Nine
  47. BEFORE
  48. Forty
  49. Forty-One
  50. Forty-Two
  51. Forty-three
  52. Forty-Four
  53. Forty-Five
  54. Forty-Six
  55. Forty-Seven
  56. Forty-Eight
  57. Forty-Nine
  58. Fifty
  59. Fifty-One
  60. NOW
  61. Fifty-Two
  62. Fifty-Three
  63. Fifty-Four
  64. Fifty-Five
  65. AFTER
  66. Fifty-Six
  67. Acknowledgements
  68. About the Author

He pulled up outside his house and killed the engine. Stepped out the car and glanced at the place he called home. He’d been saving for two years now for a deposit, but didn’t think he’d be buying any time soon. The rent was just high enough on his house to leave a slim amount to stash away each month. He liked the area though – quiet and less rough than places a short drive away. He walked around his car, pushing open the metal gate and making his way up the short path. Wondering how long he’d give it before giving in and calling Natasha.

Or if she was already around, waiting for him to arrive home again.

He heard a noise from behind him and smiled. A shift of feet on the pavement. He turned to look, but there was nothing in his sightline, just an empty street, a dull light emanating from the streetlight a few feet away. An almost amber yellow. A noise again and Mark’s heart rate increased. Beating against his chest, he could almost hear the pound of it.

‘Natasha?’

There was no answer. He didn’t think it was her anyway.

Yet, someone was out there.

He didn’t know where that thought came from, but it was suddenly stark in his mind. Eyes watching him, unseen. Lurking in what was now a multitude of shadows outside his front door. He heard the scrape of shoes against concrete again and forced himself to walk back up the path, his breaths coming in short bursts.

Mark leaned against the gate, looking left and right, watching for any movement. Still, the feeling of being watched lingered, as he peered into the gloom of the evening.

Nothing moved, nothing shifted. The only noise he could hear was traffic in the far distance, blown towards him on a wind which seemed to increase in strength the longer he stood there.

He waited for another noise, but when none greeted him, he made his way back to the front door, pausing as he held his keys near the lock, waiting.

No sound came.

He shook his head and let himself inside. Almost rushing to close it behind him, as he imagined something out there.

Watching him.

Waiting for him.

Nineteen

NEW GAME

PLAYER ONE

She was standing in the darkness, watching a stranger walk into his house.

Her hands shaking with nerves, as she waited and waited for him to go inside. To not see her.

Holly didn’t know who the man was.

She could feel the tears stinging her eyes, as her throat swelled up with fear. As she took her phone from her pocket, she almost dropped it. She righted it, and took dimly lit photographs. Swearing internally to herself, she switched to video and began filming instead.

Hoping, praying, this would get better. That it would be okay.

It had started with a phone call.