The phone rang. Softly, in actuality, yet it seemed loud and ominous, as phones do at night in dark hotel rooms.

Danny couldn’t remember how many times he had driven down this particular stretch of highway.

For those who fear to die, death walks behind them like an ominous shadow. But for those who embrace it, death casts a gentle eye upon that person.

When 1:45 came, half the class left, and Danny Hupfer whispered, “If she gives you a cream puff after we leave, I’m going to kill you” – which was not something that someone headed off...

The only thing we know for certain is that Darquesse is coming, and she’s coming to kill us all.

He liked murder. Murder and long walks had been two of his favorite things when he was younger.

«Per­ho­nen is not here any­more,» it says, with a voice made of wings and whis­pers.

It was dark now, and broodingly sluggish. Like something supine waiting to spring, with just the tip of its tail twitching. Leaves stood still on the trees. An evil green star glinted in the black...

He’d been at the Glade for roughly twenty-four hours. One full day. And look at all the things that had happened. All the terrible things. Surely it could only get better.