LOGINShare
Chapter Eight
Last Updated:
2021-09-06 16:18:45Related chapters
Apocalyptic Montessa and Nuclear Lulu: A Tale of Atomic Love Chapter Nine
CHAPTER NINEHis heart hurt in a strange new way.Felt too tight, like it was bound and everything in him screamed to take his knife to the knotted tissue and whatever iron band had wrapped around it. Release it. Take away the hurt. Take away this pain. Lu didn’t like it, not at all.It came from letting the girl go. He knew this. When she left, she’d go directly to the police and tell them all about the young Asian man, early 20s, surprisingly muscled and wiry, maybe 130 pounds. 150? He usually wore a T-shirt. A dirty denim jacket when things got cold. Jeans and sneakers. Oh, yes, and he had a knife—long, shiny, very clean and very sharp knife. He murdered his father with that knife. He drives a semi. His name is Lu. He’s killed several other girls. When you find him, it should be the death penalty all the way, please. He hit me in the head with a wrench. It hurt so terribly, so terribly that I threw up, over and over and over. It’s a miracle I got away.He’d be dead before the po
Last Updated : 2021-09-06Apocalyptic Montessa and Nuclear Lulu: A Tale of Atomic Love Chapter Ten
CHAPTER TENHer hair swirled around her, and her breaths came in gasping almost-sobs of rage that she tried to rein in. The pressure behind her eyes, in her head and chest pushed out, nearly exploding from behind her eyes and teeth. If she didn’t hold back, she’d blow the truck apart, she could feel it. Kill herself and Lu and there wouldn’t be anything to find, just tiny bits of rubble and detritus carried on the wind.She had to calm down. Breathe. Breathe, breathe, breathe.Montessa held her hands to her face, her wrists bloodied and sore and raw. With her eyes covered, things seemed less pressing. She was here. She was safe. He had put her here to let her escape. She knew this and appreciated it on a level, too, of course. Of course she did. But at the same time . . .I’m tired of being tossed away.Abandoned by her mother. Used up until her body and soul ground into little bits by her father or at least the man that she had been trained to think of as her father. Used and lef
Last Updated : 2021-09-06Apocalyptic Montessa and Nuclear Lulu: A Tale of Atomic Love Chapter Eleven
CHAPTER ELEVENShe spent the night in Lu’s bed, because she didn’t want to be alone. It was a new thing to feel lips without fists and her hair pulled without hatred.“Renan is going to come for me, you know,” she told him. She traced his ribs, found a couple that stuck out farther than they should have. Broken how many times? Maybe one day she’d ask. Most likely she wouldn’t get the chance.“Think I’m scared of him?”Lu had one hand under his head, the other around her. She watched as he studied the ceiling, and it was beautiful. Beautiful plaster, beautiful lighting. Funny how he’d never noticed it before.“I’m just telling you, Lu. He doesn’t like to lose things.”“You’re not a thing.”She sighed. Sat up and pulled his T-shirt on. “You’re the only one who seems to think that.”“Once you think it, everybody else will follow suit.”She padded to the window and looked out. Highway. A gas station with a fast food joint inside. So unlovely.She wanted to stay here forever.“Te
Last Updated : 2021-09-06Apocalyptic Montessa and Nuclear Lulu: A Tale of Atomic Love Chapter Twelve
CHAPTER TWELVELu handed her the knife, and she took it with a respect that made her even more stunning in his eyes. She held it gently, ran her finger carefully across the blade, and held it to her face to inspect it. Her breath fogged up the metal and Lu grit his teeth to keep from moaning.“From your father to you, and now you’ll let me use it?”“For your first kill. For any kill you want. Until you find something that you like better. Or always.”They parked far away, walking to her house. It was dark. The gravel crunched beneath their feet. Montessa held Lu’s hand and ran her finger across the bones of his knuckles.“This is . . . crazy,” she said, keeping her voice low.“This is what is meant to be,” he answered back.How many times had he prowled this area? He knew it backward and forward. But Montessa still knew it better. They strolled under streetlights, through darkness, past addicts and drunks and frightened runaways, through alleys and parks and cemeteries.“This i
Last Updated : 2021-09-06Apocalyptic Montessa and Nuclear Lulu: A Tale of Atomic Love Chapter Thirteen
CHAPTER THIRTEENLu drove, and Montessa sat quietly, playing with his First Kill knife, which had now become her First Kill knife, as well.Finally, he broke the silence. “Doing okay?”“Yes. Thank you.”“No problem.”He remembered stabbing his father, over and over and over, that primal sound he had made, the sweet, unfamiliar-now-familiar feel of flesh and bone and muscle give, give, giving under the blade.“It was that good,” Montessa said. It wasn’t a question.“It was. Yours?”“I’m still processing.”“Of course.”He drove through most of the night without a word. His knee jiggled. He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. Lu was afraid he’d lost her.They pulled over, and both crawled into the tiny, built-in bed together. He wrapped his arms around her, and she threw her leg over his, her arm over his chest.“Just a little warmer, please?”The room heated up immediately. She heard the currents of electricity and fire zipping through his veins. Any more heat and her
Last Updated : 2021-09-06Apocalyptic Montessa and Nuclear Lulu: A Tale of Atomic Love Chapter Fourteen
CHAPTER FOURTEENThey dropped their next load off, and spent a day playing in the sunshine, hiking through the forest. Montessa pointed at the birds and squirrels and marveled at the beauty of it all.Tiny hearts. Tiny blood vessels. Tiny, tiny veins.“Does it ever get old?” she asked. “Do you ever get tired of killing?”“No,” he said, and the sound of his voice, the weight of his words, told her he was speaking truth. Their next kill would be tonight. One of her cousins, a devil named Emmanuel, with a squeaky voice and hands too large for his body.“I’m going to cut his hands off and stuff them in his mouth,” she said. “Make him bite down on every finger until it breaks.”“You can do that, but he’ll bleed out pretty soon.”Montessa looked at him, and he shrugged.“Just saying, Montessa. You can do all of these things. Kill and then dismember. Dismember then kill. Whatever you choose.”She was thoughtful about this. “Just kill,” she said about two hours later. “I don’t want to
Last Updated : 2021-09-06Apocalyptic Montessa and Nuclear Lulu: A Tale of Atomic Love Chapter Fifteen
CHAPTER FIFTEENHer nightmares started that night.She washed off as best as she could, but could feel Emmanuel’s blood seeping into the cracks of her hands. It was as if her skin was no longer waterproof, and the blood soaked through into her body.His ham hands hit her hard in the eye socket, and she screamed.“Shh, baby. I’m here.” Lu had his arms wrapped around her, but it still wasn’t close enough.“I’m cold,” she said, and he warmed the air around them. Warmed the little built-in bed. Warmed her heart when he pressed his lips against her neck.“Go back to sleep.”She dreamed of Emmanuel’s freakishly large hands clutching at his throat while his blood spurted. The cut wasn’t clean. The cut wasn’t sure. She felt the larynx grind under the blade of the First Kill knife. Sickly. Gristle. The high-pitched shrieking, squealing, screaming that was Emmanuel. He had been human before that, but after her botched murder, he had become a stuck farm animal. A screeching pig. So much me
Last Updated : 2021-09-06Apocalyptic Montessa and Nuclear Lulu: A Tale of Atomic Love Chapter Sixteen
CHAPTER SIXTEENThey drove until it was time to fuel the truck.“I’ll gas. How about you run in and grab some snacks?”“Sure thing, Lu.”She kissed him and hopped out. Touched the ground with the flat of her hands stretched.“I feel like I’m turning to stone, baby,” she said.Lu rolled his shoulders, popped his neck. “I know the feeling. Maybe we can get into town early, go on a walk or something tonight.”“Or a hunt?”Her reflection showed her eyes glittering with a new kind of light.It was beautiful.“That, too,” he answered, and his heart felt that now familiar piercing sensation. He knew it was love.She ran into the gas station. Cast a longing glimpse at the sodas and candy bars, but headed straight for the ladies room instead.Montessa finished up, washed her hands, and splashed cold water on her face. She studied herself in the mirror. No makeup. No stripper Ruby body glitter. No bruises or burns or bandages. Her face was a different sort of lovely. Eyes too large,
Last Updated : 2021-09-06
Latest chapter
Apocalyptic Montessa and Nuclear Lulu: A Tale of Atomic Love Connect with Crystal Lake Publishing
CONNECT WITH CRYSTAL LAKE PUBLISHINGWebsite(be sure to sign up for our newsletter)FacebookTwitterWith unmatched success since 2012, Crystal Lake Publishing has quickly become one of the world’s leading indie publishers of Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense books with a Dark Fiction edge.Crystal Lake Publishing puts integrity, honor, and respect at the forefront of our operations.We strive for each book and outreach program that’s launched to not only entertain and touch or comment on issues that affect our readers, but also to strengthen and support the Dark Fiction field and its authors.Not only do we publish authors who are destined to be legends in the field (and as hardworking as us), but we also look for men and women who care about their readers and fellow human beings. We only publish the very best Dark Fiction and look forward to launching many new careers.We strive to know each and every one of our readers, while building personal relationships with our authors,
Apocalyptic Montessa and Nuclear Lulu: A Tale of Atomic Love Connect with the Author
CONNECT WITH THE AUTHORWebsiteFacebookTwitter
Apocalyptic Montessa and Nuclear Lulu: A Tale of Atomic Love Biography
BIOGRAPHYMercedes M. Yardley is a dark fantasist who wears stilettos, red lipstick, and poisonous flowers in her hair. She is the author of the short story collection Beautiful Sorrows, the novellas Apocalyptic Montessa and Nuclear Lulu: A Tale of Atomic Love and Little Dead Red, and the novels Nameless: The Darkness Comes and Pretty Little Dead Girls: A Novel of Murder and Whimsy. She often speaks at conferences and teaches workshops on several subjects, including personal branding and how to write a novel in stolen moments. Mercedes lives and works in Sin City with her family and menagerie of Strange and Unusual Pets. You can reach her at www.abrokenlaptop.com.
Apocalyptic Montessa and Nuclear Lulu: A Tale of Atomic Love The end?
THE END?Not if you dive into Mercedes’ other books:Nameless: The Darkness Comes—Luna Masterson sees demons. She has been dealing with the demonic all her life, so when her brother gets tangled up with a demon named Sparkles, ‘Luna the Lunatic’ rolls in on her motorcycle to save the day. Armed with the ability to harm demons, her scathing sarcasm, and a hefty chip on her shoulder, Luna gathers the most unusual of allies, teaming up with a green-eyed heroin addict and a snarky demon ‘of some import.’ After all, outcasts of a feather should stick together . . . even until the end.Little Dead Red—The Wolf is roaming the city, and he must be stopped. In this modern day retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, the wolf takes to the city streets to capture his prey, but the hunter is close behind him. With Grim Marie on the prowl, the hunter becomes the hunted.Pretty Little Dead Girls: A Novel of Murder and Whimsy—Bryony Adams is destined to be murdered, but fortunately Fate has terrible
Apocalyptic Montessa and Nuclear Lulu: A Tale of Atomic Love Chapter Twenty
CHAPTER TWENTYBaby,” Lu said, and knelt beside her. Montessa’s father’s blood ran over his sneakers, but he didn’t care. “We have to go, baby. We can’t stay here.”“I thought he was such an animal.” She pulled her knees up to her chest. Wrapped her arms around them and put her head down, the gun still in her hand.“He was a monster. You did the right thing.”“He hurt me, Lu,” she cried, and rocked herself. Lu wrapped his arms around her, careful of the gun, careful of her wounded heart, careful of the pain and venom spilling from her eyes.“It’s over. You did it. You won. We won.”Years and years of misery. Of being tough. Of broken bones and dancing on swollen feet in front of men who looked at her like her father had always looked at her. And it was over. Over, with the tiniest of movements. Two short pulls on the trigger. A spasm in her pointer finger. That was it.“Come on, baby.” Lu pulled her to her feet. Ran his fingers through her hair and told her she was beautiful, th
Apocalyptic Montessa and Nuclear Lulu: A Tale of Atomic Love Chapter Nineteen
CHAPTER NINETEENLu had a present to give his new bride. Something special and wonderful and deeply, deeply horrifying.“Wake up, darling.”She murmured and snuggled closer into his side. She had branches and weeds tangled into her hair like wedding flowers.“Montessa. Wake up. Today is a new day.”She yawned and stretched and sat up. Looked around with eyes still bleary from sleep. “Lu? Where . . . ah, I remember. We slept outside last night.”They had. Several yards back from the beach, across a small freeway, up in the tree line with a few scattered rental houses here and there.“Did you sleep sweet?” he asked.She popped her back, winced. “I slept sweet. How’s your shoulder?”“Stiff, but not bad. The salt water hurt like a dickens last night, but I think it helped.” He grinned, kissed the makeshift wedding band on her finger. “It really does heal everything.”Montessa stood up, and helped Lu to his feet. Brushed her hair out with her fingers and made a face.“I’m a mess,
Apocalyptic Montessa and Nuclear Lulu: A Tale of Atomic Love Chapter Eighteen
CHAPTER EIGHTEENThey ditched the car and the body, cleaned themselves up as best they could, and rented a cheap room at a motel that looked the other way concerning most things. Drugs. Gunshot wounds. Blood.Montessa used tweezers to pull the shot out of Lu’s shoulder. Sweat beaded on his forehead and upper lip like dew on a rose. She had never seen anything so lovely.“I’m sorry, baby,” she said and kissed him. Bit his lip. Cleaned and bandaged his shoulder with gauze and cheap bandages purchased from a gas station she didn’t burn to the ground.“No worries. Thanks for cleaning it.”“Of course.”“Think we should take off tomorrow? Or lay low?”Lu wrapped his good arm around her. “I think we should go to the sea. Once more. Then we can do whatever we want.”“Lulu, I feel like . . . ”“What? Time is short?”“Yes.”“It is. That’s why the sea is important. Will you go with me?”“Gladly.”She knew what he was asking, and it wasn’t just to go to the sea. It was Something Impor
Apocalyptic Montessa and Nuclear Lulu: A Tale of Atomic Love Chapter Seventeen
CHAPTER SEVENTEENShe opened her eyes and moaned. Her body hurt. Felt broken. She turned and looked behind her. The gas station was in flames, the hottest of fireballs. Lu’s truck was burning as merrily as everything else.“Oh, Lu. What did I do?”She crawled to him, lying bloody and unmoving on the pavement. His shoulder was soaked with blood, and he had cuts on his beautiful face, but she ran her hands over his arms and legs.He seemed whole. He seemed unbroken.“Baby? Baby, wake up.” His eyelids fluttered, and then he was on his knees, trying to stand up. Montessa put a hand on his arm. “Stay still, baby.”“We need to get out of here.”“I’ll get us a car. Sit tight.” She stood up and ran to the road nearby. “Help!” Montessa screamed, waving her hands above her head. “Help me, please!”A small, white Honda stopped. A man leaned over, rolled the window down.“There’s a fire!” Montessa said, and pointed at the blazing gas station. “I just made it out, and my friend is hurt. Ca
Apocalyptic Montessa and Nuclear Lulu: A Tale of Atomic Love Chapter Sixteen
CHAPTER SIXTEENThey drove until it was time to fuel the truck.“I’ll gas. How about you run in and grab some snacks?”“Sure thing, Lu.”She kissed him and hopped out. Touched the ground with the flat of her hands stretched.“I feel like I’m turning to stone, baby,” she said.Lu rolled his shoulders, popped his neck. “I know the feeling. Maybe we can get into town early, go on a walk or something tonight.”“Or a hunt?”Her reflection showed her eyes glittering with a new kind of light.It was beautiful.“That, too,” he answered, and his heart felt that now familiar piercing sensation. He knew it was love.She ran into the gas station. Cast a longing glimpse at the sodas and candy bars, but headed straight for the ladies room instead.Montessa finished up, washed her hands, and splashed cold water on her face. She studied herself in the mirror. No makeup. No stripper Ruby body glitter. No bruises or burns or bandages. Her face was a different sort of lovely. Eyes too large,
