Let Me Read You In — Doppelganger

Welcome to Let Me Read You In, where you can hear a chapter of my novels before choosing which world you want to enter.

This is Doppelgänger, a dark monster romance, by me, Tierra Cox.

If this chapter catches you, you can find the full book on Amazon or Noir Pages. (starting July 10)

Now, let me read you in.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:13

Welcome to Let Me Read You In, and this is my Vows of Possession series, a dark romance collection of standalone novels connected by the same world. You're about to listen to Doppelganger, a story about identity, imitation, hunger, and the moment a creature that has worn countless faces finally sees one it cannot forget. Thetis doesn't know she's been chosen. Not yet. Each story begins with one paragraph. That's the invitation. You're about to dive into the full chapter. And this is the trap. Let me read you in. I had a dream that someone was watching me. I don't know what. Its face and form constantly changed, but I felt the protection over me. It was touching me like I was glass. Something that might snap and break under its perusal. I couldn't wake up and see it. My mind faded and I went back to sleep. When I awoke the following day, there was moss on my bed. Then again it could have been Moose who was wagging his tail a mile a minute next to me. He rolled over and stretched his legs before jumping off the bed, looking at me expectantly. Yeah, hold on, I chuckled, rolling out of bed. There's a grassy substance on the floor as well. Did you bring something in? I grumble at Moose before following him to the back door. I let him outside and the dog immediately ran to a spot in the grass, sniffing around. Better not be something dead you're about to roll in. I shake my head, placing food in his bowl before returning to the bathroom to spiffy up for the day. I had to set myself on walking moose in the forest today. Why? Because I'm going to clean my house, wash these clothes, then get my nails and toes done. After all that, I want to do nothing. I want to relax with my mud mass, stretch out on my couch, and eat snacks. If moose is tuckered out, then I'll have no worries. My mind flashes to that night with Marcus. That last fight we had. He said he didn't love me, he was leaving. He assaulted me. I should feel nothing. I should be relieved, and I am, but what happened? I don't understand. Maybe that's what's bothering me today. They never found him. There was no body to be sad over, or at least come to terms with. I know I can say that it shouldn't matter. I should be okay with what went on, karma, etc. I just can't shake it. Ten years is what I can't shake off. Ten years with that man for him to disappear one night is insane. As I tuck my hair into a hat, put on my coat and boots, I take a deep breath and stare into the yard. It happened here. The man I thought I'd spend my forever with was gone. Moose trots up to my side, his bushy tail wagging happily. Reaching down I pat his head and we begin onto the well worn trail. Since that night, fish and wildlife have taken to patrol and investigate this area. There have been no bears or threatening animals, at least not within a ten mile radius of my home, but I was advised to be cautious. My mind reels to the many arguments Marcus and I began to have stupid things, dishes in the sink, the floor being dirty. His favorite shirt was filthy, and the food wasn't to his liking. I wouldn't have sex with him. I didn't tell him goodbye in the morning, dumb, idiotic shit. I can't even remember when our relationship began to go downhill, and it seemed so sudden. Weren't we happy before that? What was the shift? We're nearing the river, and the sound of the water reaches my ears. Moose places some pep in his step, he loves the water, and after we toss this stick and have a nice little hike, his old ass will be out for at least the next four to five hours. The day was going well, at least I thought it was. The winter sun was shining weakly through the treetops, and Moose was lagging behind me enough to let me know that he was done for the day. The ten year old livestock guardian was content to live out his days as a house dog and general land guardian. I had thought about getting chickens, but I didn't know if Moose wanted the responsibility anymore in his old age. Come on, Moose, I called fondly. We're almost there, old man. I'll get you some water and some treats and you'll be fine. I could hear him chuffing behind me, probably cursing me out. The sudden twig snap to the left caught my attention, but it made Moose flare up even more. The once exhausted dog raised his tail high, his hackles stiffening as he trotted in front of me and waited. It's probably a deer. Reaching down I smoothed my hand over the top of his head to comfort myself as a screech sounded to my right. The fuck? I hadn't seen elk all year. Was that what that was? Or maybe a dying rabbit? I've been told that they screamed. Fear began to manifest as acid in my stomach climbing up my throat. Moose stepped forward and snarled, the hairs on his neck rising. Quickly, Moose circled my legs, and it took me a moment to realize he was hurting me closer to the house. What if whatever took Marcus was after me? Was that it? A mountain lion? A bear. No, I'd have seen a bear by now. Fear anchored my feet, but Moose's bark ushered me along. I couldn't run. Running would entice whatever it was. Then I saw it. The cream colored figure moved almost imperceptibly among the trees. My eyes struggled to focus, and for a brief, blissful moment I convinced myself it was nothing more than a trick of the light, perhaps a rare white elk. But there were no antlers. This was nothing benign. The creature was a grotesque parody of a human, its emanciated frame covered in pale, almost translucent skin that clung tightly to its bones. Its eyes were the most unnerving part, huge, black and devoid of emotion. They seemed to pierce straight through me, its mouth lined with rows of razor sharp teeth twisted into a horrifying grin as if mocking my fear. I was paralyzed, rooted to the spot by sheer terror. I stifled my scream, trying to rack my brain for whatever I was looking at. Moose snarled, rushing to the path's edge and looking back at me. The brave dog rushed back, trying to herd me along. Then it moved. The creature had limbs so impossibly long that it looked like it was on stilts. The black lips snarled open and closing around the fangs. I couldn't believe what I was looking at. I didn't know what I was looking at. I did not understand what I was seeing. Then it rushed me. Moose ran towards it, but the creature neatly leapt over him. When people say that time freezes or goes into slow mo when you're afraid, they're right. Time ceases to exist, it warps around you, you can't move, but whatever is happening around you still occurs. I watched as this faceless thing, claws like a bear, leaped neatly through the air, opening its mouth wide to envelop my face. Or at least it would have. Something slammed into my chest, pushing me to the ground. Moose ran over to me, hovering over my body in protection while whatever pushed me slammed into the creature. I couldn't see it from my position on my back, but I could hear everything. Moose was barking and snarling, the cries, yips, and screams of monsters fighting. I shivered and laid wide eyed on the ground until a loud snap, like a tree trunk breaking free from the ground, sounded. I've never heard the exasperation of death before, but it's a sound the mind recognizes. There was a huff and a wheeze, then silence. Not even the birds continued to chirp. Moose silenced, whining as he backed away from my body and began to sniff my face. Fear paralyzed me, holding me to the ground by my shoulders. I couldn't move even if I wanted to. Move. The voice of a woman called out, foolish woman, move. My voice squeaked from my throat. I can't tears began to prick at my eyes. I could have been killed. Is that what got Marcus? Is that how he died? What saved me? Get up. A man's voice deep and booming called out to me. Safe now. How do you know? I choked back a sob, slowly finding the strength to sit up. What are you? Where are you? Silence seemed to stretch on as I stood up, whipping my head around to see what made those voices. Home, Thetis. Go. Three different voices spoke to me. Home, safe now. Keep you safe. I didn't need to hear more. I ran until my legs couldn't carry me anymore. I ran until I hit the back door and as soon as Moose hightailed it in after me, I slammed the door shut. Locking it wasn't enough, so I moved the couch before the door and grabbed a knife, scrambling to the kitchen floor, looking at the back door. What the fuck? That was your first look into Doppelganger. Some monsters hide because they're afraid to be seen. Others hide because they're waiting for the perfect moment to get closer. Doppelganger is book number two in my Vows of Possession series. Of course, they are all standalone novels that are connected by the same world. The paperback is on Amazon, and starting July 10th, the ebook will be available exclusively on Noir pages. Each story begins with a paragraph. That's the invitation. You just heard the full chapter. And this was the trap. See you soon.