Inside the Mind of a Killer by Jannine Gallant

Halloween is just around the corner, so I thought something scary and shivery might be in order... When I wrote A Deadly Love, I included two points of view in the story, those of the hero and heroine. My editor told me she wanted a glimpse into the mind of the serial killer stalking women in the town of Woodvale. She thought it would add a creepy element to the book. I agreed, but how could I do my killer justice without giving away his identity? It took some work, but the scenes were added, scattered here and there, giving readers a reason to leave their lights on at night. I hope! LOL

So, here's the prologue to A Deadly Love, the creepiest scene I've ever written. Enjoy!

           The sniveling creature crouched in the corner was a disappointment. Where was the stunning woman from the big screen who’d incited his lust no matter how hard he tried to repress it? This pathetic shell bore no resemblance to the sassy teen who’d starred in so many of his youthful sexual fantasies. Where was the girl who’d stolen a piece of his heart?

She’d given up completely, taking the fun out of the chase. Perhaps he’d made a mistake in keeping her here alone. If she had someone with her to offer support and encouragement… Not that he’d ever been on the receiving end of such basic human kindness. Until now.

            He set the lantern on the dirt floor and stared at her. Pathetic. Nearly made him want to end the game immediately and start over with the next one. But that would ruin his carefully constructed plan. Still, maybe a few adjustments were necessary. He couldn’t wait for another full moon, couldn’t stand another two weeks of cowering ineptitude. The new moon was tomorrow…

A smile slid across his face. Two at a time was the answer. It would add excitement and make the situation more interesting. In the meantime, a pep talk might motivate his current guest. He stepped forward and frowned as she shrank into a smaller ball. Nothing was visible but the top of her blonde hair and the billowing white nightgown tucked around her drawn knees.

“Maybe tonight will be the night you escape, Cybil. I’ll give you a bigger head start.” A mewling sound was his only answer. His breath whooshed out in a sigh. “Tell you what. Tomorrow I’ll bring you some company. Would you like that?”

Her head snapped up, and lusterless blue eyes stared at him. For a moment, there was a spark of animation.

Finally a reaction.

“No.” She shook her head from side to side. “No. No. No. Don’t do this to someone else.” Her voice rose in a shriek. “Just kill me and be done with it.”

“Where would be the fun in that?” he snapped. Stalking forward, he unlocked her shackles and jerked her off the cot. “Get up. It’s time to play.”

So, did I do my job? Were you a little creeped out by my killer? A Deadly Love and my other books are available on my website, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.