Are You Afraid Of The Dark   ::   Sheldon Sidney

"It's Godzilla!" Kelly gasped. "He's following us." "What? How could he have found us so quickly?" Diane pressed the accelerator all the way to the floor. The Citroen was gaining on them. Diane looked at the double-faced speedometer. One dial read: 175 kilometers an hour. The other dial read: 110 miles an hour.

Nervously, Kelly said, "I'll bet you're too fast to drive at the Indianapolis racetrack." A mile ahead Diane saw the customs checkpoint between Spain and France.

"Hit me," Diane said.

Kelly laughed. "I was only kidding, I just-" "Hit me." Diane's voice was urgent.

The Citroen was getting closer.

"What are you-?" Do it now!" Reluctantly, Kelly slapped Diane across the face.

"No. Punch me hard." There were now only two cars between them and the Citroen.

"Hurry," Diane shouted.

Wincing, Kelly punched Diane on the cheek.

"Harder." Kelly hit her again. This time, her diamond wedding ring made a gash in Diane's cheek, and blood started flowing.

Kelly was looking at Diane, horrified. "I'm so sorry, Diane. I didn't mean to-" They had reached the customs checkpoint. Diane braked to a stop.

The border guard approached the car. "Good afternoon, ladies." "Good afternoon." Diane turned her head so that the guard could see the blood running down her cheek.

He looked at it, aghast. "Seсora, what happened?" Diane bit her lip. "It's my ex-husband. He enjoys hitting me. I got a restraining order against him, but I-I can't stop him. He keeps following me. He's back there now. I know there's no use asking for your help. No one can stop him." When the guard turned around to scan the line of approaching cars, his face was grim. "Which car is he in?" "The black Citroen, two cars back. I think he plans to kill me." "He does, does he?" the guard growled. "You ladies go on. You won't have to worry about him anymore." Diane looked at him tearfully and said, "Oh, thank you. Thank you." A moment later, they had crossed the border and were driving into France.

"Diane-"

"Yes?" Kelly put her hand on Diane's shoulder. "I'm so sorry about-" She pointed to Diane's cheek.

Diane grinned. "It got rid of Godzilla, didn't it?" She glanced at Kelly.

"You're crying." "No, I'm not." Kelly sniffed. "It's the damn mascara. What you did was-you're not just a pretty face, are you?" Kelly asked as she dabbed at Diane's wound with a tissue.

Diane looked in the rearview mirror and grimaced. "Not anymore, I'm not."

* * *



WHEN HARRY FLINT reached the border checkpoint, the patrol H guard was