Shivers by William Schoell

[Middoth]

Shivers by William Schoell (Leisure Book, 1985)

He crouched in the alleyway, listening with all his senses to the night as it surrounded him. Once more he was picking up those hideous thoughts, the chanting of a thousand condemned souls crying out in desperate supplication.

And so they came for him.

There was a clanking sound, like a manhole lid being forced open from below. There were no other sounds save the pounding of Philip’s heart. There were no cars, no pedestrians.

Only Philip and that thing from the sewer.

It waited there, its glaring red eyes searching, searching. It had an odor, both foul and sweet, like perfume-covered excrement. Then it moved down the street toward the alley.

The thing that had been stalking him lunged out. He felt a claw rake his shin. Then came sharp pain, the warmth of dripping blood. He continued to run. Another thrust—the claw dug into his back, scraping away nuggets of flesh. Philip cried out, his screams high as those of the thing that was attacking him. He could feel the breath of the creature as its mouth found his neck, the hungry teeth digging into his skin.

For the first time, he saw clearly what it was . . .