The Scream of Persephone

By Catherine Anne Howell

V hears a constant scream, and something strange grows beneath the pomegranate trees…

When her ship is attacked and crew slaughtered by a mysterious creature, Violet "V" Green is rescued by the handsome Dr. Dominic Shade and brought aboard his magnificent luxury class vessel, The Persephone. The opulent halls, fine food, and high-quality hallucinogens are almost enough to convince her that she could recover from the horrific tragedy that brought her here.

But from the moment she arrives, something only she can hear torments her endlessly: a woman's scream. Is it trying to tell her something, or is she losing her mind? Could the creature that attacked her ship still be hunting her?

The Scream of Persephone is a psychological sci-fi horror full of twists, turns, and terror. Will you follow where the voice leads?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Catherine Anne Howell
• Release date: Aug 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201399979

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The Scream of Persephone

by Catherine Anne Howell

Copyright © 2022 Catherine Anne Howell

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For permissions contact: [e-mail]

Dedication

To my parents––mother, father, stepmother, and stepfather––and to all those who light the way through the labyrinth.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 1

We’d been drifting in the void for four months. We were long-termers: the Hound Dog Fives.

It took a certain kind of person to willingly roam the uncharted black of deep space, and we were ideal: Sonia, Jack, Fyodor, and me. No family. No big dreams. We thrived on routine, small pleasures, and whatever pills we could find. We didn’t make a habit of overthinking. Even when the creeping guilts and wishes slithered in the prolonged silence, we had a routine for that, too. Anyone who didn’t went insane, just like anyone who stared out the window for too long. Their minds unspooled and rolled endlessly into the unceasing, untethered, uncurious dark.

In a sunless existence, in lieu of circadian rhythm, drugs marked the passage of day and night: uppers for breakfast, downers for dinner, and knockouts for bedtime. They kept our bodies and minds in sync with each other and the ship. They kept us focused and shortsighted with no long-term deliberations. Time was measured from one dose to the next.

Our mission was simple: drift in deep space, scout nearby stars and planets for resources, and return whatever we found to Station Deo 92––the home station. It wasn’t a glamorous job, but it was vital to our survival. We had no desire to philosophize, complicate, or make meaning of our infinitesimal existence. We had each other, and we had our jobs. As long as we kept our eyes away from the windows, that was enough.

I thought it was, anyway.

Sonia and I were on beta shift. I’d been looking forward to sharing a shift with her, but that was before I caught her fucking Jack in the shower.

Normally during our shift, we’d chat or play cards. Now, we sat in thick, inky silence.

In the middle of the dimly lit cockpit, I sat in the worn, black, vinyl captain’s chair––my chair––and looked through a large, oval window at the drifting asteroids and black blanket of space. A central computer station and four cushioned chairs were bolted to the floor in two rows in front of me. The computers flashed green and black with continuous stats about the ship’s performance, our position in deep space, and any neighboring celestial bodies.

The Hound Dog-5 was old, but the equipment had been upgraded fairly recently. The red and black wall panels sported a few chips, warps, and scratches here and there, but she was in ideal shape for a ten-year-old vessel. Dings were to be expected, but I ensured that we kept her clean and running smoothly. Our survival depended on it.

I leaned against the armrest, chin in hand, and stared ahead. I halfheartedly twisted the end of my thick, dark brown braid around my finger.

Sonia sat in the engineering chair and pretended to be busy. She swiped her fingers across the touch screen, scanned reports, and typed useless little commands into the keyboard. Occasionally, she toyed with the silver necklace I got her for our anniversary: a little orchid flower pendant on a long chain.

We all had a habit of carving our names on various things––walls, equipment, bedframes––but this piece I had specially engraved: Soni & V for Infinity.

Unlike me, with plain brown hair, plain green eyes, and a curt practicality unbecoming of my sex, Sonia was the kind of woman who was beautiful without having to try. Her thick, curly, black hair was pulled back in a sloppy ponytail, but delicate strands curled down around her cheekbones and framed her heart-shaped face perfectly. Her dark brown eyes bounced frantically around the computer screen, but the reflection highlighted hints of gold in their edges.

In that moment, I despised her beauty even more than her shameful silence.

Our relationship went through shifting periods of exclusivity and openness. All the Hound Dog Fives had slept with each other at some point––drifting in space only afforded so many leisure activities––so it wasn’t that she shared her body with someone else. It was all the other things: the lying, the secrets, the coy glances, the a-little-too-loud laughter, the sneaking around.

Jealousy wasn’t practical, so I didn’t give it much room in my mind. Sonia was my oldest, closest friend and lover. I wanted her to be happy. If she’d told me she was going to fuck Jack, I would’ve been fine with it. This was our arrangement. She knew this.

But she didn’t just want to fuck him. She wanted a secret. She wanted the thrill of having an affair. She wanted to break up the monotony by breaking my heart.

Worse than that, it was clear that she’d developed real feelings for Jack––and worse than that, I couldn’t really blame her. I loved Jack. He was pretty good in bed and fun to hang out with. He was one of my closest friends.

Was, I thought bitterly.

What hurt me the most, I realized, wasn’t the sex or secrets or sneaking around. It was that Sonia was my person. She’d always been my person. Through all else, we had each other.

And now I was losing her.

I closed my eyes and swallowed.

Fuck.

V... Sonia said softly.

I met her gaze. Her brows were knitted in concern, her dark eyes full of repentance.

Memories washed through my mind: her open mouth, her face screwed up in pleasure, her fingernails clawed into Jack’s muscular back, water flooded over their bodies.

What? I snapped.

The combination of sharp-edged uppers and wretched heartbreak hardened my tone.

She winced. Her gaze wandered back to her computer.

We––uh... She cleared her throat a little. We need a couple replacement valves for the pressurant tank. There’s a bit of corrosion.

Great, I said. I’ll send you and Jack back in an escape pod.

V... She sighed and looked up at me, her tone pleading and desperate. We never wanted to hurt you.

Jesus, I scoffed and rolled my eyes. "We? Do we give a fuck?"

"Yes, we do," she snapped.

Then why? I snarled. "Why didn’t you just talk to me? I would’ve––"

Not everything is under your control, V! Sonia cried. Just because you’re Captain doesn’t mean you get to rule everyone’s life! I’m so sick of it!

"Oh, please, I hissed. I don’t even know who you are anym––"

Quick, heavy thuds skittered across the roof.

Sonia and I looked up.

What was that? she asked.

I stared at the metal ceiling. I was normally indifferent in the face of sprawling silence, but for once, prickly fear washed over my skin and settled in my bones. Things didn’t go bump in the night in deep space.

A metallic screech from above burst the thick quiet. The ship rocked with the impact.

What the fuck? Sonia cried.

I jumped up and sprinted down the wide, curved corridor past the kitchen where the clatter was loudest––by the sleeping quarters. I stopped in front of the door to our shared room and released the hatch into the upper crawlspace.

Only darkness surrounded the wires and pipes, but thunderous shuffles and clangs barreled toward me.

I slammed the hatch shut.

Something’s in there! I yelled.

"What?" Sonia screamed.

Sonia?

Jack’s strong voice,