Special Editions (Английская версия)

Chapter 1: In the dark corridor

Production company: JC creative!

I'm lying on my bed looking through my instagram feed. With each new swipe, I get more and more bored. So eventually I just put my phone away on the shelf, cover myself with a blanket and lie down, closing my eyes. The glare of the bright, full moon pierces even through the curtains. Its light plays on the floor, creating different shapes.

- Me: Beautiful...

I say to myself in my pre-sleep state and fall asleep.

After a few minutes, I wake up to a rustling in the hallway. This startled me, but I blamed it on my cat, which had irritated me more than once with its nocturnal adventures. I yell across the apartment to her:

- Me: Bonya! Stop it!

But the rustling doesn't stop and I get out of bed and turn on the light to check.

End of introductory segment

An introductory excerpt is a required element of every book. If the book is free, the reader won't see it. If the book is paid, or will become paid in the future, at this point the reader will receive an offer to pay for access to the rest of the text.

Choose the place to end the introductory excerpt thoughtfully. Correct positioning can multiply the number of sales. Look for the point of highest emotional intensity.

In English-language literature, this technique is called cliffhanger, an idiom for an exciting plot twist with an uncertain outcome, designed to hook the reader and make him anxious, waiting for the denouement. For example, in the climactic battle, the villain throws the hero off the cliff and he hangs, clinging to the edge with the last of his strength. "Ahhhh, what's going to happen?"

When I turned on the light I found Bonya lying in his cabin, asleep.

- Me: So... who's scrambling around in there then?

I grab my phone from the shelf and go.

I slowly walk to the door that separates me from the hallway exit. I try to turn on my phone to find a flashlight, but no luck.

- Me: Damn it... I must have run out of power. It's about time.

I open it just as slowly. It's dark in the hallway, I have to walk across the hall to the light switch.

- Me: Come on, Katya, you can do it... remember? You were the one who said it wasn't true... Take your word for it.

When I go out, I leave the door to the room open so that at least some light can enter and illuminate my path.

But I can't see anything in the darkness.

- Me: Devil! Now I have to remember and find the light switch.

As I get closer and closer to it, I stumble over something.

- Me: Ouch! What the hell?

I walk on, trying not to pay attention, and finally feel the wall with my hands.

- Me: Great, so the switch is here somewhere. I feel it and turn it on.

- Me: Hooray...

- Me: What the fuck...

The light starts blinking, so fast I can barely see the hallway. But I can also see the eyes... two white lights shining against me.

- Me: No, no, no! It's just my imagination. And the light bulb's just blown out.

Suddenly this thing comes toward me, and I just press myself harder into the wall.

- Me: Stay back!

But it doesn't listen. Here, it's very close, I can hear it hissing.

- Me: Noooo...

I squeeze my eyes shut as best I can.

- Thing: Grrrrr...

It growls at me.

And then bang!

I open my eyes lying on my bed and everything around me is daylight.

- Me: Phew! Fucking dreams! Now I'm only going to watch the Smeshariki at bedtime...

I turn my gaze to the closed door.

- Me: I didn't even go out... what a blessing.

Suddenly, a black, bony hand is climbing out of the bottom of the door.

- Me: Noooooo!

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With love JC