Dark Beginnings: Unveiling the Terrifying First Chapter of Harvester

Explore the chilling start of Harvester, where safety is an illusion, and terror strikes without warning.

Rain fell freely, bouncing off the inky black tarmac. The town took on a shiny new glow as the drops settled. The patter of the falling rain, foretelling longer evenings and nights in, wrapped up warm with wriggling, cozy toes, created a feeling of anticipation for the oncoming season.

Store window mannequins, swathed as though the winter had already set in, hinted at Christmas with their color palettes and textures. This change of season was Lucy's favorite. With the burning embers of a fabulous summer. The drawn-out nights were leading to bonfire night, Halloween and then Christmas; by far, the best time of year.

Colchester was unusually quiet this Saturday night; Lucy guessed it was due to the football game on the TV––Chelsea against Barcelona––and of course, the Strictly Come Dancing series returning. She loved watching Strictly but wanted to go out with friends; she pondered whether her boyfriend Harvey would watch it with her as she wandered earnestly through the rain.

Harvey was glued to the TV watching the game as she'd suspected. Although she couldn't understand why since he was a lifelong Arsenal supporter. Why he was happy to watch other teams? Lucy had never understood nor cared for the game; her father and brother were rugby fans, which seemed more sensible to her, in a nonsensical way. Her father had said football was a man's game played by thugs, and rugby was a thug's game played by gentlemen. Comically, the language that came out of Harvey's mouth when he was watching a game perfectly demonstrated that daddy was right. Regardless of these foibles, she utterly loved him and everything about him. She left her friends at around 11 pm. The Wagon and Horses felt like the inside of a packet of Jelly Babies–– full of scantily clad, brightly dressed chubby girls hoping to get lucky.

Her friend Zara, who was a little plumper than her, had such a way with words. She'd decided to wear a tight luminous green sheath dress that was way too short. Every bump and lump was accentuated by the sheer brightness of the colour which screamed, 'I'm having sex tonight. First-come-first-served.'

Lucy had been instantly attracted to her boldness when they started university together and she'd continue to admire it since. She would say, do you really want to wear that? Zara, with her carefree northern attitude, just shrugged away the comment and carried on.

With a head fizzing slightly from a mix of flavored gins and cocktails, Lucy had left earlier than planned and before the inevitable tipping point where soberness and alcoholic oblivion would collide like a crash test dummy. A hangover was the last thing she wanted on a Sunday, especially before the day before she started her first shift as a midwife at Colchester General Hospital.

Three years of training finally completed, Lucy's brain was fuller than when she started.  She didn't set out to become a mid-wife. She wanted to become a nurse. It wasn't until she visited a local obstetric unit when she saw mid-wives in action. It was something she was born to do. Or so it felt. And although the learning at university was tough. Each day came as a blessing. And now, she had earned her stripes. She could rest on her laurels for just a bit and enjoy her life with Harvey and all of the her new found friends she had made while at university.

The car was parked in St Johns Walk behind Culver Square, the retail shopping go-to destination of the town. First, she had to navigate the walking-binge-drinking statistics along the main street. Her purple empire dress was flowing in the stiff breeze coming up the street, the rain driving even harder into her face, and it was getting cold. Two weeks ago, it was warm. How did it get to be so cold? she thought.

Lucy held her clutch bag to her face as though it was the peak of a baseball cap shielding her face. Ignoring the whistles and catcalls of  the drunk soldiers hanging about outside the bars, she ducked down Pelhams Lane, turned right, and immediately swung left down Trinity Street on to her favorite part of town, Sir Isaac's Walk, the old area where beautiful boutique stores sold the most attractive things that she could not afford right now.

She raced through the tunnel to the top of the steps with a brief hiatus from the rain that sloshed out of the overfilled iron guttering, splashing her as she raced down the steps to the car park.

Her coat and slip-on Skechers were in the back seat of her car, then she'd make a quick run down more steps to the Gala Bingo taxi rank on Osbourne Street. Hopefully, Mohammad, her favorite taxi driver, would be there to whisk her home to Harvey.

Mohammad always took her back to her student digs without the meter running. It was the least he could do after Lucy had been there when his youngest, now two, Jamil was born. It wasn't a stressful birth for his wife. But nonetheless, he was convinced she were a gift from Allah.

Lucy was a petite woman, naturally athletic, with blonde hair, full lips, and an almond-shaped face. She was slender with smooth legs of the perfect color. She was a head-turner, which irritated Harvey.

He was insanely jealous and protective of his girl because he loved her with all his heart. It was almost an unbearable feeling, and Lucy knew that. While he was watching the game, he would be worried about the attention she would draw from the soldiers out on the town.

Another reason to get home early, curl up, and catch up on social media. She knew there would be the standard regretful WhatsApp messages from her closest friend Lilly who had already found a man for the evening.

Once finished, Lucy would have to deal with Lilly's texts. 'I hate myself.' 'He only wanted me for my body.' 'Why can't I find a decent boyfriend.' All Lilly had to do was stop sleeping around.

Perversely, she enjoyed what Lilly got up to. There was nothing that Lilly hadn't done, and Lucy almost envied the freedom Lilly had. Fifty Shades of Grey. Lucy grinned. That book was nothing compared to a coffee break with Lilly. Although security and stability were a more significant draw. Lucy needed to focus on achieving whatever there was to accomplish in her exciting new world.

However, she enjoyed receiving them and sharing them with Harvey. Although a little prudish, he was still a guy, and his internet search history revealed a lot!

The car was parked under one of the streetlights in the parking lot by the steps leading to Osbourne Street. No accident. Lucy would run into town the next day and pick up the car. She also always parked under the only working streetlight there. Harvey had told her to. She could hear him now. 'Babes, at night, always park under a streetlight. You'll see them coming and the CCTV can see you.'

Although today, the light wasn't on. She noticed it was out, but it didn't concern her.

Lucy's car was still visible by the light of the store signs on the lower level of the street.

He always added jokingly, 'at least if you get snatched by a perv, there'll be evidence.' Which was followed by a laugh.

As Lucy approached the car, she strode with confidence, even though she was slightly intoxicated and in her high heels. She loved the sound of her heels on the tarmac. It was a sexy sound. She was hoping Harvey had left the umbrella in the backseat. She knew her coat was hanging up on the door at home––a decision she now regretted as the rain hammered down even more. Relying on Harvey to think ahead would have been a miracle

It felt as if she was walking on the underside of a colander. The rain was smashing so hard into the ground. She noticed a purple van parked right next to her Mini. A tall, slim, fit man was getting out. The van blipped as the indicators in unison on all four sides flashed to tell the whole town, 'This van is now locked.' As she approached her car, the man tripped, spilling the contents of his messenger bag all over the soaking wet ground.

Fuck! the man cried. The thump on the tarmac was painfully audible, augmented by the standing water on the black concrete. Lucy, always willing to help, ran the final five steps to the man, who had fallen and crouched down.

Her skirt hitched up, as she realized when she squatted with her knees clamped together. She stuffed the excess material of the skirt between her legs.

Oh my gosh, are you okay? Lucy asked.

Yes, the man replied. These new shoes. So slippery. The man's accent made him sound well-educated. Mid-forties. He was cute and very muscular under the clothes he was wearing.

That thump on the floor made me wince. Are you sure you're okay? Let me help with your things before they get soaked, Lucy said as she was quickly snatching at the contents of the already soaked bag.

You're so very kind. I can't believe I was so stupid. The man was on his knees watching her grab his things, oblivious to the water running off his angular Germanic features.

She was perfect, beautiful, and sexy. Everything he had hoped for. She was a perfect specimen!

Lucy realized after a minute or so the inconsistency of the moment. She was grabbing the items while the guy was...watching.
     She looked up while her hands were feeling around for more bits and pieces. He was looking at her with piercing eyes. A small smile crept in the corner of his mouth.
     Nice to meet you, Lucy, I have been... Lucy heard him say. Then his mouth was moving. But there was no sound. She was grabbing around the soaking wet floor, and although her hands were moving, she couldn't feel them. Her arms started to flail, and her legs collapsed from under her. Lucy went to scream, but nothing came beyond the intentions. She was entirely conscious. But the conscious and unconscious thoughts remained where they were: just thoughts and not actions. Her mouth was watering, to the point of dribbling. She could feel the saliva running out. Instinctively, she reached for her mouth. But again, she made no movement.