Homepage › Stories › When You Wake up and Scream

When You Wake up and Scream

"There's a dark corner of Hell.
It's dark and it's damp and it's yours.
This is what you get don't you forget
For your laughing terror across the moors.
There's no chance of repentance
For your dwelling in the cold past.
So no need to tremble let's meet with the devil
While we've still got the chance."
~ Above lyrics © Fionnuala Collins (me).

"I couldn’t find any meaning in my life when I was out there. I'm sure as hell not going to find it in here. This is the grand finale of a life poorly spent and the end result is just overwhelmingly depressing … it's just a sick, pathetic, wretched, miserable life story, that's all it is. How it can help anyone, I've no idea."
~ Jeffrey Dahmer.

Conán Connolly is the sort of person Naoise McCullough would have expected to discover in her crime books. However, he ends up being the person that leads her down a path that she's not sure she wants to take.

She's in danger. The only thing is, she doesn't know it yet.

Chapter One.
Meet Conán.
Chapter Two.
Meet Naoise.
Chapter Three.
A little of Conán's childhood and what makes him tick.
Chapter Four.
A little flashback and Conán runs into a familiar face.
Chapter Five.
Naoise gets to see a different side to Conán.
Chapter Six.
Conán gets a little off his chest.
Chapter Seven.
A bit about Naoise's family, and Conán gets a pep talk of sorts.
Chapter Eight.
Conán gets a bit of bad news, and takes a trip down memory lane.
Chapter Nine.
Conán has a flashback.
Chapter Ten.
Conán's luck changes.
Chapter Eleven.
Conán and Naoise have an interesting chat, and Conán meets a new enemy.
Chapter Twelve.
Conán has a think.
Chapter Thirteen.
A flashback and an experiment.
Chapter Fourteen.
Conán and Naoise are reunited.
Chapter Fifteen.
A close call.
Chapter Sixteen.
Discussing Conán’s father.
Chapter Seventeen.
Another, closer, call for Conán.
Chapter Eighteen.
An unpleasant evening for Naoise.
Chapter Nineteen.
Conán gets another fix.
Chapter Twenty.
An unpleasant evening for Mary.
Chapter Twenty-One.
Conán has a dilemma.
Chapter Twenty-Two.
A conversation Naoise would rather not have had.
Chapter Twenty-Three.
This calls for Conán’s best bit of acting.
Chapter Twenty-Four.
A harsh truth hits Conán.
Chapter Twenty-Five.
Naoise gets a shock.
Chapter Twenty-Six.
Conán meets the family.
Chapter Twenty-Seven.
Conán realises something.
Chapter Twenty-Eight.
A quick conversation and the first part of a flashback.
Chapter Twenty-Nine.
The rest of the flashback and Conán’s realisation.
Chapter Thirty.
Conán claims another victim.
Chapter Thirty-One.
An awkward conversation.
Chapter Thirty-Two.
An awkward situation.
Chapter Thirty-Three.
A goodbye.
Chapter Thirty-Four.
A flashback.
Chapter Thirty-Five.
Conán gets a phone call at just the right moment.
Chapter Thirty-Six.
Conán slips up.
Chapter Thirty-Seven.
Conán meets Detective McAfee.
Chapter Thirty-Eight.
Detective McAfee’s suspicions rise and Naoise wants a word.
Chapter Thirty-Nine.
Naoise gets involved.
Chapter Forty.
Naoise gives Conán an idea.
Chapter Forty-One.
Conán frustrates the police.
Chapter Forty-Two.
Things get more unpleasant.
Chapter Forty-Three.
Things take a turn for the very worst.
Chapter Forty-Four.
Conán covers his tracks.
Chapter Forty-Five.
Detective McAfee makes a connection.
Chapter Forty-Six.
Conán is back on the game.
Chapter Forty-Seven.
Conán begins to crack.
Chapter Forty-Eight.
The beginning of the end.
Chapter Forty-Nine.
Conán has to face some facts.
Chapter Fifty.
Conán begins to confess it all.
Chapter Fifty-One.
Conán gets a little cocky.
Chapter Fifty-Two.
The end of Conán’s confession, and a catch up with Naoise.
Chapter Fifty-Three.
Conán catches up.
Chapter Fifty-Four.
Conán looks for a way out.
Chapter Fifty-Five.
The trial.
Chapter Fifty-Six.
Conán sees the consequences.
Chapter Fifty-Seven.
Prison.
Epilogue.
The end.