He watched, helplessly, as the receding tail lights of his Corolla sped north, away from the freeway, away from the burning gas station and, most importantly, away from him. They grew steadily fainter and then he blinked and they were gone ... his car, his daughters ... and the killer of children ... Mike Hasker is a man with problems. A gambling addiction has led to the loss of his job, his home, and his wife. The only joy he has left in the world are his two young daughters, and he will do anything to protect them. But now, on a deserted back road far from civilization, he will come face-to-face with ultimate evil, a hunted serial killer that may be moreor lessthan human. This man wants only one thing, Mikes children, and he will kill anyone who gets in his way. As the police close in on the wrong man and a blizzard descends upon him, Mike will be faced with the most important decision of his life: recover his children before nightfall or lose them forever. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Russell C. Connor was the victim of a thwarted kidnapping attempt when he was eight-yea rs-old, but he is almost positive the Dark Filament had no hand in it. He has since become a devotee of all things horror. He lives in Fort Worth, Texas with his wife and evil cat and is hard at work on his next novel.