▶ The Hook

A young man picked up his girlfriend in the evening and they drove out to a remote area to park. After turning on the car radio for mood music, he leaned over and began kissing his girlfriend.

A short while later, the music suddenly stopped and a news announcer’s voice came on, warning in an urgent tone that a convicted murderer had just escaped from the state insane asylum — which happened to be located not far from Lovers’ Lane — and that anyone who noticed a strange man lurking about with a hook in place of his right hand should immediately report his whereabouts to the police.

The girl became frightened and asked to be taken home. The boy, feeling bold, locked all the doors instead and, assuring his date they would be safe, attempted to kiss her again. She became frantic and pushed him away, insisting that they leave. In a huff, the boy slammed the car into gear and spun its wheels as he pulled out of the parking space.

On the way back to town they both calmed down, but the girl still held on tightly to her boyfriend. When they pulled up outside the girl’s house, the boy got out of the car and walked around to open the door for his girlfriend.

For a long time he just stood there, staring at the door. At first the girl couldn’t figure out what was wrong; then she realized that her door was still locked. She smiled and unlocked it.

Still, the boy just stood there.

The girl was puzzled and rolled down her window. Then she saw that the boy was staring down at the door handle. Slowly, she slowly looked down herself and began to scream uncontrollably.

There, hanging from the door handle, was a bloody stainless steel hook.