The Glowing Prequel to The Shining

by MatheusMarchetti

This is a prequel to Kubrick´s The Shining, tells the story of the previous caretaker of the Overlook Hotel Charles Grady as he descends to madness with his wife and daughters and commites a terrible tragedy.

1. Chapter 1

THE GLOWING: PREQUEL TO "THE SHINING"

By MatheusMarchetti

CHAPTER I – The Overlook

"Here we are!" said the early 40´s, tall and blonde Charles Grady as he parked in front of the mountainside resort – Overlook Hotel.

As a good school kid on his first date, Charles opened the door to his young wife – Becky, offering his arm. She smiled at him and glanced at the Overlook. "It´s beautiful!" she said. Behind them, it came their two 7-year old twin daughters – Lucy and Gabby. "How do you like it girls?" asked Charles to his daughters. They just stared at the hotel, but didn´t say a word.

"Gosh, it´s cold here!" said Becky. "Well, you and the girls can wait inside; the manager Mr. Ullman is waiting for us there. I´ll take the luggage." "Don´t you need help?" asked Becky. "No, no. Just… go on!" Becky turned into the girls and bet them a race to the front door. Charles looked at them with a proud smile on his face. Charles was just thinking, the entire winter, just he, his family and the Overlook. The perfect chance to finish his book and have some peace and quiet. It was just perfect, nothing could co wrong, he thought. Poor Charlie didn´t knew the things that were yet to come, a terrible tragedy, a true experience of the paranormal, the truth behind the hideous crimes that happened in the very roaming halls of the old Overlook Hotel.

As Charles was just picking up the bags, he heard someone behind him. Charles turned around and saw, standing there, Lloyd, the bartender. Lloyd was older than Charles and has been working for the Overlook for years now, on and on.

"Do you need some help Delbert?" asked Lloyd "Oh, yeah… I could need some help… but, my name is not Delbert" "Oh, sorry. It´s just that you reminded me of someone who worked here with me." "Ah, I see" "Are you the new winter caretaker?" "Yes, my name is Charles… Charles Grady" Charles gave his hand to shake with Lloyd, but Lloyd just stood, something was bothering him. The silence was on the air for a few seconds, but then Lloyd continued "My name is Lloyd Hamsley, I´m the bartender of the Overlook Hotel." "Ah… Very nice!" "Yes, yes. Lots of parties, celebreties, it´s like Hollywood has come to the Rockies!" Charles laughed and Lloyd kept talking "Do you drink, Mr. Grady?" "No, no. Quit when I married Rebecca" "Women… can´t live with them, can´t live without them" they laughed and carried the bags up to the Overlook.