The Last Resort

 A grieving woman meets a mysterious stranger

On a day unlike any other day, Rose walked into the airport. Her sneakers made minimal sound as she pulled her only suitcase behind her on its almost soundless wheels. Rose glanced up, her face wooden, looking for the correct terminal number.

Her face was expressionless as she walked through the metal detector arch without glancing at the man who waved her through.

Rose walked toward the last barrier, her passport clutched in her hand.

“Destination?”

“Mexico,” Rose answered, “for the festival.”

“Los dia Mortes?”

“Yes,” Rose tonelessly affirmed.

“Where are you staying, and for how long?”

Rose mentioned the resort, adding, “Ten days.”

The woman gave a double-take and returned Rose her ticket and passport without further conversation. She only motioned her through the gate and pointed to the small lounge where several people sat quietly, with their carry-ons waiting to board.

Rose chose to stand at the window, where she numbly watched as the airplane taxied into place and the bridge was driven toward the plane door and readied.

Rose gave a polite, distant nod to the flight attendant who helped her find her seat during boarding, then stared through the plane’s window, ignoring the woman beside her; she hadn’t expected it. The aircraft had few passengers, and Rose had looked forward to not having to climb over someone to get to the aisle, let alone fend off a conversation.

“Is this your first time in Mexico?”

Rose bit her lip in annoyance, answering curtly, “Yes.”

“Ah, not for me,” the woman gave a laugh, “I go away, I come back.”

Rose gave a noncommittal grunt.

A flight attendant stopped, offering a pre-flight beverage, but Rose shook her head, only to have the woman scold her, “You go without too much, I think. You must have juice for a toast if you will not have something stronger.”

Rose looked at the woman’s determined face and shrugged at the attendant, who nodded in affirmation before leaving to take other orders.

“Better, but not by much, eh?”

Rose looked at the woman again, who gave a broad smile on a face creased with deep lines—an older woman wearing a dark, shapeless dress and wrapped in a shawl. On her lap, she held a large purse, into which she reached, searching, smacked her lips with satisfaction, and offered Rose a granola bar.

“Eat,” she urged the reluctant Rose, “you are thin, yes? Too much. And not by wanting to be thin, I think? Yes?”

The woman pushed the bar into Rose’s hand and took it without further argument. And, when her juice arrived, Rose took it because it didn’t matter; it just didn’t matter anymore.

“A toast, yes?”

Rose shrugged.

“To those we love and all who have loved us, we drink this in memory.”

Rose ignored the toast and the safety demonstration and put on her seatbelt when the indicator lights came on. The plane taxied into position, and she closed her eyes as she felt it accelerate beneath her, feeling herself pushed back into the seat as the aircraft angled up toward the clouds.

“Do not fear, no, not at all,” the woman said.

“I am not afraid,” Rose retorted grimly, then added as a polite afterthought, “but thank you.”

“It is okay to be afraid,” the woman said, “sometimes.”

Rose did not reply and continued looking out of the window as the woman beside her began to hum to herself.

“Fear is good, eh? Sometimes, eh? It is a good teacher,” the woman chuckled.

Rose gave the woman a sidelong look but didn’t respond.

The woman patted Rose’s hand. “Grief, and her sister, Mourning. They accept offerings of tears as their due, but they do not demand them forever.”

“What are you talking about,” Rose demanded. “You are talking foolishness.”

“Am I? Maybe, maybe,” the woman cackled. “But even so, it is true.”

Rose grunted in annoyance, glaring at the woman who only smiled at her with sympathy before adding softly, “Depression is a woman; she is a demon, that one; her hair hangs like a greasy shroud, covering eyes as black as the blackest night.”

Rose’s eyes widened in alarm as the woman took her hand firmly, in her own, and attempted to free herself to no avail.

“Yes, her hair, hanging like a shroud,” the woman repeated,” and her arms are thin, and her hands, they grab you, eh? They pull you close to her breast, which hides a heart that does not beat.”

“Who are you?” Rose whispered, “I will scream. I will.”

“She presses her cold lips to yours,” the woman continued earnestly, “until your breath is gone, and your soul cries, but it is trapped in a frozen shell.”

Continue reading the story in the anthology:

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When a Dog Needs a Job

 The story of Mop read by Carrie Wimmer 

One of my fondest memories from childhood is of a dog named Mop. He was a Puli, a herding breed that my parents knew little about when he followed my dad home one day. As it turned out, Pulis are high-energy working dogs requiring physical and mental stimulation.

Unfortunately, our small yard was not enough to keep him entertained, and soon he became lethargic and uninterested in anything. My mom quickly realized that we needed to find a larger space for him to run freely and use his energy, as well as a sense of purpose and responsibility.

Click the video to listen to the story read by Carrie

Written by Erika M Szabo www.authorerikamszabo.com

Narrated by Carrie Wimmer www.narrationnation.org

Erika M Szabo

https://authorerikamszabo.com

Erika loves to dance to her own tunes and follow her dreams, introducing her story-writing skills and her books based on creative imagination with themes such as magical realism, alternate history, urban fantasy, cozy mystery, sweet romance, and supernatural stories. Her children’s stories are informative and educational and deliver moral values in a non-preachy way.

A Spell to Restore Youth

 What is she willing to sacrifice?

The bright Arizona sunlight permeated through the plantation shutters, waking Gemma Lowry from a restless night, which was not unusual considering her marriage was going down the tubes fast. Russell, her husband, had already left for work, which was normal with having to take over the accounting agency he’d inherited from his late father years ago.

Throwing back the fine linen sheets, Gemma walked through her vast territorial-style home and headed to the kitchen to get a cup of coffee before her usual morning walk. October in Arizona still meant warm mornings. She sat at the kitchen table, glancing out over the open courtyard at an unused chiminea that graced the corner. I don’t know why we never use this thing. Maybe it’s because Russell has been so busy working late these days. Hopefully, with the cooler weather coming, we can make it a point to spend evenings out here enjoying the beautiful view of the mountains. Her thoughts quickly turned to Russell and his behavior over the past year. Their daughter, Hope, was off at college, and things had indeed been different, but he seemed to lack interest in their relationship, and sex had become less and less frequent, if not non-existent. Gemma wondered if he was having an affair with his attractive secretary, who was young, blonde, and thin. After all, he was an attractive, well-built man five years her junior. It’s no wonder, can I blame him? I mean, it’s not hard to notice the few pounds I’ve put on, not to mention my absence from the salon for some time. Did he also find me boring? Maybe I need to get back into teaching or doing some substitute work. That’d most likely get me back into my routine of dressing up and looking more professional. I guess this is what early retirement does to some people.

Taking an early retirement was something Russell had brought up a while back as the business was doing well, and he had suggested for Gemma to retire from the classroom and do some private tutoring. After teaching for twenty-five years at the local middle school, she’d jumped at the idea.

After her morning walk, she decided to call her longtime fellow teaching partner, Lorna, and meet for coffee later that morning. Lorna had retired a few years back. Gemma needed a friend to confide in regarding her home situation.

Following a cool shower, she headed into her closet to select a simple sundress. After trying on several, she became irritated as most were all too snug. Looking in the bedroom mirror, she shook her head. No more walks; I’ve got to cut back on those sweets I’m so addicted to or start running.

She ran her hands through her dull red hair and fastened her long locks into a ponytail. She remembered the days when her hair was a brighter red. The Arizona sun did have its effect on redheads. She suddenly remembered she had some other outfits hanging in Hope’s closet. Now that her daughter had gone away to school up north, she’d transferred some of her things into Hope’s closet.

Gemma had successfully found the perfect summer shift, but her eyes were soon diverted to the boxes that housed mementos that were stacked in the back of the closet. She knew they were mostly old toys that belonged to Hope when she was a child. Feeling a strong urge, she pulled the top one out, finding old yearbooks and some of Hope’s favorite children’s books. She opened the second box and lying on top was an old shoebox labeled Margie, written in fancy script-style writing.

She sat on the floor, eager to open the small, tattered box. There was layer upon layer of tissue paper on top. She tore away at the papers, scattering them about the floor to find Margie, the fashion doll perfectly wrapped in silk and tied with twine. At least my daughter wanted to keep this doll well preserved, she thought.

She gently picked up the doll that resembled so many of the famous fashion dolls at that time, but Margie was unique with her long platinum blonde hair and sparking green eyes. She looked as though she was ready for bed in her white silky gown. Gemma couldn’t help but notice the doll’s brilliant emerald eyes. I don’t think anyone has eyes this color except for a toy, she reasoned. I remember when Hope spent endless hours playing with her and changing her into the many outfits I’d bought. All the memories resurfaced from a different time, a happier time. She examined Margie, closely admiring all of the doll’s youthful features. “You are perfect, you know. You never age nor gain weight. You have it all and don’t even know it. What I wouldn’t give to be in your shoes.”

Gemma shook off this silly feeling and placed Margie back in the box, wrapped snuggly in her silk cloth minus the twine, feeling she didn’t need to be bound up again after being bound up for all these years. She closed the lid to the box and wished her a restful sleep.

Gemma was looking forward to seeing her longtime friend Lorna again. The Coyote Corner Coffee Shop was not overly crowded for 11 a.m. They scored a back table and ordered their usual lattes and cranberry scones. A month had gone by since they’d last met. Lorna looked stunning for fifty-seven with her new short pixie cut. They’d been teaching partners for fifteen years at Brighter Days Academy and had become great friends as well.

Talking about memories of past teaching days was usually the main conversation, but today’s topic would take a slight twist as Gemma was about to confide in Lorna about her rocky relationship with Russell.

Lorna listened with rapt attention and didn’t interrupt until Gemma was finished venting. She’d offered her some sage advice and hoped her friend would listen. Lorna had suggested picking up a few more students for tutoring, knowing Gemma only had a fifth grader at the time. Gemma had commented that she wasn’t motivated to get out there and advertise lately. Lorna had also mentioned that the two of them join the local gym. Gemma nodded, agreeing that both of these suggestions sounded promising. She reached out and took her friend’s hand, thanking her and reminding her of what a good friend she’s been after all these years and proceeded to ask her a heartfelt question. “Tell me truthfully, do I look older than 52? I mean, I want you to be honest.”

Continue reading the story in the anthology:

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The Master Parachutist

 The difference between skydiving and parachuting

This story is to help people unfamiliar with this topic understand the difference between skydiving and military parachuting. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve told folks I was a military master parachutist, and they go off asking questions you should ask a skydiver. And when I try to correct them, they look at me like I’m a Martian. So folks I hope this will clear up the confusion, and hopefully get people to understand what it really means to be a military parachutist (or what it means to be one of our close cousins, a smoke jumper. Except for the firepower we carry, the parachuting is the same).

To help the reader understand the full impact of what we do I present the rule of LGOPs:

The rule of LGOPs, or Little Group of Paratroopers, is a concept in the US Army that describes how soldiers adapt and overcome situations in combat:  After the demise of the best Airborne plan, a most terrifying effect occurs on the battlefield. This effect is known as the rule of the LGOPs. This is, in its purest form, small groups of pissed-off 19-year-old American paratroopers. They are well-trained. They are armed to the teeth and lack serious adult supervision. They collectively remember the Commander’s intent as “March to the sound of the guns and kill anyone who is not dressed like you” – or something like that.

We are in extended ranks for a late afternoon manifest call. This is how every night jump begins. We stand in formation, dog tags hanging outside our shirts, ID cards in our left hands. The jump masters walk down the ranks checking each trooper’s IDs against the jump manifest and that they have their dog tags.

Once the jump masters have verified that all the jumpers on the manifest are present, and they all have their dog tags and IDs we close ranks, pick up our gear, and load onto the trucks for the ride to “green ramp”.

People always make the mistake of thinking that skydiving is the same as military parachuting. The truth is the only thing they have in common is that you use a parachute in both.

The ride to “green ramp” is relatively quiet. There is some good-natured kidding, and a few jokes, but mostly there’s introspection. Some pray, some smoke, and all of us recheck our equipment.

The trucks pull into the unloading area at “green ramp “. We get off the trucks, assemble, pick up our gear, and march to the rigging area. When our commander directs us to, we ground our equipment and move over to parachute issue. We draw our main and reserve parachutes and return to our equipment.

We pair up and use the buddy system to put on our parachutes. We attach our equipment and weapons. We will carry on our bodies everything we need to fight and survive for seventy-two hours of sustained combat. We check each other and move over to the jump masters for pre-jump inspection. Once we have been inspected and assigned the door we’ll be jumping we get in stick order and sit down. Tonight, I will be the first jumper in the starboard door.

As we wait, I check that I can reach the knife I have strapped to my right boot. I release the safety strap and grip the handle. I pull it up and it slides smoothly out of the sheath. Most of the guys prefer the Marine Corps Ka-Bar, but I feel that my Gerber Mk II is more elegant, though it requires more skill to use. After checking the blade, I slip it back into the sheath and snap the safety strap back in place.

The jump masters go to conduct their safety inspections of the drop aircraft. When they’ve finished, they put on their parachutes and equipment. They inspect each other and join the rest of us as we wait to get on the airplanes.

A stark difference between skydiving and military parachuting is in skydiving there are few people in the sky at the same time. Tonight, I’ll be in the first of four flights of aircraft just minutes apart, tonight I’ll share the sky with nearly six hundred members of the battalion.

But there is a moment, a very elusive moment, one that we all seek. It is this moment that keeps us coming back, that keeps us jumping.

At 20:00 hours we load onto the aircraft. We waddle onto the tarmac and to the waiting planes. When you’re wearing 96 pounds of combat equipment, ammunition, water, and food plus 46 pounds of parachute all you can do is waddle. I’m a medic so I have an extra 15 pounds of medical supplies. Fortunately, I’m not carrying a W.I.C.E. bag, that would really suck.

At 20:40 hours the first flight taxis for takeoff. The JATO (Jet Assisted Takeoff) bottles ignite, and the acceleration of the aircraft slams us against each other. When the planes clear the runway the JATO bottles fall away. The forty-minute flight to the drop zone begins.

Believe it or not, you can sleep when you’re this loaded up. Packed into the plane like this there’s nothing else you can do. No one wants to talk; everyone is too busy with their own thoughts.

Flying in an Air Force transport for a jump is not like being in an airliner. There are no rows of seats and no flight attendants. Port and starboard “sticks” sit with our backs against the skin of the aircraft, and the center aisle “sticks” sit back-to-back facing us. There is no room to walk down the aisles so the safety NCOs must walk on us to do their inflight checks.

The jump masters give the ten-minute warning. They have to use hand and arm signals because the noise from the engines is so loud only those seated close to them can hear them.

Shortly comes the six-minute warning. The jump masters take their positions as the aircrew and safety NCOs make their final checks.

The jump masters start giving their commands.

“Outboard personnel stand up!” Those of us seated against the skin of the aircraft stand, lift our seats out of the way, locking them in the up position, and face the jump masters.

“Inboard personnel stand up!” The inside sticks stand, raising their seats and face the jump masters as well.

“Hook up!” We all hook up our static lines to the anchor line cables.

“Check static lines!” We all trace our static lines as far as we can, and then we check the static line of the jumper in front of us.

“Check equipment!” We all check that our equipment is still properly rigged and connected to our harnesses.

“Sound off for equipment check!” Starting from the front of the aircraft each jumper swats the butt of the jumper in front of him and shouts, “Okay!” This continues until it reaches the jumpers closest to the doors. When the check reaches me, I stomp my left foot, point to the jump master for my door and shout, “All okay!”

The jump master gives me the thumbs up and goes to do the door safety checks. He feels the edges of the door frame. He stomps on the jump step making sure it’s secure. Next, he moves to the edge of the jump step and leans outside the aircraft to check for obstructions. When the jump master has completed the safety checks he moves back into the plane and looks out the door for the ground markers.

Shortly the aircraft’s crew chief touches the jump masters’ shoulder and speaks into his ear. The jump master nods and steps back from the door. He shouts, “One minute!” Then he points at me and commands, “Stand in the door!”

I shuffle to the door and get into position. I can see the jump lights on the door frame. The light is currently red.

Standing in the door, the world passes by. The cool air, the smell of spring mixed with burnt JP4. The clock ticks, seconds turning to minutes. Adrenaline pumping, I’m ready to spring into the sky. Heart pounding, pulse racing. Stars sparkling on the horizon.

The light changes from red to green. A shout in my left ear, “Go!” I leap out of the door.

The wind twists me parallel to the plane. I see the canopy starting to deploy beneath my feet. The roar of engines fade as I swing below the canopy. I check that it has deployed correctly.

The night closes in and for a moment I’m alone, and I become one with the night sky.

R. A. “Doc” Correa

www.goldenboxbooks.com/ra-doc-correa.html

A retired US Army military master parachutist retired surgical technologist, and retired computer scientist. He’s an award-winning poet and author. “Doc” has had poems published in multiple books and had stories published in Bookish Magazine and Your Secret Library. His first novel, Rapier, won a Book Excellence award and was given a Reader’s Favorite five-star review.

Area Code 666

 Phone calls from somewhere that should not exist

The two men moved with deliberation, their forks passing through the food — Chinese for one, Mexican for the other — as they brought the rice and seasoned meat to their mouths in measured, slow movements, hunched over the tiny mock stone table in the main corridor of Lakeforest Mall. The short one, whose features displayed a ruddy, overweight look, stared at the meal without interest.

His companion, a tall black man with the shoulders of a linebacker and a close-cropped buzz cut, dipped and drew at the same rate of speed as if the time to consume the contents of the Styrofoam platter knew no outward bounds.

Another man approached, a pair of paper cups in his hands, the straws jutting upward. As he placed them before the men, he said, “Here you go, guys.” Then he stiffened.

His phone buzzing from his pocket, Steve Hyatt stopped to reach down and then switched it off to prevent the vibration from tickling his thigh. Only later, after he’d finished feeding the ‘tards, did he look to see who called, blinking as he saw the number.

“What the fuck?”

The call read from Area Code 666. Steve stared at it, blinked again, then turned the phone upside down as if to fix the aberration. The number did not change.

He spoke aloud. “Somebody’s fucking with me.” The men, William and Demetri, did not respond, pursuing the earnest consumption of their lunch in continued single-minded silence. Hyatt had long past caring about his language in front of his charges, his supervisors indicating that, while it fell into the area of a technical violation of established protocol, his position as caregiver faced little effect or consequence as they would not comprehend the language.

Tempted to call the number back just to see whether it went to a live line, Hyatt dismissed the notion on its heels as he shrugged. Probably a gimmick. Goddamn corporations would do anything these days to get you to answer the phone.

“Hey, Steve.”

He looked from his cell to his new co-worker, Rachel Brockmeyer. He pocketed his phone.

“Hey. Sup?”

“Hey, so what’s the deal with the schedule tomorrow? How we gonna handle the day?”

“It’s all gonna be different. We’re gonna spend the whole day carting them around to the voting places. You and me, that’s it.”

“Just the two of us?”

“Just like that old song, fam. We gonna be taking the entire clientele –”

“Every client?”

Hyatt nodded. “Every one of them, every single one.”

“How many is that?”

“Few hundred.”

“Fuck.”

“Fuck, indeed. We gotta pick ‘em up at all the designated houses, then haul ‘em to the voting booths.”

“Then what?”

“Then we march ‘em to the booths, hand ‘em the written instructions, and cross our fingers.”

“And you say no one’s caught on?”

“Not so far,” Hyatt leaned toward Brockmeyer’s quizzical face, “Runs like clockwork.”

“Okay, if you say so.”

“Look, stop worrying. I have been doing this for like six years. Easy- peasy –”

“You’re making me queasy. Gotchu.”

That night, after they saw the clients to their rooms to sleep, Hyatt retired to his within the halfway house, a Spartan affair that he kept furnished to a minimum on purpose. Hyatt felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He knew what it would read even before he withdrew it. He pulled it from his jeans anyway.

Area Code 666. The same number.

Continue reading the story in the anthology:

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A treasure trove of imagination and creativity, showcasing the authors' diverse voices and talents. #whatifanthology #halloween #stories4you

Thy Sister's Blood

 Haunted Creek

Friends on a haunted creek uncover ancient relations. Magic and mystery drive this journey of self-discovery with the enduring power of family.

Stella Reeves wiped sleep from her eyes and sat up in bed. She frowned at the glowing numbers on her bedside alarm clock: 4:33. Working the mid-shift at the plant, she wasn’t accustomed to early morning wakeups. Was the neighbor’s cat in heat again? Or was it the sounds of her century old home settling that roused her from her deep dream? A sweet dream it was too…one she was sure to tell her girlfriends about on their trip.

The trip! She did a double-take at the clock and threw off her covers. Her feet hit the cold wooden floors as the phone rang.

“Hello.”

“Stella, we’re outside waiting for you. We’ve been ringing the doorbell for five minutes. Did you oversleep again?”

“I’m sorry, Josie. My stupid alarm didn’t go off again. Give me five minutes. I’m already packed…just need to dress and I’ll be down.”

“Hurry up, girl,” she snapped. “The river waits for no woman.”

The line clicked dead in her hand and Stella dressed hurriedly. She slipped into her new baby blue swimsuit first. Worn jean shorts and a T-shirt advertising her side hustle followed. It read “Stella’s Gems and Crystals” with her website emblazoned beneath a purple amethyst. A pair of red, white, and blue water shoes completed her outfit.

She ran a brush through her long hair (a shade often disparaged as dishwater blonde), grabbed her packed river bag, and hustled downstairs.

Thin, raven-haired Josie hopped out of the dark blue SUV’s front passenger door and stared down her nose at Stella. She stepped to the back of the vehicle and threw open the back hatch.

“It’s about time, Stella. Throw your stuff in back.”

Stella tossed in her gear, bit her lip, and climbed into the back seat. Don’t let on she’s getting to you, Stella, she thought.

Rowan, a red-haired woman in her mid-twenties turned in the driver’s seat and flashed her bright smile. Stella figured it was that smile that held all the guys in thrall, not her glorious auburn hair as she’d once thought. As lovely as Rowan was, her smile was her best feature, appropriate for someone making their living as a dentist. Everyone gravitated to Rowan, despite her keeping everyone, even Stella, at arm’s length.

“Hey, Rowan. Thanks for driving. I’ve been looking forward to this week since this time last year.”

“Yeah, we could tell by how you were waiting for us as planned.” Josie said.

“Chill, Josie,” Rowan said. “We’ll be down county in time to see the sunrise over the water. We won’t be dipping our paddles before daylight anyway—when the kayak rental place opens.”

“Tell us about the place we’re going, Rowan.”

“I think you’ll like it, Stella. It’s a little different than the places we’ve gone to in past years.”

“Different how?”

“Well for one thing, it’s the coastal plain, not the mountains. The river is slower, and there’s fewer river ‘challenges’ as Josie calls them. It will be a nice relaxing float. Plus, we should be able to catch a few fish, crabs and maybe an oyster or two to supplement that tasteless dehydrated stuff.” 

“Yuck, no slimy oysters for me thank you very much.” Josie said. “I wipe enough slime out of my kindergartners’ noses.”

“The joys of being a teacher, huh Josie?”

“Yeah, not so much…”

“Rowan, didn’t you say that is where your family’s from originally?” Stella asked.  

“Sure is, but not that I recall. Not really. We moved away before I started school, but we went back sometimes—when we still had family there.”

“Did your dad take you after your mom…” Stella started.

“Yes, he wanted us to know both sides of our family. There aren’t many Blackstones left in the area nowadays, but people remember the family name even if it’s not for the best of reasons.”

“Why is that? Were you a pre-school hoodlum?”

“No, not me, Josie, it was way before my time. There was a colonial ancestor who got herself into a spot of trouble down county.”

“What? Wait. I haven’t heard of this one. Give it up, Rowan.”

“Nope. Sorry, Josie, but that’ll be tonight’s campfire story…unless you guys are chicken? I know you’re not, Stella. Those tales never affect you. Without empirical evidence, you don’t believe in anything.”

“Wow, is this pick on Stella day? Hey, I’m just realistic, Rowan, but I do get a kick out of a good scary story.”

“That usually ends with you in a fit of giggles.”

“Well, I like them,” Josie said. “Spooky stories around the campfire are a tradition, and if memory serves, it’s you who hides in your sleeping bag during the scary ones, Rowan. Remember the guy with the hook for a hand…”

“One time…just one time and I’m branded for life.”

***

A brilliant orange and purple sunset greeted their arrival at the campground. The moon was a night or two away from reaching its full phase and its mirror image reflected on the flat surface of the river.

“The tide is still. It’s as placid as a lake.”

“Like I said, Stella, this trip won’t be like our usual float. We’ll be putting the kayaks in at the source of a tributary that feeds the Potomac. The locals call it a creek. They’d call it a river where we’re from but it’s not long enough I guess.”

Josie turned her back on the scene and stepped away. “Well, we don’t have time to admire the scenery…not if we want to get camp set up before dark. Guess we were too late leaving to enjoy it.”

Stella glanced at Rowan and rolled her eyes. “God, what a witch,” she breathed.

Rowan smiled but whispered in Stella’s ear, “I know, but go easy on her. She just broke up with Jim. Another lesson to not trust people with your heart.”

Experience allowed a speedy assemblage of tents. Stella started a small campfire and put water on to boil for hot cocoa. The three women unfolded beach chairs and sat around the fire.

Josie stretched and settled into her chair. “Ok, Rowan, it’s story time. Let the tall tales begin.”

“Are you sure it won’t keep you up tonight?”

“We’ll take our chances,” Stella laughed.

“Very well. Buckle up, ladies, here goes:  As you may know, the Maryland colony was established by folks seeking religious tolerance in the 1630s. Ironically, the colonists were not immune from the witch hysteria that rocked Salem Town. In the late 1600s a woman arrived on these shores who was…different. Her name was Maeve Blackstone. She was…”

“Blackstone? Was she related, Rowan?”

“I’m afraid so, Josie. She was my great-great…I don’t remember how many greats— grandmother. She was, by all accounts, a beautiful woman in the prime of her life. No one knows where she came from. She travelled here alone—very unusual for a single woman in that day and age. She didn’t get along well with folks. Men were always chasing after her, though she didn’t give them the time of day…which spurred them on even more. The local ladies didn’t much appreciate the attention she attracted. They claimed she was an ‘unnatural’ woman, and too prideful and haughty for her ‘station.’ Maeve traded with the natives and helped those most in need. But mostly she kept to herself, balked at societal norms and avoided colonial functions—including attending church services.”

“It sounds like she was an independent woman, not a popular trait in those days.”

“Exactly and not now either, Stella. Tensions increased when it became obvious that Maeve was with child. The father was never identified, but every matron in the colony, even while suspecting Maeve’s never-do-well hangers on, feared it would be discovered to be their own husband, brother, or son.”

“So, they ran her out of town?”

“Let her finish, Stella, but do get on with it, Rowan. I’m ready to hit the sack.”

Rowan smiled and continued. “Maeve was used to the townsfolk shunning her, but now they took it to a new level. People whispered curses under their breath when she passed. Children were scolded if they didn’t cross the street to avoid her. She became the focal point of church sermons as the preacher railed against godless, immoral, and unnatural acts.

“The colonists’ livelihood in those days depended on tobacco farming and fishing. When a drought seized the land, work-worn fingers all pointed at Maeve. Then several children caught what they called the seasoning—likely malaria which was rampant in the area at the time. Hatred towards Maeve grew stronger, and folks began to suggest witchcraft was involved. The icing on the cake was the red tide in the Potomac…”

“Red tide?” 

Continue reading the story in the anthology:

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A treasure trove of imagination and creativity, showcasing the authors' diverse voices and talents.

The True Horror of Being Bitten

 A story from the What If? #4 Anthology

In the days of the Roman Empire, a French peasant and thief learns the true horror of what it means to be bitten.

Once bitten, twice shy

August 28, 45 AD Provincia Romana

Francois slips quietly over the villa’s wall, dropping softly to the ground. Crouching, he looks along the wall in both directions and then down the gentle slope from the wall to the edge of the woods. None of the Roman guards are visible. They all must be searching the estate’s grounds.

Moving in the shadows, Francois cautiously makes his way down the hill. He avoids the bright spots of reddish light from the ‘blood moon.’ We should have waited for the full moon to pass; there is too much light tonight.

Wraith-like Francois disappears into the edge of the forest. He holds his stolen treasure inside his loose-fitting shirt. The cool, hard silver of the wine pitcher comforts him. This could feed the family for a year. I hope Luc has taken something of equal value. That will get us through the next year.

Silently, Francois follows the trail that leads to their rendezvous spot, a small knoll that is almost a league away from the villa. After half an hour, he gets the feeling he is being watched. The feeling stays with him, so when he is more than halfway there, Francois stops and listens.

At first, he hears nothing, not even a night bird. It is so quiet that all he can hear is his own breathing. The hairs on the back of his neck start to stand up. His heart begins to pound. Then he hears it.

The breathing is heavy and, at the same time, rapid. Is that a dog? Has that Roman set the dogs on me?

The longer he listens, the surer he becomes. If it is a dog, it is huge. Francois slowly turns his head, trying to find where the sound is coming from. He focuses on a copse of small oak trees to his right. Brush and tall grass grow around the trees. The sound is definitely coming from them. His vision zeroes in on the shadows between the trees, concentrating on a patch of bushes and tall grasses.

A flash of reddish yellow, then it is gone. What was that? Francois turns, facing the direction he is looking, and starts to crouch, keeping his eyes on the spot where he thought he saw the yellow flash. After a moment two yellow orbs appear, the moonlight adding a reddish tinge to them. With the appearance of the orbs comes a low, rumbling growl.

Slowly, the yellow orbs move closer, and the growling gets louder.

Francois draws his knife, taking up the fighter’s stance his father taught him. He keeps his eyes on the approaching yellow orbs. As they draw closer the drooling snout of a wolf comes out of the shadows and into view. Its fangs are exposed, lips drawn back, and ears flat against the wolf’s head. Drool drips from its mouth onto the ground.

Francois looks around, searching for more wolves. Wolves always attack as a pack! But there are none to be seen or heard. Where are the others?

As the wolf advances on him, Francois quickly considers his options. I could run, but I cannot outrun him. If I fight, and I do not kill it quickly, the other wolves will get here and kill me. My only chance is to kill it quickly and find a tall tree to climb before the other wolves arrive. Francois prepares to attack as the beast gets closer.

The wolf is about ten yards away now. Its coat might be gray with silver highlights, but it is hard to tell because of the reddish light from the ‘blood moon.’ It must be the biggest wolf to have ever lived. Francois guesses that it is at least a hundred and seventy pounds. As it prepares to pounce, Francois charges. For a moment, the wolf is surprised, but it recovers quickly and races toward Francois.

Francois rushes forward in a half-crouch, ready to strike. He realizes the wolf is going for his throat, so he leaps forward, going erect at the same time. The wolf’s jaws do not slam closed on his throat. Instead, they clamp down on the silver pitcher inside Francois’ shirt. He grabs the wolf’s left ear with his left hand, twisting its head to the wolf’s right, exposing the massive canine’s throat. Francois drives his knife deep into its throat, all the way to the knife’s hilt. The wolf howls in pain and leaps backward, away from Francois, wrenching the handle of the knife from his hand as he falls to his knees.

The wolf moves a few yards away from him and sits down, keeping his eyes on Francois. He looks at the wolf and watches ‘smoke’ rising from the wolf’s mouth. That cannot be smoke, it is cold, it must be steam. Francois looks closer and it seems to him the wolf’s tongue is burned.

While the wolf stares at him, it starts swatting at the knife hilt with its left hind paw. With a few swats, it gets a ‘grip’ on the hilt, pulling the knife free. The knife falls to the ground, and then the wolf swipes it into the bushes with its left front paw. What strikes Francois is it is barely bleeding. Blood should be gushing out of that neck wound! What the hell am I going to do now?

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A treasure trove of imagination and creativity, showcasing the authors' diverse voices and talents. 

The Howling: Exploring the Unnerving Power of Wind on People

 The Dark Side of Nature’s Whispers"

By Lorraine Carey

Jimi Hendrix sang a hit song, “The Wind Cries Mary” in the late sixties which was a tribute to his girlfriend and longtime love. Well, she may have liked the wind and been honored by the song, but some of us may beg to differ.

I vividly remember those windy days when I was a classroom teacher. The staff lounge would be abuzz with teachers commenting on how many students would be misbehaving on that day and the detention hall would most likely be full. Let me add that I am so glad I am retired.

There is something about wind that directly affects our physical and mental status. Observations of the negative behavior of children on the playground of an American school revealed that the average number of fights per day doubled when the wind speeds rose about a threshold, above force 6.

Wind does increase our production of adrenaline, metabolisms speed up us, and blood vessels of the heart show a tendency to stand on end.

Positive ions become over-abundant. The wind’s energy can strip away a negatively charged ion into a positive ion. And these charged particles do strange things. Science has not been able to explain exactly why too many positive ions in the air have a negative impact on us but have confirmed that the effect is real.

I’ve always felt that the wind picks up so much energy from everything around us: people, animals, plants, and whatnot. And all of those energies, good or bad impact us.

Our nervous systems were built to detect changes that require a quick response- when winds become strong our bodies trigger that ‘fight or flight’ mode releasing stress hormones, adrenaline, and norepinephrine as a defense response mechanism.

Now let’s talk a bit about the recent Hurricane Helene and how the wind had affected so many:

Yes, science has its theories but I have witnessed all types of behavior, good and bad before, during, and after this hurricane here in Florida.

I live in St. Petersburg, (Tampa Bay area) and yes, this area got hit hard. Luckily we did not get any damage other than much debris in our pool and yard. And we do have the bayou in our backyard that runs out into the bay.

My in-laws were staying with us from Ohio during this storm. Two days before the storm I had gone to the market to get supplies and I knew what that situation would look like. Yes, panic buying was in full swing. The look on shoppers’ faces told it all. Many were racing their buggies to get to water and nonperishables, some banging into others without any apologies.

I let many of the seniors get in front of me as the line to the water aisle was jammed. When I got there I found two jugs on the top shelf. One man reached ahead of me and said, “Not till I get one.” Well, he did get his and handed me one.

I was glad to return home and vowed not to return back there until the storm passed.

The day before the storm I had a doctor’s appointment and driving to and from was a real stretch. Some people were polite but others were in full road rage mode. I almost wished I had taken an Uber to my appointment.

Most of the people in my neighborhood had evacuated but offered to assist or see if we needed anything as we did the same. Being we stayed we’d be the boots on the ground.

It was probably a good thing to have company at the time for moral support. The day of the storm we were all tense and scared. Our eyes and ears were glued to the weather stations, but we all pitched in and began moving furniture, placing sandbags out, and removing all outside furniture as the surge was supposed to be high.

The winds started to pick up during the late afternoon on Thursday, Sept. 26^th. I went into the backyard to check the water levels and the bayou was starting to rise. The wind was howling like thousands of banshees. No birds were in the area and I felt a sense of doom overtake me.

That night, none of us slept, with having to keep vigil on the rising waters from the bayou in the backyard. I’d gone out around midnight as the surge was supposed to end around 2 a.m. My husband and I had our boots on and were wading through waters that had risen from the bayou and into our yard. It was then that I felt like I was truly in danger. I know what lurks in those waters and I could just imagine a snake or gator at my feet. I kept thinking, Would this water rush into our home and have us swimming out? The wind blew harder and the Mangrove trees were moving wildly and I was screaming.  Yes, I was feeling out of control. Our entire neighborhood was flooded as well. My husband was trying to calm me down but that was futile. All I could think was, why did we stay here?

We watched the water until 2 a.m. Luckily it had stopped so we were all tired and able to get some rest.

In the morning the waters were receding back to the bayou as well as the front area.

That morning was the big reveal as to all the damage that the area had received. We were spared here, but many were not as fortunate. The pictures of the devastation of St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay area were devastating.  I had family that had homes destroyed.

It’s been a week now post-hurricane and I do see some calming down but only from those who did not have devastation to their property. Most people you talk to here are dealing with PTSD from this. There are neighborhood groups as well as local agencies that have come to the rescue.

My most recent trip was out to the store yesterday, traffic was very heavy, and I was still seeing some aggressive drivers. Some folks needed to replenish food and panic buying resumed in the store.

The next day after the storm the winds continued to have some pretty strong bursts here and there. It was as if the storm was trying to mark its territory.

Hopefully, I will not encounter a storm like Helene in my lifetime but as far as the wind goes, I have to say I’ve always feared it, and now more so than ever.

References: www.adirondackalmanack.com

Lorraine Carey

https://authorlorrainecarey.blogspot.com/

Lorraine Carey is a reading specialist and an Award-Winning Author. She was living in California until fate whisked her off to Grand Cayman. She currently lives in Florida. Her love for paranormal stories began at a young age, and is no stranger to the paranormal, having encountered unexplainable events that are woven into her stories.

Miraculous Treatment

Let me breathe!

Remi's chest constricted painfully as she struggled to breathe. Rushed to the hospital, she received mysterious treatment due to a medical error, which miraculously stopped the asthma attack and restored her breathing. While she felt healthier than ever before, along with this astonishing recovery came peculiar abilities and Remi couldn't shake off the sense of foreboding. This miraculous healing may have come at a cost that she wasn't prepared to pay. 

A short excerpt from the story

The flashing lights of the ambulance illuminated the night as it came to a stop at the entrance of the bustling hospital. The doors flew open, and they wheeled in Remi on a stretcher.

A kind-looking nurse with blonde hair approached them with a warm smile. “Hello dear, my name is Anna,” she introduced herself before leading them to Bed B.

With gentle hands and a sense of urgency, they carefully transferred Remi onto the bed as Anna immediately began assessing her condition. She listened intently to her lungs, checking for any signs of distress.

As Anna worked, the paramedic gave his report, and she quickly started an IV line in Remi's hand. Meanwhile, a nurse's aide unhooked Remi’s oxygen tube from the tank, connected the tube to the central connection, and attached the cardiac monitor electrodes to her chest.

The heavy curtain that separated the beds was suddenly pulled aside with a loud swoosh. In its place stood a tall man with thick, salt-and-pepper hair. He swept his gaze across the small cubicle before fixing his attention on Remi. Introducing himself as Dr. Schwarz, he took note of the discarded nebulizer pipe lying on her bed before directing his piercing blue eyes to her face and hands. “Let me listen to your lungs,” he said in a no-nonsense tone, holding out his stethoscope.

Remi nodded weakly and struggled to sit up, wincing at the sharp pain in her chest. The doctor placed the cold metal against her skin and listened intently to her lung sounds, his brow furrowing in concern. After a moment, he asked, “How long have you been dealing with asthma?”

“Since...as far back as I can remember,” Remi gasped out between ragged breaths, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. “I take preventive medications and usually use my nebulizer during sudden attacks, but I didn’t have any solution and the inhaler didn’t help.”

The doctor's expression turned sympathetic as he nodded understandingly. “We'll get you taken care of,” he assured her before turning to the nurse.

“It’s my fault!” Emily informed the doctor with tears in her eyes. “Remi is staying with me while her parents are in South America with Doctors Without Borders, and I didn’t know she’s allergic to cats.”

“It’s okay,” Dr. Schwarz spoke in a soothing voice. “We’ll make her better, but I’m afraid, you need to get rid of your cat.”

“It’s not mine, just cat-sitting for a friend, but I’m going to call my other friends right now. I’m sure one of them will take the cat,” Emily said and pulled out her cell phone. “I’ll be in the waiting room,” she flashed a nervous smile at the young girl and hurried out of the room.

The doctor turned to the nurse. “Anna, let’s give her 125 Solumedrol, hook her up for continuous nebulizer, and get a portable chest X-ray as well.”

The nurse nodded and left the room. The doctor smiled, pulled the curtain that separated Remi’s room from bed C, and greeted the patient. “Hi Konrad, are you ready?”

“Yes,” sounded a young boy’s voice.

The doctor stopped for a second, thinking, and then turned back to Remi. “Do you speak German by any chance?” he asked.

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Remi hesitated before responding. Despite having learned the language from her nanny since she was a toddler until high school, she decided against admitting it upon seeing the doctor's peculiar expression.

“No, but I speak French,” she replied.

“Never mind, I just thought... because of your last name, Hansen,” he mumbled, stepping out of the room, and pulling the curtain closed behind him.

That was strange. Why did he ask me if I speak German? Perhaps he doesn’t want me to know what they’re talking about in the next cubicle. Remi wondered, listening to the conversation coming from behind the curtain.

“Are you sure you want it done this way?” Dr. Schwarz asked, speaking in German, and continued. “Don’t worry, the girl in that bed doesn’t understand the language.”

Remi heard a boy's and an older-sounding man’s voices answering, “Yes, we definitely want the treatment.” And the older voice continued. “My son is sixteen, and with cystic fibrosis and rare blood type, finding a cure or donor is close to impossible. He might have a year left. But with your treatment, he could live a full, healthy life.”

She heard the doctor’s sigh, as he said, “I want to make sure you understand what will happen after the treatment.”

Konrad assured the doctor, “We thought it over very carefully what you said, and I fully understand the benefits. And...” he hesitated. “And I accept the obligation that comes with your treatment as well.”

“We took the necessary precautions as you instructed, and his handler will arrive tomorrow to discuss more details with us. Everything is ready,” The older man said.

“Okay, I’ll be back in a minute,” the doctor replied.

Remi wondered what that treatment was. Poor Konrad. He’s my age and it sounds like he doesn’t have long to live. That’s terrible. Remi though, feeling so much empathy for the boy. But why didn’t the doctor say medication or something specific? He repeated the German word behandlung, which means treatment. And because we’re in the hospital it must be medical treatment.

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ON AMAZON

The Guest of Honor

 A short story by E.V. Emmons

A tale of two families: One family’s halcyon life is tragically disrupted, while another plans the perfect Halloween party. Evil is a point of view.

Life on a farm is hard and if not for family, it would be lonely too. We cherished life in the fields, breathing in the rich, loamy smell of the tilled and mounded earth. We celebrated the sun and rain alike because we understood that both nourished the land, and what was good for the soil was good for us.

Months in the sun had turned our skin leathery, but we wore it proudly as a mark of devotion to the fields. At night, we were content to sit under the moon and soak up the warm ambiance from the porch lights.

Some nights, the sky would rain stars, and we’d sit and marvel at the celestial light show. The cricket songs lulled us into an easy rest until sunup when we’d do it all again.

One day, we noticed that the warm summer air had cooled, and turned the maple trees flanking the lane from green to shades of gold and red. In the orchard, the apples were ripe and round and shone like rubies. The animals feasted at their troughs, munching the dried corn. Abundance surrounded us, and we were thankful. All that remained was to relax and celebrate autumn and the coming winter, or so we thought. We had no way of knowing the horrors that lay ahead.

They came just before dark. One by one, with knives digging into our skin, they plucked us from our beds. Large, powerful hands crushed to our faces kept us silent. We squirmed and fought, hoping to get free of their vice-like arms.

Father, with his thick and burly body, wriggled loose. 

“Get ‘im, boys!” One man hollered. “Show that fool who’s boss.” 

In seconds, they had Father pinned to the driveway, the pea gravel crushed into his cheek. Jeering and laughing, the three men took turns at his belly and sides with their steel-toed boots, and when that weren’t enough to keep Father still, a crushing blow to the head stilled him forever. Pale, hard crumbs and guts oozed from the ruined flesh amid a rising fog of limestone dust. 

“Load ‘em up. Let’s get outta here,” one of them barked.

The thick burlap bags they shoved over us kept us paralyzed as they slung us into the back of the heavy-duty farm truck. They slammed the creaky gate shut and bolted it tight. Darkness smothered the truck bed, which smelled like rotten beets, manure, and cabbage. 

Mother lay slumped atop a thin bed of straw, her body shaking under the burlap. After gathering the small ones close, we huddled beside her, hoping that somehow, we’d be of comfort to each other.

My insides quaked. With Father murdered and left behind to rot in the sun, what would become of us? He deserved so much more than to be brutalized and left for dead. He would never know a proper burial, a return to the earth he so loved. Visions of crows picking at his corpse and tugging at his entrails haunted me in the darkness.

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In the What If #4 Halloween Edition Anthology

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Demon Child

 A story from the What If? #4 Anthology

Lucas couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was wrong. His sister’s once gentle and curious nature had been replaced with outbursts of rage and violence.

The Cunninghams had been blessed with a new addition to their family: a little girl they named Rebecca. She was a small bundle of wonder with inquisitive eyes that seemed to hold the wisdom of an old soul.

As the Cunninghams gazed down at the sleeping baby, their hearts overflowed with love. They marveled at how perfect she was, with delicate features and soft, downy hair. Just looking at her brought a sense of peace and joy that they had never experienced before. As they watched her sleep, they knew that their love for her would only continue to grow with each passing day.

From the moment she was born, every member of the Cunningham clan was captivated by her, but none more so than her older brother, Lucas. Lucas was only six years old, but he took his role as a big brother seriously. He watched over little Rebecca with unwavering dedication, always eager to lend a hand or a comforting hug. In his young mind, there was nothing he wouldn’t do to keep his little sister safe and happy.

As Rebecca grew, her bond with Lucas only strengthened. They shared a room, and every night before bed, Lucas would read Rebecca her favorite stories until she drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

It was evident that Rebecca and Lucas shared an unbreakable bond that transcended time and space. They were more than siblings – they were kindred spirits who were meant to be together.

Lucas, as big brother, was always eager to teach Rebecca new things and protect her from any harm. When she took her first steps, he was there to cheer her on and catch her when she fell. When she started preschool, he stayed with her every day until she felt comfortable enough to make friends of her own.

And through it all, Rebecca looked up to Lucas with admiration and adoration. To her, he was the bravest and most caring person in the world. She knew that no matter what happened, Lucas would always be there for her.

Their parents watched with pride as their children’s bond continued to grow. They were grateful for the beautiful relationship between their children and tried their best to foster it in any way they could.

But as much as they loved each other, like most siblings, Rebecca and Lucas had their fair share of arguments and disagreements. However, no matter how upset they got with each other, they never stayed mad at each other for long. Because, at the end of the day, they knew that their love for each other was greater than any argument or difference of opinion. They may have been different in many ways – Rebecca outgoing and adventurous while Lucas quiet and reserved – but overall, there was a perfect balance between them.

As years went by, Rebecca grew into a strong-willed child with a passion for learning and exploring. And through it all, Lucas remained her constant companion and protector.

But something happened on the eve of Rebecca’s tenth birthday. Lucas was suddenly awakened by a loud noise that shook him to his core. His heart raced as he tried to make sense of what was happening. He jumped out of bed and ran to his sister’s room and panic set in when he realized that the window had blown open and the shutters were violently slamming against the walls.

He ran toward the window and struggled against the force of the wind to close it; his heart was pounding in his chest. As he managed to shut the window, he turned to see if Rebecca was okay. His eyes darted around the room frantically until they landed on Rebecca’s bed. Relief washed over him as he saw her sleeping peacefully, her chest rising and falling with each breath.

Just as he was about to go back to his room, he saw Rebecca sit up with her eyes still closed. She started murmuring nonsensical words under her breath. Lucas couldn’t understand what she was saying, but it sounded like a language he had never heard before.

He watched in astonishment as a faint glow appeared around Rebecca, casting an ethereal light across the room. The wind outside seemed to intensify as if responding to Rebecca’s words.

Suddenly, without warning, every object in the room began to levitate – books, toys, even furniture. Lucas’s eyes widened in shock as he watched everything floating around Rebecca’s bed. Before he could even process what was happening, everything came crashing down with a loud thud as Rebecca slumped back onto her pillow.

Lucas stood frozen for a moment before rushing over to check on his sister. He shook her gently, but she didn’t stir. Because her face and body seemed relaxed and her breathing even, Lucas retreated to the corner and sat in a chair, staring at Rebecca until sleep claimed him.

The next morning, Lucas woke up with a feeling of unease in his stomach. He turned to look at Rebecca, hoping that last night’s events were just a dream. But as soon as his eyes landed on her, he knew something was wrong. Her once warm brown eyes were now a piercing blue, almost crystal-like in their clarity. It felt like a stranger was looking back at him, cold and unfamiliar.

Lucas recoiled in shock and fear, his heart racing as he scrambled out of the room. He ran toward his parents’ room, frantically knocking on the door. “Dad, Mom! Wake up! Something’s wrong with Rebecca!” he shouted, his voice shaky and panicked.

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