Monday, December 5, 2011

Passengers: An RWN Original Story - The Lakeland Striker


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Tag#1

Brendan Sawyer: Loner, Perceptive, Light Sleeper
Prompt: Roses
Word count: 986
Warnings: Slight language
**As part of a round robin collaboration found at: Rebel Writers Nirvana**
Continue Reading: "Passengers: An RWN Original Story - The Lakeland Striker"

Saturday, November 19, 2011

November 2011 Update

Hello Readers!

I want to say thank you to everyone that sent me warm wishes and "get well soons" it made breaking out of my hospital room that much easier! As some of you know I was struck with sudden pains in my side that forced me into the hospital for a near 2 week stay as I underwent a series of headaches which included 3 blood transfusions and the removal of my gall bladder. For those that are just learning this news, this is why there have been no November updates. BUT I am home again as of 11/18 12:30pm EST and will have updates rolling ASAP! First release is an After Midnight update and I will get the others done shortly thereafter.

I want to thank you all again for sticking with me through everything! Your support and encouragement is much appreciated. I am a bit saddened by the mega health scare though as this was the Anniversary month of my first story Desired and I was planning on doing a bit of a contest or something to celebrate. Sorry about that. But it's 1 full year of writing that story now and the hits just keep on coming! I am still loving the Steele family and their many brushes with the dark side so their story is not over yet.

I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful holiday and enjoy the time together with your loved ones!

Yours truly,

Daijah
Continue Reading: "November 2011 Update"

Monday, October 31, 2011

31: House of Pain


“Jill…she…she killed Lizzy!”

Daijah rushed over to check Jill’s pulse and shook her head somberly. “She’s gone,” she reported. “I can’t imagine what she must have thought she was seeing. But now you can see what I meant about these weapons! We have to stay away from them and EVERYONE needs to remain calm. Just try and remember that what you’re seeing may not be real.” Daijah picked up the book where Jill dropped it and turned to the others.
Continue Reading: "31: House of Pain"

Sunday, October 30, 2011

30: The Vampire's Lair


Lizzy found extra candles in a small bag beside the couch and lit a few.


“It’s starting…” Nedra said backing away in panic. “We’re all going to die!”

“No we’re not! Everything is…”

“‘Going to be fine, we’ll get out of here,” Daijah said as she gripped Nedra’s shoulders tight’,” Jill read before looking up at the group from the book that lay open on the coffee table. 
Continue Reading: "30: The Vampire's Lair"

Saturday, October 29, 2011

29: Fractured



“Are they still coming?” Kalene asked as Karima looked out the window.

“No, I don’t see anything. Maybe Lizzy was right. I think they were just early trick-or-treaters. I can’t imagine anyone would want to actually go out on Halloween if things get as scary as Everett is making it sound!”
Continue Reading: "29: Fractured"

Friday, October 28, 2011

28: Omen


They gathered around the table again and Lizzy started the chant. They waited patiently for his ghost and hoped that he was just as friendly as before.

“This is stupid,” Nancy said. “We shouldn’t be tempting fate like this.”

“We tempted fate when we walked in that front door! Now we need to figure out what fate has in store for us and stop it if we can!”
Continue Reading: "28: Omen"

Thursday, October 27, 2011

27: Still Waters



“Kal look out!” Nedra yelled pulling her arm and pushing Jill back. The two of them ran down the flight of stairs quick putting as much distance as they could between them and the attic. 
Continue Reading: "27: Still Waters"

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

26: No Rest for the Wicked



Jill started for the door and heard creaking footsteps in front of it. Believing them to belong to the girls she ignored them and reached for the door knob. Slowly she pulled it open to make sure not to disturb the others and stepped out into the hall.

“Chilly,” she said rubbing her shoulders as suddenly the room temperature seemed to drop. She moved forward and found Nedra and Kalene asleep on the sofa just outside the room. She nudged them and they sat up groggy and looked at her.

Kalene jumped up. “We fell asleep! What time is it?”

“It’s 4am. I couldn’t sleep so I came to check on everyone. If you felt yourself getting tired…”
Continue Reading: "26: No Rest for the Wicked"

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

25: The Forgotten Path



Dead shrubs and grass cluttered the vacant lot
there were moss covered trees and huge dirt clots
only the bravest or dumbest would dare go near
and only the luckiest or blessed came back from here

Continue Reading: "25: The Forgotten Path"

Monday, October 24, 2011

24: Asylum



Blood stained floors are all that remain
of the building and people labeled insane
their cries for help went unanswered in the night
their family and friends were hidden from sight

The doctor would place them up on the rack
tortured and tested on they couldn’t fight back
the people that were here were never the same
and they all have the same illness to blame

Continue Reading: "24: Asylum"

Sunday, October 23, 2011

23: Resurrected



The girls tried to maintain a calm state while Jill read from the book. She kept glancing up at them every once in a while to ensure everyone was still sitting where she’d left them.
Continue Reading: "23: Resurrected"

Saturday, October 22, 2011

22: The Forgotten



“We should try and get out of here while we have the chance.”

“How Holley? You want to make a swim for it? Try and beat the boat? We’re on an island in the middle of nowhere. Who knows what direction is the closest piece of land. It’s crazy to think you could make it,” Lizzy said as everyone gathered back into the living room.
Continue Reading: "22: The Forgotten"

Friday, October 21, 2011

21: Fear Itself


“So what’s the verdict?” Nedra asked stepping back into the room. “Are we doing the ghost story thing or no?”

“Uh…ladies?” Daijah smiled.

Karima and Jill cleared out more chairs and the ottoman and moved blankets along the rugs and settled in.

“I guess that’s a yes,” Quiana sighed as she sat on a seat beside Karima. “At least we have more popcorn. Who’s going first?”

“I will,” Nancy volunteered. She grabbed a flashlight and stepped in front of the window as Freedom turned out the lights to the room and settled in with the others.
Continue Reading: "21: Fear Itself"

Thursday, October 20, 2011

20: Darkness Immortal



“Everyone just stay close,” Jill said as she took a seat on the couch. “We can get through this, just try and remain calm and focus on other things.” She flipped the remote and turned on the first movie.

Everyone inched as close to one another as possible as the blood red letters of the first movie were scratched across the screen. Leah held her pillow close to her face as she prepared for a night of horror, artificial and authentic.
Continue Reading: "20: Darkness Immortal"

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

19: Fade to Black



“It’s still dark out,” Karima said staring out the window. “It’s 8 in the morning but the sun has not come out.”

Nancy joined her by the window and took a peek. “What is going on here?”
Continue Reading: "19: Fade to Black"

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

18: Abandoned



There’s a deserted farm that sits in the trees
its wooden planks howl with the rustling of the breeze
the tenants have long since left but its arches stay true
and even more hideous things are hidden from view

Continue Reading: "18: Abandoned"

Monday, October 17, 2011

17: Dark Destiny



They said his estranged father was one of them also
a man who wouldn’t stop even hearing the word no
he’d wait in the dark and lurk for his victim all night
he loved the ones that ran and put up a good fight

Continue Reading: "17: Dark Destiny"

Sunday, October 16, 2011

16: The Condemned



“Ok, so let’s hear it,” Jill said folding her arms into her chest. “The real deal behind the lore and the reason you still haunt this place.”

“Of course, but I need one thing from you first.”

“What’s that?”
Continue Reading: "16: The Condemned"

Saturday, October 15, 2011

15: When the Fog Rolls In



“Nothing’s happening,” Leah grinned. “I guess that means we’re free to leave. And trust me there’s nothing more I’d like right now than to curl up under my covers and wait out the next few weeks.”
Continue Reading: "15: When the Fog Rolls In"

Friday, October 14, 2011

14: Dead Men Tell no Tales



“Are you sure about this?” Leah again hesitated as she peered up the stairs after the others. “I don’t see how this is going to help put anyone’s mind at ease. In fact, snooping only makes things worse.”

“How do you figure that?” Nancy shrugged. “Wouldn’t knowing the truth about what’s inside this house and knowing what to expect be better than being in the dark?”

“Only if that truth is puppies and ice cream. 9 times out of 10 it’s just more bad stuff and scary happenings I’ve seen it a hundred times in all those scary movies.”
Continue Reading: "14: Dead Men Tell no Tales"

Thursday, October 13, 2011

13: From Beyond


The girls spent the day discussing their lives, stories they’ve written or had planned in the works and their plans for after Halloween. Eager to forget the events of the previous night, they distracted themselves with games and movies and sat around enjoying the evening over good wine and fun snacks.

“Ok so this afternoon, Lizzy mentioned that she’d like a little more information about this house’s background. She and Quiana found some papers upstairs and want to know what they mean and the significance of the lore regarding the murders that took place here. I thought it would be nice to open the floor to questions or concerns and what you are hoping to do here in our last few weeks.”
Continue Reading: "13: From Beyond"

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

12: Darkness Calls



“Goodnight,” Jill smiled as she walked down the hall to the other room.

Kalene stretched and passed Nancy on her way to shower and prepare for bed. They’d decided who would sleep where between the two rooms; no one wanted to sleep in the murder room.
Continue Reading: "12: Darkness Calls"

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

11: Scorned



“Everyone have a seat. I’ll grab some refreshments and explain to you exactly what happened here and my intentions for the party.” Daijah started for the kitchen as the group walked into the living room to take a seat. Moments later she reappeared with a tray of mini sandwiches and drinks. “Dive in,” she smiled and took a seat beside Karima.
Continue Reading: "11: Scorned"

Monday, October 10, 2011

10: The Black Cat


They made it back to the location where they’d last seen Holley. Daijah looked around at them and with a silent nod; they entered inside the hollowed, stone building. “Everyone stay close and on your guard. There’s no telling what’s in here and I don’t think we want to run into that caretaker again.”

Jill leaned over the old coffin Leah had noticed upon their first trip. She released a small breath as she thought about the way the place was carelessly left in rot and decay. “I’d like to think that when my time comes my plot is more managed than some of these. It’s a little depressing to see the treatment of these markers.”
Continue Reading: "10: The Black Cat"

Sunday, October 9, 2011

09: Death Knocks Once


“Everyone grab a light and a coat. We have to go find Holley,” Daijah said stepping towards the front door and waiting for the group to get ready. The wind howled outside and the tree branches scraped against the windows and shutters causing a long scratching sound that got louder as the wind picked up.
Continue Reading: "09: Death Knocks Once"

Saturday, October 8, 2011

08: Soul Stealers



The girls looked around the cemetery, retracing their steps as they called as loud as they could for Holley. Nedra and Karima took the south end of the gardens checking behind the mausoleums and the larger headstones and trees that filled the area. The smell of freshly dug graves saturated the air as they moved quickly towards the front gate.

“Holley?” Daijah yelled as she Nancy and Leah moved around the west end of the lot. “Holley where are you?”
Continue Reading: "08: Soul Stealers"

Friday, October 7, 2011

07: Creeper


The girls walked into the hollow stone building, the door creaked behind them and the wind blew it shut with a loud bang. Nancy screamed and clutched at Freedom’s arm as Kalene and Nedra moved deeper into the open space. There were spider webs filling the majority of the room as well as dust balls the size of their heads.

Leah stepped towards one of the marble slabs and peered inside the opened top. She gasped at the sight of the old bones rotting within the coffin and backed away to rejoin the group.
Continue Reading: "07: Creeper"

Thursday, October 6, 2011

06: Eyes in the Dark


“When do you think they’ll get back?” Lizzy asked taking a seat next to Quiana on the couch.

“Not sure, I just hope it’s soon. I thought the graveyard would be creepy but this place is worse! It’s just unimaginable why anyone would want to spend a month in this place.”

“Didn’t Daijah say there was history here? Would you care to take a look around some of the rooms with me?”
Continue Reading: "06: Eyes in the Dark"

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

05: Grave Dancers


The next morning the girls all gathered in the dining room. “Breakfast is served!” Daijah chimed merrily as the groggy faces of her company poured into the small area. “I see we’re all anxious to get started right?” she joked as Karima, Jill and Freedom made a beeline towards the coffee pot.
Continue Reading: "05: Grave Dancers"

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

04: Into the Shadows


“I thought you said the ferry wasn’t available until next month,” Nedra said watching Holley and Lizzy enter the hall.

“It’s not. They must have gotten here earlier?” Daijah asked looking at Lizzy for an answer.
Continue Reading: "04: Into the Shadows"

Monday, October 3, 2011

03: Manor House


“Ok, since you don’t want to sleep on the floors, and for good reason, let’s check out the bedrooms. There are 3 upstairs and each has a bed or two,” Daijah said leading the way up the steps. “We can try and make it a little cozier since everyone will be here for a month, right?”

She opened the door to bedroom #1 and dust instantly flew from around the frames. Fanning it away from her face, she stepped inside and waited for the others to join her; lighting a candle to illuminate the darkened areas.
Continue Reading: "03: Manor House"

Sunday, October 2, 2011

02: Nightmare

 

“That was NOT something from a bedtime story,” Karima said. “It was more like something you’d read to scare the living daylights out of a child. Who would invite the reaper into their home?”
Continue Reading: "02: Nightmare"

Saturday, October 1, 2011

01: The Sandman


“This place is creepy,” Jill said stepping from the car. She glanced up at the old building and let out a frustrated sigh. The windows were all boarded up and there was vulgar graffiti spray painted on the cracked and peeling walls. The dead and wilted garden on the side was a place marker for some long ago resident that apparently had a thing for flowers. The overgrown, dead grass was all that remained now and the trees even seemed to grow in an ominous and eerie shape. “What are we doing here?”
Continue Reading: "01: The Sandman"

Sunday, August 28, 2011

About This Site

This is a collection of poems and short stories I needed to write.
Stuff that clutters my brain until it sees the light.
I had to get them out and share them with all of you.
I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Thank you for visiting!
Continue Reading: "About This Site"

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Fairy in Hidden Springs


We've all heard the rumors that buried deep in the hills of the resort town of Hidden Springs lies a secret community of people. Strange people the town folk try and avoid at all costs. Supposedly these "fairies" as they are called can harness the powers of the moon and have the ability to reverse and even stop the signs of aging! Rumors is what I chalked it up to because I don't believe in fairy tales and I simply don't believe magic exists anywhere! It took a sunny day, a strange twist of fate and a seemingly simple problem to change my mind. I never believed in those rumors...until now.


I was spending a nice quiet day at home about to enjoy a nice relaxing bath when suddenly, the pipes burst!

"Honey, we have a leak, call a repair man," I yelled down the stairs to my boyfriend.

Twenty minutes later a man named Tomas appeared at my door. I took in his awkward appearance and tried not to stare as I introduced myself and led him into the kitchen. "I have no idea how it happened, they just went POOF!" I explained of the three water main breaks within the home.


"Oh this happens all the time here," he smiled gently. "The celebrities that visit take advantage of the spring waters that are sourced from the various waterfalls in the hills. Because of this the city has had to reroute and redo several sewer lines in order to keep the town from flooding. But don't worry ma'am, I'll get this fixed in a jiffy!"

"Thank you!" I said as I stepped near the door.

He immediately got to work on the kitchen sink. In no time at all he had the water flow stopped and repaired the faucet with no trouble at all.


"There!" he said turning towards me. "Where's the next one?"

I stood staring at this man as I noticed his appearance changed right before my eyes. Now it's rude to call someone fat, but this man was fat when he entered my home. Moments after repairing my sink, he seemed to have grown younger and thinner!

"Did...the water...I..."

"Right this way," my boyfriend said as I tried to regain my composure. He led him up the stairs and I quickly moved towards the sink to inspect it.

"What just happened?" I asked in disbelief. I rushed up the stairs to continue watching him.


He made short work of the bathroom sink...


And lastly, the tub.

"All fixed, ma'am," he again smiled gently.

"How much do we owe you?"

"It's on the house. You're new to the town, consider this a housewarming gift."

"Thank you, Tomas," my boyfriend said and escorted him to his car.

I kept going over in my head the rumors I heard about this town and I never would have even given them a second notion until that scene in my kitchen.


I watched him hop into a gray sedan and quickly took up pursuit. I followed him to the edge of the city and onto a dirt road.


He stopped suddenly near the side of the street, hopped from his vehicle and took off into the woods.

Had I spooked him? Did he see me following him? I exited my vehicle and continued following him.


Somehow he must have sensed my presence because he stopped running and took up a slow stride as though he was enjoying a nice walk through the forest. At that point I took cover behind a tree so as to shield myself in case he had seen me.


It must have worked because he again took off into the woods, hastening his pace as he went deeper and deeper into the forest.


I followed him and saw that he stopped at the water. The water, I thought as I watched him act casual near the spring. He'd mentioned that the celebrities enjoy the waters here, I wonder if they too are aware of the healing abilities it seems to hold.


After what seemed like forever, he finally moved again, heading back up the same path he'd come.


I thought finally my time had paid off as he neared a rock with a large crevice in the front, but he just continued walking past it.


He walked...


And walked...


And walked...


It was night by the time he'd reached his destination, and where did he go you might ask. Back to my place; apparently the gray sedan was just to throw me off his track. He'd originally arrived in a blue repair truck which he drove off of my block.


Again I followed him thinking I hit paydirt but as he neared this billboard, he simply vanished!

Believe what you want, I am not trying to prove the existence of "magic" or "fairies". But I know one thing to be true, something "mysterious" and somewhat "magical" took place today.

Continue Reading: "Fairy in Hidden Springs"