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  To whoever may find this,

  I want to apologize about the man I’ve become. The world as I knew it wasn’t quite how it ended up being. The fact is that some people are out to get you, some are out to save you. Here it was both types of people that brought me to an end. If you find this note, then know I didn’t kill myself. I can’t bring myself to pull the trigger though I know I should have.

  Instead, the demons of the past have come to where they want to see me gone. This includes my wife Jennifer. She was a wonderful woman, and I lost my temper, again. This time I went too far and killed her. Her body is in the basement. I knew it was wrong, but I did what I thought I needed to.

  I’ve spent the last hours of my life talking to the demons mentioned above. The book next to me was written by my grandfather and I got it in the mail some time ago. I finished it and now find myself haunted by the people who he killed. But it’s not just them, or Jennifer, it’s the little boy. My little boy is the biggest problem. He’s trying to convince me we should all be a family together.

  I don’t know what to think. I don’t know how to feel. Which is why I’m writing this note. I want to make sure that someone knows I didn’t take my own life. If I’m gone, then it’s okay. Jason, I’ve got a request, make sure that DoubleDay does right by that book, it’s the last thing the world will remember me by.

  Love you my old friend, Take care.

  Jason stared at the note for a little while longer. He leaned down and picked up the book on the ground putting the note inside of it. He looked around at the room, which had been destroyed. The name on the inside cover caught his attention. William Hall? Is this the book Tom called about? He couldn’t remember but he kept hold of the book. He walked back out of the house and to his car and put the book in the passenger seat while he dialed the emergency number. It took one ring and someone was on the other end.

  “911, What’s your emergency?”

  “I want to report a shooting. I think someone murdered my friend.” Jason’s voice was calm. He was still in shock. As he waited, he flipped open the book and looked at the opening pages as he waited for the cops to arrive.

  About The Author

  Kyle Robinson is the author of countless short stories, poetry collections, two hit blogs “In The Demons’ Head” and “Book It!” and lives in Missouri with his Wife Elizabeth Robinson, and two dogs Nova and Star.

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  ****

  My Next Novel, “Puppet Master” is tentatively scheduled for release in a couple of months. Please find a couple of chapters on the following pages. You’ll get updates on the novel by joining the mailing list. Please keep in mind this is the first draft of the novel so there might be in need of a little editing, please don’t hold that against me.

  Last but not least, if you’ve enjoyed this book please give me a review on Amazon. Any reviews can be helpful.

  2004

  Chapter 1

  “It’s just up ahead.” Travis called back over his shoulder as he topped another hill.

  “Jesus Christ, if I walk much further I’m going to have a heart attack.” Dean called back a few paces behind him. “This better be worth it, I’ve lost 10 pounds just trying to find this damn place.”

  “It might do you some good.” Travis laughed slowing down as he neared a chainlink fence. “There it is.”

  Dean looked through the fence, in the fading light the abandoned house looked almost intimidating. “Why are we here again?”

  “It’s my birthday, today I turn the mighty 16-”

  “-Then why didn’t we drive?”

  “You know my parents wouldn’t let me get my license.”

  “And yet, they’ll let you come out here damn near around dark to some abandoned house.”

  Travis reached into the backpack that was on his shoulder. He pulled out a pair of wire cutters. “That my friend is where you’re wrong. They have no idea that I’m here.”

  “Then I ask again, WHY are we here?”

  “We’re here to investigate the mystery of the supposed dark activity that occurred here.”

  “So wait, we’re going into a possibly haunted house?”

  “Kind of.” Travis said as he finished cutting through the fence. He peeled back the wire and wiggled himself through it. Dean wiggled his own way through the wire, though just barely. “It’s not so much haunted. But, the legend goes that this house used to be the headquarters for a notorious group of satanist that performed rituals all the time. They claim that a number of people were sacrificed at this house alone. All in the name of the Dark Lord.” Travis said the last part making a cross and kissing his finger.

  “Knock that shit off, for all you know this could be real, and you’re walking us directly into a scene that could end up on the internet where they debate what killed us, a demon or a possessed cat.”

  Travis laughed. “A possessed cat? Really what the hell have you been reading?”

  “I’m just saying that it’s possible. I wouldn’t rule anything out.”

  As they neared the house, what was left of the sun decided to tuck behind the clouds. Travis stopped again and pulled a pair of flashlights out of his backpack and handed one to Dean, who looked at it as if it was foreign. “What? Did you expect them to have paid their electric bill?”

  Dean just shook his head. As they approached the front steps Dean stopped short. “I’m not going to lie, I’m a big enough dude that if one part of this is dry rotted I’m going to end up going right through the floor.”

  “You’ll be fine. And hey, if you do fall through the floor, maybe you’ll find some kind of treasure.”

  “You are an idiot.” Dean said as he playfully tagged Travis in the arm. Travis took the lead and went up the stairs and pushed open the front door and kicked on his flashlight. He walked through a large open parlor as the floor underneath him creaked with age.

  “I wonder how long it’s been since someone has been in here?” Travis asked.

  “I have no idea, but by the looks of it it’s been quite a little while. When were the last known occupants, since you seem to have such a knowledge of this house?”

  Travis thought about it. “I think the group of people that were here got ran out sometime around 1945. No one knew for sure if they were doing what they had been accused of but when the police got here it looked like it.”

  “What did they find?”

  “Stacks of bodies. Laid end to end, and on top of each other almost in a twisted game of human Jenga. The oddest part if that wasn’t enough, each one of the bodies were naked and drained of blood. They had actually funneled it into cups to drink, and to use in the rituals that were sure to come.”

  “My god. How many where there?”

  “At least 3 dozen, all a mix of men, women, and children. To this day its’ still one of the most talked about things to ever happen to those who were in the department at the time. They say that some of them never even came back after having to answer that call. A few of them even committed suicide afterward.”

  “You don’t think it was some dark energy thing they left behind, do you?”

  “Hard to say, if you believe in that stuff, then sure it’s possible. If you don’t, then I’d just call it an extreme onset of PTSD for those who saw it.”

  “What happened to the people who were here, the live ones I mean?”

  “Some ran, others decided to fight and a lot of them ended up being killed. As far as houses go, if one was going to be haunted, or filled with evil, this would be it.” Travis said looking around at the ceilings above him with his light.

  “Where did they find the bodies?
”

  “Throughout the house, though a majority of them were found in the basement. Once it was cleaned out, police went looking for those who were still alive, but none of them could be found. It’s suggested that they either killed themselves, or died of mysterious circumstances.”

  Dean looked around the room himself. He felt a shiver run down his spine. The whole place, and this whole idea had given him the creeps since Travis had suggested it a few days ago. However, he had conveniently left out all of these details.

  They neared the dining room as the house continued to groan with the new houseguest walking around the floors. As they approached the small table in the middle Travis went to the other side and looked across at Dean.

  “Just think, it’s likely they may have drained someone on this very table as a sacrifice to Satan himself.”

  “You’re a twisted fuck.” Dean said, though his voice was shaky.

  “Are you scared? You are aren’t you, you can’t believe in all of this mumbo jumbo can you?”

  “I don’t know if I do or not, I just know that this place does give me the creeps.”

  “Should we go upstairs?” Travis said with a grin.

  “Hell no, as it is I’m waiting for this floor to give way.”

  “Relax, you’re fine, if it hasn’t yet it probably won’t.”

  “Don’t sound so sure.” Dean added as he walked around the table.

  “Okay, so you don’t want to check out the upstairs, understandable what about the basement?”

  “We’ve come this far, I’ll go ahead and give you that. Do you know where the stairs are?”

  Travis was already standing with his light shining on a half open door directly ahead of him. “This way.” He walked over and pushed the door the rest of the way open. It creaked as the hinges protested. Travis lead the way down the stairs, they came to a bend and turned. As they neared the bottom Travis stopped.

  “I’m not sure if this is a good idea.”

  “I thought you didn’t believe in that kind of stuff?”

  “I don’t, but something about this whole thing makes me a bit uneasy.”

  “We’re already this far, we might as well check out what’s down here there probably isn’t much after all these years.”

  “You’re probably right.” Travis said and kept going. Once they reached the bottom landing he flashed his light around the room which was filled with shelves, all of them appeared to be filled with liquid.

  “What in the hell is all that?” Dean asked.

  “I’m not sure.” Travis turned and his light landed on what appeared to be an operating table ahead of him. “I take that back, I think I have a good idea what all of that might be.”

  Dean turned and almost instantly felt sick to his stomach. “You don’t think they staged the body fluids do you.”

  “I can’t be sure but that’s damn sure what it looks like.”

  Travis walked forward and looked at the table. He noticed the rust colored stains that were spread about the table. He felt that uneasy feeling coming back but it was accompanied by nausea. He walked around the other side of the table and almost tripped over something in the floor.

  “What the hell?”

  “What’s wrong?” Dean said walking over to him shining his light down at the floor. “Is that a book?”

  “I think so.” Travis leaned down and picked it up. He glanced over at Dean who shrugged. Travis sat the book on the table and shined his light on it. The front had a very strange emblem that he’d never seen before. He put his hand on it, the metal was cold on his hand. “I’ve never seen a book with a metal cover have you?” He looked over at Dean who shook his head. “And look at this, there’s a lock on the side.” Travis reached down and unclasped it. The book flung open on it’s own. The sudden motion made both of the boys jump almost out of their skin. They watched with their flashlights as the pages of the book started to flip back and forth on their own before settling on one. Travis gave Dean another sideways glance.

  “That was fucking weird.”

  Dean couldn’t help but nod. “I wonder what it set on.”

  “I’m not sure if I want to know.”

  Dean was now torn. He was terrified but his curiosity won the battle. He slowly made his way to the book. As he did he shined the light down on it and looked at the words on the page.

  “A world, to some paradise, to others, the eternal pit of sin, await you. That is should you award your master with the fruits that he so delicately requires.” Dean read out loud. Travis was now standing next to him, and he continued.

  “Your world is only a stopping point, and that world is filled with things that can’t be explained, and things that never want an explanation. But, have no fear everything you desire will become clear in the near future. But beware, the owner of this book doesn’t take kindly to strangers possessing his property.”

  “His property?” Travis said. He took a breath, he was trying to hide the fact that he was more then nervous, he was downright piss-your-pants scared. “We should probably stop reading.”

  Dean stared at the book almost mesmerized. “But I don’t really want to.”

  Travis looked at him. Dean’s eyes were glued directly to the book ahead of him. He wasn’t even so much as blinking. Travis grabbed him by the shoulder. Dean jumped and almost screamed.

  “Jesus, are you okay?” Travis asked him.

  “Yeah, I just I don’t know what came over me there.”

  “Let’s get out of here. I think we’ve seen enough.” Travis turned and went to go back up the stairs but Dean wasn’t behind him. He realized this and turned back. “Are you coming?”

  “Yeah, but-“ Dean cut himself off and reached up and closed the book, which clasped itself closed. He picked it up and tucked it under his arm.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Travis asked him.

  “I’m taking this with me. I don’t know what this book is about, but I want to know.”

  “But, what about all of the evil, and the darkness stuff that you said could be real.”

  “It could be real, it could be bullshit. Whatever it is, I want to read more.”

  Travis stared at Dean, unable to tell if he was serious. Without another word Travis turned and walked up the stairs and out of the house with Dean right on his heels.

  Chapter 2

  A couple of weeks later Travis was in his room when he heard his mom calling for him. He went downstairs and saw his mom sitting at the kitchen table.

  “Hey, have you heard from Dean?” She asked him.

  Travis’s mind immediately jumped to their journey into the house, and then he shook his head. “Not in about a week or so, why what’s up?”

  “His mother just called. She said that he’s been acting weird for almost two weeks. He barely eats, doesn’t sleep much, and is constantly reading a book that she said he came home with after he said he was hanging out with you. Do you know anything about that?”

  Travis shook his head. “Not a clue.”

  “Maybe you should go over and see him. Who knows he might down for one reason or another. Might do him some good to see a friend.”

  Travis nodded. “I’ll go over right now.”

  He walked out and hopped on his bike. He peddled the 6 blocks to Deans’ house hoping that all of this was a mistake.

  ****

  Travis knocked on Deans’ door and walked through as was normal for them. He went through the kitchen and saw Deans’ mom on the couch.

  “Hey Travis, Dean is up in his room. Go on up.”

  Travis climbed the stairs and knocked on the bedroom door and pushed it open. Dean was sitting at his desk as Travis came in. Dean barely glanced up, but that glance told Travis all he needed. Dean did indeed look like he hadn’t been taking care of himself at all. Travis could see the bags under his eyes which looked like they had been there for days.

  “Are you okay man?” Travis asked him as he took a seat on the bed.


  Dean looked over at him again, still not saying anything then went back to the desk.

  “Your mom is worried about you. She thinks that something is going on, so what is it?”

  “Nothing, it’s nothing that any of you need to concern yourself with.”

  “It has to do with that book doesn’t it?”

  Dean looked at him again, this time there was a fire in his eyes that Travis hadn’t seen before. “We don’t talk about that book.”

  “Dean, I’m your friend, I want to help you. I’m not here to take anything away or to hurt you, you have to know that.”

  These words seemed to jerk Dean back into reality and he looked over at Travis rubbing his neck. “I’m sorry, I’ve just been doing nothing but reading this book since we left that house. At this point I don’t know if I could stop if I wanted to.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, this book has a weird hold over my mind. All I can seem to want to do is read. I’m not eating, I’m not sleeping well, I’ve barely even left my room.”

  “Did you find anything in the book? Like who it might belong to?”

  “Yeah, according to some of the passages the book belonged to a horribly evil entity. It has a bunch of different names but the one that it mentions in this book is Nomed. It claims that he is one of the most powerful evil forces to walk the planet. If I had to guess this is a book that housed all of his knowledge. That’s because if you go through it, it’s got random passages in it that really look like they could be spells.”