Christopher Awakens in the Dark. He's been buried alive!He digs his way out and finds his grave stone.He is not human anymore. What is he?The creature who made him is still out there.Christopher Awakens in the Dark. He's been buried alive!He digs his way out and finds his grave stone.He is not human anymore. What is he?The creature who made him is still out thereThis ebook contains: man discovering heis a vampire, man finding love in another man's pregnant wife. mad-dog vampire, nice vampire.ExcerptIn nearly mindless terror, he fought the dirt and the darkness to dig out. At last, he pulled himself up through the dirt and saw moonlight. He was so relieved to be free of the darkness that he almost cried. With renewed determination, he pulled himself free.As he lay atop the mound, he saw headstones everywhere. He was in a graveyard. He turned and saw a headstone marked his grave. He gasped when he read it...Here liesChristopher GrosslyOctober 12, 1796ToApril 15, 1821Killed by wolvesR.I.P.Moaning in mindless terror, he got up and ran. ***** “This is amazing.” He said. “Edna, come here.” Edna walked over and stood before him in all her naked glory. This must be another of the weird powers he had inherited from the creature.He could sense the intoxicating ‘feel’ of the blood flowing throughout her body. It was too sweet to resist. He took her in his arms and held her tightly, savoring the feel of her warm vibrant body. He was aware of the throbbing of her heart and the rich red blood pulsating through her. Holding her naked body against his chest, he was very much aware of her as a woman too. Christopher brushed his lips lightly against Edna’s, knowing it was wrong to kiss another man’s wife. Her lips were soft and pliant. He nibbled his way from her lips to the pulse point in her neck. She began to respond to him as a man, moaning softly. His heightened senses detected the scent of a woman fully aroused.He felt himself developing another need beyond the blood lust. He felt a strong desire to possess her and make her wholly his, both as a man and as a … creature. Fighting his instincts, he almost let her go, but the blood lust was too strong.When he could stand it no longer, he began kissing and nibbling her jugular, letting the hunger rise. His fangs extended and he penetrated her jugular.The blood flowing into him through his fangs was almost orgasmic in nature. Strangely, Edna seemed to derive an equal amount of pleasure from him sucking her blood. She put her arms around him and her scent of arousal became sharper. It made it harder to think about wanting to stop, given the pleasure they both seemed to feel.As hunger faded into the background, he could tell when her blood loss reached a danger point. It took an effort of great will, but Christopher stopped drawing blood and withdrew his fangs. He watched with incredibility as the puncture marks on her neck closed up and faded to near invisibility.

Randy is a sixteen year kid living a double life to his family he is the golden child but to the streets he is a monster. Randy knows that it is only a matter of time before his mother sees him for who he really is. Discovering a poem wriiten by Randy his mother is shell shock and hurt the more she fights for him the more he pulls away. Will stephanie lose her son to the streets?Randy Smith is a 16 year old boy raised in the Bronx by his single mother Stephanie. In many eyes Randy could do no wrong, but Randy was hiding a secret that he know would break his mother heart he was living a double life. After discovering her child secret Stephanie did her best to stop her son from straying. The more she pulled Randy closer to her the more he pulled away committing the ultimate disrespect towards his mother Stephanie finally gave up on Randy. Realizing he needs his mother Randy does his best to rekindle their relationship, but rekindling his relation with his mom was only part of the many problems that was coming his way

Vinny is the new patient at Belford Hospice, and he may be the last. He didn't come to die. He did not come because he had nowhere else to go. He came, not only to instill life, but to prevent death. Forever.My name is Custard Marks. I am an 11-year-old boy. I am the creator of CustardQuest.The game is pretty simple. I travel around the country investigating paranormal events and unexplained phenomena. Just read my investigative notes and figure out the clues hidden within the text of the notes. These clues will lead you to unique stones hidden somewhere in the United States. If you find a stone, report it on the website and include the code engraved on the front of the stone, and you will be paid via Paypal whatever the pre-announced reward amount is for that particular CustardQuest. The reward money will be relatively small at first and will increase as the number of participants increases. The smaller reward amounts will also allow me to conduct frequent CustardQuests. New CustardQuests will be released periodically, usually every few months.The notes are about 8-10 pages long and are written in plain English -- no ciphers or codes, but maybe a word game or two. Sounds easy enough, right? Good luck.

A radical proposal to end unemployment and repair our economy.May 1st 2014 the Earth is scorched by a stray asteroid, wiping out almost all life. Almost, but not quite. Three thousand souls aboard a cruise ship visiting the north pole are spared by a freak of nature.The ship’s First Officer, Jake Noah, was looking forward to getting back to dry land once and for all. But then the world ended, and now he finds himself reluctantly in charge of the last handful of survivors of the human race. The limited resources on board mean that just staying alive will be a struggle. With the threat of mutiny ever present, can Jake rise to the challenge and lead his crew and their passengers on a quest for safety, or will he take the easy option and leave anarchy and chaos to prevail?

The Autumn 2014 issue of The Common Oddities Speculative Fiction Sideshow is an eclectic mix of science fiction, fantasy, and poetry by established and up-and-coming authors. All issues of COSFS are archived at www.commonodditiessideshow.com. Published by www.ProvisionBooks.com.The Autumn 2014 issue of The Common Oddities Speculative Fiction Sideshow is an eclectic mix of science fiction, fantasy, and poetry by established and up-and-coming authors. All issues of COSFS are archived at www.commonodditiessideshow.com. Published by www.ProvisionBooks.com. Jessica E. Thomas, EditorCover art by OddMrT.comContributors: Melissa McDanielLawrence BuentelloMirtikaAndy DeckerJill DomschotLou AntonelliEd ShackleeStoney M. Setzer

A look into the lives of five individuals who are struggling with social issues that affect their health and the way they run their lives. Social issues are explored in a fictional setting as the characters struggle with different aspects of life and society.Frightened after finding blood on their carpet, Andrea Wilton agrees to join forces with  Trent Michner's best friend, Brian Strait, in order to discover what happened to Trent and his wife, her best friend. The bad guys are not far behind and do everything in their power to discourage the search.A neighbor is murdered on her doorstep leaving behind the first clue in the search. Andrea and Brian follow one clue after another, all the way to Haiti. More missing people lead them to voodoo ceremonies and throw away children.Andrea grows more confident and begins to look a little more closely at Brian as a true friend. Their confidence in their Lord and in each other grows as they discover the evil that lurks just around the corner.

An anthology of short stories from author Steve Howrie. Each of story has an unpredictable twist in the tale - see if you can spot them! The topics range from Murder and Mystery, to Horror, Humour, Love and Relationships, Despite the huge popularity of novels today, short stories remain a wonderful way to put across interesting and thought-provoking ideas in just a few pages. Enjoy!An anthology of short stories from author Steve Howrie. Each of story has an unpredictable twist in the tale - see if you can spot them! Despite the huge popularity of novels today, short stories remain a wonderful way to put across interesting and thought-provoking ideas in just a few pages. Here’s a line or two about each one:44 ACORN GROVE. Inspired by Ian Rankin’s detective novels, this story includes Rankin himself in a cameo role. In fact, this short story won first prize in the Unpublished Writers category one year at the Scottish Association of Writers Annual Conference. Ian has actually read the story, and commented that he would have preferred me to have killed off one of his rival authors!YESTERDAY. This is the only completely true –life story in the collection, based on my own young experiences. I am still very much in contact with my life-long buddy Gordon Cockroft (mentioned in the story), who is a fellow writer - and an excellent one at that.KATTJA. One of the fortnightly projects of Bute Writers was to create stories based on one of the seven deadly sins. I came across the Swedish word for lust, and that seemed a perfect title for my story. I hope you enjoy the humour of it.THE TUNNEL. I remember encountering some very long and dark old railway tunnels when I was young. As a family, we used to go blackberry picking along the railway cuttings in Leicestershire near where we lived – which was great fun. I recall my big sister venturing into one of these tunnels, and it took a great deal of courage to join her.THE INCOMERS. This is based on one of my visits to East Midlands airport. Some social comment here.THE ROAD TO RUIN. This is based on our Writers’ group on the Isle of Bute in the West of Scotland, with the feel of island life. It was great fun to write this - and to read it to the members!BRENDA. I used to holiday quite regularly in the Algarve, Southern Portugal, and this was written there during one of my visit. I remember that I was reading an article about a multi-millionaire at the time, and that influenced the storyline.THE UNIVERSITY OF ROGER. Memories of my university days in Edinburgh inspired this one. A bit silly, and hardly a short story, but I just had to put it in.ORGANISED INTIMIDATION. Another Bute Writers project. Each meeting, one of the members would choose the title for the next project, and one week the Secretary chose this. Some really good stories came out of that particular project.JAMIE. I’ve always enjoyed reading plays, and I remember studying Shakespeare and Arthur Miller at school. Reading later led to writing plays. When I wrote Jamie, I was imagining a stage play, with strong emotions in a family situation – with the inevitable twist at the end.THE WESTERN. This is probably my favourite in the collection. Again, a twist in the tale – and I particularly like the zany humour in this one. It makes fun of all those unbelievable Westerns I watched when I was a kid (whilst wearing the obligatory cowboy suit).CARVOLUTION. I have had a life-long interest in Astronomy and studied Astrophysics at University. This story is a light-hearted look at contemporary scientific theories through the eyes of a journalist. Whilst in many ways we are living in an enlightened age, I strongly feel that we are in still in the Dark Ages as regards our scientific theories. Make your own minds up about this one.BELINDA. This is the only story in the collection that was written in China, where I currently reside. It is set in the town of Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, and refers to a writers’ group to which I belonged. I hope it gives you a feel for at least one aspect of traditional Chinese culture.

A First Shot Fired: Part Three and February installments of Tin Universe Daily all for the low price of FREE!!This fictional novel tells the moving tale of two young policemen in the Western Cape who come from two very different backgrounds but whose paths cross each other as a result of traumatic events in their adolescent years.This leads to a very deep friendship that can only be described as the brotherhood relationship between David and Jonathan in the Holy Scripture. Barry, being an atheist, life is saved by Adrian in more than one way that, with constant prayer and support brings Barry to surrender his heart to the Only Saviour, Jesus Christ.This novel, written by a cop, is a true reflection of what the men and women in blue are really exposed to on a daily basis but also that no problem or tribulation is defeat to a child of God in any means and that with God; true peace can be experienced in the worst storms of life.The reader can expect an overdose of real police action as well as suspense and drama, yet there are enough lighter moments as a result of both Adrian and Barry’s razor sharp sense of humour. With three kidnappings and two hostage situations, the audience is sure to be kept captivated to the end!

On this cursed night each year, The Goddess’s powerful magic lingers in the air. The moon and seas turn red, stirring violence in all those creatures dark of soul. Lady Dessi Quinn has vowed not to leave the castle on such a dangerous night. Instead, she longs to explore the strange connection between Lord Smit Croswell and herself, even as she tries to deny it."The Goddess of the Sea no longer cares just for sacrifices; she’ll punish all those tainted by blood on The Feast of Darkness."On this cursed night each year, The Goddess’s powerful magic lingers in the air. The moon and seas turn red, stirring violence in all those creatures dark of soul. Lady Dessi Quinn has vowed not to leave the castle on such a dangerous night. Instead, she longs to explore the strange connection between Lord Smit Croswell and herself, even as she tries to deny it.But as the night progresses, events outside of her control force her to make an impossible choice. A choice that will throw her into danger and change the course of her life forever.If she can survive it.Note: “The Goddess of the Sea” takes place in the world of Tarak, but readers can either enjoy this short story before or after "To Kill a Wizard."

This story is a unique collaboration between Paspaley, acclaimed author Anna Funder, photographer Derek Henderson and award-winning actress Teresa Palmer.It's an original story of love, self and all things precious, featuring the most beautiful pearls in the world.Nora-May grew up hearing tales from her grandfather of the half-human, half-fish creatures that terrorize sailors on Creek Island. After her grandfather's death, Nora-May joins her father on a fishing trip down at Creek Mountain. What she witnesses will change her life forever.

We love the unexpected, and we love stories that take us places we've never been. I can guarantee there's something brand new for you here, too, no matter how well traveled you are, or how many episodes of Where in the World Is Carmen San Diego you've watched.Sometimes things aren't as they seem. Sometimes that pothole is actually a portal to another dimension. Sometimes that friend is actually a clone created by an evil corporation. Sometimes that rose smells just like the maw of a particular rose-shaped alien that likes to feast on noses.To illustrate the point — well, not those particular points, but the more general one about things not being as they seem — this issue is full of stories on that topic. Life can be unexpected, as these stories so expertly show, whether that means finding out your mom's ghost isn't really your mom, your favorite fairy tale was actually made by non-robots, or the girl you met in a tree really does have skin made of spider silk but she still doesn't have your best interest at heart. And those are real examples from these stories.We love the unexpected, and we love stories that take us places we've never been. I can guarantee there's something brand new for you here, too, no matter how well traveled you are, or how many episodes of Where in the World Is Carmen San Diego you've watched.

75,000 years ago, a specific group of undesireable immortals launched from Earth, sent into deep space to colonize a nearby planet. Advancements in technology since has let Earth build entire civilizations on that planet in the meantime. Now, 75,000 years later, the original ship approaches: do they allow the craft to land, or blow it out of the sky?Joey's world turned upside down after witnessing the executions of his lifelong friends. Then things start to get chaotic when someone from his childhood returns and causes more tension and forces him to remember painful memories from his past, while, at the same time, he tries to stay strong and remain intact for his friends. But after he gets shot from the same guy who killed his team, Joey wakes up to find that Ryan has been elected Mayor, and that Kyle is right there helping him. Will Joey make it out alive to be the one to save his city and friends? Or will he scream and crumble internally as he takes a bullet to his head?

Baylee Cooper lives in Los Angeles' fashion world. As Christmas approaches, she's ready for the best LA has to offer but a little nudge from her family and she finds herself back in Wyoming with a boyfriend that would love nothing more than to get back to the city. And just when things can't get any worse, an old flame re-enters Baylee's life. Now Baylee's heart is torn between her two lives.Baylee Cooper lives in the fast-paced fashion world in Los Angeles. She would love nothing better than to spend the holidays among the many models and designers she's come to know but her family has other plans. Intead of raging parties, Baylee is stuck at her family's horse ranch in Newcastle, Wyoming after a seven-year absence. Despite the set back, she's confident that with her city-slicker boyfriend at her side, she can overcome the craziness that is the Cooper family. At least, that's the plan until an old flame returns into her life and sets her world upside down. War rages in Baylee's heart between what she's come to know and what she left behind.

Brad touches the HoloCube, initiating a Chirpfeed interview putting out an explanation on the science of a Green Sahara. If either Asian or NATO naval commanders decide to shoot down their unarmed jet, monsoon geoengineering will collapse. If not, Chinese rice growing, extra global cooling popular among Africans, just might gain Brad’s kids a future amidst the jumbled politics of the day.A modified business jet, loaded with sulphur dioxide, leaves the west coast of Africa headed for a mid-Atlantic release point. If engineers Brad and Vince and climate scientist Tamanna, with popular support of Sahel country politicians and their citizens, can negotiate their way through a military standoff, the world of some at least might turn out better as the climate changes. The message put out to social media, cast as a mix of real science and the heartfelt storyline people truly hear, will be crucial.

Is it possessed?Is it some kind of experiment?It doesn't matter.All that matters is that it is out to get you.The DilDozer, or DD for short, calls on all of those in its path in the hopes that one day it can unleash its 20 full inches of destructive force upon the world. Read on, if you dare, the tale of the DilDozer.Deadly.Dangerous.Ribbed for her terror.The world has gone black.At least, you can't see anything. You can't move or scream either. You're trapped.This has to be a dream, yet... something tells you it's all too real. Not only do you not remember where you are, you don't remember who you are.With a poetic narrative that promises an existential read, Nothing but the Black searches for a light in the darkness of identity.

When Princess Peridot complained that she was bored, she was overheard by one of the king’s advisers. What happened after that was a series of adventures involving a Wizard, an enchanted pig and even one of the royal gardeners.As Cecily is lamenting the tragedy of fresh deaths of her parents, which were suicides, she suddenly faces a coarse and bad tempered stranger coming on her side in most rude approach. Her mind leapt back to the words of her father about his son, described as Bigboy, who is coming to inherit everything theirs. And that Cecily has to move out for she belongs to another mystery family. At that point the nightmare of horror arose. Bigboy won’t let her away seek her original family as she now lives for, aiming their legacy too. He held her abduct first to run ransom operation onto her new family. Though Bigboy sought help from Gilbert to run this vital operation, he prefers to do his stuffs alone. This is to benefit with hundred percent interests. Then the fun of living his own life. He is the most lone man, wilful, even fascinating character who had been included in this story.

**protect the diamonds survive the clubs dig deep through the spades feel the hearts** Ed Kennedy is an underage cabdriver without much of a future. He's pathetic at playing cards, hopelessly in love with his best friend, Audrey, and utterly devoted to his coffee-drinking dog, the Doorman. His life is one of peaceful routine and incompetence until he inadvertently stops a bank robbery. That's when the first ace arrives in the mail. That's when Ed becomes the messenger. Chosen to care, he makes his way through town helping and hurting (when necessary) until only one question remains: Who's behind Ed's mission?

When Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm published their "Children's and Household Tales" in 1812, followed by a second volume in 1815, they had no idea that such stories as "Rapunzel," "Hansel and Gretel," and "Cinderella" would become the most celebrated in the world. Yet few people today are familiar with the majority of tales from the two early volumes, since in the next four decades the Grimms would publish six other editions, each extensively revised in content and style. For the very first time, " The Original Folk and Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm" makes available in English all 156 stories from the 1812 and 1815 editions. These narrative gems, newly translated and brought together in one beautiful book, are accompanied by sumptuous new illustrations from award-winning artist Andrea Dezso. From "The Frog King" to "The Golden Key," wondrous worlds unfold--heroes and heroines are rewarded, weaker animals triumph over the strong, and simple bumpkins prove themselves not so simple after all. Esteemed fairy tale scholar Jack Zipes offers accessible translations that retain the spare description and engaging storytelling style of the originals. Indeed, this is what makes the tales from the 1812 and 1815 editions unique--they reflect diverse voices, rooted in oral traditions, that are absent from the Grimms' later, more embellished collections of tales. Zipes's introduction gives important historical context, and the book includes the Grimms' prefaces and notes. A delight to read, "The Original Folk and Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm" presents these peerless stories to a whole new generation of readers."

First published in 1962, a year after Revolutionary Road, this sublime collection of stories seems even more powerful today. Out of the lives of Manhattan office workers, a cab driver seeking immortality, frustrated would-be novelists, suburban men and their yearning, neglected women, Richard Yates creates a haunting mosaic of the 1950s, the era when the American dream was finally coming true - and just beginning to ring a little hollow.

Sherman Alexie’s darkly humorous story collection weaves memory, fantasy, and stark reality to powerfully evoke life on the Spokane Indian Reservation. The twenty-four linked tales in Alexie’s debut collection—an instant classic—paint an unforgettable portrait of life on and around the Spokane Indian Reservation, a place where “Survival = Anger x Imagination,” where HUD houses and generations of privation intertwine with history, passion, and myth. We follow Thomas Builds-the-Fire, the longwinded storyteller no one really listens to; his half-hearted nemesis, Victor, the basketball star turned recovering alcoholic; and a wide cast of other vividly drawn characters on a haunting journey filled with humor and sorrow, resilience and resignation, dreams and reality. Alexie’s unadulterated honesty and boundless compassion come together in a poetic vision of a world in which the gaps between past and present are not really gaps after all. The basis for the acclaimed 1998 feature film Smoke Signals,the Chicago Tribune noted, “The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven . . . is for the American Indian what Richard Wright’s Native Son was for the black American in 1940.” The collection received a Special Citation for the PEN/Hemingway Award for Best First Fiction. This ebook edition features a new prologue from the author, as well as an illustrated biography and rare photos from Sherman Alexie’s personal collection.

Told with Andrew Smith’s signature dark humor, Rabbit & Robot tells the story of Cager Messer, a boy who’s stranded on the Tennessee—his father’s lunar-cruise utopia—with insane robots. Cager has been transported to the Tennessee, a giant lunar-cruise ship orbiting the moon that his dad owns, by Billy and Rowan to help him shake his Woz addiction. Meanwhile, Earth, in the midst of thirty simultaneous wars, burns to ash beneath them. And as the robots on board become increasingly insane and cannibalistic, and the Earth becomes a toxic wasteland, the boys have to wonder if they’ll be stranded alone in space forever. In his new novel, Andrew Smith, Printz Honor author of Grasshopper Jungle, will make you laugh, cry, and consider what it really means to be human.