"Stop the machine!"
A bright flash of light throttled me back into The Oracle's room, and the lab tech rushed in, white tennis shoes squeaking. He put his hands on my shoulders like he might start shaking some sense into me, and chewed his lower lip. "Are you okay? Did something go wrong, Mr. Miller?"
First came a quick series of beeps, and then, the Oracle lurched into a mechanical exhale as it powered down.
"Everything's shaky and blurry. I can't get a good look at the man who did this. All I can see is his smarmy fucking smile."
"Well…"
I lowered my voice to a confidential whisper, "And why won't he show me something about why he's gay? That was a big part of his life, I would think. I mean, I thought I did everything right. Taking him fishing and all that. It's just--"
"The Oracle doesn't work like that," Chester interrupted. "This machine's only meant to store memories so maybe
why isn't something he remembers. You want me to find another date?"
"It's my fault he's dead, you know. I shoulda done a better job of warning him about how things are, how rotten the world is. I need to talk to him."
The nervous scientist looked into my eyes head-on. "You can't."
DEDICATIONS and INFORMATION
For more information visit the Playing with Fire
at website https://sites.google.com/site/playingwithfirehorror/
BOOK COVER
Thanks to Chryse Wymer
, Renee atwww.chrysewymer.com and Stephanie at http://thecovercounts.blogspot.com/ http://www.obsidiandawn.com/
THE AUTHORS
Susan Evelyn
Best Served
I must thank Coral for guiding me through the editing process to prepare my short story for this anthology, and for her work with Critique Circle. I am grateful to have Best Served included alongside the works of all the authors here and for their support.
I have received accolades on like-interest sites, and have written for Amateur Publication Associations in the Science Fiction community, several social society newsletters, and had an article published in the quarterly magazine of a medieval re-creation society.
Further stories can be found at:
http://www.bookrix.com/-selivia
Approaching 60 yrs but not ready for retirement, I revel in living alone. Without the obligations of daily family life or shared accommodation, I am now free to explore my passion in writing, photography and travel beyond my Australian birthplace.
Nomar Knight
Bitten
is an author of horror and suspense who resides in Puerto Rico. Correspondence should be sent to
[email protected]
To read his short stories and poetry, visit
http//www.knightchills.blogspot.com
You may follow him on Facebook at http//
www.facebook.com/Nomar.Knight.Author.Poet
And on Twitter @Nomar_Knight
His latest books are on sale at Amazon Burning Love
http://tinyurl.com/69o37tr
Fountain of Death
http://tinyurl.com/6gmlvre
Anita Flame
Playing with Fire
I want to extend a special thanks to all those who helped me during this process, Coral, Robynn, and Critique Circle. I know my work wouldn't look and sound so great without the tweaks given by the ones responsible in the editing department.
I have published short stories both online and in a print magazine, Suspense Magazine, called:
When Death Comes to Visit. I've also won writing contests both on Bookrix.com and Writing.com.
You can find more of my work here:
http://www.bookrix.com/-cavlaster
Currently, at the age of 31, I am getting things ready to begin my BA's degree in WEB Design and Interactive Media for the Art Institute of Pittsburg. I am happily married and a stay at home mother of two boys, living on the Island of Puerto Rico.
Coral Russell
Devil of a Ghost Tour
To experience a real ghost tour, contact El Paso Ghost Tours at 877-GHOST10.
A big thanks to the Paso del Norte Paranormal Society, and the Paranormal Posse.
Special thanks to everyone who helped with this story, including - Scott, and SM.
Key to a Haunting
A shout out to:
El Paso Ghost Tours at 877-GHOST10
Paranormal Posse
Paso del Norte Paranormal Society
In remembrance of the Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire victims. May they rest in peace.
Special thanks to everyone who helped me with this story, including - Critique Circle, Chryse, Scott, and SM.
Coral Russell won the 2003 McCaleb Peace Initiative which produced the non-fiction articles
Peace on the Peninsula. You can also find various articles written by her on Technoratiand BlogCritics. After winning a fiction writing contest (a fluke), she caught the fiction bug. An encounter with something paranormal on a local ghost tour, inspired her to start writing the ghost hunter series.
Her titles include
Playing with Fire Anthology of Horror and The DIY Guide to Social Media Marketing and eBook Publishing, available wherever eBooks are sold.
Ms. Russell runs the blog alchemyofscrawl at
alchemyofscrawl.wordpress.comStop by for the latest in Indie book reviews, news, and resources. You can stalk the author on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreadsand , Google+
Amador Lockdown was released October 24th, 2011. Join the mailing list here to find out about the real ghost hunters who inspired the story. https://sites.google.com/site/amadorlockdown/home
Brian Fatah Steele
Fallen & The Stuff Dreams Aren't Made Of
April 15
th, 2011
By Brian Fatah Steele /
[email protected]
http://brianfatahsteele.com
This story appears in the collection
Fragments Of Ruin
BRIAN FATAH STEELE is an author of Horror Fiction & Urban Fantasy, much of it often written with a "Post-Mythic" genre element. Along with self-publishing his own books, his articles and stories have appeared in various e-magazines and online journals. Steele lives in Ohio with two cats that are probably plotting his doom, in an old house that sadly isn't haunted. Surviving on a diet primarily of coffee and cigarettes, he occasionally dabbles in Visual Arts and Music Production. He still hopes to one day become a Super Villain.
IN BLEED COUNTRY: DarkRedPress Edition
What is The Bleed Country? The space between words in a prayer and the last number in Pi. It is where faith & dreams are held safe, where unborn terrors lurk and all the answers are painted in colors that don't exist. There have always been Agents who protect Bleed Country, individuals granted powers who walk the under-roads known as The Scar and seek to keep the balance. But now cards have been thrown, and while the only true constant in this reality is change, it is coming faster and more surely than anyone could have predicted. Sides will be drawn for the battle of Bleed Country, and not everyone will survive. . .
DRP Edition Bonus Material features original artwork by the author, along with three Bleed Country short stories, detailing the origin of The Bound Mother, the death of The Swansong, and a day in the life of everyone's least favorite scarecrow. Available soon in paperback and e-book, presented by . Dark Red Press
Chryse Wymer
Many thanks to Brenda Wallace, for her tireless critique work. Also, for James and Ian. Thank you for reading
. To learn more about Chryse Wymer and her upcoming titles, visit This Dark Magic. If you would like to receive her quarterly newsletter, email: www.chrysewymer.com [email protected]
Chryse Wymer (1976-) was born in Long Beach, CA. She graduated from the National Institute of Massotherapy in 2003, and received her Ohio State Medical Board massage license in January, 2004. Her work has been published by The Record-Courier, Winetree Publishing, wildchildpublishing, and has twice earne
d 3rd-place awards in poetry.com's open poetry contests.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Susan Evelyn - Best Served
Robynn Gabel - Widows of the Night
Nomar Knight - Bitten
- Playing with Fire
Coral Russell - Devil of a Ghost Tour
Coral Russell - Key to a Haunting
Coral Russell - Amador Lockdown (excerpt)
Brian Fatah Steele - Flawed
Brian Fatah Steele - The Stuff Dreams Aren't Made Of
Chryse Wymer - This Dark Magic
Chryse Wymer - Living with Murder (excerpt)
DEDICATIONS and INFORMATION
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Susan Evelyn - Best Served
Robynn Gabel - Widows of the Night
Nomar Knight - Bitten
- Playing with Fire
Coral Russell - Devil of a Ghost Tour
Coral Russell - Key to a Haunting
Coral Russell - Amador Lockdown (excerpt)
Brian Fatah Steele - Flawed
Brian Fatah Steele - The Stuff Dreams Aren't Made Of
Chryse Wymer - This Dark Magic
Chryse Wymer - Living with Murder (excerpt)
DEDICATIONS and INFORMATION
Table of Contents
Playing with Fire (Anthology of Horror) Page 18