Sitting up, he thought about the things he just saw. He thought about the man, Roger. Was this the same Roger that Whindsor had told him about? Roger Tresney? And what about the Emperor? Roger knew that he would die at the hands of the Empire. That Hank would go to Necropolis. The thought of somehow being descended from the Emperor sent a cold wave of nausea through Hank’s stomach. Even worse was the realization that the blood that ran through Toby’s veins was the same blood that ran through that monster’s as well. And then there was the bitterness of the irony this situation had brought about in Hank’s mind. He had lost his son only to gain some long lost ancestor who had reached into Hank’s life and ripped his world away. It had been buried deep in Hank’s mind, but it was there all along.
No matter how evil and sick Jack Draper had been it wasn’t completely his fault that he had done what he had. He had been sent to do a job. A job he did all too well. But nevertheless he had been sent by Joseph Caesar. And even though he had his other reasons, Hank knew that it was one of the only things that was keeping him from putting a bullet through his skull. Nothing else mattered anymore. Nothing else but finding the man who was truly responsible for Toby’s death.
A man who sat in a white robe on a throne of gold.
Hank stayed in the house until sundown and then as the stars began to fill up the sky, he dragged a large can of gasoline up the stairs. He had already soaked the entire basement, now it was time for the rest of the place. With every splash across a wall or floor, another memory came back and he let it wash over him like lava. And when the house was completely soaked, he stepped out onto the front porch and lit a single match and let it fall as he walked out to the car. By the time the house was completely on fire it was in his rearview mirror and the sounds of sirens were rising up from a distance.
The road stretched out ahead in the darkness as Hank pushed down on the gas and prepared himself for the long drive back to New Orleans. He thought that maybe he no longer hated himself for what had happened to Toby. It’s not like he could have stopped it. Tears welled up in Hank’s eyes obscuring his vision. He wondered if anyone could have stopped it.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I want to sincerely express my deep gratitude for the following individuals who have had a major part in not only making this book happen but supporting and encouraging me with this series as a whole: My wife Jennifer Wilson, Dustin Cade, Malina Roos, Emma Hinks, Richard Flores IV, Mark Lewis, April Charisse, Dave Brzeski, Mindy Nichole Holmes, Ann Magee (who I owe an extra thanks for her help with information about salt caves in New Orleans), and last but definitely not least, every one of you who has read my work and supported me in any way. I can’t thank you all enough!
I would also like to thank the following who have been a major part of my life for at least the past year and have either inspired me to write better, helped me to learn how, and/or given me feedback on my work at various times: Joe McKinney, Peter Giglio, Stephen Graham Jones, Laird Barron, Peter Watts, Jonathan Templar, Peter N. Dudar, L.L. Soares, Rena Mason, Mark C. Scioneaux, Trent Zelazny, Richard Salter, Tim Waggoner, Greg F. Gifune, Ray Wallace, Selene Macleod (if that’s your real name!), Jack Ketchum, Taylor Grant, Brad C. Hodson, Benjamin Kane Ethridge, Scott Nicholson, Gene O’Neil, J.T. Warren, Stephen Bacon, Lee Thomas, Ed Kurtz, also Marc Ciccarone, Theresa Dillon, and Joe Spagnola of Blood Bound Books, CL Stegal and Brian Fatah Steele of Dark Red Press, and of course my family, immediate and far reaching. Each of you have been amazing.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Robert S. Wilson was born in Bloomington, Indiana during the blizzard of '78. His first taste for science fiction and horror came from watching episodes of The Twilight Zone and the stories his mother told him about a supposedly haunted house his family once lived in. He is the author of Shining in Crimson and Fading in Darkness, books one and two of his dystopian vampire series: Empire of Blood. Robert is also one of three co-editers of the Bram Stoker Award-nominated Horror for Good: A Charitable Anthology published by Cutting Block Press.
Exit Reality: A Ray Garret/Lifeline Techno Thriller, the first novella in Robert's new fast-paced cyberpunk/horror/crime series is also now available on Amazon from Blood Bound Books.
Robert lives in Middle Tennessee with his wife and two kids and spends most of his time wondering where all the time went. Samples of his work as well as the free audio serial for Shining in Crimson can be found on his blog at http://shiningincrimson.blogspot.com You can also find him and Shining in Crimson on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/robertswilsonauthor and http://www.facebook.com/shiningincrimson
Also available for Kindle by Robert S. Wilson:
The Quiet: A Novella
James Benton might be the last man on earth. Racing to get to work, he finds random abandoned cars, smoldering pile-ups, and something even stranger. Everywhere he goes there's no grass, no people, not even a bird in the sky. Alone in a barren world, James travels west in search of someone, anyone who might have survived The Quiet.
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In Dark Reaches: The Official Fiction Subscription of Robert S. Wilson
In Dark Reaches is a collage of fiction by Robert S. Wilson. Whether it be old stories fallen through the cracks, cut scenes that never left his heart or mind, excerpts of things to come, or even new exclusive stories, you’ll find a wide mix of genres and ideas explored.
In the first issue we delve into the past; A young boy is struck with the chilling sting of betrayal in the very first piece of fiction I ever wrote, then a spider-filled Shining in Crimson outtake, thirdly the first chapter of an upcoming dark YA fantasy novel in which a young girl learns that the dragon pendant she's worn all her life has a magical secret that could set her free from the cold grip of a sorceress who keeps her captive (specially edited for this issue), and finally an early unpublished short story that takes a dark look at the subject of time travel. I hope you enjoy these pieces and I look forward to working on the next issue.
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Exit Reality: A Ray Garret/Lifeline Techno Thriller
The future of experience is digital...even in death.
No one knows this better than Ray Garret. In a world where the human brain can connect directly to the internet, human beings become the target of a mass-murdering computer virus.
Ray's an Antivii agent in charge of tracking down the source of digi-human viruses. He's no lover of the HPDID (Human Perceptual Digital Interface Device), but when a recorded experience from his dead wife is left for him, Ray has no choice but to play the file, changing his life forever.
“As visionary as William Gibson's Johnny Mnemonic and as seedy as Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe stories, Robert S. Wilson's EXIT REALITY is a supreme achievement. Wilson has created a world so plausible, and yet so full of nightmares, that you might never want to get online again. I loved this book. Write faster, Mr. Wilson, because I want more!”
—Joe McKinney, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of FLESH EATERS and MUTATED
"Wilson's EXIT REALITY is a cyberpunk nightmare that just keeps getting better and better, until you hit that mark where you know it's finished but crave more. It meets at the positively alluring intersection of Phillip K. Dick Avenue and Raymond Chandler Boulevard, and there are a scarcity of other street corners where I'd rather find myself."
—Benjamin Kane Ethridge, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of BLACK & ORANGE and BOTTLED ABYSS
“Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Robert S. Wilson's fast-paced novella, EXIT REALITY. The story is compelling and well-written, the author deftly negotiating the line between SF and Horror—a difficult sub-genre that only the best writers can manage. Recommended without reservation.”
—Gene O’Neill, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of THE BURDEN OF INDIGO and OPERATION RHINOCEROS HORNBILL
/> “Kiss the world you know goodbye and get ready for Robert S. Wilson's terrifying sci-fi novella, EXIT REALITY. With powerful storytelling and fast-paced action, Wilson's ready to entertain and move you in equal measure.”
—Peter Giglio, author of BEYOND ANON and co-author of THE DARK
“EXIT REALITY is a fast-paced blend of sci-fi horror. Robert S. Wilson has created a believable near-future and populated it with all-too real characters. The nightmarish spiral of Ray Garret's descent is thrilling and unforgettable, and the technology feels just one step away. The narrative thrums with loss and desire. Wilson's muscular writing grips you tightly and pulls you along. Escape is futile. This will be one ride you won't forget.”
—Stephen Bacon, author of PEEL BACK THE SKY
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Escape From Saturn and LiberatedServant
For many years before I wrote fiction, I was (and I guess still am) a musician. I sang, played guitar, bass, keyboards, piano since I was about 12 years old. From 1998 to 2000 I sang, played guitar, and wrote music for the Indianapolis based band LIFT and from 2000 to 2001 I sang in the band Godtrip. In 2001 I also played guitar for a very short stint in the band Resurface. Between 2001 and 2003 under the moniker ESCAPE FROM SATURN I recorded about 20 industrial rock/metal songs with a 233MHZ Compaq desktop computer, a Shure SM57 microphone, and a crappy Creative Labs sound card and somehow managed to end up with a fairly listenable 17 track album titled 10 Million Ways to Say Goodbye. I released it myself online to a handful of friends. Without a backup band to help promote it, it didn't really get the attention I felt it deserved. But such is life.
Years later I recorded some acoustic songs that had a totally different vibe, then I started experimenting with some acoustic versions of the ESCAPE FROM SATURN songs and realized what I was working on was different enough from EFS to warrant a new title. Hence LiberatedServant. I recorded several demo songs and had planned to compile them together as a short EP called River's Rising and never ended up getting around to it.
In 2005 I started the metal band Burning Alive which dissolved quickly into another solo recording project. Around 2006 to 2007 I did some mobile studio recording in both Indianapolis and Nashville and also sang in the metal band Kobayashi.
Cue this past year, I'm going through old files and find some of my music tracks, videos, etc. and I decided maybe it was time to give both albums a better shot. So, I recompiled 10 Million Ways to Say Goodbye, remixed the tracks for River's Rising and put them up on Amazon. They're now both available in CD and MP3 format on Amazon! Click here to listen to samples or purchase either album.
Empire of Blood (Book 2): Fading In Darkness Page 28