by James Dean
Only the Light We Make: Tales from the world of Adrian's Undead Diary, Volume 3
Edited by Chris Philbrook
Copyright © 2016 Christopher Philbrook
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission of the author. Your support of author’s rights is appreciated.
Published in the United States of America
First Publishing Date 2016
All characters in this compilation are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Cover design and interior layout by Alan MacRaffen
Also by Chris Philbrook:
Elmoryn - The Kinless Trilogy
Book One: Wrath of the Orphans
Book Two: The Motive for Massacre
Book Three: The Echoes of Sin
Reemergence
Tesser: A Dragon Among Us
Ambryn: The Cheaters of Death
Coming Soon:
Fyelrath & the Coven’s Curse
Adrian’s Undead Diary
Book One: Dark Recollections
Book Two: Alone No More
Book Three: Midnight
Book Four: The Failed Coward
Book Five: Wrath
Book Six: In the Arms of Family
Book Seven: The Trinity
Book Eight: Cassie
Coming Soon:
The Last Resort
Tales from the World of Adrian’s Undead Diary
Unhappy Endings
London Burns
Only the Light We Make
Short Fiction:
Colony Lost: The Children of Ghara
Coming Soon:
Colony Lost: Book One
Don’t miss Chris Philbrook’s free e-Book:
At Least He’s Not On Fire:
A Tour of the Things That Escape My Head
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Foreword by Mark Tufo
The Calling by James Dean
The Beacon by James Pyne
Going Nowhere by Chris Philbrook
Neighborhood Watch, Meanwhile in Utah, Part Two by Josh Green
Zombie Fix by Phillip Tomasso
Stay Here Until I Come Back for You by Jay Wilburn
The Devil's Right Hand by Christopher T. MacDonald
Dead Rising, Day One by C. A. Hoaks
Last Caress by Christopher T. MacDonald
Only a Few Miles to Home by Chris Philbrook
Barbie by Adam Carpenter
Family by Dave Lund
We Cease to Exist by Jeremy Flagg
Voices by Brian Parker
Hank and Miles by Joe Tremblay
The Shadow by Shannon Walters
The Torch by Chris Philbrook
Redemption by J.D. Demers
Acknowledgements
About Chris Philbrook
Foreword:
Hello Dear Reader, and welcome! My name is Mark Tufo. I am the author of the Zombie Fallout series and a bunch of other stuff but, enough about me. A while back, Chris Philbrook asked if I would like to participate in an anthology for his wicked pissah, (that means “really good” on the East Coast), Adrian’s Undead Diary. At the time, I was feeling a little overwhelmed with some pressing deadlines and I politely declined. Then he asked if I would do a foreword…I had to think about that. Not because I didn’t want to contribute, but rather because I know how important these things can be as an opening salvo for a book. If you know anything about me, well, I do these VERY, VERY infrequently. I didn’t want to give Chris and this really talented crew of authors anything less than what they absolutely deserve.
Now, this is the point where it gets a little fuzzy; the book was not quite finished as of this missive, so unfortunately for me, I have not had the chance to read all of the authors assembled here. But again, that’s not a salient point; I have read Chris’s stuff. He would only gather a group of writers that he knew would add amazing stories to the AUD world. Will I be getting this book when it comes out? Most definitely. And, I’m a hundred percent positive that I will be adding a bunch of these authors to my “must buy” list—and that is a pretty friggen' exciting prospect. I mean, who doesn’t want to collect a new fistful of gems?
So, here you are, Dear Reader, dangling over the drop into a whole new level of mind blowing fiction. Buy this anthology…treat yourself to the continuing kickass awesomeness that is Adrian’s Undead Diary. Don’t be “that guy” that misses out on all the fun!
-Mark Tufo
October, 2016
The Calling
James Dean
“This has to be a dream.” Sue exhaled as she took in the brilliance of where she stood. A haze surrounded her, diffusing the intense light into a golden hue. The light embraced her, warming her deep into her core. Sweet honey danced across her tongue as she drew breath, senses filled with the delicate aroma of fresh spring flowers. She closed her eyes, wrapping her arms around herself as she bathed in the surrounding serenity and joy.
Dream or not, she never wanted to leave. The waking world was nothing more than pain and death, filled with monsters that left nothing but ruin and desolation in their wake. She had not heard from her sons since the world died, her mother and a man she loved like a father were taken from her in front of her own eyes. And when it seemed that she couldn’t take any more suffering, the world took her husband from her.
Her heart was broken, the physical pain of her loss digging deep into her heart despite the tender love she felt around her. Sue’s loss stung her soul as her thoughts turned to Danny. Tears sprung from her eyes as her mind played back his terrible cries as the dead tore his flesh from his bones.
They were starving, their last remaining morsels of food having been gone for days. While Sue slept, Danny left the safety of their fortified home to find something that could keep them alive just a little while longer.
His screams broke through her unconscious mind just as the sun peeked over the horizon. She tore through her house, tears streaming down her dirt caked face to find him not more than a few feet from their front door. He fought as hard as he could, but the throng was too large. The man who scored high in every shooting competition he entered never fired a single shot. No matter how many times she replayed it in her mind, she could not understand why he didn't use his gun to save his own life.
She fell to her knees sobbing, drawing her arms tighter around her own body. Her grief so strong that even the peaceful surroundings could do nothing to temper her agony. As her anguished cries grew, she felt a warming embrace coming from everywhere and nowhere, as if all the souls that had ever known and cared about her had gathered and held her tight until her tears dried.
“Where am I?” she whispered.
“You’re in the Light,” a familiar voice broke through the golden haze. “Well, that’s what I was told when I got here.” The voice sounded happy and carefree.
“I know you,” she said as she made her way to her feet.
“I hope you know him,” a woman’s voice joined in. “You’ve spent every Christmas at our house for as long as I can remember.”
“Ma!?” Sue cried out. As fast as her feet could carry her, she ran towards the source of her mother’s voice.
The corridor seemed endless, the golde
n haze filled with the scent of lilacs swirled around her as she passed through it. She ran for all she was worth. Her muscled ached as her legs pumped, but she never tired. She drew breath, the sweet flavor of honey filled her, giving her strength.
“Stop running,” another voice broke through. Her feet stilled, but her heart raced. She shook, tears flowed like waterfalls across her warm cheeks. She knew that voice. She spent twelve years waking to it in the morning, and falling asleep to it every night.
“Danny?” Sue fell to her knees once more, weeping with joy.
Instantly, the haze broke apart, evaporating into thin air as if it was never there. Sue closed her eyes, the brilliance of the white room blinding her. She couldn’t stop her tears from racing across her face as her husband’s hand came to rest on her shoulder.
Sue jumped to her feet, wrapping her arms around him. He stroked her white hair as she buried her face in his chest. He felt warm and alive, his emaciated body was now full and strong. She opened her eyes, and gasped.
Danny stood before her, looking very much like he had twenty years prior when he was in his thirties. His slick black hair was brushed back, framing his face in a way she had never seen before. His smile caused her to swoon. She felt like a schoolgirl with a crush as she stared at her husband.
“Like it?” he laughed. “I was kinda surprised myself. I’m not complaining though,” he said in his thick Chicago accent. “Come over and have a seat. We don’t have a lot of time, and we have a lot to talk about. Besides, there’s a couple more people who want to see you.”
He pulled away from her, walking toward a large table that she was sure had not been there moments before. Sitting on one side of the table was another younger man in a black tuxedo, heavy gold rings adorning his fingers. He sat smiling at her, his hands folded across the solid oak table top.
Next to him sat a beautiful young woman, dressed in a long deep blue sequined ball gown that looked like it came right out of a magazine from the 1950s. Her perfectly cut red hair sat at her shoulders, her smiling lips coated with bright red lipstick. She looked every bit like an actress from the golden age of film.
“Chris, I don’t think she knows who you are,” the man smiled.
“Oh Mike,” Christine answered, her lively voice high and young. “Don’t tell me my own daughter doesn’t know who I am!” Christine smiled and winked.
“Ma? Mike?” Sue gasped in astonishment. “You’re beautiful!”
“Flattery will get you everywhere,” Christine laughed.
“But I saw you all …” Sue started.
“Yes, you did.” Danny sighed as he took a seat across from Sue.
“Is this a dream?” Sue asked. “If it is, I don’t want to wake up.”
“It is a dream,” her mom said, taking Sue’s hands in hers. “And it’s not.”
“I don’t understand,” Sue said as she tried to make sense of what she was seeing. “If this isn’t a dream, that means that I’m dead. That means I can stay here! With you!” Sue didn’t try to hide the hope in her words. She was done with the world beyond her sleeping eyes. She was tired of being surrounded by death.
“I’m sorry,” Danny said, his eyes misting over. “I wish you could, and I promise I will be counting the days until we can see each other again.”
“I don’t want to go back there!” Sue shouted. “I don’t want to be alone anymore. You haven’t even been gone for a full day yet, and I can’t live like that anymore! I won’t go back!”
“Sue,” her mother said softly, gripping her hands tight. “You have to listen to us. There’s more at stake right now than you realize. There’s things that are happening that are beyond you and me.”
“There’s only two ways things will play out,” Mike began. He took a deep breath, shooting Sue the most serious look she had ever seen from the man. “If we fail this test, we disappear. Evil wins, and we blink out of existence for eternity. Our history, our lives, our very souls will be gone.”
“What test?” Sue asked.
“Evil has been given dominion over the dead,” Danny said. “Evil has deemed humanity unworthy of all the gifts it has been given. It seeks to destroy all that we are and rule over all of existence for eternity. It wants to fill the world with misery, and squeeze every possible drop of suffering from our very souls.”
“You keep saying evil like it’s a real being,” Sue said. “Do you mean the Devil is doing this?”
“If thinking of it as the Devil will help you understand, than you can call it the Devil,” her mom said. “But Evil is real. It’s a thing you can see and feel. It’s cold and dark, and it hates. Oh does it hate. It hates us with such terrible passion that it can make even the dead tremble.”
“Where is God?” Sue asked incredulously. “He wouldn’t allow the Devil to do this!”
“The Light didn’t allow it,” Mike said, his wooden chair creaking and popping as he leaned back. “We did it to ourselves. We’ve abused the world we have been given. People kill, hurt, rape, and steal. With all the hate we’ve generated, it’s a wonder this didn’t happen sooner.”
“But …” Sue started, stopping herself as Mike’s words dug deep into her mind. “What about the good we’ve done? The love we’ve shared, and the kindness we’ve shown. Can’t we redeem ourselves in God’s eyes?”
“The Light hasn’t abandoned us,” Danny smiled, glancing over to Christine and Mike who returned his happy smile. “Evil has dominion over the dead, but the living still have free will. Evil lies and corrupts, tricking the living to do as it wants. But it can be fought.”
“How?” Sue asked, her voice trembling. “How do we fight something like this? The world is dead, people are killing other people over food and water. How do we fight something like that?”
“The Light has a champion,” Mike said simply.
“More like three champions,” her mom added.
“It’s the Trinity, but it’s not like the one you might be thinking of,” Danny replied. “In fact, I would have thought at first glance that one of the three must be working for the Devil,” he laughed.
“Who are they?” Sue asked.
“We can’t tell you,” Danny sighed. “There are rules about what we can say and do here. All we can say is you will know him when you see him.”
“See him?!” Sue snapped. “What do you mean see him? I can’t even leave our house! The dead haven’t left since you …” her voice caught, tears welling up in her eyes as the memories of her husband’s cries filled her thoughts again.
“I’m so sorry, Sue,” Danny said, his words soothing and calm. “I didn’t want to leave you that way.”
“But you did!” Sue snapped. “You left me alone! Now you come back to tell me that the world is screwed and I get to live through it alone and watch the rest of existence fade into nothingness!”
“No,” Danny said softly. “We came here to tell you that you will play a part in saving the world, and bringing us all back into the Light.”
“You are so much more important than you realize,” her mom said gently. “You will be there to help the Soul.”
“The Soul?” Sue asked, her anger only slightly tempered.
“He is one of the Trinity,” Mike answered. “The Soul, who is also known as the Scribe, the Warden, and the Savior. Their survival is more important than anything else in this world. In the end, their actions will decide what happens to all of humanity.”
“Okay, say I believe any of this is even happening and not some wonderful starvation dream that I am having, what does any of it have to do with me?”
“Sue,” Danny said, leaning to take her hand in his. “Evil uses living men and women to its own ends. It lies to them, using them against the champions of the Light. Evil uses them as pawns in its game to corrupt the Soul and destroy it. But it is not omnipotent. Evil cannot see everything at once. The Light has its pieces in this game too. Just like the Trinity is the king, queen, and knight…you are a pawn.”
“He’s not trying to insult you, dear,” Christine said. “The pawn protects the major players, guides and helps them along their way until they can make their final move. The Light has a job for you, and in this game there are no such things as small jobs.”
“Our time’s almost up,” Danny broke in, his eyes brimming with unshed tears. “The sun’s coming up and you’ll wake up soon. You might see one of us again, but all of us will never again be in this room together. But we will all be together again one day if the Soul finds his way. Otherwise, we are lost.”
“I don’t want to go,” Sue said meekly. Goosebumps rose on her skin, a chill running across her body.
“I know,” Danny said, tears now rolling down his own cheek. “But this is the way it has to be. When you are awake, look outside. What you see will let you know that this place is real.”
“Then what?” Sue asked.
“Then, take the .38 I gave you, and one box of bullets. Pack all the boxes of 10mm bullets in the house into a duffel bag. That is all you will need. Take nothing else. Then go to the car. I promise you, nothing will hurt you.”
“That’s crazy!” Sue snapped. The cold enveloped her as the world dimmed, and she knew her sleeping body was beginning to stir. “You want me to just walk out with all those monsters standing in front of our house?!”