Shawn Browning, or Mariel, is dead. He escaped the psych ward by means no one knows. His body was found, sitting in the Oak tree he would use as an example to fellow patients for inspiration. He had a piece of paper in his shirt pocket that said, ‘Reassigned, have faith. Happily yours, Mariel’. No clear cause of death was determined, but autopsy is pending.
Mary and I were not under suspicion regarding the death. The police were more interested in whether we’d been contacted by a person who is of interest regarding the demise of our interviewee. Shawn Browning’s therapist, Dr. Munchausen is, apparently, missing.
Thank you for reading DELUSION. This is my third short story attempt. It is my intention to explore different short story genres under the umbrella banner of ‘Slice of Life Series’. Constructive criticism or commentary on connections struck in your own life are welcomed at [email protected] (put the title of the book or story you’re referring to in the subject box). I invite you to peruse the novels on this site. VANESSA, the flagship of that series, is offered to you at a respectful price of FREE in a shameful attempt to hook you on the characters and force you into sleepless nights until you purchase at least all of them. Fair warning, there be ghosts, angels and devils in them thar tomes.
Sincerely bwah hah hahingly yours,
David L Howells, DC, EMT, NMT, NUT
OTHER WORKS BY THE AUTHOR
TIME SNAP – “In The Beginning” are the first words of Genesis, and they tell us that the first thing to be created was Time. When the machinery of Time fractures, all animal life on Earth freezes except those near enough to Heaven’s observation portals. While Heaven races to repair the machinery of Time, Host watch over Humans wandering through frozen life seeking other survivors, while watching out for Opposition Host.
HELL RISE - The sequel to Time Snap. Hell is not what it used to be, as the Fallen Host radically change how they manage Human souls. One of Lucifer’s leading Angels wants Moriah back in Hell and will stop at nothing to either bring her back, or destroy her.
VANESSA – A mentally fractured and hideously powerful spirit of a Georgian plantation and slave owner hold in thrall the men and mounts of a Civil War foraging party. She is avenging the death of her husband and children by putting the enemy spirits through a daily ritual of Hell. Ryan Fitzgalen was rendered spiritually clairvoyant and caused to be the world’s oldest man by a WW II experiment using electromagnetic power for naval stealth technology. He and the spirit of his deceased wife, Vanessa, are no match for Mad Annie, and so must call in his distant descendents to even the playing field.
VANESSA: FAMILY TREE – Sequel to VANESSA. The epic battle was over at the Edwards Estate. The Fitzgalen Family regroups to lick its wounds, mourn its dead, and pursue their mission of saving souls stuck on the Earth plane. What happens when an underground spirit desperately hiding from judgment beneath the ground doesn’t want to be found, and is ready to strike anyone who tries?
VANESSA: ALL HEAVEN BREAKS LOOSE – Sequel to Vanessa: Family Tree. Ever since humans began to wonder of the world’s miracles, knowledge of death and what comes after was precious and elusive. The Fitzgalen Family appears to have new authority in this awareness. That unwanted notoriety has a way of creating devotees, and very powerful enemies.
VANESSA: MENDED HARPS – Sequel to Vanessa: All Heaven Breaks Loose. When a human spirit merged its energies with an ancient oak tree during the Battle of the Rhinebeck Cemetery, a new species was born. Amidst legal entanglements that hamstring the growing Fitzgalen Family’s efforts to pursue its holy mission of spirit liberation, a greater question arises; how do you deal with an emerging competitive species?
VANESSA: FALLEN COLORS – Sequel to Vanessa: Mended Harps. Conclusion of the VANESSA series. The world’s religions have witnessed great changes, miracles, and proof that the dead walk the earth. Earth feels poised on the brink of a great change. The one who has a hope of leading the world away from cataclysmic holy wars of dominance is an autistic child, who is guarded by a being of great power…an Angel, Avenger Class.
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