《Lear County Outlook》Call of Color's Folly Chapter 5
Advertisement
She scowled, laughed, and then shook her head, “Geez, I’m losing it!” Sheila smirked, which felt a little more genuine. If Horse ever gave up the tow business she mused, he could be a late night horror film host. Like that little, mutant zombie, or that redneck, she thought, though failed to recall the names of the shows. “Tales from the Grave,” she shook her head, “or was it the Creeper?” Her shoulders rose and then fell, “Whatever, it doesn’t matter.”
Into the basement she stepped, though slowed. The stone stairs had been cut into the rock. Every wall gleamed and glistened, iridescent yet faintly luminous. A spicy smell of old meat crept about the room, which appeared to have been blasted. No rats clawed at the walls, yet a faint wind whispered through the dark. It almost formed a word, or it was word given form, though one unfamiliar. Across the stonework of pillars and floor was the same symbol. Like a skewered eyes on a three tine fork, it watched her in solemn contemplation. Sheila studied the arcane iconography, but it was alien, unsettled the eye and stomach. She felt strangeness upon her, which judged. Among the bookshelves, alchemical devices, and religious accoutrements, the shadows drifted over the skin like decayed parchment. At the room’s center was a giant metal relief of the order’s or god’s symbol, made to level out the floor, so it would no longer dip.
“They’re too superstitious to look round down here,” she said, though a tremor crept through her voice.
She held up her phone, and its meager light did little to reveal its secrets. Sheila turned to candles, which burned though never lowered. Who lit them? The question hung in her mid. About the room she moved the light. She listened, but even the dull roar of the storm outside was unable to penetrate the basement library. Sheila looked around the candles, but the layer of dust was undisturbed.
Advertisement
“Okay,” she said, and swallowed, but no answer came. “Yeah, I’m done,” Sheila declared to the darkness.
Whatever they done, she thought, I don’t care. I want nothing to do with the backwards locals. I especially don’t want to find out what a bunch of redneck cultists were doing.
She glanced about. A podium overlooked the symbol of their alien god. Sheila stepped over to it, careful to not touch its dark wood. The box set atop a book, which felt like desiccated skin. Her lip curled, and she withdrew the hand, wiped it on her pants.
The sound of scrabbling claws, gnawing teeth, and thumping returned, though much louder. A rusty whine sawed the air, as unseen stones shifted. Shadows moved, and the uneasy light from candles recoiled. The slow, ponderous steps were heavy, even on the stone floor. Each delivered resonate booms, as if some belligerent giant rapped at a colossal door. Sheila’s face paled, bile rose, and her eyes searched the darkness. She moved towards the podium to retrieve the box, but a figure drew closer, tall and broad.
“Barnett!” she cried, fell back a step, and glanced at the box of paper. That little psycho must have sent him. Sheila whirled.
Through the aisles of bookshelves she ran. She snatched glances back, as the hulking figure moved in slow though fluid step. The sound of rats, large ones, returned anew with manic fervor. A neon clover-green light burned over the iridescent walls. The stench of rotted meat, left to molder for untold years, thickened the air. Acid rose in her stomach. A dark made alive slithered into the black stones of Black Priory. Between her lips a low moan slipped, lost in the pound of footfalls.
Up the stairs she flew. Sheila whirled, slammed the door, but it refused to close. The silhouette moved below, silent as the wind, and the strange green light followed. Nowhere to hide! She rushed out the door, and the dark figure filled the basement doorway.
Advertisement
The ice storm still battered the Black Priory. Lightning lit the secluded community. More figures staggered along the road and tree line. Sheila clapped a hand over her mouth to hold in the scream, but busted her lip. She stopped; feet flew out from under her. Her breath whooshed out, and she sucked in air. Icy rain beat against her face. Another flash, its brilliance filled the world for a moment. They moved towards the monastery. Instead of a scream, a hot spray of bile shot from her mouth. She managed to stand, despite the slick ground.
A house peeked at her with windows, which caught the flash of light. Sheila recalled a whole community moldered in the forest. She crept into the trees. The shadowy figures moved, silent and slow. Her breath hung on the air, though was beat down by the rain. Even the thick coat began to dampen. Icy, rotted brush broke under her boots with brittle snaps like bone. The neon clover-green light burned in their eyes, all blazed at once. Sheila staggered, mind babbled half numb, and she collided with a tree. The figures turned.
She crawled, frozen earth jabbed her knees. The flash of lightning turned the world to glass. Brilliance shimmered through the trees. Sheila saw the house, still half hidden. Among briars and brambles it slept, though windows watched. Each bolt of brilliance brought further revelations, that shocked the eyes; yet left it dazzled. Although it faded, pin pricks of neon clover-green sway back and forth in the questing, dark figures. Sheila recoiled from the alien gazes of eldritch flame.
Into the house, she moved, though managed to open the door slowly. Sheila closed it, and prayed old hinges would be silent. She frowned at the butcher’s cleaver stuck deep in a post. For a moment, she rested her head against the cold door, listened, and her stomach revolted. Bile rose, yet lowered after a few moments. The sounds of her heart resounded in her ears, but it faded.
Advertisement
- In Serial110 Chapters
World Gate Online
This story has been dropped due to real life problems but will be rewritten in the future. Porbably the first few months of 2017...if I manage to graduate by the end of 2016... Thank you and sorry for those who have read until now. Will include future story link here when it's made. Lucas Lauwers, an ordinary college student submits an entry for the lottery to win the very first virtual gaming device and game on a whim and wins! He played the game for the first time without any information beforehand and joins a party. The party then encounters a boss level monster right of the bat and he was left alone by his teammates, he stumbles upon a hole and was able to get away from the boss monster only to be stuck inside the cave! Not being able to set the town as his resurrection point, the cave was set as default since he had rested there. With nowhere to go, what will Lucas do? Note: This WN was first posted in Japtem. Note that some Author's Notes may vary between the two sites as I sometimes answer a question from a commentor of the previous chapter and it will be awkward to also say it in the other site as no one will probably understand? well, whatever. Japtem Version: http://japtem.com/fanfic.php?novel=187 More Categories: Multi Worlds
8 347 - In Serial7 Chapters
Emissary
Growing up 400 years in the future in the parentless wing of her skyscraper city, Burke, Shae Westow thought that she was less than ordinary, but little did she know that it was for her own protection. A terrorist organization known as the Others are attempting to unearth a foreign power that almost destroyed the planet 400 years ago and only Shae can find it. When the terrorists attack her city, she is thrust into the world that had been hidden from her for years. She is told that she is a wielder, a person who was born with an asset (supernatural ability), and is forcibly moved up into her new home, The Apex, which resides on the topmost floor of her city. Anxious to stop the Others from achieving their goal, Shae bands together with four other wielders to try and stop them. Along the way, Shae learns about the value of honesty and humility as she experiences love, loss, and betrayal. -New Chapter Every Wednesday-
8 227 - In Serial17 Chapters
Agents of MAGE
Everyone knows what MAGE is. When something very bad happens, when people are suffering and dying, when even the police are helpless, the agents of MAGE, will show up and save the day. They can do anything, they are above prime ministers and presidents and kings. Their job description is to do whatever it takes to make sure tomorrow will be better. Cornelius Blake, ex-cop and highly trained sorcerer is one of those agents. He travels the world and solves problems. He saves lives. But when his orders became more and more complicated, he has to face the question: what is he loyal to? The Agency or the idea behind it?
8 173 - In Serial9 Chapters
Sigurd Morrison’s Bug Hunt
One night, Nathan's cousin is rendered comatose by a mysterious "truVR" game called Sigurd Morrison’s Bug Hunt. Nathan dives into the bizarre game world inhabited by crazed Russians who seem to have formed cults rather than guilds, as well as the epynomous monsters known as Bugs. On hiatus. Not a priority project.
8 77 - In Serial6 Chapters
Greene's Monthly Contest
most writers don't have enough recognition. most of them only win awards based on the general aspects of a story; genre or theme, judged by the same things, not appreciating the genius behind the chapters. same awards, same results.--and we disagree with that.
8 97 - In Serial45 Chapters
Heartbreak Town (COMPLETED)
Reagan Renne Walker left the tiny town that she grew up in in Wyoming five years ago to fulfill her dream of opening an equine therapy ranch in Montana & to start a new life. Reagan's parents died when she was just seven years old. Mallory, Reagan's older sister, was still too young to care for both herself and her sister. As a result, Reagan and Mallory were forced to live with their grandparents. Mamaw and Papaw Walker sent both girls through school and college. Reagan never imagined leaving Wyoming. However, after her unexpected relationship with Swayde, her childhood best friend, and love of her life, took a turn for the worst, all Reagan could think about was that she couldn't get out of Wyoming fast enough. Swayde is your typical, rugged cowboy. His smile was enough to melt any girls heart, his eyes made it seem like the sun was always shining, even in the worst storm, his square jaw line accented his dark beard, his body thick with muscles. His physical features and build were intimidating at times, and didn't always match his laid back, easy going, gentlemanly personality. Swayde never thought he would fall for feisty Reagan, and even more so, Reagan never thought that she would fall for him. They end up in this unexpected whirlwind relationship, and everything is hunky dory until Reagan finds out a secret from Swayde's past that would forever change the way she looked at him; a secret he kept from her for over ten years. Confiding in her grandma, Reagan finds out that her grandparents knew the secret all along too. How could the people she thought loved her hurt her so bad and keep this big of a secret from her for so long? When tragedy strikes back in Wyoming, Reagan is forced to move back to the town she swore she would never step boot in again, thus leaving her new life in Montana behind. Through God, can Reagan find a way to forgive the people who hurt her, or will she forever consider Alpine Ridge "Heartbreak Town?"
8 169