Gamila walked through the press of bodies without being seen. Her presence was felt, though, just enough that no one made contact. There was a little awareness telling them that she was occupying space and she was avoided. The anonymity was a blessing while simultaneously increasing her loneliness. She could not recall the last time... Continue Reading →
Quiet Dreams: Fork in the Road
When I began writing The Nightmare Plague, it was going to be a series of short stories or even novellas. Later I began to imagine a series of longer works, with Barnabus, Marley, and Bilal being the central characters of their respective books. There was also a thought I would have made progress towards this... Continue Reading →
The Nightmare Plague (Entire Series up to 3-5-22)
Voices Within He chose the blue paint. The color reminded him of their trip to the ocean. It wasn’t the vivid blue he expected, certainly not like that in the books he grew up with. But, on one day of clear weather, the sky was brilliant with shades of blue mixed with whites and grays,... Continue Reading →
The Nightmare Plague: The Children of Men
The sky had barely darkened when the first crash of thunder rolled across the landscape. Moments later the rain began and quickly became a downpour. The small figure at the treeline remained motionless with head bowed, the sigh of resignation lost in the roar of the storm. Why is it always me that gets caught... Continue Reading →
The Nightmare Plague: An Old Aquaintenance
Upstate New York was already chilly enough to require a substantial coat, but the man walking through the door was wearing a light, fleece coat. People stared in confusion, which quickly turned to shock. None present heard a vehicle pull up, much less drive away. He slipped a backpack strap off one shoulder, walked to... Continue Reading →
The Nightmare Plague: A Mother’s Rest
The woman had been exhausted for days, ever since the birth of her child. The old women had been robbing the mother and child of sleep with their constant chattering. They kept the lights on throughout the night and day, hovering over the pair in the bed. They declared that, for the safety of mother... Continue Reading →
The Nightmare Plague: A Caged Mind, Complete
The workshop, as always, existed in a state of disarray, with the exception of an area around the center. It appeared as though someone just cannot be bothered to tidy up past a certain point and dwelt in a microcosm in the center of chaos. Fantastic creations stood in the corners, caked with dust, while... Continue Reading →
The Nightmare Plague: A Caged Mind
The workshop, as always, existed in a state of disarray, with the exception of an area around the center. It appeared as though someone just cannot be bothered to tidy up past a certain point and dwelt in a microcosm in the center of chaos. Fantastic creations stood in the corners, caked with dust, while... Continue Reading →
The Nightmare Plague: Bilal, Chapter One
Note: This began as the opening for an intended novel. Whether that stays or not is not yet decided. The young woman had been walking faster since she realized a man was following her. The street was nearly empty and the shops were closed, but there was confidence in her ability to escape once she... Continue Reading →
The Nightmare Plague: Confrontation
Barnabus had grown weary of listening to his “passengers” incessant chatter. He had only intended to leave with Pug, but encountered so many pleading voices along the way that he could not leave them to be destroyed. Many of them had been turned to things of fear by people’s beliefs and not began their existence... Continue Reading →
Quiet Dreams 