Just when you think it’s safe
to step out from your bedroom.
When the howling and chanting
have finally subsided.
When all is quiet.
You put your foot down,
and then you realize that
it is not yet over.
THE END
howling
THE DARK FOREST
Come and visit us.
Follow the line of trees.
Where does it lead?
Deep into a forest.
Down a dark road.
Ignore the moans and screams.
They are just animals.
A pack of wild dogs are howling.
They love people.
It is safe for you to walk into the forest.
Don’t look back.
Face forward and walk.
Soon you’ll be reaching your destination.
Be prepared for anything.
Don’t be afraid.
A party at the deserted End House
is waiting for you.
And so are The Dead.
THE DEAD GAME
WHERE THE DEAD GO
Tell me a story.
A scary story
worthy of a wolf.
I want to be frightened.
I want to hear of blood
and gore.
I want to hear of dead bodies.
What did you say?
The Dead?
Yes, I would like to hear of The Dead.
Are they deadly?
They play deadly games, you say?
I’m ready.
Where must I go?
To Oasis, Florida?
So that’s where The Dead go.
I’m off.
THE DEAD GAME
Kindle
Nook
THE LONE WOLF
Howl at the moon young wolf.
Will anyone answer you?
Does anyone care?
Howls soon accompany
the lone sound.
Notes varying in tempo and pitch.
In tune together in their quest
to raise the moon.
The moon shines down upon them,
in acquiescence of their mournful sounds.
All is right with the world.
Life is in perfect harmony.
COME WITH ME INTO THE NIGHT
Guess who?
It’s me, honey.
I’ve had a long day at work.
It has made me feel grumpy.
I feel changed in some way.
Do my hands feel furry?
They look furry to me.
All of a sudden I’m hungry.
Hungry for you, my darling.
Come with me and
we’ll dance into the night.
The night holds mystery and
adventure for us.
There are creatures who walk the night.
Come with me…
THE END
Just when you think it’s safe
to step out from your bedroom.
When the howling and chanting
have finally subsided.
When all is quiet.
You put your foot down,
and then you realize that
all is not over.
THE END
THE DEAD GAME — DAY 94
Linda was eating breakfast with Todd the next morning. She asked him, “Would you like to join Shana and me when we visit Charles Wolf?”
“Why on earth would you visit him? I don’t think it’s safe for you to go there!” said Todd, his dark eyes flashing at her.
“Don’t be angry…that’s why we’re asking you to come along with us. His name came up when we’d conducted a search of End House on the internet. He sits on the Board of Directors of a holding company that owns the house.”
”I’ve never liked or trusted Wolf, but I’ll come with you. Never go anywhere like that without me! Promise me!”
“I promise. Can we go right after breakfast and bring Shana with us?”
“Of course, I’ll do whatever you want; just as long that I know that you’re safe. Sam won’t be able to join us today, but I’ll inform him later of our visit.”
When he looked at her with those big brown eyes, all she wanted was to be in his arms, safe and sound. But for some unknown reason, he was determined to keep her at arm’s length. They never discussed anything personal—that is, outside of End House or Oasis. But he seemed to care about her…and worry about her. When she got up from the table, she felt his eyes on her…following her…silently watching her.
THE HORROR STORY
Welcome to the world of horror.
The animals can sense the evil.
They warn each other.
Humans aren’t as savvy to danger,
but usually dive head first into trouble.
Ah! The undying script of a horror story.
A good horror story can hold a variety of
elements that add different flavors to the story.
Cemeteries can be very good backdrops.
Bats are popular props for scary scenes.
A full moon is a must-have for a creepy story.
Horror stories have been done before,
but there are always new combinations of ideas
and backdrops that can lead in new directions.
Horror has always been done
and will continue to be done until
human beings stop using their imaginations.
Horror
There is nothing better than a horror story in a haunted house.
All you need is a creepy house, a dark night,
and maybe a storm or a hurricane.
While the winds blow and the rain falls hard
against the roof, the unsuspecting characters
find themselves trapped in the house.
They are trapped in a nightmare of their own making,
since no one should ever enter a haunted house
at night or during a thunderstorm.
I placed all these ingredients into my book,
The Dead Game.
Come see what it cooked up.
CALL OF THE WILD
CALL OF THE WILD
A UNIQUE LANGUAGE UNDERSTOOD
BY ITS OWN MEMBERS.
BEAUTIFUL TREES
I HOPE THEY ARE AROUND AND PLENTIFUL
FOR A LONG TIME.
NATURE
A SIMPLE MUSHROOM IS NOT SO SIMPLE.
IT HAS INTRICATE DETAILS ON THE OUTSIDE
AND IN THE INSIDE.
WITH A BLUE SKY AND TREES,
BUT NATURE WILL ALWAYS BE PRETTIER
AND CAN NEVER BE DUPLICATED.
THE DEAD GAME–PAGE 23
Linda entered Minnie & Frank’s Grocery Store, which shared a bright red-and-white awning with the sheriff’s office next door. The grocery had two large corner windows with dark green shading. She had never understood why each store had some kind of green tinting on its windows. Some stores had deeper tints than others: the grocery store, Hank’s auto shop, and Shirley’s store were more heavily tinted than the other stores along Main Street.
Frank was working the register, while his wife, Minnie, was trying to soothe their crying baby. The playpen was set up in the center of the store—right in the middle of the long aisles of food where customers browsed while having loud conversations. Watching the baby scream and wail at the top of her lungs, Linda couldn’t understand why the playpen hadn’t been placed farther back in the store, where it was much quieter.
Linda walked up to Frank. “Did you receive an invitation to the party at End House?”
While glancing back at Minnie, he answered as if he didn’t want Minnie to say anything, “No—we heard about it, but we aren’t invited.” Minnie added, “We have a baby anyway and it’s hard to go out at night.”
“Of course,” Linda replied. “How silly of me! I should have realized that you wouldn’t be able to go.”
Minnie moved closer. “Be careful…Don’t trust everything that you see.”
Linda couldn’t answer because Frank was monitoring their conversation and casting warning looks at Minnie. She almost ran out of the store. They were strange, and she never did like the sound of their baby’s high-pitched cry.
SUSANNE LEIST 