MEET ME IN MAINE RETURNS FOR MORE FUN

Let us return to MEET ME IN MAINE for the next chapter. Will our heroines be faced with another dead body?

Chapter 10

David parked between the police cruisers blocking the street in front of a brown, shack-looking building, flashing red lights illuminating the bystanders standing in groups on the sidewalk. We hurried beneath the hanging wood sign, Blue Sea, and into the restaurant. A whiff of fish hit me as we entered. Round tables rimmed the perimeter, where three walls of windows faced the pier and moonlit water. A circular bar with bamboo stools took center stage in the darkened room. The half-eaten dishes filling the glass tabletops and the fallen bamboo chairs hinted at the patrons’ quick retreat. Police milled around a table beneath a shattered window sprayed with blood in the right corner.

David stepped in front of me when I gasped, blocking my view of the scene. “Stay here.”

“But—”

“No buts.” He took my arm and guided me to a chair and a small table beside the front door. “Don’t move until I return.” Then he rushed to join the officers.

“I can’t believe there’s a murder during the grand opening,” a woman’s voice near me whispered.

“Yeah. And this time, it’s a woman,” a high-pitched voice replied. The police shooed them to the far left corner, where the other customers waited in a tight group, quiet and grim-faced.

I jumped to my feet, jarred by the thought: Jonathan had taken Scarlett to a new restaurant on a pier. What if the body belonged to her? I hurried across the room to where David stood beside the chief.

“Is it Scarlett?” I clutched David’s arm, getting a glimpse of a headless body draped across the table. So much blood. The woman wore a black dress. She wore a black dress, while Scarlett had twirled in a red dress for me.

“No.” David yanked me from the scene, but I’d seen enough: blood covered the window, table, and floor. He scowled at me, gripping my arm. “Why didn’t you listen to me?”

I tugged my arm from his grasp. “I was afraid it was Scarlett; she and Jonathan went to a new restaurant on a pier tonight.”

David pointed to the left. “She’s standing with Jonathan. Go join them.” He marched away as I slunk toward them.

“Elizabeth.” Scarlett wrapped her arms around me. “What are you doing here?”

“The chief interrupted our date,” I replied, nodding to Jonathan.

“Why?” Scarlett narrowed her teary eyes at me.

I sank into the chair Jonathan had brought me. “Logan was attacked.”

“Is Logan okay?” Jonathan asked.

“The chief didn’t sound concerned.”

Jonathan said, “Lively is only worried about his career.”

“What happened?” I asked. “I saw the body.”

Scarlett twisted her hands together. “We were eating at a table beside the window. The view was spectacular; there was music and plenty of tequila flowing. Then a woman’s head exploded at the next table. The woman sitting with her got covered with her friend’s blood before she screamed and fainted. Once the ambulance arrived, the paramedics revived the second woman and helped her to her feet. She didn’t appear hurt… but soaked in blood.” Scarlett grimaced as she gulped for air.

“Does this happen often?” I squinted at Jonathan in the dim light. “This is the second dead body we’ve seen in two days.”

“We’re having an outbreak of violent episodes.” He dragged shaky fingers through his shaggy blonde hair. “In March, two people turned to stone.”

“What do you mean they turned to stone?” Scarlett grabbed his arm.

Jonathan patted her hand before directing her to a chair across from mine. “Two new statues appeared on the dock, resembling a husband and wife living in Blue Harbor. The couple went missing as the statues appeared out of thin air.”

“You believe the couple turned to stone?” I asked, shaking my head at this absurd thought.

“The chief does.” He stared at the police surrounding the dead body. “He’s investigating with the help of Logan and David.”

My opinion of Lively plummeted to even lower than before. “I understand Lively having bizarre fantasies but not Logan or David.”

Jonathan looked at me. “This is a peculiar town.”

“These episodes have happened before?” I asked.

He nodded, his expression solemn.

“Have they called the FBI?” Scarlett asked, her eyes widening.

He shook his head. “Lively wants to keep it local; he doesn’t want the Feds traipsing through his crime scenes.”

“But if the chief can’t solve the crimes, he needs help.” Scarlett lowered her face. “This is ridiculous, and the whole situation borders on the ludicrous.”

Jonathan hunched on his knees in front of her, his bright blue eyes focused on Scarlett’s face. “I shouldn’t be telling you, but the town has secrets.” He shook his head, stopping himself from speaking further. “I shouldn’t be divulging them to strangers.”

Scarlett raised her face. “We aren’t strangers but will soon be owners of an inn.”

“What?” I stood, my head spinning. “When did you decide to stay?”

She turned tired eyes to me. “We can’t leave now.”

“No. You can’t leave.” Jonathan lifted her hand, bringing it to his lips. “We just met.”

“Wait a second.” I sat as the surrounding voices became muffled in my ringing ears. “The contract requires two signatures. And one is mine.”

“You don’t want to live here?” a deep voice whispered.

I turned my head to David. “My plans don’t include moving to a town of exploding heads and people turning to stone, where a psycho killer fulfills his delusions of grandeur by using Blue Harbor as his evil playpen.”

He took my hand, bringing me to my feet. “I can help make this town peaceful again.” His penetrating gaze pierced through me. “Please, let me try.”

“I don’t know.” I swallowed the lump growing in my throat.

“Give me a chance to make this right.” David wrapped an arm around my waist, backing me against his hard body, his warm breath tickling my ear. “I’ll keep you safe. I promise.”

I leaned against him with a sigh.

“I’m going to visit Logan at the hospital? Do you want to join me?”

I raised my face to his beseeching stare.

“We’re joining you.” Scarlett jumped to her feet.

When a police officer blocked her and Jonathan from leaving, David said to her, “You have questions to answer first,” before turning to me and extending his hand, “Join me, please.”

I took his hand and followed him past the officers surrounding the bloody scene to the police cars and camera crews flashing their lights across the night sky. When a reporter shoved a mic at my face, David pulled me against him and said, “No comment,” before leading me to his car.

I settled in my seat, my thoughts jumbled, my heart pounding. I don’t want to live in Blue Harbor, where the unusual becomes the usual. Then I glanced at David; I was not ready to say goodbye to him.

THE DEAD GAME SERIES

I stroll past the storefronts,

tinted windows mirroring the fading sunlight.

I descend the steps to the beach,

soft sand trickling through my toes.

The sky turns black,

the clouds a dark gray.

The waves thrash in a demented dance,

and the wind propels me forward.

I race to Main Street,

palm trees bowing in unison.

Howling winds toss garbage cans,

and debris coats the streets.

The windows hang broken and twisted,

glass crunching beneath my feet.

The saddest sight is the church.

The once-white church stands charcoal-black.

The Dead are here.

The games have begun.

WHO WILL SURVIVE?

Candles in basement

Are you invited to a party?
Can it be at End House?
A deserted house at the edge
Of the forest in Oasis, Florida.
People have disappeared from this house,
Never to be seen or heard from again.
Are you going to this party?
I admire your courage.
Your tenacity.

I will tell you what you may expect.
No one will answer your knock on the door.
The door will open by itself,
Inviting you to step inside.
Flickering candles and gargoyles line the staircase.
Your group will divide into two.
The first group will follow the staircase candles.
Your group will follow the flickering
lights in the right hallway to the basement.

Which group will find the elusive host?
Who will survive to tell the tale?
Only I know.
For I am one of The Dead.
We love our games.
Welcome to THE DEAD GAME.

Kindle

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Nook

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WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO DWELL

Beneath the earth, we venture,

not knowing what we may find.

Will the dungeon lead us to hell,

where angels fear to dwell?

And therein lies a maiden.

Her lips are ruby red.

Her eyelids flutter open,

Even though she’s quite dead.

THE DEAD GAME

FIRST KISS

1 PREY FOR THE DEAD hide

🦇PREY FOR THE DEAD 🦇

If you dare step inside,

there’ll be nowhere to hide.

A new dimension you’ll cross

on the back of a black horse.

Are you ready for this?

Lean in for my first kiss.

PREY FOR THE DEAD 

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SILENCE REIGNS SUPREME

Silence reigns supreme.

The sun hides its face.

Palm trees shake their leaves.

Winds quicken their pace.

The hotel stands deserted.

Flapping sounds fill the air.

Dark shadows join the fray

Beneath his icy stare.

THE DEAD GAME SERIES

The Story Behind THE CLUB at Disney World in Prey for The Dead

A small town on the coast of Florida offers tourists white-sanded beaches, blue skies, and an opportunity to vacation with the elite of society. Too bad the rich and famous include creatures of the night. How did this happen, you might ask?

While vampires inhabit every country in the world, they blend peacefully with humanity. In Oasis, Florida, the human inhabitants have no idea vampires or hybrids, which are a part vampire/ part human mix, live in their midst. 

In recent years, the world’s vamp population has been threatened by a rogue group of vampires with bloodlust running through their veins. THE DEAD have infiltrated the vamps of Oasis and wrestle for control. They want to rule the world.

Linda, her best friend, Shana, and their group of young friends learn of THE DEAD. They join forces with the vampires and hybrids of Oasis. They travel undercover to an exclusive club in Disney World with the two hybrids, Todd and Sam, to locate THE DEAD’s base of operations. 

Why did I choose THE CLUB at Disney World for the vampires’ base? Is there such a club in Disney where its members are the elite of society?

Yes. There is. It’s called CLUB 33. Walt Disney created the club in Disneyland in the New Orleans section. It sits behind a door with the number 33. A door that resembles all other doors on the quaint streets. If you are lucky enough to be invited by a member, you will walk through the doorway to an elegant entranceway. The hosts will greet you and take you to one of the parlors, where you may peruse the showcases of Walt Disney’s favorite things. Maybe Mary Poppins’ umbrella or a speaking parrot sitting above a clock. The adventure continues in the dining room, where toots of steamboats provide the aura of being in New Orleans. 

You can climb the staircase or use the old elevator.

Visit the showcases of Disney memorabilia. 

Disney 33

Once I read of CLUB 33, a club that is forbidden to me, I became obsessed with knowing more. The more I learned, the more I wanted to give it to my vampires. I used the images in my mind of CLUB 33 in Disneyland to create THE CLUB in Disney World. And wait until you see what they do to THE CLUB. You will never look at Disney World the same way again.

And guess what? I read CLUB 33 opened in Disney World. Too bad. I had my club first or what’s left of it.

THE DEAD BY THE SEA

THE DEAD BY THE SEA

Come with me to the pool by the sea.
Oasis is the best place to be.
Relax by the pool or sit by the bar.
Tourists visit this place from near and far.

The sky turns cloudy and dark.
I see shadows by the park.
What’s that standing behind you?
It’s not one shadow but two.

Shadows come ashore.
I won’t wait for more.
Our destiny seems to be in this book.
I’m leaving now without a second look.

THE DEAD GAME by Susanne Leist

Kindle http://amzn.to/1lKvMrP

Nook http://bit.ly/1lFdqNj

RED HOT

Red hot waves lap at the shore,

bringing with them blood and gore.

Paradise has come to an end.

Death is right around the bend.

Florida will never be the same

once we play The Dead Game.

THE DEAD GAME

Kindle

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Nook

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THE CRIMSON REFLECTION

Source:travel-story

The sky dips into its bag of tricks

to bring forth a full moon,

as its crimson reflection

mars the ocean’s smooth surface.

From the water’s murky depths,

dark creatures rise this night.

Onto our crisp white shores, they walk,

leaving bloody footprints in the sand,

painting our town crimson,

beneath the blood-red moon.

THE DEAD GAME by Susanne Leist