One last job...

One last job...

By: Roger Alderman

Jack King’s seasoned crystal blue investigative eyes slowly opened to seek answers to the most obvious question, “Where the hell?” He pushed himself up from lying prone in a pool of his own blood and finally settling in a cross-legged sitting position. His old gray sears sucker suit clung to the floor because of the coagulated blood it had bonded with.

The near barren concrete floor of the cobweb-covered basement was illuminated by a low wattage yellowed bulb with heavy cob wells strung to it and the nearby wooden beams above.  The faint golden light did little to offer any of the rooms' secrets to the veteran private investigator. Dust fell from the floorboards above as they groaned under the weight of movement in the room above.

 Jack rotated his head side to side to ease the throbbing in his head and the aching pressure in his neck. He winced following a sudden pressure relieving cervical “POP.” His attention turned to the rusty, heavy chain and combination master lock attached to his left ankle as he tries to stand upright.

Jack lowered his head closing his eyes to focus on the details that brought him to this point. The darkness behind his eyes allowed his mind to draw at the facts as they unfolded around him. A flash of white followed by a trail of intertwined colors ending in the familiar smell of his favorite burnt office coffee.

Jack sat in his chair taking a deep long pull from his coffee cup at the dark roast inside. His glasses fogged quickly with the steam rising from the hot coffee inside. He looked to the smoke colored frosted glass of his office door as a brilliant yellow of a dress stopped outside his door.  

The woman in the hallway outside knocked twice, “Mr. King?” she asked aloud. Her voice rang with a touch of a southern accent. The closer she got to the frosted glass the more details shown through like her auburn hair and athletic frame. 

Jack rocked forward in his office chair placing his mug on the file cluttered desk in front of him, “Come in. It’s unlocked.” He took a second to shove most his old unsolved case files into the top desk drawer to conceal at least the mess there. 

The door opened allowing the woman to enter, but the intoxication scent of her perfume had already filled the small private investigator's office. Her physical beauty and elegance of movement were clear in her every motion. She closed the door and flowed across the room like the highly trained finishing school graduate she was. 

Jack could tell in her smaller movements that the poise and grace she carried were not her own, but a trained response to years of corrections. “How can I help?” Jack waited carefully studying her every word and action. He motioned for her to sit in the worn leather seat opposite him, “Please, Miss?”

“Janet, Janet Reigns,” she offered settling into the offered chair. The beautiful and smooth details of her face faded into a contorted visage of a mournful heartache, “Mr. King you’re my last option. I have spoken to countless other Private Investigators, but none will take the case. But each recommended you.”

Jack leaned forward on his elbows furrowing his brow at the revelation. “If everyone else passed on your case. Why would I take it?” he bluntly asked. He picked up his mug taking a long deep pull from the contents, “Besides I’m retiring.” He gestured to the large collection of boxes and containers half packed next to his old dark wooden desk.

Janet wiped at the tears causing her mascara rolling down her cheeks, “I wanted to come to you right from the beginning, but my attorney said to use someone else.” She could tell from his lack of reaction he had heard those words before, “beside your peers seem to think you’re not the type to retire. So, how about it one last case?”

Jack listened to her words, but could not stop himself from a raising an eyebrow in curiosity. He rocked back in his seat, “what is it you need from me?” He liked his coffee hot and got to the chase before it reached room temperature, ruining it. 

Janet had turned away to blow her nose, but hearing his words put a little glimmer of hope back into her eyes. She focused on him, “It’s Mark. My husband. He comes home late every night smelling of cheap perfume and liquor.” She pauses as Jack rocks forward and waves his hand for her to stop talking.

Jack exhales in agitation, “Why play games? Just divorce him. Save yourself the heartache.” He opens the wooden drawer and returns the file clutter to the desktop, “each of these women and men are devastated by learning the truth about their spouse’s infidelity.” He opens a file and removes a small stack of pictures. He fans the pictures of a man and woman in the embrace of passion, “fire me for doing the job they hired me for.”

Janet defiantly shakes her head, No. She takes a deep breath, “I have always known Mark was a lady killer. I thought I could change him, help him settle down, and make him a family man.” She removed a picture of Mark from her purse then placed it on the desktop.

The picture of Mark was a photo of his legal services. Dark-haired, handsome, tall, olive-skinned, and well-groomed in an expensive high-quality navy-blue tailored suit. His smile carried his obvious self-righteous conceit and over-inflated ego.

Jack palmed his face with both hands and exhaled loudly, “He’s a lawyer?” He peeked between his fingers at her reaction and sighed when she nodded in response, “I hate lawyers.” He threw up his hands overreacting to the revelation, “I can’t take your case. I’m sorry.”

Janet recoiled at the curt response of the veteran private investigator, “If it’s about the money. I can pay.” She paused as he waved off her words again. Her face told him everything he needed to know, but she still had to ask the obvious, “why?”

Jack lowered his head in shame at the words that followed, “Every time I go after an attorney. They weasel their way out of the evidence. I don’t need the headaches. In the end, you’ll be upset and my legacy takes another hit.”

Janet stood up shocked by his response, “Fine.” She stormed to the door looking back for a moment, “Keep the photo. If you change your mind. My number is on the back.” The door rattles for a long moment after she leaves slamming it behind her.

Jack rocks back in his chair relaxing his legs on his desktop. His eyes find their way to the photo of Mark. His eyes lock onto the smug expression of the lawyer. Jacks instincts tell him to not take the case, but his emotions and sense of right and wrong are blazing a different path. “Why cheat on her? Gotta be a power trip.” He picks up the photo and studies Mark, “Damn it!” 

Jack turns over the photo he looks at the number, “Jack, you know better.” He dials the number shaking his head the entire time, “Someone has to take this jerk down a peg.” The phone rings on the other end, “But why me?” The phone rings a second time, “If not me then who?” 

Janet picks up before the third ring of the phone and answers anxiously, “Hello?” Jack clears his throat, “I don’t know why I’m doing this, but I will take the case. Two hundred a day and meals?” Janet cannot hold back her happiness and relief that someone will help her, “Done. Thank you, Mr. King.”

“I will start right away. I will collect photos and video if possible. If he’s as bad as you believe then this could be over quickly,” Jack tells her straight to the point. He hangs up the phone, grabs his camera, and leaves in a hurry to catch up with Mark at this late hour of the day.

Jack crosses town, arriving in the parking lot across from Mark’s office. Relief fills his face as Mark leaves work laughing with a group of men. Jack immediately takes photos of Mark and his friends. He watches as they pile into Mark’s black SUV and speed off.

Jack knows how to tail a subject without getting noticed from his thirty years of experience. He captures a few images of Marks license plate to make sure he follows the correct car in the event they get separated. “I got you. You bastard,” Jack clenches a cigarette between his lips as he lights it.

The first stop, Todd’s Place, a new watering hole of white-collar privileged jack asses. Todd’s Place opened only a few years ago in answer to the growing taste for elitists who want mixed drinks and to brag about their next big job. Not the kind of place Jack would frequent. 

Jack captured a few pictures of the group entering, but then had to slip inside to gather more evidence. He hated to resort to his cellphone, but circumstances required “discreet observation.” He entered and sat across the bar pretending to play on his phone as he captured a few shots of Mark flirting with the bartender.

The group left once Mark was firmly shut down by the witty bartender. Jack chuckled to himself, “Good girl, send ‘em packing.” Jack followed but left the bartender a large tip for her troubles.

Mark and his friends continued their course across town, but after each bar, another friend left the group to return to their home. By midnight, Mark’s friend had all left, Jack could tell he was far from finished. Jack yawned and studied his watch, “Crap… I’m too old to be out this late.” Jack slapped himself to remain awake, “Just go home, man. Your wife is waiting for you.”

Jack left the bar before Mark and flopped down into the driver's seat of his car. He buckled himself inside but noticed someone leaves the bar. He smiled seeing it was Mark arm in arm with a red hair in stilettos and a revealing black dress, “Bingo.”

Jack watches as the couple walk away from the bar rather than get into his car. “Hmm,” Jack lets slip, “must live nearby.” Jack follows at a distance taking many photos as the couple passionately embrace repeatedly along their path.

Jack follows the kissing couple to the front door of a two-story townhouse directly across the street from an open-air all organic market place closed for the night. He watches from just beyond sight as they enter her home laughing and touching one another. “Gotcha, you prick,” Jack announces as he steps out of his car. 

Jack smiles seeing they entered but did not close the door entirely, “Now for the juicy shots.” He silently moved inside careful to study each room before entering. It worried him as he noticed the eerie silence inside the townhouse. He knows this was the right place he could smell her cheap acidic perfume.

He stood in the entryway listening carefully. Then a smile crossed his face as he heard a door open upstairs. He moved quietly up the stairs to the second floor readying his camera for the coming batch of evidence that would nail the bastard.

Jack could see the light from the bedroom from the partially closed door. The sounds of a tired mattress and a clumsy headboard created what he imagined rough, aggressive sex between younger people these days. He moved his camera to the ready position as he prepared to throw open the door and catch them in the act.

 Jack held the doorknob in his left hand with the camera in his right. He mumbled low to himself, “3… 2…” In a swift motion, he threw open the door leveled the camera. Flash after flash and picture after picture was captured by the camera.

Jack froze in place confronted by the scene of pure horror before him. A nude woman bound and gagged on the top of the bed a look of terror locked on her gorgeous, but blood and gore covered face. Jack watched as the last of her color leaving her face and the life drain from her hazel eyes.

Mark kneeling above the woman’s corpse on the bed. His right hand deep within her abdomen slowly tearing flesh from her once gorgeous athletic body. He turned to face the interloper in the doorway drawn to the constant flashes of the camera. He released a low animalistic growl as half chewed flesh tumbled out of his mouth onto the bed. Jack spun rushing out of the door, but his world turned dark before he reached the stairwell. 

Jack King’s seasoned crystal blue investigative eyes slowly opened to seek answers to the most obvious question, “Where the hell?” He pushed himself up from lying prone in a pool of his own blood and finally settling in a cross-legged sitting position. His old gray sears sucker suit clung to the floor because of the coagulated blood it had bonded with.

The near barren concrete floor of the cobweb-covered basement was barely illuminated by a low wattage yellowed bulb with heavy cob wells strung to it and the nearby wooden beams above.  The faint golden light did little to offer any of the rooms' secrets to the veteran private investigator. Dust fell from the floorboards above as they groaned under the weight of movement in the room above.

 Jack rotated his head side to side to ease the throbbing in his head and the aching pressure in his neck. He winced following a sudden pressure relieving cervical “POP.” His attention turned to the rusty, heavy chain and combination master lock attached to his left ankle as he tries to stand upright.

The flimsy interior wooden door at the top of the stairs leading out of the sparse basement opened. Jack watched as Mark sauntered down the steps wiping away the pungent metallic smelling blood of the woman he had eaten. Her remains clung to his white cotton shirt as scraps of tissue and ligament.

Jack recoiled raising his right arm defensively as Mark stopped looming above the battered old private investigator. Mark knelt next to Jack just out of reach of the old man and poked at the chained old man with a baseball bat, “Janet hired you didn’t she.” Jack refused to answer, but the truth was obvious to Mark the Cannibal.  

“You don’t have to answer. I know the truth,” Mark stood upright and swung the bat around high above his head playfully. “You should feel privileged,” Mark coldly announced. Jack stared at Mark in growing confusion.

“I have always loved the tender flesh of a woman, but you. You’re my first man,” Mark face twisted demonically as the baseball bat arched high to low. Mark's grin widened as Jack skull too revealed its insides in an elegantly sickening scene of gore. 

The Next Book

Getting ready to do more research on the mythology of an afterlife from various cultures. I really hope this next book will attract the attention of readers and maybe a literary agent. But mostly I just hope, as with each of my titles, that readers enjoy the journey.

Grand Ma

Grandma

By: Roger Alderman

Helen opened her eyes and glanced at the surface of the tabletop before her. Her eyes focusing on each card for a moment as the story someone asked her to tell revealed itself. She looked up at Jenny, “He is here and wants to explain what happened. Are you sure you want to hear this?”

Jenny shifted side to side in her seat trying to decide if her courage would last as the word came. She nodded for Helen to proceed, “Yes, please I have to know.” Her words carried the longing for her lost love. 

Helen closed her eyes and allowed the spirit to enter her body. He arrived like a summer breeze carrying the scent of wildflowers. She forced herself to “step aside” and allow him to tell his story. 

The violent coughing fits and fever have given me the day off work. I open my eyes through the fever induced haze the television tells me the next program is a game show. A smile turns up the corners of my mouth. 

The memories of my grandmother and I watching games shows together when we were much younger.  I draw strength from the memories and slowly slide upright on the cool leather of the worn-out brown sofa. The quilt my grandmother made me bunches up across my waist. I cherish this last quilt she made before moving into the nursing home. 

I cherish this last quilt she created before my mother and father moved her into the nursing home. “I really need to go visit her in the nursing home,” I think to myself. The sudden creaking of grandmothers rocking chair draws my attention as Ginger, my wife’s cat, drops to the floor. in the nursing home

I can’t help chuckle watching the overweight orange tabby waddle into the kitchen. Ginger seems to never stop eating these days. I can hear her pushing through the hard kibble in search of her next mouthful of delight.

I close my eyes and adjust the warming blue rubber ice pack resting against my forehead. The moist cool offers significant relief of the pain created by the burning behind my eyes. I exhale loud enough to pull the cat’s attention momentarily from her focus as the burning subsides. 

The televisions announcement of the start of the afternoon’s soap operas starting startles me. I must have fallen asleep and lost an entire hour. I shake my head in disbelief I had blacked out yet again. 

Something was different this time about the blackout my legs felt heavy and numb. I wiggle my toes and am happy to see the movement. The medicine makes me feel so odd. 

That’s when she walked in. to the living room from the kitchen. “Grand Ma?” I asked. She smiled and handed me a cup of hot tea. I closed my eyes allowing the scent of the honey and lemon to fill my sinuses with the first sip. 

“When did you get here?” I couldn’t help but ask the obvious questions. She sat on her rocking chair and was joined by Ginger, “Oh, a little while ago. You were asleep. So, I let myself in.” How could I argue with her arrival, after all, she and grandpa lived here their whole lives. She passed it down to Jenny and me as our very first home.

She paused stroking Ginger and rocked forward, “I could never leave my grandson on his own. Especially being so sick.” I nodded in understanding while taking a long draw from the honey and lemon tea. She offered a comforting smile and patted my knee, “Nothing more to worry about. Grand Ma is here to take care of you.” 

I returned to the prone position on the sofa after placing the tea on the old wooden coffee table between me and the television. “Did mom pick you up?” as I remembered that she had to surrender the privilege to drive before entering the nursing home. She rocked back in the chair as ginger stretched. 

She hummed a familiar song in an instant I found myself a small child hearing her song echo in my thoughts. The tune calmed my spirit instantly as it always had since I was in preschool. I hummed along with her and found peace in the moment. 

The coughing returned with a vengeance. It started with the sensation of a great weight bearing down on my chest. My breath left me and was resistant to returning. I gasped and tried to rise upright, but due to the damage inflicted by the fever and infection lacked the physical strength.

My legs trembled beyond my control and slowly the shaking made its way throughout my body. I forced my eyes wide open in desperation seeking help against the violent episode taking hold of me. The thick sputum choked and gag me. 

In a brutal thrust, I forced the heavy green, gray mucus from my throat and mouth. It didn’t travel far it landed and thinned and expand across my chest. It was then that grand ma’s song drifted back into the room from the kitchen. 

The calming effect sent me tumbling back into the black void of deep dreamless sleep.  In that dark place, all I could think about was waking up. I forced my eyes open one more time only to see the living room had grown dark with the arrival of the evening.

My body had grown heavy and weak I found I was unable to move. Thankfully my hearing was still intact along with a deep echo of sounds from the television. My sight remained, but the fever has left me with a haziness to everything I tried to look at. 

In the evening’s darkness, the only source of light came from the glow from the television. A glow that now seemed a spotlight blasting its brilliant illumination into my eyes. I wanted to blink against the light but was unable. 

Jenny entered through the front door with her loving smile and desire to be with me in our home. “Hey Baby,” she lovingly called out as she dropped her car keys onto the low table next to the front door. She spun and rushed to my side, “How was your day?” 

I tried to hold her, but could not move. I tried to tell her I loved her and about my grandmothers visit, but could not speak. I couldn’t do anything at all. I screamed for Jenny to help, but no words left my mouth.

Jenny paused, “Jeremy?” She sat up and turned on the old lamp next to the sofa. She covered her mouth and step away from me. I asked, What’s Wrong? But again, no words just me alone with thoughts. She cried out, “Oh GOD No!”

Time passed in a flurry of colors and motions around me. A constant blur of people arrived and left as time pressed on. Jenny watched as each tried in their own way to revive me, but none succeeded in their efforts. 

Amidst the cacophony of colorful people entered my grandmother she made her way to my side, “Jeremy… I know you can hear me.” She reached down and took my hand and helped me to my feet. She hugged me and together we looked back down at the husk that remained on the sofa. 

“What will happen to Jenny?” I asked. “She will recover and move on just as you now have too,” grandmas words carried the weight of truth. “I refuse to let you pass alone as I did in the nursing home,” she continued. 

“Can’t I stay with her?” I begged. “Sure, but when we don’t let go. We cause them greater heartache as we remain in their thoughts and emotions,” she spoke from a place of love and I knew it. “I would haunt her…” I lowered my head, “she does not deserve that.”

Grandma opened the front door and a brilliant light flooded into the room. I pulled away in fear, but she took my hand and together we entered the eternal. 

Helen began to cough and gag. “Are you okay?” Jenny rushed to her aide. Helen nodded an affirmative, yes. “He has left. I hope you got what you needed?” Helen asked Jenny as she sat down on her chair. 

Jenny wiped the tears and running mascara from her cheeks, “Yes, thank you.” Helen hugged her, “are you sure?” Jenny nodded, yes, “he wanted me to move on and find the happiness he felt I deserved.

Haven: The Story of Lightning Chapter Two

Haven: Chapter Two

Shadow made his way into the Great Forest in search of Lightning his nephew. He knew to tread carefully in the home of the Animal Council. Any social misstep here could cause the Unicorns to lose face and the trust of all the animals of Haven.

I hate this place; he thought as he moved along an old path that would take him deep into the ancient woods. “Second time this week,” he uttered in the disappointment of his nephew’s choice of actions. Shadow narrowed his eye as he spotted a movement to his left near the trunk of a tree. 

It drew shadow’s eyes to slight movement at the edge of a burrow. A young hare stuck his head out to glimpse the black unicorn. The hare offered a smile to Shadow, “Hello, Sir.” 

Shadow lowered his head coming nose to nose with the Hare. “Are you a… a… un… uni… unicorn?” the young hare stuttered. Shadow exhaled through his nostrils knocking the young hare backward to the ground as he said, “Boo.” He watched and smiled as the hare rushed back into his family burrow.

Shadow chuckled as he moved along the path carefully to not crush any smaller animals beneath his hoofs. He noticed the increase in the odor from the mold as the air was becoming rich with moisture due to the approaching storm. He wrinkled his nostrils at the offending scent of the deep forest.

Few animals dared to stray out of their burrows and nests as the black unicorn passed. They all knew from the time of Thunder and Shadow’s father Zore that the black unicorn could be cruel when upset. It was because of this temper that Zore passed the mantle of Alpha to Thunder rather than Shadow.

Shadow loved the fear in the face of every animal that met with him. He preferred fear he earned to the respect that Thunder carried among the animals of Haven or the Love they all expressed towards Rain. He had no taste for what he felt was a weakness of character.

Shadow knew of his reputation among the animals but knew no one would dare speak ill of him to Thunder. Shadows anger was swift and unjustified in its level when triggered. Shadow may not have been a predator of their flesh, but he is a vicious predator of the inhabitant’s minds and imaginations.

Shadow paused and his ears twitched. He could hear a commotion up ahead near the center of the forest in an inhabited area. Shadow crept towards the growing ruckus. The previous clattering and stomping from ahead found itself now accompanied by the sounds of laughter.

Shadow pressed on into the forest in search of what he found to be an offending noise. He had no time for laughter. So, why should others have the joy that was never an option for him?

He always had to be Shadow “Brother to the Alpha” or “Beta of the Unicorn herd.” These whispered titles angered him. Each time she overheard the whispers it only made him dwell on his past and how he, the eldest, overlooked for Alpha. Instead, given to the younger brother Thunder.

Shadow’s horn glowed a sickly green, “come.” He scanned the nearby forest for his soldiers. A smile took hold as his visitors came.

A great and powerful grey wolf and its pack came out of the shadows and knelt before him, “Master, what would you have of us?” Shadow puffed his chest with pride at his lording over another beast. “Where is Lightning?”

“He is just ahead. We followed him as you asked. He is with those friends of his,” The Alpha Wolf reported. Shadow growled, “He will never grow up as long as he keeps messing with those weasels.” “You want us to get rid of them once and for all?” The massive beast asked.

“No, not just yet,” Shadow responded. The Alpha Wolf nodded in understanding, “Well, sir. Is there some other task?” Shadow exhaled, “No, go back to watching my daughter her ambitions will ruin my plans if we do not keep her focused.” 

The Alpha and his pack bound away into the woods to resume their task. Shadow returned his attention to the sounds of laughter ahead of his path. He resumed his approach to the offending sounds.

Shadow was ashamed by what he witnessed as he entered the origin point of the noises. His face filled with shame as he lowered his head, “Lightning! What is all this?” Rage replaced the shame as his nostrils flared seeing the scene ahead. 

Lightning, Shadows’ nephew, was thrashing about in play with two teenaged weasels. The weasel’s and Lightning had always been, close friends. When there was mischief the threesome was at the center of the mess. 

“Come on, get it off my head,” Lightning laughed and called out to the weasel holding a bundle of moss across his eyed as a blindfold. Shadow grew impatient as he realized that his nephew had either ignored him or choose not to hear him, “LIGHTNING!” Shadow dug his hoof into the ground. He stepped close to Lightning.

The embarrassing actions of his nephew overtook Shadows’ emotions as he saw the eyes of every forest animal point at the unicorns childish heir. “You’re embarrassing us all again,” Shadow growled under his breath.  

Lightning swung around trying to nip at the second weasel as he ran along his back tickling him. “Gonna make you pee, lightning,” laughed the second weasel, Slicker. Lightning missed and crashed into Shadow sending all four sprawling to the forest floor with a loud series of thuds. The three friends laughed, but Shadow scowled.

The laughter of the friends turned to snickers and then to silence as they realized what they had done. Shadow was the first to return upright. As Lightning rose Shadow pressed him back to the ground, “I am tired of covering for you, Lightning. Do you know what time it is?” 

The observing animals of the forest retreated into their dens and burrows. The black unicorns presence terrified all on the island. They all knew of the predatory soldiers at his beck and call that would kill them all if he so wanted it. 

Disappointment filled Lightnings expression as the realization of what Shadow was talking about. Shadow stepped backward and away from Lightning, “That’s right. You missed the run again.” Lightning while disappointed shrugged, “Why do we do that every day? I mean, we could miss a day. The veil has always and will always be here it’s not going anywhere, Shadow.”

Shadow noticed the forest fill with prying eyes watching and listening to the words they were sharing. “Be silent, Lightning.”  “This is neither the time nor place for this conversation,” Shadow gestured to the many animals watching what was happening. “Your actions today cause the whole herd to lose face. They will never respect you at this rate. Now, let’s try to catch up to the herd,” Shadow glared at his nephew.

Lightning trotted away followed by his friends, Slick and Slicker. Shadow noticed the pair and stepped in their path. “Not you!” Shadow scolded the brothers. Slicker seemed about to speak when Shadow snorted at them. They rushed off in a blur to hide from the sometimes-violent back unicorn. 

Shadow caught up with his nephew and then he matched pace. “Why do you do these things? You know as the next Alpha. You must be a leader you can’t just…” Shadow began but gets cut off by Lightning. “Why? Huh? Why do I have to be the next Alpha? What if I don’t want to be it?” Lightning blurted out.

Shadow steps in front of Lightning and glares at him. “What do you mean? You don’t want to be alpha?” Shadow scorns. “It’s an honor being chosen to become the next Alpha,” Lightning mocks his father’s words, “Blah, Blah, Blah. Yeah, I have heard it all before. No one ever asked me what I want. What if I had other plans?”

Shadow’s glare intensified as Lightning continued his childish rant, “you were so lucky that they made my dad alpha and not you. Grandpa did you a favor if you ask me.” “That’s it,” Shadow’s nostrils flared his anger erupted, “You don’t get it! Being made alpha is the greatest thing that could ever happen to one of our herd! I should have been alpha not your father! I was the eldest! I was the firstborn! It was my right!”

Lightning recoiled as Shadow continued his character-defining rant. “Thunder should never have been Alpha! But no one, not Zore, The Animal Council, or Thunder would let me become alpha! They were all against me,” Shadow lowered his head. “I would have been a great alpha, but they never gave me the chance,” Shadow gave words to his growing feelings of shame. 

Lightning pressed his head against Shadows neck in a show of empathy, “I know it may not mean much, but I think you would have made a great alpha.” Shadow looked up to Lightning as a tear traced a path down his face. “You mean that?” Shadow was begging for a compliment. Lightning nodded, “You’re my uncle and I trust you.”

Shadow chuckled, “Thank you. I mean that.” He raised his head and shook his mane. “We need to get going. If we will catch up with the herd.” Shadow reared up and galloped off to rejoin the herd. Lightning smiled as he watched Shadow moving away knowing his uncle would always be there for him. 

Lightning raised his front and whinnied. He rushed off to follow his uncle and rejoin the herd. He burst through the underbrush leaving his buddies Slick and Slicker behind.

“He knows they never made Shadow alpha because he is so mean, right?” Slick looked to his brother Slicker as concern clung on his face. “I don’t think so. We need to keep an eye on him as Keeper asked us too,” Slicker nodded accepting their duty. 

https://www.amazon.com/Haven-Story-Lightning-Roger-Alderman/dp/1790578574/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1545249509&sr=8-3&keywords=haven%3A+the+story+of+lightning

Haven: The Story of Lightning - chapter one

Haven: Chapter One

The clouds are always so beautiful at this height, thought Scout to himself as he soared above the majestic island that rested far below. He spread his wings wide allowing the sunlight to bring its gentle warmth to each of his great feathers. Scout the Gold Eagle was the ruling councils trusted emissary and watchful eye over the islands many inhabitants.

Scout released a mighty call as he twisted into a downward arch. This allowed him to pick up a great deal of speed to better move across the island to check in on the animals. Scout burst from the concealment of the clouds racing towards the earth below.

Scout brought his wings out to pull out of the plummet to a level but hurried pace. He found himself accompanied by a gentle breeze. Today his observation would begin in the great meadow on the Island known as Haven. 

The cool breeze moves past the wide pasture lands full of countless varieties of colorful and fragrant flowers. Scout loved gazing down on the countless flowers of every color in the rainbow that filled the sprawling meadow in every color of the rainbow. After centuries of wild cross-pollination has resulted in many kinds of plants that do not exist in the world beyond the meadows boundaries.

Scout rode along the breeze as its arrival signals the animals of rain by this day’s end. The Animals raised their head high to take in the many discerning scents of the meadow, however, the most dominant odor beyond the fragrance of the flowers was the earthy scent of the coming rain. The coming rains are a welcomed addition to the ebb and flow of life here helping to renew the fields of the great bounty that feed the residents of the meadow.

Boundless herds of grazing wildlife of every breed, shape, and size have made its home in this vast meadow. The great herds of wildlife here travel together to help protect their friends and families from the dangers of the natural world. Each herd keeping a watchful eye out for the many predatory animals that hide among the tall savannah-like grass that cover the meadow they all share.

The animals that dwell here understanding that life and death are inseparable truths of existence. Only through the cycle of death and birth can nature maintain the proper balance. The animals here understand that too much of either would through the balance of which might lead to all life here being wiped out. 

Scout smiled that today showed no signs of death among the herds. He turned to make his approach to the Great Forest of Haven. The Forest was home to the Animal Council, to whom he owed his loyalty along with every animal of Haven. 

Scout watched as the breeze stirred the many breeds of bees pollinating the flowers of the ancient meadows. Just beyond the limits of the meadows, majestic ancient trees reach high into the sky as if they could touch the clouds above. The Massive trees cover and protect the wildlife below allowing each of the many species to grow in sheer volume of life.

The great canopy of trees offers the chance for a fungus to grow in the limited Lite source and earthy smelling renewal of the fallen leaves and branches from above. Molds of every breed dwell in the ancient forest working their magic here in the process of rebirth by eliminating the debris on the forest floor. The sickly-sweet odor of the various molds and fungus fills the air of the forest floor. 

Scout moved between the trees with precision and grace. The animals waved at his passing as they knew so long as he made his passing all was good on Haven. Scout offered a perceptible wink as he passed to acknowledge those below. 

The forest floor stirs with life as vast and plentiful as the neighboring meadow. High above the forest floor dwells a multitude of bird species and tree-dwelling animals hide in the trees protected from the elements of nature.

Life, as it always does, has dwelt in the dense old forest both on the floor and high among the branches. Among the roots and tubers of the forest floor dwell rodents, insects, snakes, and many other animals that have lived and continue to live their lives unmolested by the corrupting influence of mankind. Just like the animals of the meadow. The forest animals enjoy the abundance of food and water found here on Haven.

Scout exploded out of the Great Forest in sight of the long sprawling sandy shore of the encompassing beach of Haven. While it was not his favorite location, it was the bountiful sea that brought the fish into the shallow tidal pools that fed most of the animals of this beautiful hidden island.

Beyond the wide reach of the ageless forest lays the beaches that surround the island with pristine sands. The surrounding beach of the protected island the green-blue waves of the ocean wash against the shore. Bringing the bounty of the sea to those who hunt along the off-white sands and shells. 

The encircling coral barrier that surrounds the island has created massive coves from which flocks of birds feed on the sea life brought into these places by the tidal flow.

Scout did not care for the shore, but he enjoyed what was to come. He loved to watch a special herd of animals on their daily path. Animals that no longer dwelled anywhere else on Earth. He looked sharp towards the horizon. He smiled as he heard the sound he sought each passing day.

Hordes of Crabs of all sizes fled the coastline as the ground moved under them. A throng of Seagulls left their meals on the shore and made their way high above to clear the path of the oncoming heard. Rolling blue translucent waves washed the shoreline clear of the animals to slow or small to get out of the way as the thunderous noise grew to a powerful crescendo.

Sounds of rolling thunder alert all the animals along the coast of the approach of a special herd of island inhabitants. The approaching herd holds great respect among all the animals of the secret island. The Island of Haven has been home to a herd of mythical and Magical Unicorns.

Scout banked his flight to take him to pass the herd. “Good morning Unicorns!” He called out as he raced past the head of the herd. Scout spun giving himself a moment of weightlessness which allowed him to offer a military-like salute to them. He recovered and continued on his way leaving the Unicorns far behind.

Ahead of the procession of Unicorns galloped their Alpha a tall and majestic white unicorn with a golden bolt of hair in the shape of lightning on his face. Thunder the stern, but a benevolent leader of the unicorns has led the herd for several decades. His mate Rain a and off-white unicorn with the slightest hint of blue to her color followed behind Thunder.

Every day it was the Alpha’s duty to lead the herd around the perimeter of the island which allowed their enchantment to maintain Haven’s in a Shroud of Storms that obscured the island from the rest of the world. It was the herds’ job to protect all of Haven from any who would bring harm to the island or its inhabitants. The Animal Council held power over the day-to-day functions of Haven, but power fell to the Unicorn protectors during times of strife.

As Thunder and the herd made their way across the meadow. Thunder slowed to a trot with a look of confusion in his face. “What is it?” Rain asked due to the sudden change of pace. 

“Where is he?” Thunder shook his mane in agitation. Rain lowered her head in submission and worry, “He must have slipped away as we passed the forest. He is still a child,” Rain begged. 

Thunder stopped, and the herd followed suit. Thunder spun to face Rain, “Lightning may be our son but he still must earn the herds respect if he’s becoming Alpha. I am not getting any younger and have to pass the mantle to someone. If he’s unready, I don’t know what will happen. To the herd, the Council, or To Haven.” Rain and the herd agreed with Thunders warning. 

The black unicorn, Shadow, brother to Thunder and Uncle to Lightning pressed his way from the rear of the herd. “Thunder? What is it what is wrong?” Shadow panted as he spoke. “Lightning.” Rain whispered.

“Ran off again?” Shadow asked. Thunder stepped close to Shadow, “Yes, I…” Shadow looked to the herd waiting to press onward and then turned back to his brother, “I’ll go collect him. You should lead them on the path. I will find him and we will catch up.” 

Thunder relaxed his brow and peace filled his expression, “Thank you, brother. I don’t know what we would ever do without you.” A smile crossed Rain’s face as she watched Thunder calm to the situation. “Thank you, Shadow,” Rain nodded to her mates’ brother.

Shadow turned and bolted off towards the Great Forest. Thunder faced the waiting herd, “All right everyone let’s get going the veil will not maintain itself.” The many loyal unicorns nodded and rushed off behind Thunder and Rains lead.

Rain could not forget the words spoken by Thunder about their son’s naivety. She knew by Lightnings age Thunder had matured. She knew the herd had been very watchful Lightning and his childish ways. 

“Thunder please he’s just…” Rain began. “Just what? A child? No, Rain, he is of age to become the next Alpha. He is making a mockery of our family and our burden of Alpha,” Thunder demanded.

Rain recoiled realizing how furious Thunder was with their son. She took a deep breath to find better words to calm the situation before her son's return. “What is it going to take for you to lighten up on him, Thunder? You know you were just about as childish as him when you were younger,” Rain whisper to Thunder.

Thunder scowled in response to her perceived insult, “This is not the time.” Rain nuzzled against Thunder's head, “can you stop being so serious for one minute. If you could you would see he needs room to grow. We have forced him into a position he may not even want. He’s young still and wants to first learn who he is. Before we try to make him what we want him to be.”

 Thunder closes his eyes and dwells on the words his wife offered. “Perhaps you’re right, but I can feel the magic of our tribe leaving me. My time as Alpha is ending. I hope he figures out his life before the magic consumes me,” Thunder whispers to his bride.

Thunder and Rain close their eyes and embrace each other. “I am sure he will, Thunder. Between Keeper and us we will get him through all this,” Rain says with a gentle smile. Thunder’s love for his family was never more obvious until this minute. She saw the reflection of the Unicorn she had fallen in love within his eyes.

https://www.amazon.com/Haven-Story-Lightning-Roger-Alderman/dp/1790578574/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1545249509&sr=8-3&keywords=haven%3A+the+story+of+lightning

Updates? where did I go?

Hello Everyone,

Sorry, I have been gone a bit, but it was all for productivity. In my absence, I have written a new novella called "Haven: The Story of Lightning." I am going to start posting selections from that book today across all social media platforms. If you like what you read I will include links for both paperback and Ebooks on Amazon. That being said, I will be posting at least one new short story per month, but also will be publishing one new book each month as well. That is up to ten books total for this year, as I will be doing NaNoWriMo in 2019.

Thanks,
Roger Alderman

New revised first chapter for Bright Road: "Purgatory"

CHAPTER ONE

A classic blue 1984 Ford LTD sedan sits struggling to idle outside of the hospital emergency room entranceway. Its doors are open revealing the interior of the vehicle is coated in patches of freshly dripping and oozing blood. SARAH, a ghostly little girl in a knee-length tattered nightshirt, emerges from the car and smiles. 

Her attention moves to a dark thick trail of blood that winds through the hospital halls, a trail which ends at the operating room doors. A woman’s voice echoes its pleas through the hospital, “No! No! No! Not Again!”

Inside the operating room, JESSE ABLE’s small body writhes in pain in the center of a whirlwind of doctors and nurses struggle to save his life. A nurse leads VICTORIA and ROGER ABLE from the room, as more staff enters to help, “for us to help you need to clear out.” 

Victoria and Roger stare helplessly at one another outside of the operating room. Roger watches in confusion, as the waves of medical staff moving around them like a whirlwind, “What’s going on?” Roger pulls his wife close to offer comfort, but careful to not allow her to filthy her outfit on his grease-covered coveralls. 

Victoria still wearing her work clothes cries, “It’s just like before…” Roger embraces her, as she sobs uncontrollably. Additional medical staff rushes past the couple and into the operating room. Sarah stands at the far end of the hallway in a devilish silhouette in the morning sunlight, as it passes through a large window.

Jesse’s terror-driven words echo through the halls of the hospital, “Get away from me! Mom! Dad!” Doctors attempt to comfort him, “Calm down were trying to help!” Sarah’s demonic smile shows, as she dances and twirls undetected in the chaos.

Dr. Daily emerges from the operating room. Roger and Victoria rush to the doctor side with hope in their expression. The doctor makes short work of their moment of hope, “We did all we could, but…” 

Roger turns to Doctor Daily a deeply furrowed brow, as he takes heavy determined steps towards him, “After everything you have done to him.”  Roger stops just inches from the Doctors face. 

Dr. Daily instinctively raises his arms defensively between himself and the dead boys' father. Dr. Daily takes a deep breath before beginning his plead for understanding, “I told you the infection had spread throughout his entire body. We have been doing everything we could to help him.”

  

Roger grabs and lifts Doctor Daily by his jacket. The Men slam hard against the operating room wall. Pictures and the doctors' chart fall to the floor. Victoria places a loving hand on Roger’s shoulder, “Please. Stop.” Roger shakes his head and releases the Doctor. 

Dr. Daily picks up Jesse’s chart and thumbs through several pages. He stops looking and slowly closes the chart, as he lowers his head, “He body is exhausted. The Zocyn and Vancomycin had begun to hurt his body more than help.” He pauses seeing the pain and sorrow filling the faces of Jesse’s parents. Dr. Daily whispers and lowers his head, “We have stabilized him for now. You should spend some time with him before.”

The doctor walks away in shame. Victoria loses her composure and collapses into a heap sobbing. Roger sits on the hallway floor holding his wife. The doctor pauses and turns to the couple, “We will get him to a room for you. Sit tight for us in the Waiting room. While we get everything set.” Roger and Victoria nods and rise. They follow the doctor to the waiting room.  

Inside the hospital waiting area Victoria sits at a small kitchen table holding her cell phone, “we should call my mom. She’ll come up here.” An episode of Ghost Whisperer plays on the television in the room. Roger nods into her in agreement, “you want me to call her?” The housekeeper scrubs away at the coffee stains on the counter top near the shallow sink. 

Sarah smiles watching the couple struggle to remain civil in a moment of utter despair. She enjoys being unseen by the living, as she stands in front of Victoria mocking her every motion and emotions. Sarah settles on top of the small kitchen table staring at the housekeeper.

The housekeeper blinks repeatedly as Sarah influences her to believe she has completed cleaning the room. The housekeeper turns and robotically exits the room. She forces the edge of her cleaning cart under the edge of the door handle and walks across the hallway to the restrooms. 

A loud alarm sounds surprising the couple. They leap to their feet and rush to the door. The radio announces, “Code Blue Room 114! Code Blue Room 114!” “Open the door!” Victoria yells at Roger.

Sarah rock back and forth in the despicable delight of the torture she is inflicting on the couple. She hops off the table top and skips through the door joining the chaos in the hallway. She faces the couple and growls the words, “this next part will kill ya.”

Roger throws his shoulder against the door repeatedly, but the door has been blocked on the other side. Roger stares through the narrow door window and spots the housekeepers cart pressed against the door. The housekeepers moved along the opposite wall, as a tidal surge of medical specialists and staff move towards the site of the radio’s emergency announcement.

Roger lowers his head trying to reel in his emotions, “The housekeeper’s cart is wedged under the door handle. I can’t open it.” Victoria stands determined next to her husband, “we can do this together.” She nods to Roger, “On push, got it?” 

Sarah clutches at her abdomen as she laughs uncontrollably at Roger and Victoria. She mocks their struggles with the door, “Come on you can do it…” Her brow furrows and her eyes narrow, “Well, maybe this time anyway.”

Victoria and Roger lean against the door. Victoria roars, “Push god damn it!” Roger and Victoria’s combined effort threw the door open causing the cart to send several medical staff members tumbling over the unexpected reposition of the housekeeping cart.

Roger and Victoria trip and fall over the hallway pileup. Roger gets to his feet first and joins the wave of humanity moving to his son’s room. Victoria looks up in time to notice Roger disappearing into the crowd. She struggles to her feet along with the staff members.

Roger arrives outside Jesse’s room, but cannot enter as the room is filled with staff racing to save his son’s life. “Get out of my way!” Roger yells to no avail. Victoria bumps into his side. They look at each other helplessly. 

Roger and Victoria watch as the medical experts call upon centuries of experience to attempt to save Jesse. 

The couple watch as the confidence and ego of experts are torn asunder by the unknown. Roger stares on amazed by the line of the medical staff that reach their limit and leave the battle to save his son’s life. 

Victoria stops Dr. Daily as he leaves the room his eyes dart from side to side. “What did we do wrong?” Dr. Daily exhales aloud unaware of Roger or Victoria’s presence. Dr. Daily realizes he still has the gloves and scrubs on that are covered in the blood Jesse spewed on everyone. 

Sarah mocks the doctor’s emotions and motions as she exits the room behind him. She cannot hide her amusement with everything happening. Her eyebrows rise and a smile forms with a devious idea. 

Dr. Daily shakes his head vacant of the confidence he proudly displayed before the couple earlier this evening. He raises his head only to have no words to properly convey the disappointment in his talents and training. Jesse’s medical documents burst from the chart on impact with the floor below Dr. Daily. His eyes dart from page to page unable to form the words he needs to offer comfort to the parents. 

The couples hope bleeds away in their observation of the doctor who promised to save their child but failed them. Victoria pushes away from Roger taking a single step towards Dr. Daily. The doctor faces away from the couple, “I’m sorry you should say something it won’t be long now.” 

Roger and Victoria push past the doctor to enter their son’s room. Medical equipment continues to beep and chip as Roger and Victoria enter. Roger cannot handle the emotions that turn his fear into hate and anger. He walks to the window to conceal his growing feelings of dread and takes a deep breath. 

Victoria has always been the more accepting of her emotions. She hits hard against Jesse’s bedside and erupts in a deluge of tears and wails of coming loss. She picks up her son’s near lifeless hands, “He’s cold.” She immediately works his blankets into a cocoon to protecting in the only way fate has left for her son. 

Sarah sits in an oversized recliner made for friends and family to remain with their ill family members. She cracks her neck to the right and utters an exhausted, “this part always takes too long.” She watches as Jesse’ s life trickles away with the last of the fluids moving into his body from the IV lines. 

Roger studies the approaching storm as he realizes a long day is ahead of his little family. He pays close attention to remain facing away from his wife as his despair take the form of a large single tear that carves its way through the dirt and grease of the days' labors that still cover his face. He does not want her to think he is weak. He knows he will need strength enough for both his wife and the family that will be coming.

Sarah watches as the small boy’s spirit lowers his head unable to offer the comfort of simply holding his father’s hand in these last moments. Jesse studies his hands in confusion as they can no longer reach his father. The tears and wails of his mother draw him to her side. Without a thought, he reaches out to hug and comfort his mother.  

Jesse cannot hold her as death’s cruel joke expresses itself endlessly by not allowing any fallen being from reaching across the veil to interact with the living. 

The confused boy climbs like atop the bed and looks around the room. The sadness of the moment hits him hard as he loses hold of his emotions and begins sobbing into his palms. Jesse cries unheard and separated from those he loves most injured the world. The exhaustion of the day weighs heavily on the young spirit. 

Jesse claws and drags himself back inside his body out of instinct. The world fades from sight as the boy’s spirit slumbers in its once protective shell.