Sunday, August 31, 2014

TWO-FACED WONDER



Beautiful rose.
Soft and velvety.
Protected by sharp thorns.
Bright in the sunshine.
Dark in the moonlight.
A two-faced wonder.

DARK SHADOWS OF MY MIND



The nightmare of my mind.
Crammed with trees and dirt.
A deserted forest of the night.
No visitors or intruders.
Only death and silence.
Graves mark the spots
where life once stood.
Now all that’s left is
darkness and shadows.
Shadows drifting across
space and my mind.

THE DEAD GAME -- DAY 197



THE DEAD GAME — DAY 197

The town hall was under attack by flying creatures. Natalie stood before them, reveling in the control she had over the mere mortals.


     Shana continued to struggle against the creature. When she looked up at it, it glanced back down at her. She was shocked to see that while it had a human face, it also had a beak. But its body was the body of a huge bat. It kept staring at her, turning its head sideways—like a bird analyzing its prey.
     She pulled at her long hair trapped in its sharp talons. Its hooked claws were very sharp; she could feel their edges digging into her scalp. She was in a bad situation. She looked down at the strange scene being played out beneath her.
     Father John’s voice bellowed out loud, causing Natalie’s lit reflection to fade and flicker. “If you vanquish me, you silly fool, then Todd’s girlfriend will fall into the fire and
burn up quickly. Humans roast very rapidly—if you need to know for the future.” Natalie laughed.
     Sam quietly said to the Father, “I’ve got it covered; just vanquish her as quickly as you can.”
     The priest’s voice rose high up into the rafters. The great devotion in his voice made the wooden beams crack and tremble. The whole building shuddered and shook; sections of the ceiling crashed down upon them. He lifted both his arms to heaven and chanted.
     Natalie caught on fire: beginning at her legs and then traveling up her tiny body. She screamed and moaned as she tried to fight off the flames. She rolled across the floor in a ball of fire. She continued to sizzle and burn until all that remained of her were ashes. With Natalie annihilated, Linda began to fall into the fire. Sam promptly opened the hose at full blast, which extinguished the fire beneath her and protected her fall with soggy and wet firewood.

Kindle
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Nook
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THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW

flowersgardenlove:


What if our paths in life were obvious?
Set up before us.
Clearly outlined.
No branches.
No deviations.
Just the straight and narrow.
Would life be simpler?
Would life be easier?
Or would it be boring?
Too obvious.
Too narrow.
Too defined.
No choices.
No chances.
No deviations.
Definitely boring. 


YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE



EXCERPT FROM THE DEAD GAME

Chapter 32

Intense feelings of claustrophobia began to overwhelm Shana in the narrow, confined space. The air was becoming heavier and thicker. She thrust her hand in front of her, where she could actually feel the air: it felt strangely thick and spongy. When she tried to move her arm back down, she found that it was being held firmly in place. She was being sucked into the unyielding darkness, where some unnatural force was probably lying in wait for them.
     She felt a slight shift in the air—possibly even a slight breeze. The darkness slowly lifted and loosened its hold on her arm. She turned to flee, but her hasty escape was interrupted by a high-pitched, blood-curdling scream. What now? What else could be in store for them?
     She looked ahead into the darkness and spotted Louise, standing as still as a statue with her huge blue eyes wide open in horror as she stared at the far end of the tunnel. The group edged closer to Louise and watched the bizarre scene that was being played out in front of them.
     In the darkness of the tunnel, a light was being projected on one small area. In this subdued light sat a woman in rocking chair, rocking a baby in her arms while humming a sweet lullaby. To Shana, the scene looked very peaceful and serene—which didn’t at all fit with Louise’s terrified reaction.
     She asked Louise, “Why are you so afraid? Who is that lady with the baby?”
     Louise replied, “It’s my mother holding me. I’ve seen this scene numerous times in old pictures. My mother had died when I was only a baby.”
     “The scene was obviously recreated from you own imagination. Before our minds are toyed with any further, we must turn around and leave! Right now!” Louise grabbed Shana’s outstretched hand and followed her back through the tunnel.

Saturday, August 30, 2014

BEFORE


The skyline was beautiful before.
Hope was present before.
Brotherhood was keenly felt before.
Life was pure and simple.
Death wasn’t an everyday concern.
Before.

A DREAM COME TRUE


A shooting star.
A miracle.
Fleeting.
Temporary.
Luminescent.
A dream come true.

Friday, August 29, 2014

AN ISLAND TO MYSELF

a-kind-0f-a-terr0r-m0vie:
0ce4n-g0d:
Lonely Paradise by Jeroen Lucas
Imagination(http://i-believe.tk) -

Do you ever feel alone?
No one close to you.
No one to understand your problems.
Thoughts rumbling through your brain
with no one to share them with.
I might as well be on a desert island
with only water around me for miles.
A desert island all to myself.

MEOW!



I know everything.
I know what you’re doing
and what you’re thinking.
Nothing surprises me anymore.
I know what to expect out of life.
All I need is food and a comfortable
place to sleep.
All else is unimportant.
Goodbye silly human.
I need my beauty sleep.
Meow!

ONCE IS ENOUGH



This is what life is all about.
The simple.
The pure.
The first time.
Done once.
And done the right way.

SLOW DOWN YOU MOVE TOO FAST




Life moves too fast.
People rushing back and forth.
Where are they going?
Do they ever reach their destinations?
Rushing and rushing everyday.
Everything becomes a blur.
The faces and lights flash by too quickly.
Stop!
I need to breathe!
What happened to living and enjoying life?
When does that happen?
After we’re dead and buried.
Then we slow down to a stand still.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

THE PERFECT PARADISE



Welcome to Oasis, Florida.
Sunlit beaches and pink sand
to enjoy during the day.
Tourists aplenty searching
for their perfect paradise.
The perfect wave.
The perfect partner.
The perfect party.
When night comes,
the fun really begins.
Dark shadows walk the streets,
looking for their perfect partners.
The innocent who will join in on their games.
Games that can turn deadly.
Who will be alive come morning?
Only THE DEAD know.
THE DEAD GAME
Kindle
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Nook
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SEND IN THE CLOWNS

quoadhoc:
Daniel Merriam
I open my eyes.
I see weird creatures.
The man in the moon
and circus men.
Why are they in my room?
Have they come to entertain me?
Or maybe to kill me?
I hear laughter.
Hysterical laughter surrounding
me from all corners of the room.
The circus men are clowns, who
are waving sharp knives at me.
I need to escape!
I can’t!
I’m tied down to my bed.
They’re coming closer to the bed.
The laughter is getting louder.
I close my eyes.
I hear quiet.
I open my eyes.
The room is dark.
It looks to be empty.
I glance over at my chair in the corner.
There’s a red balloon tied to it,
floating in the air.
Oh no!

WATCHING ME



Who is watching me from the water?
There is something bobbing beneath
the shallow waves.
Is it a person or a sea creature?
It’s coming closer to shore.
I see eyes!
Yellow eyes sparkling in the sunlight.
It has green skin with yellow spots.
I’m beginning to hear the music
from “Jaws” in my head.
My over-active imagination
is in over-drive.
I must run!
Before the creature catches me!
Wait!
It’s just a man rising from the waves.
A man in a wet suit.
All is safe.
The yellow spots must have been
a reflection from the sun.
Ouch!
I’m shot!
He shot me!
He shot me with a spear gun!
Too late.
I’m falling down.
Will I wake up again?
Will I find it all to be a bad dream?
I hope so.

A SAD HOUSE


seasons-in-hell:
TTT
A sad house.
It sits alone,
waiting for visitors.
Waiting for someone
to clean and fix it up.
A family would be preferable.
Even a family with a dog would
be better than the dead quiet.
It will continue to wait until its
shutters fall off and its roof sinks in.
As long as it has its four walls,
there will always be hope for better times.
If only walls could talk.

A LIVING, BREATHING CREATURE



Life is a sculpture.
Life is a living, breathing creature.
It entices us.
It bemuses us.
It challenges us.
But most of all,
it inspires us.

THE DEAD GAME -- IN THE BEGINNING

sonnetlx:
Candles by simplysublime
THE DEAD GAME BY SUSANNE LEIST
IN THE BEGINNING

The town of Oasis was plagued by dark shadows. Shana and her friends began to plan their own line of defense. They believed that Wolf was responsible for all the deaths and disappearances in town.

      They sat around Shana’s table in the back room with the lights off and the front door securely locked. A small candle on the table provided the only light in the room. Shadows on the walls swayed back and forth with the motion of the candle’s flame. Each time the shadows moved, Shana jumped a little inside, recalling the dark figures that had stalked her in town.
     As she stared at the flickering shadows, she hoped and prayed that they would finally be able to rid their town of the menacing beings. Despite the fear racing through her icy veins, she said, “We must confront Wolf on our own! We must learn to protect ourselves without relying on others to deliver us from this evil!”
     “Wolf is much too powerful for us to fight against by ourselves!” David said.
     But Shana had formulated her own plan and was excited to offer it to the group. “We’ll go up against Wolf in his own house!”
     “Have you gone crazy?” Mike said.
     “No! Listen to me! We’ll make sure that Todd and Sam find out about this meeting before it happens: this way they can come to our aid.”
     “Oh! How romantic!” said Linda, “Knights in shining armor, valiantly coming to our rescue.”

Kindle
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Nook
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Wednesday, August 27, 2014

THE DESCRIPTION OF THE DEAD GAME HAS CHANGED

THE DESCRIPTION OF THE DEAD GAME HAS CHANGED TO INCLUDE THE POSSIBLITY OF A SEQUEL OR A SERIES

cover
In Book 1, Linda moves to a small town to live a quiet life. She opens a bookstore and makes new friends. Life is simple–that is until the dead body washes up on shore. Linda is horrified to find that dead bodies and disappearing tourists are common for this town. As soon as the sun sets, the residents are stalked by dark shadows. But this is only the beginning.

Linda and her friends receive an unsigned invitation to a party at the deserted house on the hill. They are pursued through revolving rooms and dangerous traps, barely escaping with their lives. Two of their own remain trapped in the house. Or so they think. 

They must embark on a difficult journey, chased by unnatural creatures, not knowing whom to trust, to uncover the one controlling everyone in town.  Who are The Dead? Are they humans or vampires? Or a combination of both?

They are led down a path with many twists and turns. Will they be able to identify the true leader of The Dead? Will they be able to destroy him? More mysteries pop up as others are laid to rest. Will there be an end to this game? Or will a second book be needed?

The Dead Game has begun.

THE DEAD GAME -- DAY 196



They were trapped in a house of horrors. Furry flying creatures and evil demons. What was next?
   
     The fire followed them into the room, bringing with it an intense heat. “Grilled humans,” screeched Natalie, “that should be a good snack for me.” She raised her arm and this time lifted Linda high up, above the raging fire. “I believe that this human should cook first, since she is Todd’s favorite treat.”
     The flying creatures continued to screech and dive down at them. One flew down low and caught Shana by her hair, lifting her up to the ceiling. She struggled with the furry demon, trying to free her hair from its deadly grip.
     Natalie said, “We now have two useless humans caught!”
     Sam called up to Shana. “Don’t worry! Just hold on tight! Once we vanquish her, the creatures will also be destroyed!”
     Shana continued to struggle against the creature. When she looked up at it, it glanced back down at her. She was shocked to see that while it had a human face, it also had a beak. But its body was the body of a huge bat. It kept staring at her, turning its head sideways—like a bird analyzing its prey.
     She pulled at her long hair trapped in its sharp talons. Its hooked claws were very sharp; she could feel their edges digging into her scalp. She was in a bad situation. She looked down at the strange scene being played out beneath her.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

THE HOUSE IS ALIVE!



Welcome to my greenhouse.
Wolf steps back from the door
to allow his guests to enter.
They walk into a room filled with trees.
No paths meander through the thick greenery.
They follow Wolf through the tangled grove
to the back of the room.
Leaves rustle with the sounds of wildlife.
But no animals or birds are visible.
The back wall is filled to the high ceiling
with cages of snakes.
Snakes thrusting their long tongues
at the unwelcome guests.
Wolf laughs at their discomfort.
Time to leave the strange house.
They run past the tall trees,
who lift their mighty trunks in pursuit.
The whole house shakes,
while Wolf bellows louder in laughter.
They run through the room of portraits
that follow them with their eyes.
They must escape before the house
swallows them alive.
THE DEAD GAME HAS BEGUN.
THE DEAD GAME
Kindle
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Nook
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I LOVE THIS 5 STAR REVIEW OF THE DEAD GAME!

 
 
What a great way to make your day. Search for your book on Amazon and find 5 Stars. Nothing could feel better!
 
 
5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn’t put it down!!!, August 15, 2014
This review is from: The Dead Game (Kindle Edition)
What a suspenseful book!! I picked it up and actually had to force myself to put it down every night so that I could sleep. There were parts when the small group of friends and their schemes would have me sitting on the edge of the chair holding my breath in anticipation. The twist and turns of the book definitely keeps the reader interested and wanting to continue to read.
Susanne did an amazing job of setting the scene and describing the characters and their personality.
This is a must read if you love suspenseful supernatural books!!!

THE DEAD GAME -- DAY 195



They were trapped in the town hall with flying creatures circling above them. Who was going to save them now? 

   Swarms of flying creatures crashed through the glass. They were circling above them. They were big, black, and furry. Oh, God! Mike shivered. They were bats! No, something was off about them. They were much too big to be bats!
     As the creatures swooped down toward them, Mike saw that they had human faces. Human faces on big furry bodies. It was as if the gates of hell had opened up and released the worst creatures into their world. They continued to fly down at them, over and over again, with their sharp claws extended, grabbing at them.
     “Run! I’ll vanquish her again!” yelled the Father.
     Mike grimaced. We are all doomed if we have to rely on the Father and his unreliable spells.
     Todd took Linda’s hand and pulled her behind him to the closed door at the back of the room. She looked over her shoulder, yelling for everyone to follow them. They all began to follow, except for David, who said, “We can’t leave the priest behind.”
     Louise tugged on his arm. “We must leave! He’s trying to save everyone! Let him be a hero! This way some of us could make it out alive!”
     David relinquished his tough stance and followed Louise out of the burning room. Mike sneered to himself—the cowardly lion had let go of his tail for a few seconds and had almost appeared heroic; but of course, he ended up following his bossy girlfriend to safety.

Monday, August 25, 2014

A SOFT SHADOW IN THE WIND



A beautiful castle.
Could it be haunted?
Do people live there?
What about the people
who lived there in the past?
Are their memories alive in the walls?
Do ghosts wander the halls at night?
In my imagination, they do.
They come back to relive their pasts.
Sounds of laughter and music
can be heard in the night air.
Moonlight shines on their auras.
Auras that remain for years to come.
Sounds good to me.
I want to be remembered like that.
A soft shadow in the wind that
returns at night to see the moon.

TO DREAM

flowersgardenlove:
Rose path Beautiful gorgeous pretty flowers

Wouldn’t it be nice if each path in life
resembled a paradise with flowers?
No matter which path we choose,
we would be surrounded by roses.
Sunshine on our faces.
The perfume of flowers in the air.
The sound of birds chirping all around us.
It’s nice to dream.

PERCEPTION



Do you feel like you have a separate person inside?
A different person than the one portrayed to the world?
Do you feel young with an older person peeking out?
Or are you an old person with a younger one inside?
I’ve always felt like the same little girl inside.
My body ages but inside I’m the same.
I have the same thoughts and feelings.
I might deal with them in a more mature manner
but maybe not.

Sunday, August 24, 2014

A PERFECT CREATION



Time to think.
Open space to explore.
A perfect life.
A perfect creation.

BREAK DOWN THE WALLS



We create our own cages.
We put up our own walls.
These walls can be as strong
and unyielding as a metal fence.
Beyond, we can see the light.
The light of freedom.
Break down those walls!
And be free!

THE DEAD GAME HAS BEGUN



The stairs are slippery and wet.
The lights flicker and then all goes dark.
The door behind us slams shut.
It’s locked.
There’s no place to go but down.
Down to the basement of End House.
The deserted house on the cliff,
overlooking the crashing waves
of the Atlantic Ocean.
You can hear the waves hitting the house.
The basement floor is wet.
Are the ocean waters entering the house?
Or are we in for more surprises?
What is that sound?
Creaking noises are coming from above.
Huge cages with pointy edges are
descending from above.
Circular saws soon follow,
searching for our heads.
What do we do now?
THE DEAD GAME has begun.
Kindle
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Nook
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BEAUTY ALL AROUND US

clusterpod:
Mycena interrupta
Myrtle Forest, Collinsvale, Tasmania

Beauty can be found in
the most unusual places.
Beauty surrounds us each day.
It can take on many forms.
It can be a soft laugh.
The smell of a rain shower.
A dog wagging its tail.
We are surrounded by beauty
whether we are able to discern it or not.

AN ISLAND DRIFTING IN THE OCEAN



Each one of us is an island.
An island drifting in the ocean,
picking up debris along the way.
The debris of life and experiences.
Some of us become open islands,
welcoming and self-sufficient.
While others build walls around their plot of land,
becoming lost and finally deserted.
Which type of island are you becoming?

THE DEAD GAME -- DAY 194



They were huddled in the church, being attacked on all sides. Supernatural creatures were threatening to take over their town. How could they escape this last round of horrors?

    The whole building rumbled and shook. Oh no, Mike realized, lightning hit the building! He watched as the ceiling began to crumble and bricks fell from the walls onto the ground. A strange sound hummed from the outside, becoming louder and louder. Mike could hear distinct flapping noises. Then the tall windows around the room abruptly shattered.
     Swarms of flying creatures crashed through the glass. They were circling above them. They were big, black, and furry. Oh, God! Mike shivered. They were bats! No, something was off about them. They were much too big to be bats!
     As the creatures swooped down toward them, Mike realized that they had human faces. Human faces on big furry bodies. It was as if the gates of hell had opened up and released the worst creatures into their world. They continued to fly down at them, over and over again, with their sharp claws extended, grabbing at them.
     “Run! I’ll vanquish her again!” yelled the Father.
     Mike grimaced. We are all doomed if we have to rely on the Father and his unreliable spells.

Friday, August 22, 2014

WHERE IS IT SAFE?



Is the church empty?
It looks dark inside.
How do we know if it’s
safe to enter?
The creatures are coming closer.
I can hear their wings flapping in the wind.
We must flee for safety.
Where is it safe in Oasis, Florida?
Nowhere.
THE DEAD GAME has begun.
Kindle
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Nook
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MY BRAIN

santtumustonen:
Animation for The New York Times, "January Is Cruelest Time for Sleep"

Today my thoughts feel jumbled.
Too many ideas running
through my head.
Each one competing to be heard.
Each idea wanting to be
the one that takes control.
All I hear is a humming noise.
Which idea will be heard?
Will it be an idea that’s easy to follow?
Will it be pleasant or not?
I hope it will be an enjoyable one for me.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

THE DEAD GAME HAS BEGUN



THE DEAD ARE COMING!
THE WOLVES ARE HOWLING.
NO ONE IS SAFE.
THERE’S NOWHERE TO HIDE.
IT’S EITHER US OR THEM.
THE DEAD GAME HAS BEGUN.

THE DEAD GAME BY SUSANNE LEIST
Kindle
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Nook
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A LONG ROAD



We walk a long road.
A road we must follow.
No one can alter it but us.
We can move forward or back.
We can move fast or slow.
The choice is up to us.

HARD TO BE NICE




Why is it so hard for people to say this?
Why is it easier to criticize than compliment?
Do we need signs prompting us to say nice things?
It might not be such a bad idea.

LOST IN THE STORM




The storm is approaching the shore.
I can feel the dampness in the air.
The mist spraying against my face.
Strands of hair lifting in the wind.
The rumbling of thunder in the distance.
Flashes of light crossing the darkening sky.
Yes, I can feel it.
It’s almost here.

THE DEAD GAME -- DAY 193






Natalie was prepared to reveal to everyone the extent of her powers and her control over the town.


     Todd watched as Natalie puffed up her body,  attempting to appear larger than her mere petite frame allowed her to be. He was disgusted with her for fooling him; but more importantly, he was disgusted with himself for not seeing through her clever ruse of posing as his faithful assistant. He hissed, “It had to be someone who’d been aware of all my plans in advance—to be always one step ahead of me. You were the only one who had prior knowledge of all my meetings and social engagements; the one who constantly pried into my personal life; the one who leaked privileged information about our secret gatherings. You sicken and repulse me.”

     “How did the Father turn you into a saint? Let me understand this: You were one of The Dead and then a spell made you a saint?” Shana asked.

     “I cast a vanquishing spell on her,” Father John said.

     “How?” asked David.

     “With a spell that had been passed down from my ancestors,” the priest said.

     “Why would your ancestors have a vanquishing spell?” Todd asked.

     “I come from a long family line of vampire slayers. I’ve remained in this godforsaken town only to fight the relentless stream of demons. I’ve killed countless numbers of them over the years, but there are always more of them coming to town. I had decided to try the vanquishing spell in my ancestor’s spell book, but regrettably, I messed up and ended up with this deformation of nature.” The Father pointed his finger at Natalie.

     “That’s enough already! I’ve listened to enough of this silly drivel! I will now rid this town of all you do-gooders!” Natalie transformed once again into the robed skeleton. She was holding a huge fire ball in both hands. Shimmering in the heat of the flames, she lifted the ball above her head. She threw the ball of fire at them, cackling in glee as the fire spread through the room.

     In the flames appeared faces of people, young and old, chanting in unison the name of the saint, La Santa Muerte, over and over. The chanting grew louder as the flames intensified and spread further into the room, closer toward the group huddled together at the back wall.

     Bright flashes of lightning lit up the room’s floor to ceiling windows. The lightning bolts that hit close to the building emitted eerie sizzling sounds. Debris flew through the air; trees and pieces of buildings flew by the rain-splattered windows.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

NO SHELTER FROM THE STORM



The birds are watching.
They are waiting for the night.
The night will provide cover
for their flight over Oasis.
They will storm the Town Hall
with shrieks of glee.
Their bodies will transform into
creatures of hell.
There will be no shelter from this storm.
THE DEAD GAME by Susanne Leist
Kindle
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Nook
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GOODBYE TO DEATH


Why does death follow me everywhere?
When will the sun shine for me?
Why can’t I hear the birds chirping?
When will I be free to enjoy life once again?
I can feel the darkness enveloping me
in its sinister grasp.
I need to open my mind to the light
and let it guide me to better times.
Goodbye to nightmares and fears.


Hello to hopes and dreams.

THE GRIM REAPER



What is waiting for me?
Is it death?
Am I ready for it?
Who is ready for death?
It comes for us
when we are the least prepared.
If I close the door,
will it go away?
Should I try to outrun it?
It’s coming closer.
It’s only a shadow from the tree
outside the window.
This time I was able to outrun death.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014