Friday, October 31, 2014

THE DEAD GAME

THE DEAD GAME — DAY 167

bats

Linda was hanging over the pool filled with alligators. Todd was faced with Maxell, a new creature intent on killing him and his friends. Todd wasn’t going to allow Maxell to kill his beloved, Linda.   
      Maxell spun around and gawked at Wolf. “How could you possibly be alive? You died in the alligator pool.”
     “Who told you that, your grandmother? Do you believe your grandmother or your own father?”
     “Are you trying to tell me that you’re my father? My father died when I was born,” Maxell said.
     “No, I didn’t. I left your mother. She made up the whole story to hide the truth.”
     “Prove it!”
     Wolf hesitated for a brief moment and then said, “Your mother has always been extremely organized and kept very strict schedules. She was dreadfully difficult to live with.”
     “Yes! She was too strict! She never let me be me! I wanted to be free from her.”
     “Be free now! Come with me! We could go away together and start a new life,” Wolf said, walking closer to her.
     Maxell began to walk toward Wolf. Then Wolf disappeared, leaving Maxell standing alone in the middle of the alligator pool. She fell to her death, looking up at Todd, who smiled down at her.
     Reece opened the glass dome right before she hit the water. She sizzled and burned from the dazzling sunlight—all the while knowing that she’d been tricked by an apparition created by a weak and spineless human vampire.
     “Stupid, stupid vampire,” Mike said, shaking his head.

Thursday, October 30, 2014

EYES TO THE WIND



The raven waits.
Sitting on its perch.
Eagle eyes to the wind.
Who is he waiting for?
Will he know when he sees it?
Wait.
His wings are spreading out.
About to take flight.
He lets out a screech.
He’s looking…
He’s looking at me.
Time to go.

THE DEAD GAME IS BACK!

THE DEAD GAME IS BACK IN THE TOP 100 PAID KINDLES ON AMAZON FOR VAMPIRE SUSPENSE!

Amazon Best Sellers
 
Our most popular products based on sales. Updated hourly.
sales. Updated hourly.

Best Sellers in Vampire Suspense

  • Top 100 Paid

42.
The Dead Game
Kindle Edition
$0.99
43.
Wolf's Revenge: Shifter Legacies Book 2
Kindle Edition
$4.99
44.
Complications (The Evolution Trilogy...
Kindle Edition
$3.80
45.
La Biblia de los Caídos. Tomo 1 del t...
Kindle Edition
$2.99
46.
The Awakening (Alliance Vampires Book 5)
Kindle Edition
$3.99
47.
Into the Darkness
Kindle Edition
$6.83

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

THE DEAD GAME — DAY 166





Linda was hanging over the pool of alligators in Wolf’s house. Maxell was flaunting her powers. How was Linda going to escape from this mess?

     “We’ll be happy to grant your dying wish,” Reece said as he appeared with Leanne and Diane.
     “Welcome, weak and spineless vampires. If you kill me, then my hold on the snake will break and this gorgeous reptile will be free to strangle this stupid human. Whatever he fails to eat, I’m sure the alligators will be happy to finish off. Everyone will be happy—except of course for this human.”
     Since the elders were standing in front of Maxell, they had lost any element of surprise. Their only chance was Hayden again. Mike couldn’t understand why the elders weren’t capable of following through with a simple plan. If they had surprised this Maxell vampire, then they would have been able to overcome her. Now, they had to stand there like idiots, waiting for Hayden to save the day again.
     Todd stared up at Linda. He wanted to offer her some kind of reassurance that everything would be okay, but her eyes were fixed on the tank of alligators. He had to do something to help her; he couldn’t just stand there and watch her die. What could he do? What powers did he possess that could be used here? He knew that his only true power was of suggestion. Then an idea came to him.
     He turned to face Maxell and spoke to someone over her shoulder. “You’re back, Wolf.  I’d assumed that we’d finally seen the last of you.”
     Maxell spun around and gawked at Wolf. “How could you possibly be alive? You died in the alligator pool.”

YOU ARE ALL GOING TO HELL


If death and darkness is for you,
then Oasis is the place for you.
A vacation resort where The Dead
have taken over.
They’ve taken over
the residents and tourists.
And then leave their
dead bodies on the beach.
A beach with white sand and
balmy breezes during the day.
Murder and blood at night.
Come join The Dead.
They could use more members.
To help play their games.
THE DEAD GAME


Kindle
http://amzn.to/1lKvMrP
 
Nook
http://bit.ly/1lFdqNj

If death and darkness is for you,
then Oasis is the place for you.
A vacation resort where The Dead
have taken over.
They’ve taken over
the residents and tourists.
And then leave their
dead bodies on the beach.
A beach with white sand and
balmy breezes during the day.
Murder and blood at night.
Come join The Dead.
They could use more members.
To help play their games.


THE DEAD GAME

Kindle

Nook


Tuesday, October 28, 2014

A DEAD MAN'S DREAMS



Come inside.
A palace awaits you.
It might appear deserted.
Run down and unused.
The inside tells
a different story.
Walk on marble floors
through rooms of delight.
Rooms of different eras.
Reflecting a dead man’s dreams.
A man with no life or future.
Waiting for the end of time.
In a house fit for a prince
or a prince of darkness.

THE DEAD GAME
Kindle
http://amzn.to/1lKvMrP

Nook
http://bit.ly/1lFdqNj

PARADISE IS CALLING MY NAME



What would paradise
look like to you?
I would say that it would
look like this picture.
A house in calm water.
The air smelling of flowers.
People moving in slow motion.
No need to hurry.
Warm breezes.
Sun shining.
Birds chirping.
What else could you
possibly ask for?

ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?



What did you say?
Are you talking to me?
You don’t like my stripes?
Well, I don’t like your clothes.
At least my outfit is waterproof.

AN UNDERCURRENT OF EVIL

halftimeprincess:


The guests are dancing
between frozen statues.
Statues of ice.
Sad expressions for eternity.
Why do they appear alive?
Tears flowing down
their frosty cheeks.
Tears that appear wet.
This glass house holds terrors.
Beneath the music and gaiety
lies an undercurrent of evil.
Time to leave this fake paradise.
To leave the perfect guests.
To escape if one can.
Escape this deadly game
of The Dead.
THE DEAD GAME
Kindle
http://amzn.to/1lKvMrP

Nook
http://bit.ly/1lFdqNj

Monday, October 27, 2014

THE SIMPLE LIFE

thomas-hanks:
© Thomas Hanks Photography

Life could be so simple.
So pure.
The sun on your face.
The sand between your toes.
The cries of sea gulls.
The smell of salt water.
What else could be needed?

ONLY A MEMORY



A fireworks display,
like life,
burns bright for a short time
before flickering out.
Leaving no trace of itself behind.
Only a memory.
Use your brief time wisely.
Make it dramatic.
Make it memorable.
Make it everlasting.

WHITE BLANKET OF SNOW



The snow has fallen.
A hush falls across the city.
A city covered in a soft,
white blanket of snow.
It cushions the earth.
Giving a clean look
to what was once dark.
Is the city cleaner or
is it just an illusion?
Life is a series of illusions,
for you to pick the right one.
The right one for you.

THE TERMINAL



Grand Central Terminal.
There is no other like you.
Keeping the pace through
the calm and the hectic.
Providing light through your
mullioned windows.
The watcher of it all.
The keeper of schedules.
But most of all the
keeper of time for those
passing through your gates.

Sunday, October 26, 2014

DOOR TO NOWHERE

DOOR TO NOWHERE

15turchia



Some days you want to escape
to a place far away.
Meet new people,
Leave old baggage behind.
Open the proverbial door
to see if the grass is greener
on the other side.
But most of the time it isn’t.
A door balanced at the edge of a pier
might not be holding the answers to your dreams.
Home may be the place that has had the answers all along. 

Friday, October 24, 2014

5 STAR REVIEW OF THE DEAD GAME

The Dead Game


by
14674765
's review
Oct 24, 14

bookshelves: horror, fantasy, mystery, paranormal
Read in October, 2014

The Dead Game by Susanne Leist is a top-notch haunted house horror thriller. The author excels at spooky descriptions, terrifying scenarios like opening a door and stepping into a black abyss or forever trapped in a dark maze with endless rooms stretching into infinity. Her characters are perfect and the reader can easily connect with them.
Linda moves to the perfect seaside town to open up a book store. But soon strange things happen that peaks her interest in the old house on the hill. She and her friends receive an invitation to a party at the house. This screams DON'T GO - but her inquisitive nature wins over.
Here the author ramps up the action full of terrifying games that defy the imagination as the house wants to play. This reader had nightmares after this book and even so, needs to know what the house owner has to offer with further games of the dead.
This is a truly scary read for Halloween and is suitable for 13+ and adults.
FIVE STARS for this haunted house horror and highly recommended.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

KNOCK KNOCK

djferreira224:
2983 by peter holme iii

A house with personality.
Its own unique character.
Sitting on a rise of land.
Watching.
Waiting.
Maybe it isn’t the house,
who is watching and waiting,
but the character who lives inside.
Trick or treat.


WILL CURIOSITY BE THE DEATH OF YOU?


image
image
image

The door.
The fear of not knowing.
The fear of knowing.
What to do?
Open and step inside.
You might be happy.
Or you might be dead.
But you’ll never know
until you open that door.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

A CONUNDRUM



The chicken or the egg.
Which came first?
What a conundrum.
Who knows?
Or who even cares?
Each one leads to a miracle.
A miracle of nature.
Where did nature come from?
Who knows?
Or who even cares?
It exists.
It’s beautiful.
And we should enjoy it.

NO SKIN JUST BONES



Am I welcome to dinner?
I feel mighty hungry.
Like I’m skin and bones.
Or just bones.
May I come in?
I won’t bother anyone.
You won’t even notice me.

DEADLY INVITATION


thecastleofotranto:
Costume designed by Eiko Ishioka (1938~2012)

Come to me, my pretty.
I’m waiting with open arms.
Grab hold of my gown.
I will take you on an adventure.
The bats will be your guide.
Don’t worry.
No one will harm you.
Unless I say so.
Would you follow her?
Would you wear that gown?
What else comes to mind
when you see a gown with bats?

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

THE DEAD GAME -- DAY 165



Welcome to Wolf’s house of horrors, where anything is possible. Be careful where you step. Alligators live below.

      Judy, Gregg, and Ryan were blocking the front door of Wolf’s house, waiting until Sam arrived with reinforcements. They were insisting that they were only following the sheriff’s strict orders, but Todd was impatient to be inside already.
     He didn’t have to wait long. Sam arrived with Father John as his sole backup. Todd was shocked to see only the two of them. “How are we going to free Linda? Where is our vampire backup?” He knew that there was no way they could be successful without adequate supernatural support.
     “Leanne, Diane, and Reece are coming; they told me to go in and check out the situation. Hayden will be here soon,” Sam said.
     Todd charged up the steps, pushing his way between the three human vampires. Inside he spotted Shana, Mike, David, and Louise, standing close together in the hall. He turned to Sam. “I thought I’d told you to steer clear of humans. How did they find out so quickly?”
     Shana stepped forward. “Each one of us received a note requesting our presence at Wolf’s house. Sam didn’t tell us.” She threw Todd a cold, angry look.
     “I’m sorry,” Todd said.
     Todd turned to march down the hall and began issuing orders. “I’ll go in first and then the rest of you can follow. We’ll first check out the alligator tank. Take my lead and make no abrupt decisions on your own. Linda’s life is at stake.” He led the way through the house until they reached the alligator pool. He suspected that Linda and Maxell were there: alligators would be easy weapons. Just as he suspected, Maxell was standing in front of the open alligator tank.
     From the corner of his eye, Todd saw movement from above. He looked up and was startled to find Linda suspended by a rope hanging from the glass-domed ceiling. She was hanging above the alligator-filled water, a huge snake coiled around her neck.
     Sam and Father John stepped forward, but Todd motioned for them to move back. He moved forward. “Why are you doing this? You didn’t have to join with the evil forces in town. Our town used to be quiet and pleasant. We could have that again. You could remain a vampire or join with a human.”
     “‘Quiet and pleasant’ means boring. I would rather die than live an uneventful and boring life in a small unknown town.”
     Mike was thrilled that he’d finally found a woman after his own heart. Too bad she was going to be killed.

A BALANCING ACT



Torn between two lives.
What you want.
And what others want of you.
A tough balancing act.
Full of uncertainty.
How to keep balance?
How to walk the fine line?
Do you cut yourself into half
like in the tale of Solomon?
Can you please everyone?
No. You can’t.
You must please yourself first.
Then you can solve the rest of
the world’s problems.
Balance carefully.
And balance wisely.

Monday, October 20, 2014

ON THE OTHER SIDE



Step through the doorway.
What will you find?
Will you find a better world?
A world full of fantasies.
A world of colors.
What do you want to find?
It’s all within your reach,
as close as your imagination.

LISTEN TO THE BEAT OF YOUR OWN DRUM



Turn one block.
They all turn.
At the same time.
In the same way.
Just like people,
who follow one person.
At the same time.
In the same way.
How boring.
How useless.
If we moved in our
own unique ways,
life would be more interesting.
People would be more interesting.

Sunday, October 19, 2014

FOOD FOR THE SOUL

FOOD FOR THE SOUL

violin


The bird sings in his cage.
Happy to be alive.
The musician plays his violin.
In perfect harmony with the bird.
Nature at its best.
Beauty in its simplicity.
Food for our minds and souls.

NIGHTMARE CREATURES



Hello,
I want to tell you a story.
A story about a small town
in Florida called, Oasis.
It’s a seaside town with
friendly residents, who
have stores in town.
And then there are the
residents, who live in the forest
at the edge of the beach.
They only come out at night.
Parties are held at their
remote estates, only after dark.
Who are these people?
Are they people?
Come and play THE DEAD GAME
and find out.

THE DEAD GAME by Susanne Leist
Kindle
http://amzn.to/1lKvMrP

Nook
http://bit.ly/1lFdqNj

SEA OF GOLD

SEA OF GOLD

fuckingbizarre:
Sea of Gold by Maciej Bartnicki on 500px

The land beckons to you.
You want to sink your
feet into its soft sand.
You want to watch the
sun set
on its shimmering water.
The sand parts to show
its hidden treasures.
You stick your toes into
the cold water.
It is everything you’d imagined
and much more.
Dream your dreams and
someday they might come true.

Saturday, October 18, 2014

WHO'S THERE?


THE DEAD GAME

The gingerbread house at the outskirts of town held many surprises for Linda and Shana. One of them they wouldn’t soon forget.

     Linda and Shana climbed a narrow staircase that descended from a trap door in the hall’s ceiling. They discovered the attic to be bare, except for the lone rocking chair that was facing the gravel road leading out of town. Linda walked over to gaze out the small triangular window, when the chair began to rock by itself.
     Anna said, “Everyone in the family takes turns watching the supposedly deserted mansion down the dirt road, and End House at the edge of the dark mountain. Both spots can be clearly seen from this vantage point.”
     Linda realized that this meant that someone was actually sitting in the chair—right at that moment— causing it to start rocking. She didn’t ask any more questions, but just grabbed Shana’s arm and pulled her out of the room, bidding Anna and Abe a hasty goodbye. She didn’t think that she could remain in this unnatural house one moment longer without either screaming or pulling her hair out. She was freaking out over the house and the strange story that she’d been just told.

Kindle
http://amzn.to/1lKvMrP

Nook
http://bit.ly/1lFdqNj

TO BE ME

archann:
Archan Nair - New Illustration titled “ Hue “

I feel lost and confused.
I feel dizzy and unsure of myself.
My mind is being pulled
in opposite directions.
What do I want?
What is the most important
thing for me to do?
After my family,
I need time for me.
To figure out what I want.
I want to create.
To throw paint on a wall.
Not really.
I want to keep writing.
To write my blog and
my next book.
Everyone leave me alone.
I want to write.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

A DEEP GRAVE

lifeisthefight:

You can bury me.
Put in me in a deep grave.
Throw dirt on me.
And walk away.
But I will survive.
I will dig my way free.
I will be back.
The human spirit cannot
be extinguished.
It will continue to shine
despite evil’s attempts
to destroy it.
Shine on.

OLD GLORY



Step inside.
I was once a beautiful gazebo.
People would use me for parties.
There would be dancing.
Children would play their games,
like hide and seek.
The sun favored me.
The moon adored me.
I could do no wrong.
Then weeds began to grow.
I began to splinter apart.
There would be no more visitors.
Why you may ask?
I was a casualty of time.
Time passed and
so did my glory.

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

BATS FOR EVERYONE


Wolf welcomes us to his cave.
A cave in the middle of his house.
A house with moving trees
and a pool with snapping alligators.
Are we so surprised that bats
pour out of this cave to attack us?
We should have known better.
We never should have visited
Wolf’s dark house.
But this is a horror story,
and we must follow the rules.
But for now, we’ll run
for our lives.
Get us out of here!
THE DEAD don’t play nice.

THE DEAD GAME
Kindle
http://amzn.to/1lKvMrP
 Nook
http://bit.ly/1lFdqNj

WEB OF LIES



Have you ever been caught
in a web of your own deceit?
A web of lies that grew
out of control.
One lie leading to the next.
So much easier to be truthful.
No lies to remember.
Easier on your brain and on others.
Stick to the truth or
be stuck in your own web.

THE RAVEN'S LAST CHANCE

nitratediva:
Bela Lugosi recites some Poe in The Raven (1935).
The raven sits quietly while Lugosi reads the lines.
It sits as still as a lifeless statue.
But what if it isn’t lifeless?
What if it’s just waiting?
Waiting for the actor
to stop droning on.
For the room to become quiet
so that he could pounce on him.
The way he was supposed to
in The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe.
He must perform for his namesake.
The world could use one less actor.
Couldn’t it?
Swoosh…

Monday, October 13, 2014

THE DEAD GAME -- DAY 165




Todd was afraid that Linda was being held by Maxell in Wolf’s house. Wolf’s house made him uncomfortable with its cave of bats, moving greenery in the green house, and the pool of snapping alligators.


    Judy, Gregg, and Ryan were blocking the front door of Wolf’s house, waiting until Sam arrived with reinforcements. They were insisting that they were only following the sheriff’s strict orders, but Todd was impatient to be inside already.
     He didn’t have to wait long. Sam arrived with Father John as his sole backup. Todd was shocked to see only the two of them. “How are we going to free Linda? Where is our vampire backup?” He knew that there was no way they could be successful without adequate supernatural support.
     “Leanne, Diane, and Reece are coming; they told me to go in and check out the situation. Hayden will be here soon,” Sam said.
     Todd charged up the steps, pushing his way between the three human vampires. Inside he spotted Shana, Mike, David, and Louise, standing close together in the hall. He turned to Sam. “I thought I’d told you to steer clear of humans! How did they find out so quickly?”
     “Let go of me! I didn’t say anything to them!” Sam yelled back at Todd.
     Shana stepped forward. “Each one of us received a note requesting our presence at Wolf’s house. Sam didn’t tell us!” She threw Todd a cold, angry look.
     “I’m sorry,” Todd said. He stepped away from Sam, releasing his neck from his strong hold.
     Todd turned to march down the hall and began issuing orders. “I’ll go in first and then the rest of you can follow. We’ll first check out the alligator tank. Take my lead and make no abrupt decisions on your own! Linda’s life is at stake!” He led the way through the house until they reached the alligator pool. He suspected that Linda and Maxell were there: alligators would be easy weapons. Just as he suspected, Maxell was standing in front of the open alligator tank.

SEND IN THE CLOWNS



The line is long
for the Ferris Wheel.
You wait.
And wait.
Then you’re on the ride.
You’re soaring high
above the crowds.
Feeling the wind
in your hair.
The ride stops short.
You’re at the top,
looking down.
You wait.
And wait some more.
Nothing is moving.
Except for the clowns.
Clowns are climbing the ride.
They’re pulling people from
their seats, and flinging
them to the ground below.
How could this be happening?
It could if it’s a dream.
I close my eyes,
praying it’s a dream.

Sunday, October 12, 2014

THE WATCHFUL EYE



The beauty.
The colors.
The design.
The fine details.
The watchful eye.
No picture can be painted
or statue created to capture
this perfection,
this awe-inspiring wonder.
Here’s to the creator.

THE DEAD LOVE TO PLAY



Trees line the deserted sidewalk,
their leaves in vibrant hues,
hiding the chirping birds from sight.
Where are the people?
Why are the stores shuttered?
What secrets are we not being told?
Should we leave this town,
or wait for nightfall?
For then, we’ve been told,
the town of Oasis lets loose.
The original residents will
come down from their hill.
Will we see the famous dark shadows
swoop down upon the town?
Do we want to see them?
Be careful what you wish for.
For The Dead love to play.

THE DEAD GAME
Kindle
http://amzn.to/1lKvMrP

Nook
http://bit.ly/1lFdqNj

TRAPPED IN THE BASEMENT



The house is in a run-down area.
From the outside looking in,
I can’t see any lights or
signs of life.
There are screams and shouts
coming from other old houses in the area.
But this house has a deserted look to it.
Like no one has crossed its threshold in years.
But I have to enter.
A note has been sent to me
from someone trapped inside.
But why me?
I don’t know anyone from around here.
I’m all alone.
No one wanted to accompany me.
Am I signing my own death sentence?
Most probably I am.
But I move one foot in front of the other
as I slowly enter the dilapidated house.
The upstairs rooms appear to be empty shells,
where windows and walls have fallen in disrepair.
All there is left is the basement.
I open the door and could only see darkness.
And an awful rotting smell emanates from below.
I’m not going in. Enough is enough, I’m out of here.
A hard push from behind has me falling down the steep
steps to land on the cold, hard basement floor.
I look up at the the only source of light—
the light filtering through the opening of the door.
I can’t see anything or anyone.
Then the door slams shut.
The light is taken away from me.
Now all I can see is darkness.
Then I hear strange squeaking noises
and I feel creatures scurrying across my arm.
They must be rats. I hope they’re not hungry.
I crawl away from the sounds and hit something.
It has an arm and a leg. It feels like a person.
The person isn’t moving or breathing.
I feel around some more and locate his other limbs.
But something is wrong. He has no head.
There’s no blood anywhere, which is strange
considering the head’s been chopped off.
Then I heard groans coming from behind the body.
I could see shadows rising up from the ground.
They looked like people, but without heads.
I begin to crawl back to the stairs to get as far
away from these creatures as possible.
A hand reaches toward me and catches my foot.
It begins to pull me farther into the darkness.
I start screaming and shrieking.
The creatures seem to be getting angry.
They stand up and lurch toward me.
I’m out of control. I’m yelling at them
to leave me alone. I begin throwing objects at them.
I find a crow bar and throw it at a huge figure.
He goes down and begins to cry, “Stop, please stop.”
He sounds human.
The light turns on. I look around.
I’m looking at a room full of zombies, but
they are just staring at me.
The one I hit is sitting on the floor moaning to himself.
One zombie stands up and takes off his head.
Underneath the mask, I was face to face with the cutest boy from school.
"What’s going on?" I shriek at him.
"It is supposed to be a fun prank but it went wrong. No one is supposed to get hurt. It is a Halloween prank."
"The prank is only on me?" She asked.
"Yes, I’m sorry. No one else was brave enough to join you."
"I guess it wasn’t such a good idea," she said.
"Well, if you agree to be my date to the Halloween dance, then it wouldn’t have been for nothing."
"You’re kidding."
"No, I’m serious. We’d be great fun together."
He looks at her with his big blue eyes and she is lost.
"I don’t even know your name."
"My name is Brian and you’re Annie."
"Hi Brian. I guess it’s a date."
"Come Annie and help us clean up before we get into trouble. Then we could go somewhere to discuss the party." He takes her hand.
After the clean-up, she goes with Brian for coffee and donuts. She can’t believe how lucky she is even though she’d been almost scared to death. She still doesn’t know why the most popular boy in school wants her. Is there more to this prank that she didn’t know about yet?

THE BRIDGE SIGHS

earthyday:
Bridge of Sigh by Tusharadri Mukherjee
The water beneath the bridge
flows smooth and clear.
The town is quiet.
The people are happy.
It is time for bed,
Where dreams will be happy ones.
The bridge gives a soft sigh
Of relief and happiness
Before it settles down for the night.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

THE VIEW FROM ABOVE

cityneonlights:


The view from above.
People appear small,
tiny specks in the universe.
Cars are in constant motion.
Everyone is in a hurry,
going around in endless circles.
Going to work, and later
going back home.
Taking elevators up
and then down again.
What’s the hurry?
We all live the same lives.
We live and then we die.
Does it matter where we had
hurried around in between?
All that matters are
who we leave behind.
For these are the only
ones who will remember
that we had been here.
And why we had been here.