THE DEAD GAME -- DAY 154

Linda and friends were off to Wolf's house to confront him about the disappearances and deaths in town. They weren't afraid until they pulled up to his dark house. Maybe they should've been more careful and more afraid for their own good.

Chapter 27

They pulled up in front of Wolf’s dreary-looking house. David appeared to be having second thoughts about their idea: he was crouched down low down in his seat. Mike had to forcibly drag him from the car.

    The four humans walked up to the front door, but it was already standing wide open, beckoning for them to step into its dark depths.

    With a slight quiver in his voice David said, “He’s expecting us. The Big Bad Wolf is already waiting for us. We don’t even have the element of surprise.”

    “We’ve never had a chance anyway,” Mike said to David. He loved teasing his silly friends. He looked over at David, visualizing him as the weak lion in The Wizard of Oz who lacked courage. He could just imagine him holding his tail in his shaky hands, as they slowly walked down the long hallway to meet the wizard—or in this case, the wolf. If David was the lion, then he must be the Tin Man—the one without a heart. Linda could easily be the silly scarecrow without a brain, which would make Shana Dorothy, who was always searching for a home.

     “Great! We get to die in this creepy house. I hope someone finds our bodies before they decay,” David said, making Mike want to pull his tail real hard.

     “Stop the theatrics and let’s head in already.” It looked like Shana really wanted to find a home and a happy ending with Sam, mused “without a heart” Mike, but it was doubtful that she ever would.  Just click your red heels together, Dorothy, and see what really happens.

     “Don’t worry, Todd and Sam will come in time to help us. Todd always seems to know when I’m in trouble,” Linda said.  Here goes “no brains” again.

     “Which is about all the time,” said Shana. Another genius heard from, announced Mike silently to his invisible audience.

     “What if the Father can’t locate them in time?” asked David.  Boohoo.

     “Todd and Sam have powers of their own and they’ll find us,” said Linda.  Sure! Silly scarecrow!

     They walked into the house very slowly. “Down the Yellow Brick Road…”

PARADISE LOST

bearandsoul:

Oasis is a perfect paradise.
Tourists flock there every year
for its warm waters and white-sand beaches.
Little do they know, but the
town turns overnight to a dark haven of evil.
Dark shadows roam the quiet streets at night.
Dead bodies are found on the beach the next morning.
The residents must find out what is happening to their
town and their missing friends.
Join them on their journey to uncover the deeply
buried secrets of Oasis.
The Dead Game by Susanne Leist

THE DEAD GAME -- DAY 110

 

The town of Oasis was becoming dangerous at night for the residents. Dark shadows were stalking the young people. Linda and her friend, Shana, had to find out what was happening to their town before more of their friends disappeared.

“The only one remaining is Shirley. At least she likes to talk and gossip about everyone,” said Linda.
“We still don’t know if this is the real Shirley, or just a good cover.” Shana looked over her shoulder and made one of her creepy faces.
“You’re beginning to sound like one of my mystery books. Now I won’t have to read them because we are faced with a mystery of our own.” Linda signed before opening the door to Shirley’s store.
“I’m just becoming more cynical and paranoid,” replied Shana.
Shirley looked genuinely happy to see them: jumping up, directing them to sit at her couch. Her office was homey-looking and she always acted very grandmotherly to them.
“I’m so happy to see you girls. I hardly ever get visitors.” Shirley was looking nervous for some reason.
“Are you attending Diane’s party? I hope it turns out better than that dreadful party at End House,” asked Linda.
“We weren’t invited to this party, but we really wanted to be at one of Diane’s famous events,” added Shana.
“All of Diane’s parties turn out so nice. Both of you can come as my guests. We dress up, eat, and dance. What could be bad about that?”
“We’d love to join you,” Shana said and then politely asked, “Should we pick you up on the way?”
“You can pick me up at 8:45 at my store,” answered Shirley very sweetly. Maybe too sweetly. She seemed very eager to have them as her guests—almost as if she had thought about this before and had something planned for them. Now I’m the one being paranoid: Shirley has never done anything to make us doubt her innocence before.
“We’ll see you tomorrow night,” said Linda before leaving the store.

THE DEAD GAME -- DAY 107

THE DEAD GAME — DAY 107

When the sun sets for the evening, the dark shadows appear on the streets of town, ready to hunt for new victims. No one is safe in Oasis.

      They walked home together. Todd watched as the warm breeze blew her long hair around her pretty face. He longed to touch the silky tendrils that flowed down her back, but he kept his distance: they were not meant for each other and never would be.

      Linda had her face tilted away from him; she always shied away from him. Was she shy, or indifferent to him? It didn’t matter either way…it was better this way for all concerned. He had a job to do and didn’t need the added distraction.

      Once home, he offered to make dinner. While he was busy in the kitchen, Linda disappeared upstairs. He didn’t see her again until they were ready to sit down for the meal.

      This time he wanted to have a real conversation with her. Then he realized that he knew nothing about her: her hobbies, likes, or dislikes…. He asked, “What do you enjoy besides swimming?”

      He was rewarded with a shy smile as she quickly responded, “I love to read, which is obvious since I own a bookstore. I also love to cook, which is also obvious since the bookstore has a coffee shop.”

      Instead of pursuing this line of questioning, he decided to speak frankly about what was on his mind. “Who do you think is responsible for the convoluted scheme at End House?” Afterward, he regretted his hasty words. He shouldn’t have brought up this topic so soon; he should have continued with a much more innocent subject.

     However, Linda immediately sat up straighter and seemed eager to pursue this new turn in their conversation. She said, “I think Wolf is behind everything that has happened in town! But he isn’t working alone…I don’t know if his accomplices are human or not, but they are definitely evil.”

     “What about the complex computer system in the house, which controlled the rooms?”

      This time, she looked him straight in the eye as she gave her answer. “You know as well as I do that the computers and monitors could have been set up just to lead us off the track. Wolf could still be a demon of some kind…or if he is human, he could have used the illusions upstairs and in the basement to confuse us and lead us to suspect supernatural beings.”

      Todd was stunned by how astute and impassioned she was about the topic. He didn’t know if she still suspected him or not—and he wasn’t going to ask. Instead, he asked, “Do you want to watch TV before we go to bed?”

     “No thanks…I’m much too tired tonight… I think I’ll just go to sleep.” She stood up and waved good night before heading upstairs.

     He felt hurt, even though he knew that it was the best thing for both of them.

THE DEAD GAME -- DAY 87

 

THE DEAD GAME — DAY 87

     Much more impatient, Linda cried out, “Louise! You’re alive! We assumed that you were dead! Mike saw you hanging in the gazebo!”

     “I’d been so sure that I was going to die. I remember thinking that I was too young to die. Instead I woke up on the sand below End House. But I remember hanging in the gazebo with creatures dancing around me, chanting in a weird language.”

     Todd began throwing questions at her, fast and furiously: “Did you happen to see their faces? Do you remember anything else? Why—”

     “I remember recognizing one of the faces,” Louise said. “But I just can’t seem to recall his or her face.”

     “Don’t worry; it will all come back to you. We’re so happy that you are alive and well. Mike, David, and Shana will want to hear that you’re back.” Linda tucked the colorful knitted blanket, which had been lying across the back of the couch, around Louise’s shivering body. She was surprised to find Louise’s hands cold, like ice. She placed her hand on Louise’s forehead and also found it cold to her touch.

     Todd appeared eager to grill Louise with more questions, so she pushed him away from Louise; suggesting that he should notify everyone of her surprise return from the dead.

     Once Todd left the room, Louise rose up from the couch to announce that she was hungry. Linda led her to the kitchen. Louise walked zombielike with her head down—without her usual chatter and happy bounce to her step. She seemed much different than before. It had to be because of the traumatic experience that she’d survived last night. But then she remembered that Louise had been moody and unhappy this whole past week. She would just have to accept the fact that they had all changed in some way since that awful party.

     Linda almost emptied out her whole refrigerator in her eagerness to feed Louise. But Louise sat before the huge display of food, only nibbling on a breadstick. As Linda watched her, she realized that Louise didn’t have enough strength to eat anything. Just as she was about to lead her back to the couch, Shana rushed into the apartment. She enveloped Louise in a big bear hug…all the while sobbing about her supposed death. Louise appeared uncomfortable as she tried to pull away.

     Linda heard loud voices in the living room, and then the door burst open with David and Mike running in. Mike stood back while David hugged Louise. Louise closed her eyes and Linda could have sworn that she was smiling contentedly back at David.

THE DEAD GAME

Come visit Oasis, Florida. Its picturesque streets wind through the pretty town. Its coastline offers white-sand beaches. Its waters are calm and peaceful. During the daytime. At night, dark shadows roam the streets looking for victims. Secret parties are held in the mansions on the hill. Who is behind the murders and disappearances?
Read The Dead Game and find out.

http://outskirtspress.com/thedeadgame
http://amazon.com/author/susanneleist