In this short story, Ross Elder explores a different writing style and begins to flesh out a new character for possible use in future novels. John Trane, a man we know little about, seems to be a force of nature as he strives to fulfill a promise, as well as a threat. Violence, hardboiled dialogue, and not a little dark humor pepper these few pages as we learn the price of ignoring the warning of, "The Train's a comin!"

Three foster brothers are called home to Neverwood, the stately Pacific Northwest mansion of their youth. They have nothing in common but a promise to Audrey, the woman they all called mother-that upon her death, they would restore the house and preserve it as a home for troubled boys.But going home is never easy.Cal struggles to recover from past heartbreak, while Danny fears his mistakes are too big to overcome. Devon believes he may never break down the barriers that sep...

During wee hours of morn, a panicked family tries to escape from home where violent flood waters engulf the entire subdivision. While struggling for their lives, the realization of how much they mean to each other dominates terror. "Our neighbors' distant, bloodcurdling screams bounce off the water's surface. Unable to help them, we act as if unaware. What must my friends be going through? Suddenly a heavy weight plunges me further down, out of Andrew's arm hold. I am immediately under wat...

A dark tale in every sense of the word. Some actions we take take little to no thought, and then there are those things we do which take more planning than anyone suspected.www.banocanut.com

Bullied at school. Tormented by his brother. A disappointment to his parents. No one believes that Conner, a disabled young man, will make it through society's deadly coming of age ceremony. On the eve of his birthday, he must overcome what his peers label as weakness and learn that strength is not just a physical quality. But as he is pushed to his limits, will he be able to bolster what little self-confidence lies within?

Richard Damon is a painter suffering for his art. Now it’s time to make someone else do the suffering.

Everyone wants to be happy, but some of us are willing to go further than others.Do you know who your friends are?Happiness is subjective. What makes you smile?***What do you do when a short story you submitted to a publisher has been altered beyond recognition? Adding story points that were not previously there, changing character genders, and inserting typographical errors into the title? You get your story back and publish it the way it was meant to be se...

CONTINUE THE JOURNEY WITH EPISODE FOURAutumn Parish never wanted to be a hero. But as she treks across the desolate Midwest years after the collapse of society, a hero is exactly what she's become: a SHEPHERD, weaving magic from words and guiding people between this life and the next.Summer Norwood rules a wild outpost on the outskirts of what used to be Phoenix, but her grasp on power is fragile. As the SHERIFF, s...

"'Victimized' is one of the best pieces of bad-ass, hard-core apocalyptic noir I've read in a while." --Scott Phillips, author of THE ICE HARVEST"Put your dukes up, readers, because Thomas is gunning for the KO with this brutal little ass-kick of a story." --Craig Davidson, author of SARAH COURT"As tough, ass-kicking and twisted as fiction gets. Imagine a Dear John letter that Hitler might have written to Lucifer right before he blew his brains out. Then crank things up ten...

He doesn't know where he is.He doesn't know why he's here.He doesn't know the way out.Only YOU can help him escape.The last thing John remembers is insurgents sawing off his arm. Now he's shackled to an operating table, and, astonishingly enough, his dismembered limb is still attached.John wants to settle the score, but first he must escape. To do so, he needs your help.Your choices determine John's fate. Can you guide h...

The first flash fiction is called, Participation Ribbon. After coming home from karate lessons, 15 year old Melissa encounters a stranger on the elevator. After passing out from being drugged, Melissa wakes up on the stranger's bed, or "her" bed. Now, Melissa is tested on her karate skills to escape before certain truths slows her down.The second flash fiction is called, Pray For More Dead Soldiers. Anger management counselor, Leann, is attending her father's funeral. Since he died...

Have you ever wondered if there were some urban legends that were a little bit more truth than fiction? In this short story it can be experienced what happens an urban legend comes to life.