Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

Additional Halloween Contest Entry

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

October 31, 2007

This newsletter is to provide one additional story for the Halloween Contest.  It is not to be considered that the publisher favours these stories over the other.  The membership makes the decision on which author is our winner for the best Halloween Story and which poet is the winner of the best Halloween Poem. 

Happy Halloween everyone.

Today we have a new writer who is sharing a segment from his new book, which he has graciously submitted for the Halloween Contest as well.  John Pagan becomes writer #441, for Storytime Tapestry.  Be sure to write him and welcome him, and when you get a chance, check out his new book.

Synopsis: Fury in the Garden

When graphic designer Julian Torres begins to suffer bizarre hallucinations, he is compelled to seek past acquaintance Veronica Bellucci, a beautiful parapsychologist. Together they enter an unexpected and unprecedented paranormal case as they discover Julian’s affliction is a growing mysterious force referred to as the Fury. With two courageous friends, they set out for the GARDEN, a prototype device designed as a poltergeist buster, yet they soon discover it is capable of much more. In the shadows, an  obsessed stalker pursues them, determined to bask in their demise. As his friends race against time for their survival, Julian must confront the Fury in the Garden.

Fury in the Garden

John Pagan

johnpagan@furyinthegarden.com

Author: "Fury in the Garden" 

http://www.buybooksontheweb.com/product.aspx?ISBN=0-7414-1673-5

1-877-BUY-BOOK

A loud reverberating thump caused the ceiling fan above them to vibrate. Soon thereafter, they heard what seemed to be the sound of fingernails scratching against wood from the nearby kitchen. The trio glanced at each other nervously and Antonio said, “Well, I guess I’ll check it out, since I’m the fool with the camcorder.”

He walked slowly toward the doorway with the camcorder raised to his eye. Pausing for a moment to glance in their direction, he then disappeared from their view as he stepped into the kitchen.

Julian turned to her, “Maybe we should have a look too, huh?”

She nodded saying, “Go ahead of me, I’ll look for Ling’s phone number first. We need her.” With that, he followed after Antonio, walking across the soft carpet just as slowly as Antonio did.

Julian shook his head. Why is he so damned quiet?

Slowly entering the kitchen, he cautiously approached behind Antonio and suddenly realized their opinionated camera-man was whispering a prayer as he videotaped something in front of them. Slowly stepping to the side of Antonio, he was surprised by his own gasp. Julian gaped at the large shiny butcher’s knife stuck deep into the kitchen isle. “What the…” he whispered, “Do you have that holy water handy?” He watched Antonio reach into his back pocket, remove a small plastic white bottle and hand it to him. Etched into the plastic were blue letters that read, Holy Water.

Julian handed the small bottle back to him saying, “I don’t think blessing a knife will help matters much.”

Antonio lowered the camera to face him, “I know Veronica told you all this poltergeist stuff comes from your own head, but that’s bull crap man. Look at this, is this somethin’ you think goes on in your head? You remember that Catholic family in Massachusetts I was talkin’ ‘bout? Well, besides those religious statues with the heads broken off, there was also a big ass knife in the kitchen table, just like this one here.”

Julian stared at it and noticed his twisted fork and spoon next to it. “So, what was that scratching sound?”

Antonio pointed ahead to the back door there in the kitchen. Julian looked and his heart froze at what appeared to be long fingernail scratches deep in the wood. The marks trailed from the doorknob to the bottom of the door and appeared to be all ten fingers, beginning in what must have been an open clawed position.

Oh my God, this guy might be right. My God, look at that!

Veronica heard a thunder-like, heavy rumbling from upstairs, causing the floor to vibrate. She quickly headed for the kitchen just as the men emerged from the doorway. “What was that?” Julian asked.

She shook her head, “It came from upstairs. I think it was your bedroom, Julian.”

“Oh, geez.” he murmured.

Pausing a moment before asking, Veronica gestured toward the front door saying to him, “Would you prefer waiting outside? Antonio and I will investigate upstairs.” Antonio’s head twitched as he shot her a look of disbelief.

“You know,” Julian said, “normal people would run out of here by now.”

Antonio muttered, “The thought crossed my mind.”

The beautiful paranormal researcher gave Antonio an annoyed scowl before she turned to Julian and softly said, “I understand that, believe me. I’d like to leave here right now too, but we’re parapsychologists and this is our job.” She glanced again at Antonio.

Julian looked at her and smirked, “You’re one brave woman Veronica. Fine, I’ll go up with you.”

“Are you sure?” she asked.

Smiling half-heartedly, he nodded.

"Very well," she said as she looked at Antonio, "let's go."

As they approached the carpeted stairway, Julian asked, “Did you get in touch with Ling?”

“I left a message," she replied, "but at this late hour, I don’t believe she will listen to it until morning. So, we may have to go to her place to get her.”

Thank God!  Julian sighed in relief.

They walked up the stairs with Veronica in front, Julian in the middle and Antonio following behind, video taping the trip. The door to Julian’s bedroom was closed so they stepped aside to allow him to open it. Julian turned the knob slowly and pushed, but the door immediately struck something. The unexpected impact caused them all to twitch in surprise.

Peeking into the room, Julian shook his head incredulously, “I-I can’t believe this. It’s… it’s my bed. My bed is now blocking this doorway.”

“Fantastic!” Veronica whispered.

“Yeah, right.” Antonio muttered as he tried to place the camcorder lens into the narrow opening to view the bed. He quickly stepped back as Julian reached into the narrow opening saying, "Let me see if I could push the bed away."

Julian felt the foam pillow, the familiar cold steel beneath it and the mattress beneath that. When he realized it wasn’t possible to move the bed that way, he abruptly withdrew his hand and inadvertently struck his handgun beneath the pillow. It dropped onto the floor with a loud metal thump, skidding near his feet.

Veronica looked at Antonio but they didn’t say anything as Julian quickly picked it up. Then Antonio suddenly said, “Yo, lemme’ see that a minute.” as he handed Veronica the camcorder. Julian hesitated a moment before he handed the weapon to him.

“Aw, man, this is nice.” The young Hispanic man said as he turned it over in his hands and caressed the smooth shiny black surface. He read the etching on the side of it aloud, “Beretta, MOD, 92FS, Vertec, cal 9 millimeter parabellem. Nice.” He handed it back to Julian, “My brother has a Glock .21 at home, but it’s not as heavy as this Beretta, I guess ‘cause of the plastic parts inside it.”

With a soft sigh, Veronica quickly interrupted them saying aloud,  “So, Julian, you aren’t able to open the door?”

He understood, quickly tucking the weapon away behind him under his black jean jacket. “Oh, uh, let’s see.” He then pushed against the door with his shoulder and felt it give way, “Here we go.” he said, as he used both hands to shove the door open half way with two forceful thrust. He reached in and flipped the light switch before he cautiously stepped inside.

He carefully looked around the room and shivered as the others maneuvered into the opening behind him. Antonio appeared to be videotaping everything he saw, “Damn it’s cold in here! Reminds me of that movie, The Exorcist.” He held the video camera with his left hand and crossed himself with his right hand as he murmured, “I’m glad I brought my holy water.”

Veronica noticed she could see her breath and rubbed her arms, “It feels as if it’s 30 degrees in this room.”

Antonio walked toward the bathroom as he muttered, “This is a big ass bedroom. Yo, did I tell you people it wasn’t this cold when I was up here awhile ago? Whassup with your mirror in there, did you know the one in the middle is missing?”

Julian nodded. “Yeah, we know.”

She followed Julian as he walked to his computer desk. Noticing several hand written notes scattered on it, she pointed at them asking, “Are those graphic design notes?”

He quickly began to gather them together, “Uh, it’s just uh, writings.”

“Ah, Mr. Torres, you never cease to surprise me. You’re a writer too?”

“Uh no, not really, it’s just some poetry.”

“A poet, huh?”

“I only wrote a few.” He stepped closer to the flat monitor. “I’m sure I turned this computer off.”

They watched the screen saver, a red and gold Yin and Yang symbol, spinning like a shiny golden coin. With each turn, it would appear to sparkle around the edges. “I’ll shut down again.” he said as he reached for the mouse. The moment it moved, the screen saver vanished and a Word document appeared in landscape position. Large red letters, which almost filled the entire white document, sent a horrible chill down their backs as they read it.

BEHIND YOU

A moment later, Antonio almost dropped the camcorder when he heard their loud piercing screams and the sound of heavy scuffling and footsteps rushing in his direction! He peered out of the bathroom to see their pale, panic-stricken faces as they forced their way out of the bedroom doorway. Julian paused to reach around the door for him shouting, “Antonio! Come on! Get out!” Antonio immediately leapt onto the soft mattress of the obstructing bed, noticing the way Julian was staring at something just behind him in wide-eyed fear. He didn’t dare look back, but he turned the small camcorder toward whatever horror was behind him as he pushed through the opening in the doorway.

Antonio held onto the camcorder like a football under his arm as they ran down the stairs for the front door. Julian quickly unlocked the bolts and pulled, but the door would not open. He yanked hard but it wouldn’t budge. “Shit!” Antonio stared at them, unable to believe their behavior. “What? What, man? What did you see up there?” Suddenly, they stumbled back in terror, shocked at the sight of the black leather recliner skidding and bumping across the carpet as it twirled toward them! Veronica’s piercing scream drowned out the deafening fearful shouting of the two men as they almost fell over each other attempting to avoid it.

Grabbing Veronica by the arm, Julian ran through the kitchen toward the back door as Antonio stumbled after them. Desperately turning the latches and pulling hard, the door shuttered as Julian opened it. As they ran outside into the night air, they heard a loud ruckus behind them as if a large vehicle had just crashed through the wall and plowed into the kitchen. They continued to run around the house and onto the dry grass of the front yard where they finally slowed to a stop and attempted to catch their breath.

Julian stood hunched over panting with his hands on his hips, Veronica had her arms folded around her stomach and Antonio dropped on the grass with the camcorder still clutched in his left hand. They could hear him whispering in between rapid breaths, “Oh man,why the hell did I volunteer for this crazy shit?”

John Pagan

Storywriter03@yahoo.com