Syeribus Creatures of the Night Free sample 1-7

By L. M. Boelz

For fearless, rough and tumble, Carol's, life was hard, but good, she had a loving family, and an imagination that could take her on any adventure, or anywhere, she wanted to go. Alice was even the leader of her own club, The Weaver of Shadows Club, complete with Secret club name. Alice thought it would always be this way.
Unfortunately, an unforeseen mix of events would soon be shattering the world Alice lives in. The incantation from the book, the campfire stories, the old man, were only the beginning. Alice soon found herself immersed in a battle to save those she loved, along with her sanity. She would need help, but how was she going to get someone to believe her tales of terror were no longer make believe, when she was not so sure herself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: L. M. Boelz
• Release date: Jul 16, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476258805

L. M. Boelz

Cats, animals and the outdoors have always been a passion of mine along with writing. I hope you enjoy this whimsical look into what we do for our pets and what they do for us. Also be sure to if you dare to pick up one of my stories and novels Before you crack open the page, ask yourself what if it is not just a story.

Book preview

Syeribus

Creatures of the Night

A Novel by

L. M. Boelz

Syeribus: Creatures of the Night

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Campfire Tales

Chapter 2: The Old Man

Chapter 3: The Journey

Chapter 4: Starting Over

Chapter 5: The Red-Headed Boy

Chapter 6: The Newest Member

Chapter 7: The Kingdom of Mot

The Journey

Chapter 1: Campfire Tales

Stomping her feet on the doormat and brushing the dirt off of her pants, Carol twisted around to survey herself.

There, I think that’s pretty good, she commented to herself, while feeling satisfied that she had done all that she could not to track dirt into the house.

Carol was through the front door and approaching the living room, as her father was trying to convince her mother of something.

It would be fun. There are going to be other families and lots of other children there too, he offered, using his best pleading voice.

Becoming very excited with the possibility of going on a trip somewhere, anywhere, Carol bounded into the living room and came to a halt, just short of where her father was sitting.

Where are we going? I want to go! Carol burst out.

You don’t even know where it is that you want to go, Little One, Mom replied coyly.

It doesn’t matter, Mom. I heard the words fun and lots of children to play with. That’s all I need to know! Carol almost shouted.

Since it’s a company camping trip, it’s all paid for, and you’ll know most of the people there. he continued to explain.

Carol’s imagination wasted no time in coming up with guesses on where they might be going. Carol waited while her mother playfully tortured them by making them wait for her answer.

Well... alright. I don’t see much harm in going, she finally relented.

Not wanting to waste any time, Carol raced off to her room to start packing.

***

The next weekend, with the car all packed, it was time to head out for their first camping trip.

This is going to be a grand adventure! Carol declared, as she climbed into the back seat.

Pulling into the campsite parking lot, Carol bolted out of the car and began marveling at all the different sights and sounds to explore, not to mention the sweet smell of pine trees coming from everywhere. The trees stood so tall against the sky and the breeze was cooler than back home, but it felt so good. Stopping for a moment to close her eyes against the sun, Carol took in a deep breath and wondered, Why couldn’t we live here?

With all of their things unloaded from the car, everyone carried what they could to the campsite.

I will have this up in a jiffy. I have pitched my fair share of tents in my day. I will see you up at the end of this trail, at campsite number three, her dad stated matter-of-factly.

Stopping to close the trunk, Carol followed her mother up the trail. At first, Carol walked closely behind her while trying to look into the trees, to see if she might be able to spot any deer or even a bear!

Knowing they would be cooking hotdogs later, Carol scanned the trail for the perfect stick. Spotting one, she stopped for a second to stoop down and pick up a long stick. Seeing that she was falling behind, Carol hurried to catch back up.

What do you have there? her mother queried.

This is my hot dog stick, Mom. Isn’t it a beauty? Carol asked, while holding the stick up.

Don’t the tents look grand? Carol asked, as they came into view. Which one is ours?

Your dad said ours was number three.

As they walked past a few campsites, they both read the numbers aloud, seven, six, five.

Here, Mom, our tent is over here. And what a great job Dad did of putting the tent up, too, Carol called out in a triumphant voice, at having been the first one to spot the site.

After everything had been put away, everyone attending the company camping trip gathered down at the fire-pit shortly before sunset. Carol sat examining the stick that she had found for roasting hotdogs, when her attention was drawn away by the sound of people laughing and having fun.

You know, Little Lady, I think I can hear people out by the water. I wonder if someone should go check and see if that’s where your father has gone off to, Carol’s mother wondered aloud.

I’ll do it! Carol almost yelled.

Laughing softly at how animated her daughter could be at times, Carol’s mother sent her to look for her father. I think it would be okay, for you to go ahead and play with the other children at the water’s edge, as long as you are down there anyway, her mother added.

After a full afternoon of unpacking and playing, it was time to come back to the campsite to get ready for dinner, which was to be followed by campfire stories.

Arriving back at the campsites, the adults, and children, who had gone into the lake earlier, quickly changed into some drier and warmer clothes, before returning to the shoreline to watch the sunset with their co-workers and their families attending the company camping trip, before dinner.

Carol watched in silence, as the sun slowly melted into the water. Oh, the colors were magnificent! The sky was filled with oranges and reds, causing the clouds that hung in the sky to look like softly spun cotton candy with their pink and blue tones. The setting sun cast ribbons of what looked like molten gold and silver gliding on the gently rippling water.

With only a little light remaining, everyone headed over to sit near the fire. Settling in, Carol sat staring into the flames, as they wickedly flickered and danced in the light breeze, as if they were alive.

Glancing to the man sitting next to her, Carol couldn’t help wondering, With a nose as big as that, can he smell things better than other people can?

Carol’s attention was taken away from staring at his nose, when he leaned over towards her and softly asked, Did you know that some people say that if you stare into the flames of a fire long enough, you can hypnotize yourself?

Carol’s stare went from his nose to his eyes. They were the strangest looking eyes she had ever seen. They were large and unusually close together. The round wire rimmed glasses he wore made them look even larger than they actually were.

No, I did not know that, Carol replied, while trying hard not to continue staring at him.

Okay, may I have your attention, a short, round bald man declared, as he stood up in front of the fire. I want to thank all of you. Without the dedication of our sales team, Little Lake Bass and Hunting Shop would not be what it is today.

Everyone sitting around the campfire clapped and cheered, as their employer took a bow.

Okay, as those of you who have been on camping trips with us before already know… he then paused briefly, We have a tradition of seeing who can tell the scariest campfire story, and as usual, there will be a cash bonus going to the winner.

Carol found herself startled, when a tall slender man who had been sitting near a pile of firewood jumped up without warning.

Prepare to be terrified, like you have never been terrified before in your lives! he boasted.

Taking up a flashlight and drawing it up close under his chin, he used the light to cast an eerie glow across his face.

Carol couldn’t help thinking how he looked like a Daddy Long Legs Spider, as he crouched and crept around in the firelight. The flashlight made his eyes look sunken into his face, almost as if they weren’t even there. Except for when the light would catch them just right, then, and only then, could you see tiny sparks where the eyes should have been.

His tale was about others that had gone camping, and were never to be heard from again. He went on to explain how one at a time, the campers all disappeared. When one of them would leave to collect firewood or go for a walk down by the lake, it would be the last time anyone would see them. As he continued, the gruffness in his voice helped to add a sinister feel to the story, which hung in the air like a thick grey mist.

Carol watched him, as he walked, methodically from one side of the fire-pit to the other. His slow deliberate movements began to have an almost hypnotic effect on the rest of the group as they watched his every move, and listened to his every word. He talked about how the other campers, tried to stay together in groups, but even this did not help. Each morning, when they would wake-up, there would be someone else missing. Finally, there was no one left. No trace was found of the missing people. No tracks. No clues. Nothing at all.

As the storyteller made his way to the other side of the fire-pit, Carol whispered to her mother, If no one was left, then how does he know what happened?

Looking down at her daughter with the oddest expression, Oh, you are a silly little one. It’s only a story. It didn’t really happen, her mother replied.

Oh, I knew that. I was testing you to see if you believed it or not.

Reaching over and patting the top of her daughter’s head, she then turned her attention back to listening to the rest of the story.

After the man finished his story, five others stood to take their turn at telling the scariest or best story, in hopes of winning the cash prize.

As each storyteller made his or her