Stages

By James Ninness

Victor, his wife Miranda, and his daughter Julie, live a simple life. Together, the three of them spend their days with one another, having meals together, swimming in the backyard, and generally enjoying one another. That was until a nosy neighbor stumbled Victor and his family's dark secret...

As Victor struggles to contain the exposure to his family's macabre existence, he must also wrestle with his own loss. As he plummets through the five stages of grief, so to do those around him experience five very different, yet related stages...

With a bokor and her servant watching Vincent's every move, he must find a way to protect the ones he loves without losing them all -- or has he already?

• Language: English
• Publisher: James Ninness
• Release date: Sep 24, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301428700

James Ninness

James Ninness is a writer of fiction. Though he primarily writes comic books and short stories, he does dabble in film and television as well. Most recently James released the Macabre Rising series, featuring six horror stories: Cosplay, Know Jack, Like It Or Not, Self Less, Snipe Hunt and Stages. James created and developed six properties through Keyleaf Comics, including MYTHOI, Sim-I, DUST, The Heaven's, Drace Grey and The Undergrounds. James has also written a few short films, including AMIRA which took home the Gold Medal for Musical Excellence in a Short Performance Film from the Park City Film Music Festival in 2011. After getting his degree in English: Creative Writing from Cal State University Long Beach in 2007, James moved to San Diego where he currently resides with his wife, daughters and dogs.

Book preview

STAGES

by

James Ninness

Edited by

Joe Pezzula

Cover Art by

Brett Simmons

Book Design by

Shannon Forrey

Special Thanks to Mat Nastos

Published by James Ninness at Smashwords.

jamesninness.com

Copyright © 2012 James Ninness

ISBN: 9781301428700

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 another 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.

1. Fresh Denial

Victor woke to the smell of fried eggs and burning toast. His eyes fluttered open to find his wife’s side of the bed empty. The clock on her nightstand revealed that it was just after seven in the morning. It was Thursday, day four. There were only three days left.

He rolled out of bed and stretched his arms as he shuffled toward his closet. Victor grabbed a pair of khaki shorts and his green and black, plaid, short-sleeve, button-up shirt – one of Miranda’s favorites. He put the clothes on the bed and made his way to the shower.

Once Victor was cleaned and dressed, he started towards the kitchen and the still-burning toast that caressed his nostrils. He passed by Julie’s room and paused to peek in on her. Posters lined the walls, each with a different pop star’s face. His