The Spooky Chronicles: The Crooked Man

By Kevin A. Ranson

Moments after a child on his death bed passes away, he is visited by a mysterious "crooked man" who sends him back to the land of the living. Upon returning, the young boy realizes that his mother was taken in his place, but that's only the beginning of the Crooked Man's sinister plan.

The Spooky Chronicles is a book series about a child who comes back to life as a zombie but is still getting older. Having already overcome personal tragedy in his life, his unique condition makes him aware of (and draws him into) a secret, paranormal underworld he never asked to be a part of (but still thinks is pretty cool).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kevin A. Ranson
• Release date: May 25, 2011
• ISBN: 9781452452401

Kevin A. Ranson

Creator, Writer, Critic Heeding a macabre calling listening to "Mother Ghost Nursery Rhymes" in kindergarten, Kevin started writing in grade school and filled up countless notebooks with story ideas while touring the Mediterranean in the US Navy. He is the author of The Spooky Chronicles and the vampire thriller series The Matriarch Vampires, creator/critic for MovieCrypt.com and "ghost writer" for horror host Grim D. Reaper, and has numerous credits in the role-playing game industry. His author blog is at ThinkingSkull.com. Abridged Credits & Works Books – The Spooky Chronicles (ongoing series), The Matriarch Vampires (ongoing series) Contributor – MovieCrypt.com, Guy.com, DarkMedia.com Anthologies – 66 Tales of Terror RolePlaying – The Fantasy Roleplaying Gamer’s Bible 2nd Edition, “Shards of the Stone CORE” RPG, Kindling Moon “Rulebook & Realmbook”

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The Spooky Chronicles: The Crooked Man

By Kevin A. Ranson

Copyright 2011 Kevin A. Ranson

Revised September 2014

Smashwords Edition

This is a work of fiction. The events and characters described herein are imaginary and not intended to refer to specific places or living persons. The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinion of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher. The author has represented and warranted full ownership and/or legal right to publish all the materials in this book.

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.

This ebook may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Based on a collaboration of ideas by Chris Forster and Kevin A. Ranson

Corwin Grimm from Grimmie appears courtesy of Linda S. Cowden

Copyediting by Brett J. Link

Proofreading by Linda S. Cowden

ISBN: 978-1-4524-5240-1

The Spooky Chronicles

http://SpookyChronicles.com

A Thinking Skull Creation

http://ThinkingSkull.com

Contents

1 - Keeper of the Half-finished Scrapbook

2 - Sight for Dead Eyes

3 - The Unwelcome Librarian

4 - The Mostly Fake Magic Shop

5 - The Turn of an Unfriendly Card

6 - Reflections on a Rainy Day

7 - Unauthorized After-School Activity

8 - No One Here But Us Cowards

9 - Two Fathers, One Dad

10 - Dead Boy Walking

11 - Conversations with Dead People

† excerpt from The Terminal People

Chapter 1 - Keeper of the Half-finished Scrapbook

Three shadows loomed over a dead boy.

When he awoke from the nightmare, the shadows were gone but the boy was still dead, and it was time for him to get ready for school.

After getting dressed, he sat alone on the edge of his bed with a scrapbook open in his lap, an unfinished tome filled with memories. Cloudy eyes scanned the colorful pages, lingering over happy images of a small family spending time together. In the pictures where he appeared, the little boy he once was had brown eyes, sandy hair, and a healthy color of skin. While he had been smaller than other kids his own age and not very athletic, he was full of life and always felt loved.

His parents had named him Spencer. His friends called him Spooky.

One thing missing were any pictures taken of him at the hospital after his sixth birthday; the cancer had struck quickly. Although he was already small and thin, Spooky became