The Siege

By Joel Arnold

Jared just wants to be a normal kid; play in the woods, climb trees, build forts... But there are the awful unbidden seizures that rack his body, the strangers who meet in secret with his father, the cache of firearms that fill the basement...
...and the bees.

When his house is surrounded by ATF agents, Jared’s world is turned upside down, and he doesn’t know whom to trust; his father, the ATF, or the undulating swarms that only he can see.

Join author Joel Arnold in this sci-fi/paranormal story of 7600 words.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joel Arnold
• Release date: Nov 11, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311698667

Joel Arnold

Joel Arnold is the author of several novels. His short stories and articles have appeared in dozens of publications, including WEIRD TALES, CHIZINE, AMERICAN ROAD MAGAZINE and Cemetery Dance's anthology SHIVERS VII. In 2010 he received both a MN Artists Initiative Grant as well as the Speculative Literature Foundation's Gulliver Travel & Research Grant.Arnold teaches writing at student workshops throughout Minnesota and has given presentations about the Ox Cart trails of Minnesota and the Dakotas to several historical societies and other groups interested in history. He also serves as the literary director for the Savage Arts Council.Arnold lives near the Twin Cities in Minnesota with his wife, two kids, two cats, a dog and a ball python. Plus he makes a mean coffee cake.Sign up for his monthly newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/Gre2f

Book preview

The Siege

by

Joel Arnold

SMASHWORDS EDITION

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PUBLISHED BY:

Joel Arnold on Smashwords

The Siege

Copyright © 2009 by Joel Arnold

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

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 person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

The Siege was originally published by Damnation Books.

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The Siege

The bright lights of the supermarket sent a rainbow streaking across Jared’s vision. The seizures came so quickly now, he rarely had time to brace himself. He dropped away from the shopping cart, which Atticus let him push through the aisles, and landed hard on his back. He barely heard his father’s voice or felt the rough finger forced between his teeth that kept him from choking on his chewing gum. Atticus swore, and Jared felt the bees vibrating inside his skin.

At times he thought he’d be swept away by the feeling, lulled asleep by the soft vibrations of their dance. But the feeling always faded, along with the memory of it. He looked up at his father and smiled weakly.

Jared? Hey, buddy. How are you doing? Atticus—thick dusty glasses and denim jacket—knelt over him.