Shriek of the Harpy

By Sebastian Bendix

Film archivist Muriel Sharpe's dreams come true when she is tasked with salvaging a derelict movie theater and uncovers a treasure trove of lost film prints from Hollywood's golden age. Instead of reporting them to her bosses as she was instructed, resentful Muriel decides to have her own private film festival to experience the forgotten gems as they were meant to be seen -- on the silver screen. But what the opinionated young woman isn't prepared for is Shriek of the Harpy, a notorious horror picture directed by a sadistic, misogynist auteur that features a terrifying female monster drawn from ancient mythology. When running the twisted bit of celluloid proves too great a temptation to resist, Muriel unwittingly unleashes a nightmare that seeks to destroy her mind, body and soul.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sebastian Bendix
• Release date: Apr 19, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310553431

Sebastian Bendix

Sebastian Bendix is a Los Angeles based writer and musician, as well as founder of horror film series, Friday Night Frights. He attended school at Emerson College for creative writing and spent his formative years in Boston playing in popular local band The Ghost of Tony Gold. Upon moving to LA he shifted his focus back to writing and began contributing articles to entertainment websites such as CHUD.com and the print publication Mean Magazine. However, his true passion lies in the realm of horror fiction. Bendix has found success both online and in print with numerous stories published in genre imprints and noted podcast The Wicked Library. In 2013, Bendix self-published his first horror/fantasy novel titled "The Patchwork Girl." This was followed by his second novel, "The Stronghold," a thrilling story inspired by real-life events, which has been published and is available digitally and in print. Alongside his writing endeavors, Sebastian Bendix is also a devoted film lover. He has made contributions to a science fiction anthology film called "Portals," released in October 2019. Recently, Bendix completed "Hell Bent for Heather", a horror novel in the style of Stephen King that he hopes will be the definitive take on heavy metal horror, it is currently out to publishers. He also just published "Hollow Jack & the Blood Curse of Blackwater", the first in a series of western horror novellas centered around a supernatural gunslinger. Sebastian Bendix's diverse background in writing, music, and film influences his unique storytelling style, making him a notable figure in the world of horror fiction. Bendix currently resides in Atlanta with his wife Jennifer and their supermutt Annie.

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SHRIEK OF THE HARPY

By Sebastian Bendix

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2015 Sebastian Bendix

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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NOV. 8TH

OBJECTIVE ACHIEVED!!!

Guys – it finally happened! I GOT THE JOB!! Yes, your intrepid blogger Muriel Sharpe has FINALLY landed her dream gig as a film archivist. I’M SO EXCITED!!! It took me 4 years of undergrad and 2 post but I am at last ready to make my big screen debut! And by that I mean getting down with some SERIOUS ARCHIVING and film restoration!

But of course, it wouldn’t be my life if there wasn’t a cloud to the silver lining. As it turns out, I’m not super crazy about my bosses. First of all, their names are Kurt and Kitt? Are you fucking kidding me? KURT and KITT??? Did they like, apply for their positions at the same time wearing matching outfits? At first I thought they HAD to be a couple, but nope, not even dating. They’re both annoyingly attractive too, perfect, skinny and blonde. Totally LA… and we know how much I LOVE that. Seriously, if I could live somewhere else, I would be out of here in a heartbeat. I am so OVER this town. But here is where I need to be to do what I love, so Kurt and Kitt are what I have to deal with. At least for the time being.

Oh, and one thing, OF COURSE Kurt is a TOTAL CHAUVINIST. Even after I got the job he kept questioning me about my qualifications and I’m like, hello! EIGHT YEARS OF SCHOOL!! But no, he keeps going on and on about practical experience as if I’m some ditzy girl who doesn’t know how to handle a film print or something. And I mean, yeah, I haven’t done a TON of print handling, but I’ve spent a lot of time with Gina in the booth of the Crescent and I think that with my EDUCATION the point should be moot. But it’s not, because I am a woman. And Kitt, instead of backing up a sister, just stands there nodding to everything Kurt says like some sort of Barbie automaton. WHATEVER. I’ll make the best of it, but I got a misogynist vibe there, BIG TIME.

Anyway, heading into the office to talk about my first real assignment! Later for now!

--

The Downtown Nickelodeon, known to local cinephiles as The Old Nick, was tucked in between a Mexican grocer and a used stereo store on 8th street in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. The once garish marquee had been long torn down, but the greasy window of the boarded-up ticket booth was still visible to the keen-eyed observer. Muriel had to use Google maps to find it, a fact that gave her a twinge of shame as she prided herself on knowing the locations of all the old Hollywood movie houses. Even in its heyday the Nick was a lesser frequented theater, mostly a second run venue, so Muriel felt she could afford a little slack. Besides, as exciting as this assignment was, it seemed more janitorial than archive-related, and Muriel was a little offput that this dingy rung on the ladder was where she was expected to