Replica "Your Greatest Fear Lives"

By David Warren

Gary Harmon, a bright high-school senior, is known as “Geeky Gary,” the class nerd. Accustomed to being the butt of jokes and pranks, he finds solitary comfort in his hobby of watching old horror movies and building models of their characters, which decorate his room.

Jake Miller, the new kid at Kingston High School, befriends Gary and becomes his protector. They both, however, long for the attention of the red-headed Elizabeth Wilcox, the most beautiful girl at school. She, however, is dating Eric Mead, the star quarterback of the Kingston Knights football team.

One day, Gary discovers a camera that had belonged to his father—who is incarcerated in a mental institution for having killed the boy’s mother when Gary was an infant. The camera gradually becomes an obsession with Gary, who can’t seem to resist its unique powers as they are revealed to him—even when they become sinister.

A Halloween dance at Kingston High becomes the setting for Gary’s revenge against those who have tormented him, as well as Elizabeth Wilcox’s new boyfriend—Jake Miller.

What is the secret of the camera? Will Gary Harmon, Jr. follow in his father’s footsteps under the influence of his father’s camera? This thrilling story will keep you wondering until the last page has been turned.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brighton Publishing LLC
• Release date: Aug 5, 2012
• ISBN: 9781621830313

David Warren

Sir David Warren was British ambassador to Japan from 2008 to 2012, having served twice before in the British Embassy in Tokyo during his career as British diplomat. He is now honorary professor at Sheffield University, a member of the Board of the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures at the University of East Anglia, and was Chair of the Council of the University of Kent until July 2020. From 2013 to 2019, he was Chairman of the Japan Society, the leading independent body in the United Kingdom dedicated to UK-Japanese cultural, educational and business contacts.

Book preview

Replica

Your Greatest Fear Lives

by

David Warren

Published by

Brighton Publishing LLC

501 W. Ray Rd.

Suite 4

Chandler, AZ 85225

brightonpublishing.com

First Edition

Copyright © 2012

ISBN 978-1-621830-31-3

eBook

SMASHWORDS EDITION

Cover Design by: Tom Rodriguez

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Other Books by David Warren

Jest

It waits no longer…

A few of the reader reviews:

Spine Tingling!! Mesmerizing! - Baron Book Review

This book is a quick read that made me think it would be a great script for a slasher horror movie like FridaytThe 13th, Night Of the Demons, or even Puppetmaster. This is horror, baby! Horror Stew enjoyed it.

What a ride! Jest is like riding a roller coaster. A nice, slow build up the track, lulling you into a false sense of security, and then when you come to the top of that track...and start to go over...the hits, they just don’t quit coming.

Phenomenal book! Fast-paced, enjoyable, easy-to-read. David Warren nails it in the fright department. The characters were bigger than life, the setting was ancient and timeworn, and the storyline had me guessing in all the right places. Just fantastic!

David Warren definitely has a talent for spinning a sweet little tale into a spine-tingling thriller. His writing keeps the reader mesmerized, putting the book down is next to impossible. This book undeniably rates 5 out of 5 stars.

What a wonderful find! I could not put it down. Brilliant story with appealing characters, spectacular twists, turns, and an ending that I did not see coming! A fantastic read for teens who like thrillers or adults who are looking for an entertaining read. Thank you, Mr. Warren, for leaving me wanting more!

This author has a great talent for storytelling and capturing real human interaction and this is a knockout debut novel. Count me in for book two. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in good old-fashioned superbly-plotted classic thriller or horror stories.

Fantastic! Loved the suspense and a real page turner. A+ for David Warren. Great surprise ending; kept me guessing. I would recommend this book to everyone! I can’t wait for the sequel and further publications from this new uprising author. A new name to add to the Stephen King, Dean Koontz category!

I read the entire book from cover to cover in one sitting and was in awe of the great plot and the twists that David threw in. In my opinion, Stephen King has some serious competition coming from this guy. Cannot wait for more stories from David Warren.

I literally couldn’t put the book down. The fast pace in which the story unfolds keeps you glued to the page and I was completely engrossed from cover to cover. I look forward to reading the next book by David Warren & I recommend this book to anyone interested in a true-mystery page turner.

This story kept me wanting to turn the page to see what came next. It exceeded expectations for a suspenseful story. I recommend this one to all who enjoy this genre, it doesn’t disappoint!

Loved It! I thought this was a great book. I can’t wait till the second book in the series comes out.

To Suzanne, whom no replica could ever replace

PROLOGUE

1993

The fire crackled softly in the dim light of Gary Harmon’s den, its shadows dancing off the hundreds of books lining the large room’s walls. To the left of the fireplace sat a large oak desk, so cluttered that the top of it was no longer visible. Sitting in a swivel chair behind it was Gary Harmon. Clutched in his hands, almost like a precious jewel, was an old camera.

Gary stared gleefully at it, unblinking, almost mesmerized by the aged apparatus. It was an original Alpha model TX-90 Polorama instant camera, the first instant camera ever created. Yes, he whispered, rubbing his fingers over the chrome and black leather covering. His uncombed, curly brown hair fell in his face, but Gary didn’t lift a hand to push it away. Oh yes.

Mesmerized, he could barely hear his wife Anna calling him from down the hall. His eyes continued to stare straight at the viewfinder, as if he were locked in some kind of bizarre staring contest. That’s great, he whispered.

There you are! Anna exclaimed, entering the den. Didn’t you hear me calling you? Then, noticing what he was holding, she exclaimed, Again? Will you put that stupid thing down? That seemed to get his attention.

Gary jumped up and looked at her as if she’d committed some unforgivable sin. Stupid thing? Do you know what this is? How rare this is? he asked, gently putting the camera down.

What are you talking about? It’s not rare. Any flea market in the area has dozens of those cameras.

Not this one, Gary replied, settling down. This is an original model.

So what? There are still plenty of them.

No, there aren’t. This one is…special, he said, not really looking at his wife, but through her. Oh so special.

Gary, Anna began, on the verge of tears, what is wrong with you? You’ve changed in the last two weeks. You don’t sleep, you don’t eat…when’s the last time you bathed? He stared off into space. Gary! she yelled, bringing him back to the present. I love you, honey, so please just tell me what’s going on.

Gary’s eyes finally fell into focus. Anna? I have to tell you… Abruptly he jerked his head back toward the camera, as if he’d been beckoned. I know, he whispered.

Puzzled, Anna asked, Know what?

I’m sorry, he murmured.

Gary! Anna snapped, grabbing him by the shoulders. Talk to me! I need you! What is it with you and this thing? Where’d you get it?

Gary’s eyes were zooming in and out. The…the new antique shop on the outskirts of town, off Swanson Street. I forget the name, though. The owner told me—

"Gary?

The owner told me how special this camera was…what it could do—

Gary?

His voice was so…

Gary! Anna cried, shaking him.

He looked at her dreamily. Huh?

Honey, there isn’t any antique shop off of Swanson Street! Now, what’s really going on? I know how upset you’ve been since the accident with your boss.

Gary burst into laughter. Oh, yes, he said.

Anna’s eyes narrowed. Gary, it’s not funny. I know you two didn’t get along, but he’s dead now.

Yes, Gary replied, his smile fading. You’re right, it’s not funny. Poor Mr. Connors.

Listen, honey, maybe you should see a therapist or someone you can talk to.

He suddenly snapped his head back toward the camera, and then slowly turned to face his wife of five years. That’s right, he smirked.

Huh?

You just want it all for yourself, don’t you? he snarled, taking a step forward.

What do I want? she asked, perplexed. What are you talking about?

You can’t have it, he said, backing her toward the fireplace.

Gary—

You can’t have it! Gary screamed as he lunged and roughly grabbed her shoulders. You can’t have it! he repeated, shaking her violently. It’s mine!

Please, Anna sobbed, trying to break free. Let go of me!

Fine! he yelled, and shoved her with all his might. Anna stumbled back, catching her foot on the leg of a nearby chair. She spun and fell with a pitiful yelp, striking her head against the brick hearth with a sickening thud.

Gary stood motionless for a moment, catching his breath. Then he looked down and saw his wife, the woman he loved more than anyone else on the planet, the woman he was going to grow old with, spoil the grandkids with…

Anna? he knelt down and cradled her head, instantly feeling the crimson fluid that flowed over his fingers and down to the floor. Anna? he sobbed. Honey, please…I didn’t mean to, it wasn’t really me…

He sat with her for a moment, and then slowly lowered her head back down. Standing up, he turned and glared at the TX-90 sitting on the desk. You, he hissed through clenched teeth. What did you make me do? he cried, clenching and unclenching his fists. He turned and looked at the fire, then back at the camera. He took a step forward. Suddenly the camera slid back across the desk.

Gary paused, still sobbing, not sure if what he just saw had been real or not. All he knew for certain was that his wife was dead, and he was responsible. As he took another step, he found that his legs had lost their strength and he crumpled to the floor. Anna…

Above the crackling fire and the loud, mourning sobs of Gary Harmon, an infant’s cry echoed through the house.

Chapter One

17 Years Later

Monday, October 17, 2010

Gary? The voice sounded so far away. Gary? Then he felt the sting, and his eyes fluttered open. Gary looked down in his lap to see the crumpled piece of paper that just smacked him in the face. Wake up, Josh Larsen said, giggling. Wow, Gary Harmon Jr. said, stretching. What a dream. I was being chased by a horde of vampires. No matter where I went, there they were.

Did I ever tell you how weird you are? Josh asked, leaning back in his seat.

It took Gary a minute to take in his surroundings. The green vinyl seats and the dozen or so kids brought him back to reality—back to the boring, old school bus. Yeah, Gary smiled, looking at the freshman to