Old World Ruins: Pondo's Playground Presents

By T.J. Lockwood

"What we're attempting to create here is a gateway to another world. Think of the discoveries. We could be pioneers for a new age of science."

The day the rituals were performed across the globe marked the beginning of a dark era for humankind. In a single moment, one seemingly insignificant cult paved the way for a new breed of monster to walk the planet. Liz Keller is a survivor, but that isn't the title she would have given herself when it first happened. She was there when one of the portals opened, and has continued to fight the good fight ever since. Her compound is safe, and those living within its walls know it is because of her one rule: life does not continue without sacrifice. For those who survive, there is no exception.

Pondo's Playground Presents is a series of stories designed to give writers an outlet to experiment and play in genres which may be way out of their comfort zone. Interested to learn more? Check out Mecha Panda Publishing for more details.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mecha Panda Publishing
• Release date: Oct 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9781775199786

Book preview

Old World RuinsOld World Ruins by T.J. Lockwood | Mecha Panda Publishing

Copyright © 2019 by T.J. Lockwood

All rights reserved.

This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

Cover Art by Cassie Clark and Tiffany John

Ebook Design by Mecha Panda Publishing

First Edition published in 2019

E-BOOK EDITION • ISBN 978-1-7751997-8-6 • VERSION 1.0

Mecha Panda Publishing

Vancouver, British Columbia

mechapandapublishing.com

For all the ghosts hiding behind my bookshelf. You think we can’t see you, but we can.

Prologue

THEIR TRACKS WERE HEAVY AND FRANTIC IN THE MARSHLANDS. The subtle groans and growls echoed miles along the calmness of the trees. There were trails and maps, but none of that mattered when the darkness settled after the sun had set on the horizon. People of the land would have said that the moon was perfect. It lit up the night in such a way that would have had the spirits giddy with conversation, but this was not a night for conversation.

Two people ran, both covered in mud, across a plain of swamp away from a mansion which housed a circle etched into its foundation by a single stick of chalk. It was supposed to be a fun experiment.

Come on, Liz. We’ve got to keep going. It’s going to catch up to us. The average-sized young man was doing his best to ignore the weight of the rifle on his shoulder, which seemed to get heavier and heavier.

I can’t… Todd, I just need a minute. Liz paused and found herself gasping for breath against a damp tree. Her feet sank into the mud. This was hardly a place to run.

Behind them, a steady moaning cut through the silence before it had any chance of settling.

Todd aimed back and shot off one round. A pain-stricken growl followed. It’s right behind us. He grabbed her hand and began to pull her forward.

She made it two metres and then stumbled over a root. Damn it, Todd. I said I can’t.

We have to.

Liz felt something slimy curl around her ankle. She pulled away from Todd and stepped down on it, hard, with her other foot. It tightened its hold until she flipped open her pocketknife and began sawing through the flesh of the monster holding her.

Todd took aim and shot two rounds into the dark as Liz freed herself.

Her hands were covered in a molasses-like goo.

Suddenly she wasn’t tired anymore.

What we’re attempting to create here is a gateway to another world. Think of the discoveries. We could be pioneers for a new age of science. The professor’s voice haunted Todd. He wasn’t even supposed to be there in that house. To him, science was a waste of time and he’d never been particularly good at anything in that field. However, he’d gone to the gathering and participated in the strange project because Liz didn’t want to go alone. He was nervous when they drove up to a secluded and abandoned property, he was uncomfortable when everyone started drawing symbols on the ground, and he was downright freaked out when the professor started chanting from that thick black book.

Liz and Todd continued to run frantically through the marshes of the property until they stumbled out into a clearing and came face to face with a giant concrete wall at the property’s edge. Shit.

The sloshing behind them was getting closer. Liz turned, small pocketknife still in hand, and Todd took aim with his rifle. He wasn’t sure how many rounds he had left. The thing sat in the back of his truck and was only ever supposed to be for protection when they went camping.

"Todd, we can

Reviews for Old World Ruins

[Amanda · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love a good sci-fi horror/thriller. This book satisfied exactly what I was looking for around Halloween and it was such an easy and engaging read!