Judy's Journal: Autumn 2020: Judy's Journal, #3

By Judy Lunsford

Short story collection including: Alien Dreams, Luna's Adventure, Aeris Redeemed, Plan B (flash fiction), The Machine (flash fiction), The Magic Shoes (flash fiction), Beauty and the Three Evils, The Cat, H.A.A., and Shandoah.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Judy Lunsford
• Release date: Oct 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393749639

Judy Lunsford

Born and raised in California, Judy now lives in Arizona with her husband and Giant Schnoodle. Judy writes with dyslexia and a chronic illness & is a breast cancer survivor. She writes mostly fantasy, but delves into suspense, horror, romance, and poetry. She has written books and short stories for all ages. You can find her books and short stories at your favorite online retailers.

Book preview

Introduction

This autumn edition of Judy’s Journal includes short stories and flash fiction that were written during the spring and summer of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the stories were written while I was dealing with breast cancer surgeries and radiation treatments and the recovery time thereafter.

Beauty and the Three Evils was written for a challenge to combine two fairy tales. The combination I chose was Beauty and the Beast and a story from Chinese folklore called The Three Evils. It was a fun challenge and resulted in a story of love and redemption.

Plan B, The Machine, and The Magic Shoes are all flash fiction (under 1000 words) which was a new challenge for me, as I had never really tackled flash fiction before.

Aeris Redeemed is the second story in The Wild Hunt trilogy, but stands alone as a story by itself.

Shandoah is a beloved character of mine that will appear in an upcoming trilogy. She is a supporting character, but I felt she needed a backstory to go along with her place in the trilogy. Shandoah can stand alone as a story and as a character in her own story.

Luna’s Adventure is actually based on a real dog I had many years ago. She was as much of a character in real life as the dog in the story.

Alien Dreams and The Cat are my first foray into the realm of science fiction. And H.A.A. is a look at addiction, as it can come in many forms.

I hope you find something you like in this little collection. Happy Reading.

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Judy Lunsford

September 25, 2020

Alien Dreams

I got the call at three AM. The ringtone on my phone was the one I used for the unnamed bureau that sometimes called me in for consulting. I’d call them feds, but I’m not sure they have the oversight to qualify for feds.

These guys worked under the radar. And when they called, I answered. Because I’m fairly sure I would get disappeared if I didn’t.

In fact, I was certain that the only reason I wasn’t in some padded room somewhere in a silo, hidden away from the world, is because they kept me on a short leash. When they jerked on the leash, I obeyed.

I reached for my cell in the darkness and knocked it on the floor accidentally. I cursed under my breath and leaned over the side of the bed to find it. Luckily, it landed glowing face up, and in my shoe.

I picked it up and answered.

Hello?

Marshall? Get down here. Now.

It was the general’s voice. It must be serious. He never made calls himself.

Be right there, I said.

The line went dead. 

The general never minced words.

I got up, pulled on some dirty jeans and an old red hoodie with holes in it, and went out to my car. I stood at the door of my black ‘68 Camaro for a full minute before I realized that I left my keys in the house. As well as my shoes. I decided on my way back inside that I’d better stop for some coffee on my way to the super-secret location that they allowed me to drive myself to at this point.

It had been about a year since they stopped sending a small team to my house in an unmarked black van and putting a hood over my head to keep their location secret. They have been needing me too often to waste that kind of manpower and time. 

They let me come by myself, under the clear understanding that I reveal their location to no one. Or what they do. Or what I do for them, for that matter.

I stopped by a coffee shop on my way out of town and got a black coffee to go. I’ve learned to ignore the strange looks I get from the baristas for ordering such a simple drink. I hate all of the frilly crap that they pump into perfectly good coffee. Well, perfectly decent coffee.

I blasted the radio to keep myself awake as I drove down the highway with my windows down. It was a cool spring night and I could smell the scent of the pine trees as I got closer to the facility.

I exited the highway and pulled onto a hidden dirt road that I usually drive right past. I actually found it tonight, with the help of the light shining down from the full moon. It seemed larger and brighter than usual tonight. I should’ve realized that was some sort of omen when I saw it. But I didn’t. 

I drove slowly up to the front gates and turned off the radio as I pulled to a stop next to the guard gate at the entrance. Two uniformed guards were in the tiny little white booth. One was really young, the other, I knew.

ID? the young guard asked.

Hey, Jason, the other said.

Hey, Bruce, I answered back.

You know him? the young guard asked.

I knew Bruce. He had been one of the thugs that had black-hooded me on more than one occasion. We’ve become friendly acquaintances since all the kidnapping stopped.

Bruce pushed the kid out of the way. You get another call?

From the general himself, I answered.

We didn’t get a call, Bruce said, shaking his head.

As if by magic, his phone rang. 

Well, maybe not magic. Probably video cameras.

Yes, sir, Bruce said into the phone.

He hit the big red button that opened the security gate and waved me through.

I waved back and drove down the gravel driveway that led quite a way back into an overgrown forest. Cover for the small group of buildings that lay behind it.

I parked in my designated space in the lot and was met at my car by two more uniformed men.

Again, one I knew, one I didn’t.

Hey, Marshall, the taller one said.

Hey, Jackson, nice night, I answered.

Nice to have a few moments outside, Jackson agreed.

Those moments quickly came to an end as he and the other guard escorted me into the facility.

Before we stepped through the entryway, I paused to take one last look at the night sky and that huge moon. I breathed in the fresh air and the scent of the pine trees. 

This was a tradition since I had been driving myself. Mostly because I never knew if it would be the last time I was allowed to breathe fresh air.

I looked at Jackson and nodded and we stepped into the building.

The huge steel doors slammed shut behind us.

I always hated that sound. 

It was the sound of freedom being taken away. Hopefully not for good.

The smell of pine disappeared and the only thing I could smell was the over-cologne of the new guy.

I led Jackson and Private Over-Cologne down the stark white hallway. I knew the way at this point. I had walked these halls many times over the last couple of years.

When we got to the lab, I nodded goodbye to Jackson and he and Private