Feeding Ground

By Annie James

Dan and Molly Murphy are going on a road trip back to his hometown. Dan is a freelance journalist investigating mysterious disappearances of people from the town. The truth they uncover is more horrible than anything they could have imagined. Something is hunting the townspeople, and Dan and Molly might become its next victims.

Book 1 of The Tales of OriGen series

It was supposed to be a fun road trip—for Dan and Molly Murphy to reconnect and rekindle the romance in their marriage. Molly was clawing her way up from depression after miscarrying their baby.

They set out to attend Dan’s ten-year high school reunion in Madrassa, New York, unaware of the evil that hunts within that area.

When Dan and Molly arrive, they learn that several residents have mysteriously vanished from Madrassa. Dan puts his journalist skills and experience to work in uncovering the truth.

Dan and Molly discover that the people of Madrassa are harboring deadly secrets stretching back several generations.

The mysterious disappearances are the work of powerful creatures living in Madrassa’s forests and luring people to grisly deaths.

As Dan finds out more about the missing people and the mysterious Madrassa Curse, he and Molly are drawn into a dark and far-reaching conspiracy that will forever alter the course of their lives.

Every mystery he uncovered led to more questions, and soon Dan is drawn to the woods and begins displaying increasingly bizarre behavior.

Soon Molly is fighting to save both of them, and nothing is what it seems.

Book reviewer Anetta Tequila writes:

“What happens to this couple will shock you! Check out this page-turner, but be prepared to be in awe as realities are manipulated through science and technology!”

If you enjoy Dean Koontz’ plot twists, if you liked Dead End Girl by L.T Vargus, you won’t want to miss the mind-bending thrill ride that is Feeding Ground!

Literary Thriller, Wendigos, Genetic engineering, Tales of Origen series,

• Language: English
• Publisher: Annie James
• Release date: Oct 30, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005869885

Book preview

Annie James

Feeding Ground (4)

Copyright © 2020 by Annie James

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

First edition

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Contents

1. Prologue

2. Molly

3. Dan

4. Madrassa Curse

5. Monsters in the Forest

6. Searching for Answers

7. Nicole

8. Dr. Joseph Silva

9. Danger Signals

10. Hunted

11. Crazy

12. Escape

13. Funeral

14. Lie to Me

15. Argentina

16. Elephant Island

17. Unexpected Pregnancy

18. Aysha is Born and the Lies Unravel

19. Seven

20. Phoenix Rising

21. Ze’Eva

22. Characters

About the Author

1

Prologue

The receptionist at OriGen’s New York office looked up at two young men walking toward the half-circle desk she sat behind. They looked young, around college aged. One had brown spiky hair and brown eyes and wore a black button-down shirt and blue jeans. The other young man had dark blonde hair and blue eyes and was wearing a flannel shirt over a white shirt and khakis. The one with the spiky hair removed his sunglasses and looked around, then he made eye contact with the receptionist. Hi, how are you? He asked politely.

Fine thank you, The receptionist replied. Her name plate said her name was Beth Who are you here to see?

Oh, I don’t know, we saw a notice at the college that this place is looking for interns for a two-week project. We wanted to sign up for that.

Ok! Beth replied cheerfully, handing each of them a clipboard. I will need you to fill out these forms completely and bring them back to me. Then you will go up to the 6th floor and ask for Dr. Silva.

The two young men sat down in the waiting area she indicated and filled out the forms, which were long, and contained extensive questions about their medical history.

One month later, in a police station near NYU’s Greenwich Village campus, the fax machine whirred to life. Two missing person flyers slid out, and a desk sergeant picked them out of the tray. He scanned them and saw that a couple of college students had gone missing from NYU, their parents had not heard from them in several weeks, and they had not been to classes. The sergeant shrugged and figured they probably went on a road trip. College kids did that all the time. He looked at the photos again; one boy had spiky hair and the other had long hair that looked like it might have been dark blonde. He tacked the photos on the board of missing persons. There were so many up there already, children who were much younger than these two. College kids were surely capable of taking care of themselves. The sergeant went back to work and soon forgot all about writing a report on the boys.

2

Molly

East Village, New York 1990

We. Are. Done! Molly Murphy tossed the paint roller into the tray. She stretched out her arms and spread her fingers in a gesture of triumph; her long, curly red hair bouncing as she jumped up and down, her green eyes sparkling with excitement.

Her husband Dan Murphy grinned, draping his arm around her shoulder. The radio played Steal My Sunshine by Len as they admired the fresh coat of bright yellow enamel on the walls of the nursery.

Molly ruffled his dark, curly hair. I’m glad we did the work ourselves, she said, giving him a peck on the cheek. It makes it seem more real. I am glad you are ready to start a family. I can’t wait.

Dan kissed the slight bump beginning to show at Molly’s belly. She was only three months along; it was barely noticeable that she was pregnant.

You did a skilled job, Kitten. Painting the room ourselves was better than paying a professional.

Molly’s parents, Henry and Rose Walsh entered the room. Wow. It looks great, Mols! Henry said, gazing across the room. He towered over the rest of the family; his height and his salt and pepper hair gave him a distinguished appearance which had served him well as a practicing attorney—he was retired now.

I like the color you chose, Rose chirped.

She took good care of herself and could have passed for Molly’s older sister, except Rose’s hair was changing from red to silver.

Henry and Rose turned and went back downstairs.

Fresh paint smells good. I don’t enjoy being covered in it. Take a shower with me! Molly said, wiggling her eyebrows, pulling him toward the shower.

Later, they settled in the living room to watch the most recent episode of Buffy. Dan kicked back in the recliner section of the couch—Molly had her head on his lap. Something inside her rumbled and groaned. Warm liquid splashed down the inside of her thighs. She

jumped up, thinking she had peed herself.

What’s wrong? Dan asked.

She hurried to the bathroom on the second floor, liquid trickling down her legs. She saw blood. It soaked her jeans from thigh to ankle. Molly collapsed as Dan pounded up the stairs after her. He stopped in the doorway, and his face drained of all color.

Something is wrong with the baby! She cried.

Four months later

Stop shouting at me! I told you why I am going, Dan bellowed in frustration. There is no other woman!

It just seems like you are gone all the time, Dan.

I asked you to go to this reunion with me; you didn’t want to. He said bitterly as he turned his back to her and continued packing.

When you got the invitation, you said you didn’t want to go, what changed your mind? Molly asked, sitting down on the window seat.

Pete hasn’t called in over a month. Every time I call him, it goes straight to voicemail. A couple of days ago, when I called it said the voicemail was full and couldn’t accept new messages.

That’s odd; you guys used to talk every week. Molly grew calmer as he explained.

I’m hoping he will be at the reunion so I can find out what is going on with him.

She turned to look down at the street and let out a long sigh. It would be good to spend time together. I’ll go.

He looked at her, hesitated, then hugged her. Thank you. I wish you would reconsider going to a therapist. He cringed when he said this, but Molly didn’t get angry, like every other time.

No one thinks you’re crazy, but a therapist might be able to help you more than we can. And before you say it, I don’t mean with drugs.

I’ll think about it. On the way to Madrassa.

His eyes grew wide. Wait, does this mean you changed your mind? You want to go?

Molly nodded.

Awesome! Dan said as he fist-pumped in the air.

The sunlight burned Molly’s eyes as she stepped out of the house for the first time in four months. She put her suitcase in the trunk of Dan’s Mustang and closed it. Families strolled along the street; neighbors sat on their stoops. She used to socialize. Now she dreaded hearing the question, How’re you doing?

She knew it meant having to lie because most folks didn’t want to hear the real answer. Molly couldn’t just snap out of the depression. She couldn’t manage to be around humans—even her best friend, Nicole. With a bit of guilt weighing on her, Molly thought back to how indifferent she had been during Nicole’s last visit.

Everybody misses you, girl, Nicole had said as she sat on Molly’s bed. Nicole Castillo was a beautiful Latina with black hair and chestnut brown eyes. Molly and Nicole had been friends for over ten years. Back in college, the two were inseparable.

Thanks. I should get over this loss, but I’m not as tough as you.

Yeah, in Queens, you have to be,

The doctor couldn’t tell me what went wrong—he just said these things happen sometimes.

Its excited Molly, even though the pregnancy was unexpected. She put law school on hold for a while. Dan tried to talk her out of it. She planned to be an adoption attorney. She discussed fostering kids in this home—it was spacious enough.

Nicole stayed with Molly and Dan for a few days and then returned to her grad studies at NYU Law school.

Molly lay in bed, curled up in a ball most of the time. She alternated between sleeping too much and terrible insomnia. Her mood was either sad or irritated. A dark pall, a cloud of depression fell over her father, mother, and Dan.

I’m glad you are going with me, Kitten. Dan’s voice broke into her melancholic thoughts, bringing her out of her memories and back to the present.

Let’s visit the carnival tonight. We can hit the road tomorrow morning. Dan said.

Carnival? Sweetie—I don’t know—all those people. I’m not ready for that.

Molly sighed and wished he understood. He coped in distinct and different ways. He was throwing himself into work and taking care of her. Molly agreed to the road trip out of guilt for feeling like she had been such a burden these past few months—not that Dan admitted it, but she suspected it.

Molly also picked up on subtle clues that he was seeing another woman. He would go out in the evenings— "just for a drive," he always said. She had zero interest in intimacy, so he had to be getting it somewhere.

She knew it meant nothing. Dan had been one to hit it and quit it in college. That was why she refused to date him at first. It made her angry, but she couldn’t confront him without proof.

Strangely, the anger gave her the resolve to live her life again.

He embraced her in a hug and stroked her hair. If you don’t want to go, I understand.

She had been neglecting her relationship with him. Maybe she was wrong about him cheating, and he kept his distance because he thought that was what she wanted. She knew they could use some time together outside of the house.

Sure. It might be fun, She mumbled against his shirt.

Atta girl!

Molly walked back in the house and started to go to her parents’ bathroom but stopped and headed to the bathroom she and Dan used on the fourth floor. It had black marble walls; the sink and toilet and shower contained chrome fixtures. The shower had a glass door, and there was an old-fashioned black granite clawfoot bathtub.

There was a door at each end of the bathroom—connecting the bedroom to the nursery. Molly opened the door of the nursery and stood to look in. The room had been Molly’s nursery when she was a baby; Molly looked at everything, still framed in the doorway. The Jenny Lind crib, the rocking chair. A changing table, and a bassinet. She could smell dust mingling with the paint—a dichotomy of past and present colliding.

Later that day, Molly tried to enjoy her cotton candy while she and Dan walked around the carnival. There were families with children everywhere. Tears stung her eyes, and she blinked them back. Dan seemed oblivious. He was more interested in the rides, particularly the tilt-a-whirl.

That is my favorite ride, Dan said, pointing to it while he tugged Molly’s hand, like an excited child.

On the tilt-a-whirl, Molly watched the bright colors of the carnival flash past in a blur. When they got off the ride, Molly’s legs were a bit rubbery, but she walked it off. She was beginning to relax and enjoy the evening. The sky was painted red and gold, and the solar lights glowed throughout the carnival, dim in comparison to the bright electric lights attached to the rides.

Hey Kitten, check that out. Wanna ask her if we will have an enjoyable trip tomorrow? He pointed to a fortune teller’s tent.

I don’t believe in that stuff. They just tell you whatever they think you want to hear. She rolled her eyes as she said this. I have seen documentaries about how fortune tellers and people like them operate.

Right, it’s not real, so what’s the harm? It’ll be entertaining.

Molly narrowed her eyes at him, ready to argue, but then she rolled her eyes and shrugged I can’t believe I’m doing this, Molly thought

Yeah, it might be fun. All right. She tossed the rest of her cotton candy in the trash bin nearby.

Yes! Dan said, as he grabbed her hand and tugged her towards the fortune teller’s tent.

They walked up to a teenager sitting in a folding chair next to a green card table. She had long dark hair parted in the middle; she wore a flowered peasant top and blue jeans with sandals.

Hello. Five dollars per reading. She said in a soft-spoken voice.

Dan handed her a twenty, and the girl gave him ten dollars from her cash box.

It was dim inside. It took Molly’s eyes a few seconds to adjust after the sunshine outside. Several well-placed candles lit the interior, and Molly could smell sweet incense burning. There was an older woman seated at a table off in the far corner. Molly expected to see a crystal ball, but there wasn’t one. The woman sitting at the table had black hair and dark, brown eyes framed with long eyelashes. She had a long straight nose and thin lips. It didn’t look like she was wearing any makeup. She bore a resemblance to the girl outside. Molly guessed it was her granddaughter.

The fortune-teller had her ebony hair braided. She had a few wrinkles but very few gray hairs. The woman wore a long-sleeved purple dress but no jewelry—which didn’t fit Molly’s notions of a fortune teller—she expected her to be wearing bracelets and rings.

‘I guess that’s just a Hollywood stereotype.’ she thought.

A red velvet tablecloth was draped elegantly over the table.

Dan and Molly sat in the folding chairs opposite her. Hello, the fortune-teller said in a soft voice. Her accent sounded French. What is it you want to know?

Well, we are planning a trip… Dan said but was interrupted by Molly.

You are the psychic; you tell us why we are here!

Kitten? Dan said, blushing in embarrassment. I thought you wanted to do this. That was rude.

It is all well, the fortune-teller said. Not everyone is a believer. I do not see all things. The spirits—sometimes they tell what they know, and sometimes they keep secrets. I am merely a vessel they speak through.

The fortune-teller took Molly’s hand and continued. The spirits have told me you will have a talented daughter. They are saying something about fire or flames. That might refer to the color of her hair. The spirits aren’t telling me anymore.

Molly’s mouth dropped open. A girl? She realized that probably sounded stupid, but she was surprised and said the first thing that came to mind.

The fortune-teller nodded and smiled widely. There was no way she could have known that Molly thought. She had heard that these people were good at picking up clues from body language. Some even had helpers in a crowd-setting to gather information, but that was impossible here at the carnival because she and Dan hadn’t yet talked to anyone.

The fortune-teller reached for Dan’s hand, and her face paled. She looked at him and her eyes widened with alarm. She then straightened her posture and smiled warmly. "You said you are planning a trip