Soul Bender: A Short Story

By J.L. Shojosh

Alex is part of a long bloodline of Africans who hold dear a magical secret. Until he goes back to his humble childhood home for Thanksgiving, Alex is not clued in on his inherent gift for being able to wield his soul as a weapon, and to turn it into a wild beast, which a select group of other sensitive humans are able to see. In this short story prologue, expect to see the world anew and ride the train of discovery with Alex, as foes and allies are made evident in the light of day. Sometimes it’s those whom you care for the most that have the ability to most wound you...

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.L. Shojosh
• Release date: Oct 11, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005647445

J.L. Shojosh

I hope to show the universal humanity inherent in all of us. There's more that we as humans have in common with one another than the differences that sometimes pit us against each other. Through stories, I hope to highlight a few of those commonalities. Love conquers all.

Book preview

Soul-Bender:

In the Beginning

A

Short Story

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By J.L. SHOJOSH

*

Copyright © 2020 Joshua Nsangi. All rights reserved.

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

Published by R.B. Publishers, Smashwords Edition.

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1

The office was emptier than Alex had ever seen it. The barren rows of cubicles, uncanny, was a sight he’d only thought possible in an apocalyptic scene. Why he’d agreed to be the personal assistant to a man who cared little for the sentimental was beyond him. Kelvin Roth was above the usual emotional attachment, with no family or friends to call his own. It was the weekend of Thanksgiving. On that Friday afternoon, in the lofty sunless chamber that served as his office, Alex’s eyes far too often shifted from his computer screen to Mr. Roth’s closed door. His bags were already packed, in his car. Finally, the door opened.

…ah, where the bloody hell is everyone? Mr. Roth, the short man with the most bizarrely curled up mustache, stood before a pretentiously hard-working employee, who’d only then pretended to be startled by his boss’ sudden apparition.

"It’s Thanksgiving, sir…" He’d nervously blurted out, with hints of bitterness suffused in his voice. Mr. Roth took off his glasses, as he cleaned its lenses.

Yes, yes… the short boss had quickly remarked. He soon drifted off into unintelligible mutters thereafter, as he once more scanned the room. It looked even emptier with the bright bulbs up ahead that lit the various empty desks. What are you still doing here, Mark? Mr. Roth, having more than butchered Alex’s name, would broodingly peer down his nose to his assistant. Alex had all but given up on correcting Mr. Roth on his name and the fact that Mark hadn’t worked for him for over a year. But then again, the two assistants that came after Mark were probably fired for having to correct the old bugger on a daily basis.

"You asked me in today… sir." Alex cleared his throat. If it wasn’t obvious that he was bitter when he’d emphasized