Living Pinocchios: Part I

By M.J. Brinkley

Allison Collins has been experiencing terrifying nightmares for months leading up to the vacation with her friends. In these nightmares, dark skeletal creatures with beaked long faces taunt her.

Allison and her friends were planning to see the Venice carnevale. When Allison meets a mysterious man on holiday, her extraordinary journey beginsa journey that will bring her face-to-face with her nightmares and her past with devastating consequences.
During this journey, Allison and her friends are faced with the uncertainty that they will escape the tyranny of an evil known as the Doctor.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: Oct 19, 2015
• ISBN: 9781514463598

M.J. Brinkley

M.J.Brinkley writes twisted tales from the edge of dreams and nightmares, specialising in fantasy horror thrillers that dive deep into the human (and not-so-human) psyche. With years of experience working with young people who have experienced trauma, she brings raw emotion and real-world depth to even her darkest fictional worlds. A mother of two wonderfully neurodivergent kids, M.J. juggles parenting, plot twists, and the chaos of a household that includes three dogs, two snakes and one particularly judgemental jumping spider. She lives somewhere between reality and fairy tale, and Living Pinocchio's part II is her latest attempt to make sense of both.

Book preview

Copyright © 2015 by M.J. Brinkley.

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

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 09/24/2015

Xlibris

800-056-3182

www.Xlibrispublishing.co.uk

723828

Contents

Dedication

Chapter 1 The Beginning

Chapter 2 The Departure and Arrival

Chapter 3 The Morning After

Chapter 4 Reminiscing

Chapter 5 Answers

Chapter 6 The Past Begins Haunting

Chapter 7 Lost

Chapter 8 Memory Pool

Chapter 9 The Lunar Tides

Chapter 10 Dolomite Mountains

Chapter 11 The Quest

Chapter 12 Confronting the Mystery Man

Chapter 13 The Nightmare Has Began

Chapter 14 The Institution

Chapter 15 Exploration of the Ground Floor

Chapter 16 What Now?

Chapter 17 Purgatory

Chapter 18 The Fire

Chapter 19 Aftermath

Chapter 20 Nostalgia

Chapter 21 Where Is She?

Chapter 22 Diablo

Chapter 23 Questions Answered

Chapter 24 Sleepwalk to Disaster

Chapter 25 A New Twist

Chapter 26 Past and Present

Chapter 27 Under Siege

Chapter 28 Return to Purgatory

Chapter 29 In Captivity

Chapter 30 Back into the Other Realm

Chapter 31 Searching for the Lost Souls and Survivors

Chapter 32 The Terrible, Twisted Nightmare

Chapter 33 Jake and Allison

Chapter 34 Anaiya and Jack

Chapter 35 Return to the Cottage

Chapter 36 Marcus

Chapter 37 Allison and Anaiya

Chapter 38 A Positive

Chapter 39 Anaiya’s Resting Place

Chapter 40 Who’s That Mysterious Man?

Chapter 41 Allison’s Parents

Chapter 42 Everything Beginning to Unravel

Chapter 43 Deep Memories and Entrapment

Chapter 44 The Day of the Carnevale

Chapter 45 Welcome to the Inferno

Dedication

F or my partner Adam, thank you for your support and patience during the writing of this book, it was only through this that I had the confidence to complete my goals and dreams.

Chapter 1

The Beginning

‘H ello!’ Anaiya said as she found herself enclosed in a darkened room. ‘Is anybody there?’ The room was filled with mirrors that reflected a light. Dark malicious creatures formed within the mirrors, appearing devilish, still, and lucid.

Anaiya was wearing a sapphire silk gown that had sequins running along the hem. She had long black silk-woven hair that glistened with a hint of blue, like her sapphire eyes. She was frozen to the spot in which she stood, staring at the creatures’ formation within the mirrors. She could see that the creatures were tall, skeletal, and had black sunken eyes and long beaks. Their faces resembled a medico della peste (plague doctor) mask.

‘Who are you?’ Anaiya asked. Her heart was pounding heavily against her tightened chest as each breath she took became more erratic. She felt claustrophobic as though she was confined in one of her many nightmares that she could not escape even while awake or in a daze. She was trying to control her anxiety as she became more anxious not knowing who or what these creatures wanted. Her body was trembling with fear that something awful was about to happen.

‘Keep calm,’ Anaiya muttered to herself, trying to calm her nerves. She was sweating profusely. She closed her eyes and counted, ‘One, two, three…’ When she opened them, the mysterious creatures that had yet to reveal themselves had disappeared. Anaiya had been plagued by these devilish creatures that were yet to be explained. She had begun to wonder if she was going slightly mad, but there definitely seemed to be something about her vigorous nightmares, which seemed to have some meaning in the way they taunted her.

Anaiya waited in anticipation, her body still shuddering at the thought that the creatures would return at any moment. In one swift motion, she was pulled from her ankles and dragged across the black-and-white chequered marble floor into the middle of the room.

‘Arrrghhhh!’ Anaiya’s scream echoed and filled the room. Before she came to an abrupt halt, the candles spontaneously lit themselves, illuminating the room from where she lay; tears were secreting from her eyes. Anaiya looked up to a room filled with eyes upon her with vacant expressions as their evening was interrupted by Anaiya’s outburst.

It was 26 December 1809, St Stephen’s Day, and it was the Great Grand Annual 647th Prestigious Ball at St Lucia. The townsfolk filled the room with assorted bright-coloured clothing, such as reds, pinks, greens, blues, yellows, oranges, purples, and gold, along with their elaborate masks. Women had their hair pinned up, braided, or weaved. Their hair was the most captivating feature. They either had their hair styled in ringlets with sparkling ribbons or had their hair coloured the same colour to match their gowns, styled with simple headwear, a garland, accompanied by a simple masquerade mask, such as a Columbia mask or a strapless lace Venetian mask. The men, dressed in Tudor clothes, mainly wore bright-coloured gowns, along with a cape, accompanied by elaborate Venetian masks. The crystal chandeliers created a cosy and inviting ambience. The orchestra was playing joyful folk music that everyone could enjoy listening and dancing along too.

Anaiya fled from the ballroom; she felt so humiliated. What must everyone think of me? she thought to herself.

‘Are you OK?’ A voice was heard faintly in the distance. It was Jack, her love. He was late in attending the ball to celebrate Venice’s victory against the patriarch of Aquileia in 1162.

Jack rushed over to Anaiya. He knew that she had been suffering relentlessly from these night terrors. He held her in a warm embrace. She could hear his heart beating like a drum softly as her head rested against his chest, which helped soothe and calm her nerves.

During the moment Jack held Anaiya, the lights surrounding them flickered and disappeared once more. A huge, thick fog ascended, and the malicious creatures Anaiya had seen earlier appeared. One was holding her in a tight embrace where Jack once stood. The creature whispered to Anaiya in tongues. The only thing Anaiya could hear clearly was ‘You’re home!’

Chapter 2

The Departure and Arrival

I t was the early hours of Sunday morning, 8 February 2015. A white blanket of frost had formed throughout the duration of the night, creating a glistening crystal-snow effect. Allison Collins knew the nights were getting colder and that winter was here. Winter was her favourite time of the year. She loved wrapping up in her cosy warm jumpers, coats, scarves, gloves, hats, and boots. It was the only time of the year she could really accessorise. The path leading up to Allison’s home in a suburban area on the outskirts of London, No. 22 Warpleton Avenue, had disappeared under a blanket of frost. She was waiting for her three friends Jake, Josh, and Sam to arrive. They were all setting off on an adventure to Venice. It was St Stephen’s Day, the annual day when Venetian masks could be worn.

The sound of a car horn could be heard echoing from outside. Allison approached her bedroom window and saw that her three best friends were waiting and ready to go. They were so excited for this day; they had been planning the trip to Venice for months, and now that the moment had arrived, they could hardly wait to depart and be part of Venice’s time-honoured tradition.

Allison was already dressed for the occasion. She wore dark-blue jeans, white jumper, brown knee-high boots, a red coat that fastened at the waist with a golden buckle, along with her red hat. Her long chocolate-brown hair was in ringlets, and from her ears hung snowflake earrings that glistened in the reflection of light.

‘Allison,’ her mother, Sylvia, called out. ‘Your friends are here.’ Allison’s mother was nervous about her leaving. All morning she had been pacing back and forth, ensuring that everything was packed and that Allison had enough money and her passport was safely fastened in her suitcase. She was dressed in black trousers and a red-wine silk blouse; she had shoulder-length chocolate-brown hair, hazel eyes, and deep rosy cheeks.

‘Coming,’ said Allison.

‘Here, let me help you.’ Allison’s father, James, helped carry her luggage to the car. Her father was dressed in light pale-blue jeans and a woolly jumper. He wore circular-framed spectacles, and he had medium-brown hair with a few grey strands.

‘Now remember, be careful, and let me know when you have arrived safely. Do you have enough money? Have you got your passport and plane ticket safe?’

‘Yes, Mum,’ Allison sighed.

‘Have a lovely time. Don’t get up to too much mischief.’ Allison’s father chuckled as he waved goodbye to her and her friends. ‘Drive safe.’ Both Allison’s parents waved as Allison and her three friends set off on an adventure, and her parents disappeared from the rear-view mirror.

Allison’s three friends were very different from one another. Josh Hudson was a flamboyant person. He had bright blonde hair and wore designer glasses. He had brown eyes and had incredible taste for fashion. Allison met Josh through Jake a few years ago, and they had become good friends ever since. Jake Hamilton was an introvert person. He spent most of his time staring at Allison whenever he was in her company.

He dressed smart but colloquial and had short brown hair and deep chocolate-brown eyes, almost like a young George Clooney. On the other spectrum, there was Sam Johnston. She was outgoing, fun, and outspoken, always up to mischief. She had long wavy mousy hair and blue eyes, and she dressed provocatively. Allison grew up with Sam since nursery.

Sam was reading the Introduction into Venetian History. ‘Listen to this. It is said that the Carnevale of Venice began around the year 1162. Shortly after the triumph of La Serenissima, the Republic of Venice defeated their opponent Ulrico, the patriarch of Aquileia. The Carnevale of Venice annually celebrates this tradition, where the local townspeople of Venice gather in San Marco Square to celebrate this honour by wearing masks and elaborate costumes.’

‘Wow, if only it were possible to revisit Venice then,’ Allison sighed. She often considered what life in Venice would be like in 1162.

‘It sounds magical, Allison. I wonder what the men were like.’ Both Allison and Sam smiled to themselves.

‘It also says that during the seventeenth century, Venetian masks were not just worn to celebrate victory. They were worn during plagues, and so men could throw scented eggs at women and get up to mischief dressed in disguise.’

‘Shall we do that on the night of the Carnevale, Jake?’ asked Josh.

‘Sure, sounds like fun,’ replied Sam.

‘Will you guys ever grow up?’ Allison sighed, shaking her head.

‘What is the point of going on holiday if you cannot have fun?’ replied Josh.

‘Anyway,’ Sam said, coughing to clear her throat from a dry tickly cough, ‘it also says that throughout many centuries, the Carnevale in Venice has continued transitioning and becoming much more prominent than just an annual event celebrating their victory against Ulrico. The Carnevale is now much more elaborate, holding other social events, such as circus, masquerade balls, and fashion shows.’

‘I cannot wait to experience Venice in all its glory, especially travelling from place to place on a gondola. It’s extraordinary how a village is built solely on water. I haven’t seen anything like it,’ said Allison.

The four arrived at London, Gatwick Airport. Allison and her three friends checked in and waited for two hours to board the plane.

‘Let’s go round the gift shops to pass some time,’ said Sam.

Allison and her three friends made their way around the gift shops until the announcement was made over the tannoy that the plane was ready to board. An old gentleman appeared from out of nowhere and grasped Allison’s wrist tightly, saying, ‘I have seen you before!’

‘Hey! Get your hand off her,’ snapped Sam. ‘Are you all right, Allison?’

Allison was spooked by the old man. He was dressed in rags, bedraggled, and looked frankly like a homeless guy who was wandering aimlessly and managed to evade security.

Jake immediately came to Allison’s rescue and loosened the grip of the old man still holding her wrist tightly. ‘Let her go!’

Allison panicked, and with all her strength, she pulled her wrist from the old man’s grasp.

‘You don’t remember me, do you?’

Allison stared at the old man, mesmerised by his dull grey eyes. She sensed there was something familiar about him but was immediately interrupted by the announcement from the tannoy that it was time to board the plane. Jake escorted Allison away from the old man, who looked very sorry for himself. Allison could not help but feel sympathy for the old man; he looked lost, confused, and lonely. Who was he? No one knew.

Two hours and ten minutes passed, and Allison and her three friends now arrived in Venice. After