A World Unseen

By Cassidy Raine Wolters, Jon Flushing, Doug Ward and 4 more

Did you ever witness something that was so far from normal that you didn't dare to tell anyone about it? This is a collection of short stories in that vein. Tales of cryptids and the paranormal that are so outlandish they can't possibly be true. Or so your mind would have you believe. From hair-raising encounters to bizarre life forms, these tales will surely chill you to the bones. So if you ever saw something out of the corner of your eye only to have it disappear when you looked that way, this book is for you.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cassidy Raine Wolters
• Release date: Nov 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005127053

Book preview

Introduction

Did you ever witness something that was so far from normal that you didn't dare tell anyone about it?  This is a collection of short stories in that vein.  Tales of cryptids and the paranormal that are so outlandish they can't possibly be true.  Or so your mind would have you believe.  From hair-raising encounters to bizarre life forms, these tales will surely chill you to the bones.  So if you ever saw something out of the corner of your eye only to have it disappear when you looked that way, this book is for you.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of these authors.

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writers’ imaginations or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

Other fine books by these authors include:

Tome of Terror

The Forging or the Ring

Tales from the Grimacing Goblin

Future Imperfect

Contents

The Devil and Cleopatra Jon Flushing, Leonard Herrington, B.C. Richards

A Curious Night in the Forest April Ward

13 Bends Doug Ward

House of Straw Cassidy Raine Wolters

The Grey Area Jerry Clark

The Trail Doug Ward

Subterranean Part 1 - The Great White Worm Cassidy Raine Wolters

Part 2 - That Which Survives Cassidy Raine Wolters

Let Us In Doug Ward

The Thing in The Jar Cassidy Raine Wolters

About the Authors

Let the stories begin.

The Devil and Cleopatra  

By Jon Flushing, Leonard Herrington, B.C. Richards

His phone buzzed on the nightstand.  Simon reached for it. Checking the number, he answered.

Buongiorno, Simon, said the voice on the other end.

Not where I am.  It’s 3 A.M. here, Padre, Simon responded sleepily. 

"Sometimes I forget about the time difference,'' replied the voice with a heavily tinged Italian accent.

So, how are things at the Vatican?

Busy as always, Simon.

Well, Padre, I’m assuming this isn’t a social call.  What’s going on?

Si, you would be correct, my son. There seems to be a problem in your neck of the woods so to speak.

Do tell.

We were contacted by the American ambassador yesterday.  There have been some unusual incidents in New Jersey recently.  The ambassador thinks this might be something that the church needs to look into.

Why don’t they use their own people?  They have a paranormal division.

Si, but their people are busy with these recent U.F.O. incidents.  You will meet up with one of their other agents tomorrow in Atlantic City. Her name is Cleo Williams.  She is F.B.I.

Cleo Williams, huh?

Will that be a problem, Simon?

No, not at all.  That’s why I headed to upstate New York.  Things weren’t going too well in L.A.

I’m sorry to hear that, my son.

I should have known better, Padre.  You can’t have a real relationship with someone in this line of work.  She nearly died because of me.  I had to get away from her for her own safety.

But the problem is you still love her.

Simon didn’t say anything.  He knew what the priest said was the truth.  He knew because of the pain he felt inside.

Are you still there, Simon?

"I’m sorry.  Where and what time am I meeting this agent?  

She’s staying at Harrah’s. We booked you a room there as well.  Try to be there by noon.

Sounds like a plan.

Simon, I don’t have to tell you to be careful. Something must be very strange for the Americans to ask for our assistance.  If you need help, don’t hesitate to call.

I’m on it, Padre.

God go with you, Simon, said the priest and then he ended the call.

Simon put the phone back down on the nightstand.  He yawned and stretched.  He swung his legs around to the side of the bed and stood up.  His training had allowed him to practically see in the dark.  Slowly he made his way to the bathroom and flipped on the light.

"Shit, shower, and shave, old man.  Then gather your gear and high tail it to Atlantic City.  Grab some coffee on the way.  It’s too early to eat," Simon thought to himself.  Maybe if I get there early, I’ll hit the tables.  Maybe Lady Luck is still on my side.  I think I’m going to need it

*****

The digital time display on the dash of the Land Rover read 11:05 as he pulled into a slot in the parking garage at Harrah’s.  Simon grabbed his gear out of the backseat and locked the vehicle.  He made his way through the garage and into the hotel.  His reservation allowed for an early check in.  Once he dumped his gear in his room, he’d head for the craps tables.

Simon tapped his card key on the lock on the door.  The light changed from orange to green on it and the lock opened.  He eased the door open carefully, listening for any sound.  Satisfied there was no one or nothing in the room.  He closed the door behind him.  He set his gear down on the bed.  He made his way to the small bathroom and turned the hot water on in the sink.  Just then there was a pounding on the door.

Simon turned off the water and quietly made his way to the door.

Open the hell up, Morrison, I saw you go in there.  It’s Cleo.

Through the peephole, Simon could see a black female standing there in athletic wear.

He unlatched the door and opened it.  The woman in the hall was stunning.  She had on a red metallic sports bra with matching running shorts.  She had a towel around her neck and was slightly out of breath.  The woman appeared to be in her late twenties or early thirties. She was tall and sinewy.  But the thing that Simon couldn’t stop staring at was her eyes.

Come on, Morrison, put your tongue back in your mouth.  Haven't you ever seen a gorgeous female F.B.I. Agent before?

He just stood there mesmerized by the woman.

You can talk, can’t you.  Because this is going to be one hell of an interesting case if you can’t.  They didn’t teach me any sign language at F.B.I. school.

Are you always this direct?  Simon managed to utter.

Oh, so you can talk.  Great.  Listen, I worked out at the gym this morning and then went for a run.  I’m a tad sweaty.  My room is right down the hall.  I’m going to grab a quick shower and no, that’s not an invitation.  I’ll see you downstairs in thirty minutes.

Okay, was all Simon managed to say.

As she turned to leave, she said, a twinkle appearing in her big beautiful brown eyes, You better learn some manners, Morrison.  You leave a girl standing out in the hall and don’t even invite her in.  You don’t even offer her something to drink after you see she’s been working out.  Didn’t your momma ever teach you anything when it comes to women?  And by the way, I like tequila...ice cold tequila.  Hint for next time.

She winked and headed down the hall.  See you in thirty.  Go get ready.

Simon watched her walk down the hall and enter her room.  He stood there at his own doorway stunned not knowing what to make of the entire situation.

*****

The dice weren’t rolling his way at the craps table.  It seemed like a mirror of his own personal life. Nothing was going quite right.  He was reaching down to pick up the dice for another go when someone bumped into him.

Leave them on the table, Slick.  We need to go.  Besides, you weren’t doing so hot anyway.

He turned to face her.  She was even more gorgeous up close.  Cleo gave him a big grin.  

Let’s go.  I’m saving you some money and any more embarrassment.

Simon turned from the table and followed her across the lobby.

Where we’re headed, we better take the Land Rover, she said over her shoulder.

How do you know I have a Land Rover?  Simon asked.

I saw you getting out of it when I was out for my jog.

He watched her walk.  Even in the standard black suit and white blouse she had on, she carried herself like a supermodel.  She wore practical shoes, little jewelry, and next to no make-up. No glam, no bling, Cleo Williams didn’t need it. The woman would have still been a ten wearing an old paper bag.

The thoughts of her running through his head made him feel guilty.  It had only been a few weeks since he had left Los Angeles and the woman that he had spent the past two years with. 

As she went through the exit, Cleo yelled to him, Keep up, Slick.  I don’t want to lose you; especially not where we’re headed.

*****

The drive from Atlantic City to Leed’s Point would be a short one.  It was just a quick twenty-minute jaunt North up US-30.  Cleo filled him in on the way.  Her voice was smooth and silky.  He listened as if mesmerized.

You know, Slick, you can jump in at any time.  What’s wrong, cat got your tongue?

Simon took his eyes off the highway for a second to look at her.  She was grinning at him; clearly amused with his uneasiness.

"Agent Williams…

Cleo.  Call me Cleo.

I’d be more than happy to call you Cleo.  Would you mind not calling me Slick?

What’s wrong with Slick?

First off, it's not my name.  Second, what is slick about me?  And third, I don't like it.

Cleo began to laugh.  She kept glancing over at him and laughing harder.  At one point, she was nearly hysterical.

Simon could feel his face burning.  He glanced into the rearview mirror and could see the skin on his face had turned bright red.  He was feeling angry and self-conscious at the same time.

Cleo finally calmed down.