5 Shards of Fantasy

By M.J. Smith

In this collection of 5 short stories, you'll get a taste of life from the criminals themselves. Some doing what they know best to help and one out for revenge. These stories will send you on a trip to hell and back just in time to see the world come to an end. This collection consists of 5 fantasy stories like you've never read before.

 

Meet the only dragon on earth in Never Trust A Dragon. Experience a drug that lets you visit hell in Back From Hell. Go on a trip to Americas heart land and have to escape an old friend out to kill you in Home Again. Relieve all the reasons not to see your ex at a night club in Hot Night at the Club. Travel to another world through a journalist eyes in The Lost Library.

• Language: English
• Publisher: M.J. Smith
• Release date: May 2, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223665878

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5 Shards of Fantasy

M.J. Smith

Copyright © 2023 by M.J. Smith

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

I want to thank James, Steph, and Mark for giving me the confidence and helping me build the skills I needed to make it this far in my journey.

Contents

Introduction

Never Trust a Dragon

Back From Hell

Home Again

Hot Night at the Club

The Lost Library

About the Author

Introduction

Growing up, I wish I could have read stories like these. Some of the books I did have available were R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps series, Stephen King, and Michael Crichton. Writing this short story collection, I had many influences from TV and movies also. Inspiration from Stephen King helped me write Back From Hell. 

My first story, Never Trust A Dragon, is closer to epic fantasy, only in a modern rural setting.

Next is Back From Hell, an urban fantasy that will make you say your prayers after reading it.

For the third tale, there is Home Again, a rural fantasy about small-town life, lies, and murderous pals.

 The fourth borders more on sci-fi than fantasy. It’s titled Hot Night at the Club. If you dislike clubs, you will have a good reason not to like this one: secret offices and overheated human calculators.

Last up is The Lost Library. This is the story that will take lifetimes to complete.

Never Trust a Dragon

Of course, dragons shit, why wouldn’t they? Why didn’t I even consider it? Why didn’t I have a plan for how to hide it before Erick got up for his paper? Crap…crap…he’s either going to kill me or hug me. 

Good morning! I said, hiding the new bearded dragon under the blanket.

He paused and gave me a suspicious look.

Why are you acting weird? Erick asked.

What do you mean?

You’re hiding under the blankets when it’s 90 degrees outside.

And…?

That’s when I knew he knew. I got up from the couch, holding the bearded dragon in one hand and the blanket in the other. 

You don’t want to get near me. I’m sick, and I have no clothes on, so… I said.

Then you’ll need more than the blanket and bearded dragon to keep you warm, Erick said, reaching around the top of the blanket and picking up the dragon. 

He’s cute. What’s with the nubs on his back, Erick said with his other hand around my waist, leading me back to the couch. 

Plopping on the couch next to him, I realized I had made the right choice. He always wanted a bearded dragon, and his cat just passed, so it seemed like the right time. 

I’m going to finish putting the bulb in his cage. He’s getting cold, I said.

Thank you, Erick said and set the lizard in the window so it could bask in the sun. I’m naming him Morg.

Jake! Jake! Wake up, Erick yelled from the living room.

I opened my eyes and jumped out of bed. I didn’t know if the house was on fire or something.

I hurried into the living room and was sure this was a dream. How could it not be? Morg didn’t have wings when I went to bed. Now the bearded dragon was flying around the living room with brown leathery wings on its little lizard body.

I rubbed my eyes, and our bearded dragon spotted me and flew on my shoulder. 

What is he doing? How? Am I dreaming? I said.

No, he can fly! Morg has wings! Erick said. Which pet store did you get him from?

I actually didn’t get him from a pet store, I said, picking up Morg from my shoulder. 

Where did you get him? A flying lizard that has wings is not alright, Erick said. 

I held Morg and took him back to his tank. He tried to fly out, but I put the lid over the top just in time. 

You didn’t get him from an illegal store, did you? Erick asked.

I don’t even know where those are anymore. They move day-to-day, I said.

You’re keeping your promise, right? You’re staying away from the very people who nearly ended us two years ago, right? Erick said.

"Yes, but Jaslyn called and said they found something no one had ever seen before, and they