Jean Archer #3: Here There Be Monsters

By Jason A Anderson

Jean Archer #3 has arrived!!

It's now or never for Jean and the rest of the Paranormal and Supernatural Society. The Holy Grail of investigations, the Bridal Vale, has finally come about, and the team couldn't be more enthusiastic. Even the unusual weather and Valley floor tremors can't dampen their opt

• Language: English
• Publisher: SEG Books
• Release date: Oct 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9781088086407

Book preview

Here There Be Monsters

By

Jason A. Anderson

Criss F. Rosenlof, Editor

An SEG Books Release

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.

Jean Archer: Here There Be Monsters

jeanarcher.net

SoulChaser Universe

soulchaser-universe.com

soulchasers.net

Published by arrangement with the author.

Cover Illustration by Carter Reid (thezombienation.com)

SoulChaser logo designed by Juan Maestas

Cover and interior layout by Jason A. Anderson

Author photo by Amelia Stanleyson

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.

Ingram Spark ebook ISBN: 978-1-0880-8640-7

Copyright © 2023 Jason A. Anderson All rights reserved

First Digital Edition: September 23, 2023

Praise for Jean Archer

I was saddened, made to smile and creeped out. All within these pages. Well done.

Martin G.

Starting a little like a young adults series about teenagers interested in the paranormal activity their town was said to contain, this novel became much more than a bump in the night , I am old but enjoyed this book.

Bill S.

This was a great, fast read that left me wanting more. Keep going, Mr. Anderson.

Craig N.

Also by Jason A. Anderson

The Starriders Saga - (as J.A. Anderson)

Dragon Fire

Rebels Without A Clue

P/U (Pranksters United) - a Vella ongoing series

The SoulChaser Universe

Earthbound Trilogy:

Earthbound

Heaven’s Eyes

Flight of Angels*

The Jean Archer Adventures:

The Diamond and the Rough

Interlude #1: Sticks & Stones

All Fall Down

Interlude #2: unHappy Mediums

Here There Be Monsters

Interlude #3: Prayers from the Dying*

Jean Archer - The Early Adventures - a Vella ongoing series

(*forthcoming)

As always, Nerd Girl, thanks for never giving up.

- Metal Boy

- The Death of Innocence -

Kelly flexed his shoulders to dispel the tension that sprouted there as he unfolded the shadows around him and stepped into the darkness of Andrews Academy.  He found himself backstage, on the assembly platform they used as a performance stage.  He sensed the girl nearby, felt her urgency and underlaying fear.  Moving forward through the shadows and black stage curtains, he spotted that fire-red hair like a beacon in a storm of light.

​As the BloodBlessed soldier came to a break in the curtains and backdrop, so he had a clear view of the stage, he stopped and stared. 

​Jean Archer stood several feet in front of him, facing off against a massive Octocrawler.  The menacing behemoth got its name from the eight massive, armored tentacles, complete with tearing claws on the underside of each.  The bulbous body gyrated as it moved along, gouging up the hardened stage surface as it did.

​Kelly could sense the dark, tainted energy that coursed through the Void creature.  Before he made a move, he heard a deep, raspy chuckle from the girl he hadn’t noticed standing beside Jean.  Astonished, he couldn’t understand why he hadn’t noticed her, because when he concentrated, he could see the dark shadowy mass that hovered just above and behind her, attached to her back by a thick, black coil of dark energy.

​Looking at Jean, the girl whispered in a raspy, guttural drawl, Here kitty, kitty, kitty.

​Jean was stunned.

​I’m here for you, the girl continued and reached for Jean.

​Jean shoved the girl back and stepped away, just as a thick, slime-covered Octocrawler tentacle slammed to the stage where she’d just been standing.

​Kelly lost track of the strange girl in the darkness; his eyes locked on Jean as she recovered momentarily, then slipped in the vile mucus and toppled into the shadows.

​Glancing from Jean to the Octocrawler, Kelly made his decision.  As a deep growl emitted from the bulbous body and it gyrated its way around to face Jean, Kelly charged forward and slammed into the side of the undulating mass.  The impact slid it several feet, to the far side of the stage.

​Satisfied for the moment, Kelly reached into his long, black coat and brought out Jean’s sword, which he had surreptitiously retrieved from her bedroom wardrobe.  He raised his free hand at Jean, to get her attention, then with a firm shove, slid the weapon over to her.  Satisfied she was armed, once she snatched up the sword, he retrieved from the other side of his coat, his side-arm blades, with short punch-blades built into the hilts.

​Standing, he caught Jean’s gaze and said, I’ve got this, if you can help get the people out.

​Without waiting, he lunged for the Octocrawler at full speed, much faster than a normal man of his size.  Both punch-blades gouged into the monster’s flesh, which was much tougher than it looked. 

​Unable to find purchase with the punch-blades, Kelly stayed in close, hacking away at it, to very little effect.  It couldn’t reach him easily, due to his proximity, so the beast began to push and shove against him, scooting them away from the wings and into the greater open area.

​Concerned that with more space the Octocrawler would be able to reach around and get hold of him, Kelly thought feverishly for a plan.  At that moment, Jean crashed into the side of the ‘Crawler at tremendous velocity, knocking it toward the front of the stage, and the wind out of her.

​As it tried to right itself, the Octocrawler toppled off of the stage into the audience area, which was already enveloped in its own chaos.  The flailing of the giant tentacles and smaller, snake-like feelers protruding from between the tentacles just added to the clamor, as chairs and bodies went airborne.

​Jean climbed to her feet and bent to recover her sword, when her opponent lunged for her.

​Kelly didn’t hesitate and bodily tackled the girl.  They rolled and came to a stop with her straddling him.  She raked at his face with her nails, but he blocked enough to limit the damage to only his wrists and forearms.  The young woman was unexpectedly strong.  Kelly managed to get his hands on her waist and shoved her off of him.  She rolled twice and came to her feet in a crouch.

​She tried to see past Kelly as he rose to a fighting stance, but he blocked her view of the audience area.

​Keep your eyes on me, Kelly said.  Pay attention right here.

​I have no business with you, BloodBlessed, the girl’s raspy voice said, which Kelly understood as coming from the creature possessing her.

​You do now, Kelly said, flexing and relaxing his fingers on the hilts of his side-arm blades.

​The girl’s vision zeroed in on him, and she said in barely more than a whisper, So be it.  She launched herself at him, diving forward to grapple with him.

​Still struggling with not wanting to hurt her, Kelly dropped to his knees at the last instant, linked his arms through hers and flipped her over him, sending her through the muslin backdrop and into the backstage area.  Bounding to his feet, he pursued the girl through the torn backdrop.

​Partially enclosed between the back wall and the performance backdrops, a miasmic fog was filling the space.  Kelly tried to wave it away from blocking his vision.  It made him cough, and his lungs felt like he’d inhaled toxic fumes, but that was the extent of its effect on him.

​The girl began to hack and cough violently, staggering past him in the minimal light, back through the torn muslin, and collapsed center-stage.

​Kelly followed her and watched impassively as she writhed on the gouged up stage floor, clawing at her own neck. The muscles strained against her skin and her body heaved with every cough, the last producing blood-saturated phlegm.  Two more violent coughs shot blood into the air.  The girl’s body finally seemed to calm down and Kelly could see her silently muttering to herself.  Then she smiled and went still.

​An odd calm fell over the two of them, leaving Kelly wondering what was coming next. 

​Suddenly, the air pressure around him seemed to increase, then decrease, and his ears popped to adjust.  The stage light increased dramatically, then moments later, a woman walked out of the light.  Garbed in a combination of leather and gleaming metal armor, Kelly recognized the Guardian right away.

​Valera! he said.

​A second later, the girl screamed so loud and long, it ended with a rasp and blood misting from her distorted mouth.  She arched her back so dramatically that Kelly thought it would break.

​Surely, a mortal body can’t withstand that kind of force! he thought.

​Looking between the girl and Kelly, Valera said, Go to Jean.  I’ll take care of this.

​Without hesitation, Kelly nodded and bolted in the direction he’d sensed Jean had gone.

​Valera looked down at what remained of the young woman, each detail easily visible beneath the bright stage lighting.

​As if the power were turned off, the girl’s body flattened and blood spurted through her clothes as her torso split open from neck to navel, tearing her clothing and spreading wide as two three-fingered hands began to push their way out of the dead girl.

​Even a seasoned Guardian like Valera found the whole sight repugnant as the tear widened and a disfigured, dark gray head bathed in crimson began to emerge.

​Gritting her teeth, Valera stepped forward, quick-drew the sword at her hip and with one slash, decapitated the beast, sending the head rolling across the floor.  She pivoted the blade and stabbed into the torso, sinking the tip down and through the creature, piercing the stage floor.  With a powerful flex of her sword arm, she pivoted the wide blade, shredded the interior into pieces, and watched as it began to melt into a black ichorous sludge.  A quick glance to her left and she saw the head melting down, as well.

​Poor lost child, she said, you never should have let him in.

​Careful not to breathe in the fumes emitted from the sludge, Valera stepped away from the lifeless corpse.  She walked over to the damaged stage backdrop, easily cut a piece of muslin free, and lay it over the girl, completely shrouding her face.

​May you be at peace, wherever you find it.

Watchers from the Woods

18 months ago...

Fifteen year old Jean Archer opened the passenger door on the beat up 1971 Challenger with a heave, then climbed out into the peaceful mountain air.  She stood in a gravel parking area, and squinted against the bright afternoon sun.  The valley before her was quiet, almost disturbingly so.  Quiet, that is, until the other two cars of teenagers pulled in beside the Challenger and seven of her fellow ghost chasers piled out.

​Hey, brat, Britt called from within the Challenger.

​Jean leaned back in and grabbed her sunglasses from the car’s dashboard.

​Britt sat behind the wheel, dressed as he usually was in military BDU pants, Army boots, and a blank, black T-shirt.

​You want me to just wait here? he asked.

​Could you? Jean asked, her pleading smile flashing the silver off her braces, which she was so glad were coming off in a few weeks!

​Yeah, yeah, Britt said, and picked up the MOPAR magazine from the seat beside him.  His plan to restore the muscle car was about to get serious, and he had taken to re-reading the articles that he thought covered situations he may find himself in. 

​Thanks.  You’re the best, Jean said and slammed the car door.

​Britt shook his head, took off his sunglasses, and began to thumb through the well-read periodical.  His dark eyes matched his dark hair, which contrasted sharply with Jean’s fire-red locks.  Adopted from different circumstances, Britt had finished high school the previous year, and now waited to ship out to begin his enlistment in a few months.  In the time between now and then, bringing the Challenger back to pristine condition was his focus.

​Jean hurried over to the Chrysler van on the other side of the Challenger as the Rainns finished exiting it, along with Tom, the S.A.S.I. Club Vice-President. 

​Did you ask him? Jean asked one of the three identical blond girls, as Tom closed the van door.

​Yes, she did, Tom said over his shoulder.  And I said, ‘not yet’.

​Oh, Jean said and pouted, which caused her freckles to pop across her nose.

​Careful, or your face will stay that way, said Cristoff Rainn, pushing her shoulder playfully.  As the only boy among the original Rainn quintuplets, he played the part of coddled little brother, and picked-on sibling.  Noelle, the oldest of the five of them, had been tragically killed as a young child, leaving an almost palpable gap in their group.  Traditionally good looking, with pale skin, nearly white blond hair, and toned from athletics, the four of them couldn’t be mistaken for anyone other than who they were.  Spring, Summer, and Autumn, who had lately taken to cultivating the similarities between them, so that today the only way to tell them apart was the color of the hairband each wore.  Spring wore green, Summer had a yellow one, and Autumn’s was dark orange.

​If they swap hairbands around, I’ll never tell them apart! Jean thought, only partly ignoring Toff’s teasing.

​From the other car, an Infinity sedan, Chad and Kurt had emerged, with another guy and gal, neither of whom Jean knew.

​As the first group of young signups by the club this year, Jean hadn’t met many of the older students at Andrews Academy yet.  She, Kurt, Chad, and the Rainns had all grown up together, so their connection and devotion to one another was strong.  She hoped that they could get the same type of friendship going with the older kids.

​Are you still bothering Tom about the tunnels? Kurt signed to her.

​I really want to go! Jean signed back.

​Though easily the tallest of the pack of friends, Kurt also had the gentlest nature, and just shook his head and smiled.

​Tom looked between Jean and Kurt a couple of times, then said, What?

​He’s just saying how much he wants to go to the tunnels, too, Jean fibbed, trying to not see the protest he signed at her.

​With more looks at the Freshmen students, Tom said, Yeah, whatever.  Then he joined the other two Seniors as the group slowly made their way out of the parking area, through a wooden post gate, and began down a well-traveled mountain path.

​The last of their entourage arrived as a silver Mercedes pulled into the parking lot.

​Jean and Summer hesitated and watched the car, as the front passenger door opened and a pretty girl their height and age, with dark, curly hair, deep brown eyes, and chocolate brown skin stepped out onto the gravel.

​Willa! Jean exclaimed and hurried over to the new arrival.  You made it!

​Willa Dumont laughed and accepted Jean’s friendly, and boisterous, hug.

​Hi, Jean!

​The two girls had met on a previous ghost hunt at the old Palomino Hunting Lodge a few months earlier, and were the very definition of fast friends.

​Did Denny come with you? Summer asked, joining them.

​Willa shook her head.

​No, not this time.

​She leaned into the open doorway to talk to her father.

​The only thing Jean heard of the exchange was a question about getting home.  Immediately, she leaned in beside Willa and said, My brother and I can bring her home, Mr. Dumont.

​It was evident to Jean where Willa got her dark eyes and quick smile.

​Mr. Dumont thought for a moment, then smiled and said, Okay, you kids have fun!

​Willa closed the car door, and as they waved, Mr. Dumont pulled out of the gravel parking lot and disappeared down the road.

​The group of younger friends kept up a steady babble of conversation as they followed the older teens.

​When Autumn very vocally accused Toff of wetting the bed every night, which Toff denied even louder, Tom turned to face them, walking backward down the path.  He had to check every couple steps, to make sure he wasn’t going to trip on something.

​After calming everyone’s chatter down, he asked, Does everyone know the legend of the Bridal Veil?

​All of the Rainns did, as well as Kurt and Jean, but Chad and Willa raised their hands and in unison said, No.

​Tripping and nearly falling, Tom caught his balance, saying, Oh-kaay...ye...ugh.

​Wincing, Jean said, Maybe not a great idea.

​With a nod, Tom called the group to a halt.  Their walk had taken them deeper into the small valley, cut through by a stream of glacial runoff, and blanketed by a meadow of yellow flowers.  Ahead, the path swept to the left around the meadow and along the treeline, which shaded a small wooded area.  Above them, the noon sun rode high, and its arc would eventually take it to a sunset that would nearly end perfectly at the far end of the valley, where the two side peaks joined again.

​Picture this... it’s the late 1800s.  Shadow Valley is still booming with mines; tons of coal, copper, and gold being ripped from beneath the Earth’s skin.

​Jean scowled at the analogy and Summer rolled her eyes.

​Tom turned and gestured at the valley before them.

​It could’ve been a day like--

​Um, please don’t turn away, or Kurt can’t read your lips, Jean interrupted him. 

​Oh, Tom said awkwardly, shuffling his feet so his body faced the meadow beside them, but he could still direct his narrative back at the guys and gals.  Who wouldn’t want to set up a homestead here, in this beautiful little valley?  The aroma of the flowers, the gentle breeze causing the aspen trees’ leaves to quiver.  If it’s this picturesque now, imagine what it would have been like then. 

​Dude, one of the other Senior students said, scowling at Tom’s wistfulness.

​Tom glanced between his fellow students, then over at the group of younger teens.

​Well, anyway, cast your mind back and look at those trees, Tom said, motioning to the shaded area on the other side of the path, where a small homestead once stood. A young miner built it for his new wife, who let him come out West to set things up before she joined him.

​Tom turned and took several steps toward the area where the log house once stood.  He then faced the path again, and continued his story.

​With everything ready, and almost a year come and gone since they last saw each other, the miner sent for his young bride.  Legend has it that she was understandably excited to see him–

​I bet, the senior girl tittered.

​Jean wasn’t sure if Willa blushed, but Jean sure did.

​Raising his voice a touch louder, Tom continued, Anyway, in the city’s history archives it took a while for her to make the trip out here.  Records say she arrived by train and was so anxious to see him, that she rode on horseback out to where we stand, now.

​Tom turned in a circle, his arms wide, the theatrics adding to the glamor of the story.

​Sounds pretty boring,