Night Monsters: contos, #1

By Ricardo Almeida

Dorothy's life weaves a complex tapestry of love, sacrifice, and heartbreak, where her relentless dedication to her family's well-being stands as a testament to her unwavering strength. Haunted by the shadows of a devastating past, she battles against the tides of fate, clinging onto the frayed edges of hope amidst the ruins of her shattered dreams.

Amidst the stifling darkness of the night, Dorothy's restless mind tumbles through a labyrinth of nightmares, where her beloved husband Stephen is ensnared by sinister forces beyond her grasp. A gripping tale of harrowing battles against formidable monsters unfolds, leaving Dorothy grappling with a sense of helplessness that seeps into every fiber of her being.

As dawn breaks, she finds solace in her slumbering son, Travis, a beacon of light amidst the storm. Encased in the grip of her responsibilities, she tends to her ailing mother-in-law with unwavering compassion, weaving the delicate threads of care and empathy in a world torn asunder by grief and betrayal.

A compelling narrative unfolds as Mrs. Green, Dorothy's ailing mother-in-law, shares the haunting chapters of her life, narrating the tragic downfall of her beloved husband, Lester. The heart-wrenching tale of false accusations and irredeemable loss grips the reader's heart, as they witness the unjust price paid for the pursuit of justice in an unforgiving world.

The story delves deeper, unraveling the untold saga of Stephen's descent into darkness, shadowed by influences that transformed the promising young man into an unrecognizable figure. Dorothy's unwavering dedication and sacrifices come to the fore, painting a portrait of a woman caught in the crossfire of her loved ones' torments, yet steadfast in her commitment to restoring the shattered fragments of her family's legacy.

With tender moments shared between Dorothy and Travis, a glimmer of hope emerges, casting a flicker of light in the dark labyrinth of their lives. Travis, with his endearing innocence, becomes a poignant symbol of resilience, a testament to the enduring spirit that thrives in the face of adversity.

The narrative is interwoven with profound emotional depth, exploring themes of betrayal, sacrifice, and redemption, painting a vivid picture of the human spirit's resilience in the face of overwhelming tribulations. Through Dorothy's journey, one witnesses the profound power of love, tested and strengthened by the relentless storms of fate, forging an indomitable spirit that refuses to yield, even in the darkest of times."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ricardo Almeida
• Release date: Nov 9, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223382652

Book preview

Table of Contents

Night Monsters (contos, #1)

Dorothy, it will be.

Dorothy didn't close her eyes all night, and only towards mourning did she sink into

an anxious sleep.

She had nightmares in which Stephen was the main character.

Or rather, in her nocturnal visions, he was the victim of monstrous creatures.

Dorothy tried to save her husband, but she couldn't succeed because the formidable monsters

always took him away, but they didn't harm her.

Opening her eyes, the woman anxiously looked at her sleeping little son next to her.

Travis had been waiting for his dad to come yesterday, with whom he loved to play.

A faint voice came from the adjacent room.

Dorothy, are you awake yet?

The woman lovingly covered her son with a blanket and hurriedly responded to the call

of her sick mother-in-law.

Mrs. Green, would you like something to drink?

You should have woken me up earlier.

I've already been a burden to you.

You've exhausted yourself, taking care of me, look, you're all pale green.

Don't talk nonsense.

Not all the problems are because of you.

Besides, you're doing great, you're getting better.

The elderly woman sighed heavily.

I know it's all because of Stephen.

Even though he's my son, if it were up to me, I don't know what I would do with him.

He has ruined your life, and you're such a sweet girl who deserves happiness.

Dorothy tried to hold back her tears because her mother-in-law's words evoked pity in

her.

Pity for herself and for this kind woman who, because of her son's fault, found herself

in a helpless position.

As if reading her thoughts, her mother-in-law immediately began to defend her son.

Dorothy, but Stephen wasn't always like this.

I gave birth to him when I was 42.

My husband and I had already given up on the idea of having a child, and we had abandoned

all the futile attempts when suddenly a miracle happened.

The mother-in-law spoke with difficulty, and some sounds were impossible for her to produce.

But Dorothy had learned to understand her garbled speech, and now she looked at the elderly

woman with astonishment.

After all, she was sharing her most intimate secrets with her daughter-in-law for the first

time.

She encouraged the sick woman.

Please, go on.

I'm very interested in hearing your family history.

We won't get any words from Stephen.

Mrs. Green's face turned pink and she smiled.

He doesn't really know anything.

And he hardly remembers his father.

My husband was ten years older than me and already dreamed of a carefree old age.

He wanted to buy a little house somewhere in a quiet place by a small river.

For the sake of that cherished dream, my Lester gave up on a car he had been saving for for

about ten years.

We found a suitable house, but then the irreparable happened.

For the first time in all this time, the mother-in-law allowed herself such candid speech.

Dorothy didn't rush her, even though these unknown pages from this brave woman's life

intrigued her.

The daughter-in-law handed a glass of water to her mother-in-law, who took a few sips

and continued.

There have always been envious people, and my Lester had ill-wishers who didn't like

his demanding nature.

You see, my husband was a manager in a construction company, so he didn't tolerate laziness and

carelessness from those who were slacking off.

I never had a habit of interfering in my husband's affairs, thinking that Lester was doing the

right thing, so it was a shock for me when someone knocked on our door late at night.

Oh, Dorothy, I thought I wouldn't survive that disgrace.

Mrs. Green, you mustn't worry.

Maybe it's not worth remembering unpleasant moments?

No.

No, my dear, I want to tell you everything, there's no one else.

I have a bad feeling about this.

Don't get upset over trivial things.

Remember what the doctor said, rest and positive emotions.

If things go well, you'll soon recover.

The mother-in-law looked at her daughter-in-law strangely.

I hope God hears you.

But it's better if I finish my story.

Someone among the offended ones reported to the authorities that my husband had embezzled

government funds and bought a country house with them.

Officials from the relevant agencies came to our house.

They turned everything upside down, but to this day, I don't know what they were looking

for.

Stephen was very young at the time and hindered the search of the house.

One of them managed to kick the child, and Stephen started crying.

Lester couldn't take it and rushed to fight the scoundrel.

Before I could blink, the three of them pounced on the elderly man.

After all, my husband was already in his sixties.

Dorothy felt uneasy.

Did they actually beat him in front of you?

No, they didn't beat him in front of me.

They just handcuffed him and threw him out of the apartment.

My husband asked them to let him say, goodbye, to his son and wife, but they didn't listen.

And in the morning, I was informed that Lester had died.

They called on the phone, apparently couldn't bring themselves to come home.

They said his heart couldn't handle it.

My husband died right there during the interrogation.

An ambulance was called, but the doctors couldn't do anything, he had a massive heart attack.

The story exhausted the woman, and she closed her eyes, her chest heaving heavily, from

difficulty breathing.

Dorothy was shocked by