Life's Rising Depths

By Amy Shannon

Sars Springs has always seen its share of interesting and even evil residents, but when the evil is hidden or even lurking in the shadows, everyone who lives and works in Sars Springs is a possible target.

Welcome to Sars Springs, AZ. Where the residents are a close nit family, whether related by blood or not. Rising Depths refers to the fear of not only the known evil of the past, but the unknown that swarms and haunts the town. Walk along the streets and come into the homes of the most prominent citizens and watch as their worlds are turned upside down.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amy Shannon
• Release date: Jan 5, 2024
• ISBN: 9798215226186

Amy Shannon

Amy Shannon is an author, professional book reviewer and literary consultant. Amy is republishing and publishing some for the first time, her MOD Life Epic Saga, which has over 67 volumes, and 9 bonus books.

Book preview

Life’s Rising Depths

Amy Shannon

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Essence Publishing

Ballston Spa, NY 12020

https://essenceenterpriseus.com/essence-publishing

2023 Edition

Copyright © 2023 by Amy C Shannon

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permissions of the author, except by a review who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a newspaper, magazine, or journal.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Thank you for downloading this ebook. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favorite authorized retailer. Thank you for your support.

Credits:

Cover Illustration Copyright © 2023

Cover design by Amy Shannon

The Entire MOD Life Epic Saga

1 Unwritten Life

2 Rewritten Life (Best Read after Unwritten Life)

3 Unwritten Life's Paths to Destiny (Best Read after Rewritten Life)

4 Written Life's Past Meets Present (Best Read after Rewritten Life)

5 Life's Written Past

6 Life's Unwritten Future

7 Another Written Life

8 Life … Rewritten

9 Unwritten Life & Death

10 Life's Healer

11 Life's Hindering Hope

12 Life's Binding Ties

13 Life's Resurrection

14 Life's Infiltration

15 Life's Revival

16 Life's Depths of Souls

17 Life's Explosion in Time

18 Life's Connections

19 Life's Collision

20 Life's Intersection

21 Life's Final Destination

22 Life's Generations

23 Return to Life

24 Life's Resolution

25 A New Unwritten Life

26 Life's Dissolution

27 Life's Linear Souls

28 Life's Choices

29 Life's Passions

30 Life's Awakening

31 Life's Vengeance

32 Life's Heartful Depths

33 Life's Quaking Souls

34 Fractured Life

35 Life's Drowning

36 Life's Exploration

37 Life's Curative

38 Thicker than Life's Blood

39 Life's Salvation

40 Capturing Life's Midnight

41 Life's ReEvolution

42 Life's Soulful Intentions

43 Life's Jagged Flames

44 Life's Rising Depths

45 Life's Doomed Immortality

46 Life's Raw Enforcement

47 Life's Deemed Corruption

48 Life's Inherent Immorality

49 Life's Retrospective Legacy

50 Life's Torturous Souls

51 Life's Passages

52 Life's Tribulations

53 Life's Spirituality

54 Life's Revitalizations

55 Life's Rapture

56 Life's Sacred Retaliation

57 Life's Fiery Resuscitation

58 Life's Experimentation

59 Life's Redemption

60 Life's Humanity

61 The District Life: Districtive

62 The District Life: Disarray

63 The District Life: Disassembled

64 The District Life: Disapparent

65 Life's Return: Home Sweet Sars Springs

66 Life's Return: The Practice

67 Sars Springs: The finale

Bonus Series:

B1 Life's Perspective: Matthew Garris (Best Read after Life's Binding Ties)

B2 Life's Perspective: Bill Wheeler (Best Read after Life's Binding Ties)

B3 Life's Perspective: Perspective: Mike Dix (Best Read after Life's Connections)

B4 Life's Alternate Path: Destiny ... Rewritten (Alternate Path Parallel to Unwritten Life & Death to Life's Binding Ties)

B5 Life's Alternate Path: Destiny ... Crossroads (Alternate Path Parallel to Life's Resurrection to Life's Depths of Souls)

B6 Life's Alternate Path: Destiny ... Intertwined (Alternate Path Parallel to Life's Explosion in Time to Life's Connections)

B7 Sars Springs Handbook (Best Read after Life's Torturous Souls)

B8 The Interview: Life's Revelations (Best Read after Life's Fiery Resuscitation)

B9 M.O.D Life Epic Saga Character Guide

Introduction

Sars Springs has always seen its share of interesting and even evil residents, but when the evil is hidden or even lurking in the shadows, everyone who lives and works in Sars Springs is a possible target.

Welcome to Sars Springs, AZ. Where the residents are a close nit family, whether related by blood or not. Rising Depths refers to the fear of not only the known evil of the past, but the unknown that swarms and haunts the town. Walk along the streets and come into the homes of the most prominent citizens and watch as their worlds are turned upside down.

1 Rossi Free Clinic

ELEANOR LOOKED UP from the reception desk as the man approached her. Can I help you?

Yes, I can’t seem to get rid of this cough, the small man said, as he coughed into his elbow.

All right, she said. Have you been seen here before?

He looked at her nametag. E. Wheeler, RN? You related to Bill Wheeler?

He’s my husband. Do you know Bill?

A long time ago, he coughed again. I haven’t been in Sars Springs in a long time, he looked around the lobby of the Rossi Free Clinic and stared at the names of the doctors on the directory. "What’s with the doctors Markum? Did Terrence have a population explosion?" he laughed slightly.

Um, sir, she handed him a clipboard. Dr. Ethan Markum is on duty today. Terry Markum is his grandfather. You can fill this out and have a seat. The doctor will be out shortly.

Hmm, Terrence? A grandfather? Hmm, that’s interesting, he slowly walked over to the waiting area and sat down. He looked up at the wall and noticed a large photo. Founding Doctor Raina Markum? he stood up instantly and stared at the photo. Raina? She looks so familiar. Nah, couldn’t be. Way too young for Terrence, he sat down and started to fill out the form on the clipboard when the local newspaper caught his eye. Dr. Markum and her mother, Alex O’Roark Carleno, dedicate the new Men’s Shelter, he stared at the photo and then looked up. He snickered to himself. Not yet, little one, he set the paper back on the table and filled out the form on the clipboard.

Eleanor looked up as Ethan walked out of his office. Doctor, Mr. Robertson, here has a bad cough, she handed Ethan the clipboard.

The man stood up, walked over to Ethan, and coughed into his elbow. I can’t get it to stop.

Ethan nodded. We’ll take a look, he said. Ellie, tell Dr. Marshall that there’s a three-year-old in exam six.

Oh, all right, she smiled.

Mr. Robertson turned around and looked at Ellie. "Dr. Marshall?"

Dr. Dante Marshall. Do you know him? Ellie asked.

I guess not, he said, as he followed Ethan down the hall toward the exam room.

Dr. Raina Markum walked into the Free clinic and smiled at her aunt. Hi, Ellie, she smiled.

Dr. Markum, what brings you here?

Is Dante around? she asked.

He’s in with a patient right now. Is something wrong?

Nope, Raina said. I was on my way here to review some files and I ran into Micah. He asked me to relay a message to my grandson.

He should be out soon, Ellie said. Um, can I ask you a question?

Sure, Raina leaned on the counter. What’s wrong?

There’s this patient that was here earlier, she said.

Oh, something wrong? Raina asked, as Ethan walked over to the counter.

He asked a lot of questions, Ethan said.

About what?

Markums and Marshalls, Ethan said.

"Oh, what kind of questions? Raina asked. I happen to be a Markum by marriage," she laughed.

Ellie smiled slightly. "He kept staring at all the displays on the wall. He called Terry Terrence. I didn’t think that anyone called him that."

Hmm, maybe he lives around here, Raina said.

He said he used to live around here, Ethan said. I treated him for a horrible cough. He had a lot of scars on his body, too. Inside and out.

What’s his name? Raina asked.

Mr. Robertson. He didn’t give me a first name, he said.

Robertson? Raina shrugged. I don’t know a Robertson. I think heard that name before, but I can’t quite place it. It’s probably nothing.

Um, there is something else, Ethan said.

What’s that? Raina said.

Well, he was here when you walked in the building, but he stopped and asked to go out the back door, Ethan said. "Gram, he kinda gave me the creeps, but I also had the feeling that he had been awakened before."

What do you mean? she asked.

He had the scars, you know, on the temple and under the breastbone. You know, like the old awakening processes. He also had some weird tattoo on his wrist, Ethan said.

What did it say? she asked.

FBNI, he said. It was old and faded but that’s what it looked like.

Hmm, well, will he be back? she asked, as Dr. Dante Marshall walked toward them.

I gave him a script with one refill. I don’t know if he’ll be back. He left an address of 587 Hadley Road.

Dante laughed, as he approached them. That’s an empty lot, he said.

Raina kissed her grandson’s cheek. It’s an empty lot?

Has been for a while. That’s right next door to mine and Demetri’s house. We’re trying to buy the lot, but the realtor keeps giving us the brush off. It is for sale. Has been for like a million years.

Hmm, Raina said. Well, I don’t know. If this man has been awakened, the residue will still be in his system. Ethan, did you take blood?

Yes, two tubes, he said. I was about to bring them to the lab.

Call Martin and have him fax you the standard tests for awakening from Lab-C and run it along with the other tests. Also, run his blood against the AA database.

The AA database? Ethan asked. I’ve never done that before.

Martin or Ken can help you on that. The procedures are right above the first computer in Lab-C.

What is that? Or is that hush-hush, too? Dante grinned.

Oh, stop, Raina laughed. You’re the one who’d rather work with kids then with weird diseases like the rest of us, she laughed.

Oh, definitely. I think the kids relate to me or I relate to them, well, whatever. I’m still a kid at heart, just ask my brother. He’ll tell you I even act like one, Dante smiled. So, do I have to guess? Let’s see, it’s not about roadside assistance. That has three A’s, I think. Um, it’s not about alcohol.

OK, you can stop now, she laughed.

I could guess forever, he smiled.

He will, too, Gram, Ethan laughed.

Oh, well, all right. The AA database is a compilation of all known patients that have been awakened even once. I started it years ago. The database is federal, so any doctor who has awakened a patient, legally has entered the DNA in the database.

What about illegally? Dante asked.

If it’s known, it’s in the database. Even before awakenings were certified, I created the database so that we could compare clones against real persons that were awakened.

Oh, you think this man could be dangerous? Ethan asked.

I don’t know. I can’t quite place where I’ve heard that name, but it could be nothing.

Ellie stood up. He said he knew Bill a long time ago. I could call Bill.

Don’t bother him at work, Raina smiled. I’m sure it’s nothing. Ethan, take care of your patient. I have some files I need to review. Oh, Dante, Micah asked me to remind you that he’ll be on-call for the next three nights for the OR. He said that you would need to be on-call for the clinic and the office.

Oh, right, he said. Thanks for reminding me. Ellie, the little one in exam six needs her vaccination for chicken pox and a lollypop. Green.

Oh, all right, Ellie stood up as she headed toward the medication room.

Gram, I’ll see you later. I have to get to the pediatric office.

She kissed his cheek. I’ll be here for an hour. I can cover patients for you if you need it.

Great, thanks, he said. Essence is bringing Chase in shortly.

Ethan looked up. She didn’t tell me that. Is he sick? Is he OK?

Dante laughed slightly. Grandparents, he snickered.

"What’s that supposed to mean?" Ethan asked.

Chase is just fine. It’s his three-year-old checkup. That’s all.

Does he need shots? Ethan asked.

No, he’s up-to-date, Dante said, as his pager went off. I have to go. They’re here now, he headed down the corridor to the door that connected the Free clinic to the Doyle and Marshall pediatric office.

Raina put her hand on Ethan’s shoulder. If there was something wrong with Chase, Essence would tell you.

I would hope so, he said. "I love that little boy. I see why you love me so much."

Raina hugged Ethan. Yup, you were my first grandson, and I always took care of you.

And spoiled me, Ethan smiled. And you still do.

Well, I can’t help it. Now you know why, she said. I’ll be in my office. How late do you have to work?

Just until close, he said. I’m meeting Sonia at Destino for dinner tonight.

Oh, are you ever going to marry that woman? Raina asked.

Gram, we’re fine the way that we are. You don’t bug your parents to get married again, do you?

Well, no, but they were married three times before, Raina said.

You don’t bug Logan and Mark to get married again, he said.

No, but they can’t here, Raina said.

I know, but there are states that would allow it, Ethan said. I get it, but, Gram, we don’t all have to be married to be committed and in love. Sometimes it’s better that way.

I know, she said. Ethan?

Yeah? he grinned.

"I hate it when you’re right," she said, as she headed down the hall.

I know, but you love me anyway, he laughed.

So, true, she laughed, as she headed into her office.

Ellie wrote down in the chart at the reception desk as Dr. Avery Morrison walked into the building. Ellie smiled. Dr. Morrison, what brings you here?

Um, Dante isn’t here, is he? she asked.

Um, he’s at the pediatric office. Dr. Markum is covering for him, Ellie said.

Oh, um, which Dr. Markum is here?

Well, Raina is in the office, she’s covering for Dante in case we get a PEDS case and Ethan is the shift doctor. Are you all right? You look, well, kind of…

I’m not feeling too well, but I don’t want to alarm Dante, she said.

Ellie stood up. Let me get you in an exam room, Ellie grabbed a blank chart off the table and led her to an empty exam room. Ellie looked into her eyes. What are your symptoms?

Raina rubbed her eyes as she smiled at the photo of her and Terry that sat on her desk. She jumped slightly when she heard something drop to the floor. She stood up and noticed a picture frame on the floor. She smiled at the picture when she turned it around. Uncle John, she smiled. I wonder where this came from, she set it on her desk next to the picture of her and Terry. She lightly touched John Abram’s photo. Her mind swirled back in time.

Alex sat down on the sofa and took 18-year-olds Raina and Matt’s hands. I know that you are both upset by Uncle John’s death.

Momma, I love Uncle John, Raina wiped her eyes. I know he was old, but he always seemed like he would live forever.

Matt put his arm around his twin sister. He was the best, Matt smiled. It’s unfair that he died.

Well, you’re right. I’m going to miss him dearly. He and Jason raised me as if I was their real flesh and blood. Now, there is something that I just found out about him. I didn’t know but it’s kinda weird.

Momma? Raina looked into her mother’s eyes.

My parents just told me. Now, I guess before Steven and I were born, before we were conceived, my mother and Uncle John had an affair.

Gramma cheated on Grampa? Matt asked. Does everyone cheat? he cried.

Now, Matthew, please, Alex said. It’s OK. It’s not about cheating. Please, let me finish. It’s important. I need to tell you before Evan reads the will tomorrow.

All right. I’m sorry, Mom.

It’s OK. I understand your anger, but my point is, where Daddy is still Uncle Steven’s father, my real father is Uncle John. I didn’t know until after Uncle John died. I guess…

Is that why they got rid of Uncle Steven? Raina asked.

Yes, my father assumed Steven was Uncle John’s, but he was wrong. He loves us both as if we were his own. Uncle John always knew that I was his but kept quiet until after his death.

How could he do that? Raina asked. Actually, it explains so much about him.

I know, especially the parts about threatening your father, Alex laughed.

I didn’t see it, but I remember hearing them talk about Uncle John wanting to rip off daddy’s head, Raina laughed.

Oh, I’m sure he would’ve, too, Alex laughed.

Raina smiled to herself. Yeah, Uncle John, you would’ve done that a million times, but I think finally they are where they’re supposed to be, she smiled. She closed her eyes and then slightly shivered. John? she whispered, as there was a knock on the door. She jumped as Ellie walked into the office.

Dr. Markum?

Oh, Ellie, I didn’t hear you come in, she said.

Are you all right? Ellie asked. You look like you’ve seen a ghost.

Um, fine. Did you need something?

I know that you’re just seeing PEDS cases, but there’s a patient in exam two that wants a female doctor.

Oh, well, all right, she looked at the photo of John again. I’ll be right there, she stood up and followed Ellie down the hall.

2 Destino Italian Restaurant

TERRY MARKUM WALKED into his office as Bella Markum followed behind him. Grampa, are you sure this is what you want to do?

Terry sat behind his desk as she sat down in the chair in front of it. Bella, I’ve been working a lot at the precinct. I didn’t realize that when I became the police commissioner with Jim and also a P.I with him that it would take me away from the restaurant as much as it does. I love this restaurant. It is my baby, so to speak. I’m trying to figure out the best schedule for me and I’ve asked Jim to do the same thing. Now, I want to know what will work best for you. I know that your girls are growing up. I also think that you have been doing a lot more work than either Jim or I.

But I love working what I’m doing now. I love running the line three nights a week and have Natalia and Jeff run the line the other nights of the week. I’m sure you want to leave something in the restaurant to Natalia.

I’ve given Natalia one-percent of the restaurant. I’m serious here, Bella. I want to readjust the partnership. Equal between you, me, and Jim and have Natalia keep her one-percent. It’s not going to constitute more work for you.

But aren’t your brothers silent partners, or even Aunt Raina?

Nope, he said. It used to be that way, but they have their own businesses. Honey, you and Jim are my partners. I love you and I trust you. Very much. So, does Jim.

Bella hugged him tightly. I love you, Grampa. I remember when you took me in. It was just before I found out I was pregnant with Matteo. I was just 17.

"You are amazing. You’ve come a long way. I know Matteo is not with us anymore, but he’s in your heart. I see him in your eyes. In