Marley's Melancholia

By Oscar O'Rourke

"A thrilling piece of page-turning psychedelic horror!"

Oscar O'Rourke is a masterful writer of horror fiction. In his new short story he introduces the reader to Marley—a woman fighting to escape a hotel that seems to want her dead. This fast-paced thriller will leave you gobsmacked and shocked!

Marley has never been a normal woman. She's always appreciated that fact about herself. She's always leaned into her worst tendencies with an astonishing proudness. Yet, her demons finally catch up to her one day (in a very literal way) when she accidentally murders a co-worker and is left to deal with how her employer—the head of a massive drug operation—reacts.

Shadows in the night. Feral cats. Junkies. A jealous daughter. Will Marley escape the Wuthering Hotel and all of it's perils?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Oscar O'Rourke
• Release date: Jan 28, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224587728

Book preview

Marley's Melancholia

A Horror Story

Oscar O'Rourke

Olive Python Publishing

Copyright © 2023 Oscar O'Rourke

All rights reserved

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.

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.

ISBN: 9798876425881

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018675309

Printed in the United States of America

Dedicated to the books I never finished

And I'll be back in the pulse--Fiona Apple

I think God, in creating man, somewhat overestimated his ability

Oscar Wilde

Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Epigraph

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 1

If it’s real, I thought, then I’m dead. If it’s not, then I’m only fucked.

I approached the mirror with caution. The reflection within it smiled, with a face that was my own but teeth that were broken and fractured to the point they were sharp and jagged. I had given myself to it. I could no longer control my own feet. It began to laugh as I got closer, closer—sunlight hit my eyes. Over my back and through the window—the sun's reflection hit the mirror, blinding me! At that moment, I could see nothing—once more, I had control—I threw myself into a twirl and stood facing the comforting brightness, bathing within the freedom it was gifting.

A voice came from behind me: Are you okay, Marley?.

Probably not, Johnny., I replied. But I'm fine.

Slowly my eyes adjusted, and I could see clearly. I walked up to the bay window before me and took in the sights below.

It's beautiful, I thought, to see the city lights speckled within a sea of towers,