The Devil's Rite

By Dan Shrader

Ever since Brian turned 10 years old, his life has been plagued by the mysterious visitation of the Tree Man.

This traumatic event has left him with vivid nightmares and countless unanswered questions. Now, as he prepares to leave the psychiatric facility, his main focus is on unraveling the truth behind that fateful night.

Reunited with his estranged sister, Brian delves deeper into the string of murders that have occurred. He can't help but wonder if the Tree Man is a real supernatural being or if there are sinister individuals behind these events. With a burning desire to uncover the truth, Brian embarks on a search to unravel the secrets that shroud his past in a world he had forgotten.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Unveiling Nightmares
• Release date: Mar 18, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224908745

Book preview

Chapter One

Brian could only make out minor details of what occurred that dark and stormy night. After all, he was just a child when the traumatic event took place, and many doctors said there was no hope for the young boy at the time. It was over thirteen years ago, and since that day, Brian’s life had been a nightmare.

With adulthood, his memories became more distorted or manipulated with the various medications he was administered in addition to therapy. The talented doctors at the Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility helped with re-programming Brian’s mind to the best of their ability. Out of all the years Brian spent in the PRTF, one thing was certain—his parents had been killed that night.

The last time Brian saw both his mother and father alive was on his birthday. That was the night they were brutally murdered in such a way it shook the sleepy town. When the police arrived, Brian was found covered in blood, with only a faint recollection of what truly happened.

The Tree Man did it.

It didn’t take long for him to get plunged into the system and forgotten about. But even in this moment, Brian felt he didn’t matter or never really existed. His childhood had been stolen, and he had spent it learning from doctors and nurses without regular human interaction.

No one ever found out the truth of that night.

Now, twenty-three, Brian had grown into a striking young man, his tall, lean frame befitting a model. His sorrowful eyes revealed a tale no one could understand. Deep behind the blue orbs were signs of something traumatic and not of this world—something he couldn’t recall.

This was a pivotal moment in Brian’s life. He was about to walk out through the doors of the PRTF for the very first time since he’d been locked behind them. His heart fluttered at the thought as he checked over his small room one last time. A hard plastic bed frame and a desk were all he had known as home. Excitement and fear were blended into a cocktail of emotion as Brian was moments away from being discharged.

He didn’t know if he was welcome out there and surely didn’t feel like a normal person anymore.

Brian put on a pair of donated jeans and a t-shirt the facility was nice enough to supply him with. Anything was better than the scrub outfits he’d been forced to wear. Once dressed, Brian was hit with a sickening feeling that made everything even more surreal. Looking in the mirror, he questioned what the word Dokken meant on the front of his t-shirt—but it fit, and that’s all Brian could wish for.

When he asked the cute nurse about the word, she told him it was a famous heavy metal band, and he should know the current events in the real world. Brian didn’t take it personally. She was new and hadn’t yet learned that music, among other things, wasn’t allowed in the facility. Once the nurse finished her assessment, Brian took his small travel bag and headed down the hall.

He had one last stop before he was allowed to leave—his doctor. Brian was eager to see the man but scared to leave him. As he walked into Doctor Frazier's office, Brian looked around. Frazier had dedicated his life to his profession. The appearance of his office was a testament to his somewhat chaotic yet well-thought-out methods. Several books and research papers were scattered across the desk and floor. The coffee pot was always on, no matter what time of the day. To avoid leaving the compound during the hectic work weeks, Frazer kept a small shelf of non-perishable meals.

Brian was the only client allowed to enter Frazier’s office for sessions—never knocking, no matter the time or day. After all, the two had known each other for ten years.

He sat across from Frazier, who was planted at his desk. The old man examined Brian’s discharge papers while slurping a large cup of coffee. Brian knew not to bother him and waited patiently.

Frazier looked up from the file and said, Everything appears to be in order.

Frazier’s odd appearance always intrigued Brian. The elderly gentleman had long, snow-white hair bound into a neat ponytail and