The Haunt at Hogg Run: Lorestalker, #4

By J.P. Barnett

Mysterious screams and terrifying shadows haunt the woods of East Texas—horrors born of deadly secrets.

> FINALIST: Feathered Quill Book Awards 2021: Mystery/Thriller/Suspense/Horror
> TOP 5 FINALIST: The Kindle Book Review 2021: Horror/Suspense

"...an excellent work of suspenseful horror fiction... I absolutely loved the dialogue and East Texas vibe... definitely recommend The Haunt at Hogg Run for horror fans looking for a fully immersive and spine-tingling experience." ~ Readers' Favorite Book Reviews, K.C. Finn (5 STARS)

It's not awkward at all when you're forced on a family vacation with your new stepmother and her young daughter. Reluctantly, Macy Donner agrees to it to please her father. But camping? Even worse.

Beset by ominous weather, power outages, and hulking shadows heralded by terrifying screams from the darkness, Macy realizes that she's their only hope for survival—a thin hope, at best. Although she's learned a thing or two from her monster-hunting friends, she's not equipped for the horrors of the nearby, abandoned haunted house, or for its long-buried secrets—secrets that want to kill her.

"Themes of love and family bonding, although rare in horror stories, predominate the storyline. With both fantastical and real-life monsters, suspenseful chase sequences, and a brave protagonist, The Haunt at Hogg Run is a real treat for fans of the horror genre." ~ Readers' Favorite Book Reviews, Shrabastee Chakraborty (5 STARS)

EVOLVED PUBLISHING PRESENTS the fourth book in the critically-acclaimed, multiple award-winning "Lorestalker" series of urban fantasy/paranormal horror stories featuring creatures of lore and dark imagination.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evolved Publishing LLC
• Release date: Sep 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9781622536467

J.P. Barnett

J.P. Barnett grew up in a tiny Texas town where the list of possible vocations failed to include published author. In second grade, he worked harder than any other student to deliver a story about a tiger cub who singlehandedly saved the U.S. Military, earning him a shiny gold star and a lifelong appreciation of telling a good story. Fast forwarding through decades of schooling and a career as a software engineer, J.P. Barnett stepped away from it all to get back to his first real passion. Years of sitting at a keyboard gifted him with some benefit, though, including blazing fast typing hands and a full tank of creativity. As a child, J.P. consumed any book he could get his hands on. The likes of Stephen King, Michael Crichton, and Dean Koontz paved the bookshelves of his childhood, providing a plethora of fantastical and terrifying tales that he read way too early in life. Though the effect these books had on his psyche could be called into question, these masters of storytelling managed to warp his mind in just the perfect way to spin a fun yarn or two. J.P. currently resides in Seattle with his wife and hellion of a cat, both of whom look at him dubiously with some frequency.

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THE HAUNT AT HOGG RUN

Lorestalker—Book 4

Copyright © 2020 J.P. Barnett

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ISBN (EPUB Version): 1622536460

ISBN-13 (EPUB Version): 978-1-62253-646-7

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Editor: Mike Robinson

Cover Artist: Richard Tran

Interior Designer: Lane Diamond

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE:

At the end of this novel of approximately 65,815 words, you will find two Special Sneak Previews: 1) THE DEVIL OF MISTY LAKE by J.P. Barnett, the next (fifth) novel in this multiple-award-winning Lorestalker series, and; 2) THE GREEN-EYED MONSTER by Mike Robinson, the critically acclaimed first book in the Enigma of Twilight Falls series. We think you’ll enjoy these books, too, and provide these previews as a FREE extra service, which you should in no way consider a part of the price you paid for this book. We hope you will both appreciate and enjoy the opportunity. Thank you.

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eBook License Notes:

You may not use, reproduce or transmit in any manner, any part of this book without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations used in critical articles and reviews, or in accordance with federal Fair Use laws. All rights are reserved.

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only; it may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please return to your eBook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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Disclaimer:

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or the author has used them fictitiously.

Books by J.P. Barnett

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The LORESTALKER Series

Book 1: The Beast of Rose Valley

Book 2: The Kraken of Cape Madre

Book 3: The Witch of Gray’s Point

Book 4: The Haunt at Hogg Run

Book 5: The Devil of Misty Lake

Book 6: The Legacy of Rose Valley

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JPBarnett.com

What Others Are Saying

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THE BEAST OF ROSE VALLEY:

If you are looking for a fun, fast-paced creature feature set in a small town, you really can’t go wrong with this one. ~ Steve Stred, Kendall Reviews

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THE KRAKEN OF CAPE MADRE:

Barnett has skills. He has the ability to take a reader anywhere and everywhere and make you feel every bit of emotions his characters are feeling. ~ Ash, Reviews of a Fear Street Zombie

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THE WITCH OF GRAY’S POINT:

"For lovers of myths, folklore, and the macabre, Barnett is the author to follow and, with three books already published, there is plenty of material to read. His most recent release, The Witch of Gray’s Point, adds an excellent installment to the series as a whole." ~ Alicia Smock, Roll Out Reviews

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THE HAUNT AT HOGG RUN:

This is one of those stories that is so fast-paced and exciting that you can't stop reading. I love, love Macy having her own book. I found myself holding my breath and making out-loud noises rooting for Macy to get out of her sticky situations. Great story, great writing! ~ Mistie Cogdill, Author of In the Right Time

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THE DEVIL OF MISTY LAKE:

"The vivid action sequences resembled a fast-paced movie, making The Devil of Misty Lake a perfect read for anyone interested in an adventurous ride." ~ Shrabastee Chakraborty, Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews

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THE LEGACY OF ROSE VALLEY:

Barnett describes his creatures running rampant with such vivid detail that it is almost impossible not to feel a shiver run down your spine when reading. The result of this balanced mix of mystery, horror, and romance is the exciting reading experience... ~ Essien Asian, Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews

BONUS CONTENT

We’re pleased to offer you not one, but two Special Sneak Previews at the end of this book.

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In the first preview, you’ll enjoy the prologue and first chapter of THE DEVIL OF MISTY LAKE by J.P. Barnett, the next (fifth) novel in this multiple-award-winning Lorestalker series.

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OR GRAB THE FULL EBOOK TODAY!

FIND LINKS TO YOUR FAVORITE RETAILER HERE:

The LORESTALKER Series at Evolved Publishing

In the second preview, you’ll enjoy the first two chapters of THE GREEN-EYED MONSTER by Mike Robinson, the critically acclaimed first book in the Enigma of Twilight Falls series.

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Editor’s Choice at HorrorNovelReviews.com: Among the Top 10 Horror Novels of All-Time

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Absolutely magnificent. ~ Shannon McGrew, Nightmarish Conjurings

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Literary horror... Every page is full of insight, matched only by the high standard of the writing. ~ Tom Conrad, The Indie Pendant

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OR GRAB THE FULL EBOOK TODAY!

FIND LINKS TO YOUR FAVORITE RETAILER HERE:

ENIGMA OF TWILIGHT FALLS Series at Evolved Publishing

Table of Contents

Copyright

Books by J.P. Barnett

What Others Are Saying

BONUS CONTENT

Table of Contents

THE HAUNT AT HOGG RUN

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

A Note from the Author

Special Sneak Preview: THE DEVIL OF MISTY LAKE by J.P. Barnett

Acknowledgements

About the Author

What’s Next?

More from J.P. Barnett

More from Evolved Publishing

Special Sneak Preview: THE GREEN-EYED MONSTER by Mike Robinson

Prologue

Ten Years Ago

Manda had been waiting for this day for years. Every Halloween, she’d watched her older siblings embark on this amazing quest of terror. You’re too young, they’d always tell her. To them, she wouldn’t be able to handle the deep, scary woods of East Texas. When they came home laughing and teasing and poking fun at each other for screaming, Manda felt sure that she wouldn’t be scared like them. She was tough. One day she’d show them she could handle it.

And today... today was that day.

Ten. The magic number, arbitrarily set by her parents, when she’d finally be old enough to enjoy the festivities. The trick-or-treating over, now she’d spend the rest of her Halloween night with the big kids.

She shook her hand free from her mother’s stalwart grip and drank in the tiny clearing. An old, ramshackle barn brimmed with all the frightful ‘vibes’ it had engendered. Farm animals stirred in pens that lined the edges, but the animals all seemed much more terrifying than the ones she was used to. The makeshift cages sat so closely together that they blocked access to the towering woods beyond. The inky dark woods seemed way worse than any man-made haunted house. She believed that ghosts and monsters might lurk out there. But here? Here felt safe.

Manda.

She didn’t hear; or rather she chose not to pay attention. There was just too much to see. Too much to do. Too much to prove.

Amanda!

She finally looked up, squaring her dark brown eyes on those of her mother.

Be careful, okay? Mom said. And if you get scared, I’ll be right here.

Like right here? Seemed silly to avoid all the fun by sitting on a bench at the entrance. Especially, since Manda wasn’t going to get scared anyway. It was all make-believe. People in rubber masks. Farm animals. And...

Directly across the grove, her eyes landed on one of the most amazing, impressive, magical human beings she’d ever seen. He wore a long-tail coat from another era, and a top-hat that stretched up to the heavens. His mustache twirled up at the ends, almost acting as a second smile that promised answers to the universe. He didn’t look scary at all. He looked inviting and exciting. This man surely knew real magic—nothing like her older brother’s lame card tricks.

Here, her mom insisted, readying her wristband. Give me your hand.

Manda lifted her hand, never taking her eyes off the magician. Scarves flew out from his sleeves. Red foam balls appeared out of nowhere. If she hurried, she might see a rabbit appear out of his hat. As soon as her mom attached the wristband securely, Manda was off, darting through the crowds. She had to make it before any grand finale. She wanted to see the rabbit.

The crowd ebbed and flowed, corralling her to the outside where she found herself uncomfortably close to a stable of pigs. They squealed and grunted in the mud, their smell thickening the air. And they glared at her. All of them. As if they didn’t think she was old enough to be here, either. She’d grown up in a small-town. She’d seen her fair share of pigs, and none of them—none of them—had ever glared at her this way.

When she finally broke through to the crowd in front of the small magician’s stage, her shoulder bumped that of another kid’s. A boy, about her age.

Oh no. A boy she knew. Trevor.

You smell like crap, Manda, Trevor said with that glint in his eye. She could hardly call him a friend. Maybe she should have called him a bully, in fact, but she gave him more grace than that. One of her friends told her that he liked her. That’s why he was so mean to her. It didn’t make any sense to her, but then, very few things in the world made sense to her yet.

Wfffft!

The magician’s cape swirled and billowed. When the cape settled, he held a bouquet of black apples, a little skull holding the stems together. Creepy. Manda clapped with glee as he plucked an apple from the bouquet and knelt to the ground. From seemingly nowhere, a tiny baby pig waddled up a short flight of stairs onto the platform, then sprinted over to greedily consume the fruit.

Was there such a thing as a black apple, or had they painted it? Manda decided she’d ask her mom later.

As she watched the cuddly pig munch on its apple, something swelled in the crowd. At first, she only heard the distant screaming of those in the haunted house—which she would totally do next—but then she heard screams behind her.

Around her.

Only from a few people at first, but then frantically from everyone around her. Someone much larger than her knocked her to the wet ground. A small hand grabbed her elbow and helped her back to her feet. Face to face with Trevor now, his eyes weren’t focused on her, but on something in the distance. Something behind her. Manda hadn’t lived long enough to see true fear, but an instinct deep inside her heart told her this was it.

She turned to see something huge. Something inexplicable. The sounds it made seemed otherworldly and dangerous. From the shadows of the tree-line, she could only make out the front of it, but its massive size—way taller than her—scared her. A wide, sinewy body, with beady eyes and several horns sprouting from its face. She screamed and stumbled backwards into Trevor’s chest. He grabbed her upper arms to keep his balance, then took her hand.

Run! he yelled.

He jerked her arm, nearly pulling her elbow from the socket, and they ran. The screams of the crowd echoed through the woods. A wave of panic. She could hear the monster behind her, clopping across the soft ground. Getting closer. They wouldn’t be able to escape it. Monsters were real.

Where’s Mom?

Trevor broke to their left and Manda lost her footing, slipping and pulling him down with her. The monster gained on them. She could hear it breathing. Were its eyes glowing? She couldn’t be sure.

Trevor scrambled to his feet and tried to pull her up. She couldn’t get her shoes to cooperate. They wouldn’t grip. The thing barreled at her. She looked up to meet its gaze. She didn’t think she’d die. She couldn’t conceive of that, really, but her heart threatened to beat out of her chest and tears gushed from her eyes. She felt the inevitability of the truth, even if she didn’t understand it.

But then, Trevor was in front of her, arms outstretched as if to push the monster back. He couldn’t stop the momentum, of course, but it was enough of a delay that Manda could scuttle backwards.

Trevor went down, but the monster didn’t stop. The crowd swarmed and she lost sight of her friend. Was he okay? Where had he gone? Through the briefest of windows amid the hurried legs, Manda saw him on the ground, motionless, but she didn’t have time to register what it meant.

The monster appeared again. So close. Blood dripping from the horns on its face. This couldn’t be real. It was just a magic trick, right?

Manda! The voice cut through the screams.

Her mother would be right there.

Mommy! she yelled. She hardly ever called her mother that anymore.

In a flash, her mother was there, kneeling in front of her and wrapping Manda up in her arms. She loved the way her mother smelled: faintly of flowers and laundry detergent. She’d always smelled like that, for as long as Manda could remember.

She didn’t really understand what was happening when her mother collapsed on top of her. Didn’t really process the overwhelming amount of weight that pressed her into the cold mud. Didn’t really understand the source of the warm wet that seeped into her favorite shirt. There were tears. Screaming. Yelling. Manda couldn’t take it all in. Something inside her brain broke her away from the reality of the situation and tried to shield her. From the monster. From the magician. From the limp weight of her mother.

Manda could just barely see through a tiny passage in her mom’s flowing hair. She noticed the magician. From her angle, he appeared overly tall, and angled so strangely that she had a hard time understanding what she was looking at. But he had a gun. She could tell that.

Good. He could stop the monster. Then she and her mother could go home.

Everything seemed so confusing. The screams continued. The unholy cries of the monster reverberated through the night. But the magician didn’t point the gun at the monster. He pointed it at... himself?

A shot rang through the air.

The magician collapsed to the ground.

Manda cried.

Chapter 1

As they moved ever eastward, the sparse cedars gave way to oppressive pines that hugged the road and blocked the sun. Macy Donner sat silently in the passenger’s seat. She didn’t often stay quiet, but she rarely found herself in such an awkward situation. She focused on the hum of the tires against the road, which had gotten louder as they moved farther from her hometown of Rose Valley. Now the pavement changed every few miles, a patchwork of half-repairs and worn asphalt. The shifts rattled her bones with every transition.

The seven-year-old in the backseat didn’t seem to notice. She held a tablet just inches from her nose. As a child, Macy would have been scolded for getting that close to a screen.

And in the driver’s seat sat Kat Baker, though she went by Kathryn now and her last name had just switched—for the second time. As a freshman at Rose Valley High, Macy had thought Kat a goddess among women. Now, seven years later, it was hard to see the once-effervescent glow of the head cheerleader. Macy felt bad for what Kat had been through. Pregnant straight out of high school. A shotgun wedding. It must have looked pretty bleak in the early days.

A ringtone jolted Macy’s attention away from the road, causing her to instinctively reach for her phone. But the ring came over the car speakers. Kat’s phone.

Kat pushed a button on the steering wheel. Hey, babe. You on the road?

A slight pause. Macy recognized it. He did that when there was something he didn’t want to say.

The voice of Macy’s father, Cam Donner, rumbled through the speakers like a bass guitar. Not yet. Dub needs some help tying up this case.

Kat sighed, glancing in the rearview mirror at her daughter. Babe. Come on. You’re not a cop anymore. You’re the mayor. Leave all that to Dub. He can handle it.

It’s a murder, Kat. Doesn’t happen every day in Rose Valley. We gotta do this right.

She wasn’t even from Rose Valley.

Macy knew all about this particularly strange case. She hadn’t spent much time with Brynn Kerrison, but it still broke her heart what had happened to Brynn’s mother. Especially after all that went down out at Gray’s Point.

That just makes it worse, Cam said. But listen, I promise to get on the road tonight. I’ll be there to make you and Olivia breakfast tomorrow.

Macy cleared her throat and joined the conversation. Should I just make my own breakfast then?

Kat rolled her eyes and shook her head, a show of support and apology for Cam’s thoughtlessness. At least she was trying to be a cool stepmom.

And Macy, of course. Special pancakes for my little girl. A hasty stab at recovery, but Macy smiled in spite of herself. She did like her special pancakes.

She wasn’t upset, really. Her dad dealt with Kat and Olivia every day, but Macy had been away at college for years now and didn’t feel as close with him as she once had. She couldn’t blame him for taking care of them first. It was his job now. Though it still made her uncomfortable that his wife was closer to her own age.

Fine, Kat finally relented. I’ll hold you to that. We need you to chop the wood.

Cam laughed. Macy, can do it.

Not a chance, Macy piped in.

See you tonight, Kat said. I love you.

Love you, too.

The screen changed back to the radio station, as Macy tried to process her dad saying that to someone other than her mother. It had been a decade since the divorce, and her mom had remarried just a few years ago, but she foolishly thought maybe she’d be able to keep her dad to herself forever.

Macy turned to her phone, eager to let the silence set in again. Her battery ticked down under fifteen percent. She should have charged it overnight, but hadn’t. She never remembered to charge anything.

Do you have a USB-C cable? Macy asked.

Kat twisted up her mouth in thought. She indicated for Macy to look in the glove box. No cables except the one snaking back to Olivia’s tablet. Olivia’s iPad.

No, sorry. We have mostly Apple devices.

It’s okay. I have one in my bag. I’ll just charge up when we get there.

Okay. Sorry.

Too much apologizing. Kat seemed just as nervous with this awkward arrangement as Macy, and Macy knew that was partially her own fault. She hadn’t exactly thrown a fit at the union, but she could have been a little warmer to the news. She’d eventually make peace with Kat and Olivia, but not yet. Not when it came on so suddenly. Dad hadn’t even invited her to the wedding; if you could call a visit to the Justice of the Peace a wedding.

Agreeing to come on this family vacation seemed like enough of a concession for now.

Macy shot a quick text to her boyfriend, Tanner, before putting her phone away to preserve the battery. Off chasing monsters, he wouldn’t answer for a while.

Did you hear about Starla Batson? Kat asked suddenly.

Macy mentally ran through names and faces before it clicked. Starla. Yes. About her parents’ age. Owned a boutique downtown. Infamous for losing her top at her eighth-grade swim party. Stories like that were immortal in a tiny town like Rose Valley.

No, Macy replied. What’d she do this time?

Kat laughed. That laugh—vibrant and alive. A hint at who she might have once been.

Some guy tried to shoplift something from her. Starla chased him clear out onto the square, eventually caught up with him and beat the ever-loving shit out of him.

Mama—language! Olivia said in a fevered whisper.

Kat ignored her. Word is that by the time Dub got there, she had the poor guy pinned to the sidewalk beggin’ for mercy.

Macy giggled. I guess that’s the last time someone shoplifts from her.

Woah, Kat said.

Up ahead, cars blocked the highway. Red and blue lights pulsated. Kat brought the van to a slow halt.

A young cop, barely older than Macy, stood directing traffic. Behind him, two squad cars blocked both sides of the road. And beyond that, a pick-up rested on its top. Glass shards littered the highway. Red stains. Everywhere. Dozens of feet away from the smashed truck, paramedics surrounded someone she could barely classify as human anymore.

Surely dead.

Her pulse increased. Macy tried to avert her eyes, but found it difficult. Her life had taken her on crazy adventures, hunting krakens and taking down creepy cults, but she’d never actually seen a dead person like this.

Baby, Kat said to Olivia, just play on your tablet, okay?

Macy turned to the backseat to see Olivia staring straight ahead. How much could she see? Without a thought, Macy unbuckled her seatbelt and shoved herself into the backseat, almost kicking Olivia in the face before finally settling in the seat beside her. Olivia looked at her like she’d gone crazy.

What are you watching? Macy asked.

Playing, she said, looking briefly back