The Seven E-Book

L. R. Pepper

• Herausgeber: Scriptum Publishing
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 69

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Beschreibung

SEVEN SHORT STORIES TO FIRE THE IMAGINATION IN THIS WORLD AND BEYOND. "The human form…so precious, so pure, each form unique, even in the case of identical twins, the personality of each one shines through the eyes, it affects the way they carry themselves, the way they move and ultimately all of these things define each of us as an individual as much as pure looks do. " "Death. We can't hide from it, we can't defeat it, and there's no way of avoiding it…not in the end. Some people are afraid of dying in pain, some afraid of no afterlife, and some are afraid of an afterlife that drags on and on and on like an eternal torture. "

Leseprobe

LUCKIE-RAE PEPPER

Copyright 2015 by L R Pepper

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without prior written permission of the publisher, nor b otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

ISBN 9783955770969

Acknowledgements

Firstly, of course, I’d like to thank my family. Their unconditional love and support has given me the confidence to pursue any dream and achieve any challenge.

I’d also like to thank Mr Stevens, an old English teacher of mine. Wherever you are in the world, I hope this makes you proud. It seems that now you need not eat your hat after all.

This book is dedicated not only to my family but all of my other loved ones who have to endure me on a daily basis. In particular Abbey J Murwald, who I hope one day, will star in a work of mine on the silver screen. And also to Paige Kenyon, may your heart stay as golden and pure as it is now, and may you find all of the happiness you deserve.

Contents

The Dawn

The Unexpected

The Artist

The Cheat

The Gift

The Dawn

The moon beamed down, showering all beneath in its angelic rays, a hope of light amongst the black as coal sky. Clouds whispered their stories into the midnight breeze, and blanketed the moon above in a grey robe, bejewelled with stars from the highest of skies. Below, the trees danced and crept, their ever-winding branches reaching; like twisted crones fingers blackened by the shadows. Lurching were the trees as they clawed at the wind and air; trying to capture the stories whispered within them, to keep for themselves. Down their spiralled body’s, the shadows did encase with their cold grip of dark. Shaded by the above branches, the roots of such trees winded down and around, creating almost a trap; as if they planned on tripping and trapping any bewildered youths who may be lurking near. The colony of trees lay steadily beside a small area of worn-out gravel, enclosed by a few crumbling dry walls and creaking, rusted gates. Benches that were broken and paint-chipped were strewn around the arena-type set out of child’s play equipment.

A feel of over-whelming loneliness hung in the air over the place, like a mirror above a mantle. Only… this mirror was cracked, with a frame forged from pure sorrow. A timeless chill was ever present, adding to the eerie atmosphere in that god forsaken place.

Amid the pitiful scene lay a swing-set, swinging back and forth in a constant tune. Mesmerising, like a pendulum. Pushed by the cool breeze that settled over all there was around.

Footsteps could be heard echoing in the near distance, the sound was slow and bounced off of every surface in sight. Twigs snapped and crow’s shrieked their songs of the night, yet, all that could be heard was to sound of someone slowly approaching…and then the sound was lost.

All around there was a sneaky stench of rotting wood and damp leaves riding on that whispering breeze. The trees continued to wave and dance but slowly they (and all within those stone walls) were bathed in a strong, warm, angelic light. The trees were black silhouettes set against the arising sun. And, the rotting stench turned sweet and fresh, like the blooming spring flowers, sporting their morning dew beside the inviting and quaint little benches. All was well as the growing light captured every surface; all of it was bathed in a multi-tonal glow. It was as if the sky had caught fire and was being enveloped in the most beautiful flames. The sun had brought with it a feeling that could enlighten the darkest soul. Radiating from her golden shining rays was the true embodiment of beauty and joy. This was perfection. This was peace. This was life it its purest form…

The Unexpected

Looking back now, it was like that day changed me, like I had become a different version of myself…a more hollow version.

The halls echoed with the clattering of our steady footsteps. The air was icy cold. The nurse led us to his office…Him, the creator of this whole mess. “Ah, Mr and Mrs Wolstenholme I see, please, come in.”, the door squeaked painfully open, piercing through the tense silence. “Now”, he said as John and I took our seats, “We’ve had your results back, and I think you’d better prepare yourselves.” “Doctor?” I squeaked out, trembling now with the mix of harsh cold and pure anticipation. “Prepare how? For a baby? Is that what you mean?” I felt my spirits lift as the words escaped my mouth; it was like someone had lit a fire within my very soul, the heat and excitement bursting outwardly and shielding me from the cold of the office. Could this be it? Finally? At last? “I’m sorry my dear…I meant, umm, too… prepare for bad news, it seems.” And with that… I felt my entire being slip away, all hope of happiness, of love, a family…gone, just out of my reach. it felt as if the atmosphere had finally turned so horrendously thick with the tension of it all that I began to choke on my own breath. Downing in my own pitiful despair. It was as if an arctic vortex had formed above my head and had sucked out my soul and left me…a shell, to pick up the pieces of what might’ve been. “Why me?” I thought, “Why?”What had I ever done to deserve this? To have no family? No hope? To never know the joy of motherhood? Why…why me?!

“Leaving?” I yelled. “Leaving?! How can you leave? How?” I demanded. “You can’t have kids Louisa, we’re done!” “Done? How can we be ‘done’? We’re married John, we took an oath in the house of god to forever stay. I thought forever meant forever! Leave? Pfft! You. Cant. Leave!” The words burned in my throat, my ears were ringing and more than anger, I felt despair, yet again. No children, no husband…I was to be alone. Forever. “An oath in the house of god you say? Well tell me Louisa, where’s you god now?” He was right, John was right; where was the Lord when I neededhim? Why had he left me with gay abandon to face this alone? “Where’s your god now, Louisa?” John’s words rang in my ears…I didn’t know how to answer that, so instead of wondering where god was, I went to seek him out.

“Ah,” a sigh of relief, a fresh start, a new home, a new life. The darling spring flowers were so vibrant, so pure and fresh, bursting with beauty. The wind blissful;;y blew a slight and welcomed breeze as it coiled around the branches of the blossom trees and danced with the graceful fallen leaves below. The sun hung high in the shimmering blue sky and bathed the world below in its glorious rays of gold. The world was so beautiful. Id almost forgotten just how wonderful the spring time could be. It was refreshing, new, exciting yet peaceful, it was…home.

I let go of my bags and they dropped to the ground with a thud. The winding gravel pathways led up to a large oak door surrounded by rough grey stone walls that went on forever around the place before me.

“Knock knock!” I called with a ratta-tap-tap of the grand door. Suddenly, they began to open and before me was a welcoming committee. “Darling child, you must be Louisa, we received your letter, please do come in. You can call me Sister Mary, Sisters Rose and Martha will help you with your things, Come in, child, come in.” Her kind eyes sparkled like diamonds; she was an older Lady but elegant and wise. She smiled sweetly as I made my way inside the convent walls. New hope filled me; this place was a breath of fresh air, just what I needed.