This Darkness Light
Page 1
Copyright © 2014 by Michaelbrent Collings
All rights reserved.
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NOTE: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the internet or via any other means without the permission of the author is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials.
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PRAISE FOR THE NOVELS OF
MICHAELBRENT COLLINGS
CRIME SEEN
ʺ[Crime Seen] will keep you guessing until the end…. 5/5. ʺ–Horror Novel Reviews
ʺIt's rare to find an ending to a novel that is clever, thought-provoking and surprising, yet here Collings nails all three….ʺ–Ravenous Reads
ʺCrime Seen by Michaelbrent Collings is one of those rare books that deserves more than five stars.ʺ–Top of the Heap Reviews
ʺWith an ending that, again, will keep you guessing until the last chapter, I would definitely recommend this book to others.ʺ–Horror Drive-In
THE COLONY: GENESIS (The Colony, Vol. 1)
ʺ5 out of 5 stars…. I couldn't put it down.ʺ–Media Mikes
ʺI barely had time to buckle my mental seatbelt before the pedal hit the metal….ʺ–The Horror Fiction Review
ʺWhat a refreshing read. This is the first of a series and if this is any indication of what's to come, count me in! …. If I could, I would gladly give this novel a 10 star rating.ʺ–Horror Novel Reviews
THE COLONY: RENEGADES (The Colony, Vol. 2)
ʺFast pace in your face, the action doesn't stop…. This bestselling author has done it again…. I didn't want the book to end….ʺ–Horror Novel Reviews
ʺRenegades is a hardcore thriller that you can't stop reading.ʺ–horroraddicts.net
ʺThis is Book 2 in The Colony saga, and it rocks.ʺ–Monster Librarian
THE COLONY: DESCENT (The Colony, Vol. 3)
ʺI had planned on reading just a couple of chapters and ended up reading the entire book in one sitting! …Rating: 4.5/5ʺ–Horror Novel Reviews
ʺRenegades is a hardcore thriller that you can't stop reading.ʺ–horroraddicts.net
STRANGERS
ʺCollings is so proficient at what he does, he crooks his finger to get you inside his world and before you know it, you are along for the ride. You don't even see it coming; he is that good.ʺ–Only Five Star Book Reviews
ʺMove over Stephen King…Clive Barker…. Michaelbrent Collings is taking over as the new king of the horror book genre.ʺ–Media Mikes
ʺSTRANGERS is another white-knuckled journey that demands to be read in one sitting.ʺ–The Horror Fiction Review
ʺMichaelbrent spins a tale that keeps you enthralled from page to page…. Overall I give this novel an A.ʺ–The Horror Drive-In
DARKBOUND
ʺReally good, highly recommended, make sure you have time to read a lot at one sitting since you may have a hard time putting it down.ʺ–The Horror Fiction Review
ʺIn Darkbound you will find the intensity of Misery and a journey reminiscent of the train ride in The Talisman…. A proficient and pedagogical author, Collingsʹ works should be studied to see what makes his writing resonate with such vividness of detail…. You will not be disappointed in this dark tale.ʺ–Hellnotes
ʺA spell-binding conclusion comes from out of nowhere that is hauntingly reminiscent of M. Night Shyamalan or Alfred Hitchcock. A certifiable bone chiller….ʺ–horrornews.net
ʺDarkbound travels along at a screaming pace with action the whole way through, and twists to keep you guessing throughout…. With an ending that I didn't see coming from a mile away, and easily one of the best I've had the enjoyment of reading in a long time….ʺ–Horror Drive-In
THE HAUNTED
ʺThe Haunted is a terrific read with some great scares and a shock of an ending!ʺ–Rick Hautala, international bestselling author; Bram Stoker Award® for Lifetime Achievement winner
ʺ[G]ritty, compelling and will leave you on the edge of your seat…. The Haunted is a tremendous read for fans of ghoulishly good terror.ʺ–horrornews.net
ʺThe Haunted is just about perfect…. This is a haunted house story that will scare even the most jaded horror hounds. I loved it!ʺ–Joe McKinney, Bram Stoker Award®-winning author of Flesh Eaters and The Savage Dead
APPARITION
ʺApparition is not just a 'recommended' novel, it is easily one of the most entertaining and satisfying horror novels this reviewer has read within the past few years. I cannot imagine that any prospective reader looking for a new read in the horror genre won't be similarly blown away by the novel.ʺ–Hellnotes
ʺ[Apparition is] a gripping, pulse hammering journey that refuses to relent until the very final act. The conclusion that unfolds may cause you to sleep with the lights on for a spell…. Yet be forewarned perhaps it is best reserved for day time reading.ʺ–horrornews.net
ʺApparition is a hard core supernatural horror novel that is going to scare the hell out of you…. This book has everything that you would want in a horror novel…. it is a roller coaster ride right up to a shocking ending.ʺ–horroraddicts.net
ʺ[Apparition is] Riveting. Captivating. Mesmerizing…. [A]n effective, emotional, nerve-twisting read, another amazingly well-written one from a top-notch writer.ʺ–The Horror Fiction Review
THE LOON
ʺIt's always so nice to find one where hardcore asylum-crazy is done RIGHT…. THE LOON is, hands down, an excellent book.ʺ–The Horror Fiction Review
ʺHighly recommended for horror and thriller lovers. It's fast-moving, as it has to be, and bloody and violent, but not disgustingly gory…. Collings knows how to write thrillers, and I'm looking forward to reading more from him.ʺ–Hellnotes
MR. GRAY (aka THE MERIDIANS)
ʺ…an outstanding read…. This story is layered with mystery, questions from every corner and no answers fully coming forth until the final conclusion…. What a ride…. This is one you will not be able to put down and one you will remember for a long time to come. Very highly recommended.ʺ–Midwest Book Review
RUN
ʺ[A] tense and intense scary sci-fi chiller/thriller…. RUN is a winner, as fast-paced as it should be, cinematic and gripping, lots of fun but with moments of poignancy and disturbing paranoia.ʺ–The Horror Fiction Review
HOOKED: A TRUE FAERIE TALE
ʺHooked is a story with depth…. Emotional, sad, horrific, and thought provoking, this one was difficult to put down and now, one of my favourite tales.ʺ–Only
Five Star Book Reviews
ʺ[A]n interesting and compelling read…. Collings has a way with words that pulls you into every moment of the story, absorbing every scene with all of your senses.ʺ–Clean Romance Reviews
ʺCollings has found a way to craft an entirely new modern vampire mythology–and one strikingly different from everything I've seen before…. Recommended for adult and teen fans of horror and paranormal romance….ʺ–Hellnotes
RISING FEARS
ʺThe writing is superb. The characters are believable and sympathetic…the theme of a parent who's lost a child figures strongly; it's powerful stuff, and written from the perspective of experience that no one should ever have to suffer.ʺ–The Horror Fiction Review
Dedication
To…
anyone who ever believed they might do something great, and then realized that belief was great in and of itself,
the genius who invented Diet Dr. Pepper, because that person has probably saved my life several times over,
and to Laura, FTAAE.
Contents
prelude: FALLEN
THE LAST FLIGHT OF AN ANGEL
one: AWAKENING
THINGS LOST AND UNREMEMBERED
THE BODY ON THE FLOOR
THERE WILL BE OTHERS
TO JUDGE AND ATONE
FALLING DOWN
NEW BLOOD
IDLE HANDS…
PACKET FULL OF POSIES
FOUND OUT AND DISCOVERED
AND THE SIMPLE WILL BEWARE
PRESENTING THE PAST
HOLY ROLLER
interlude: CORRUPTION
ON AXIS UNHINGED
two: FLIGHT
UNEXPECTED ANSWERINGS
MEN AT WORK
FACELESS THINGS
BLINDING LIGHT
SMALL STEPS
NINE LIVES
GOOD FATHERS
RUNNING BLIND
NEARLY A COWARD
interlude: SAVAGED
EARS UNHEARING
three: PASSAGE
OPTIONS EXHAUSTED
MISTAKEN IMPRESSIONS
GAMES PEOPLE PLAY
BALANCE OF JUSTICE
FACES IN GLASS
POST MORTEM
UNCOVERED BY LIGHT
BEARING GIFTS
BLIND LEADING BLIND
interlude: POSSESSION
MUTED SONG
four: ASYLUM
STRANGERS WE COME
EDGE OF REVELATION
THINGS MADE FLESH
THE MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN
A RISEN BEAST
CHANCE ENCOUNTERS
interlude: POWERS
ALONE IN THE DARK
five: THIS DARKNESS LIGHT
CRUEL MERCIES
TRAVELING COMPANIONS
WHERE ALL ROADS LEAD
RESTORATIONS
FROM DARKNESS LIGHT
prelude:
FALLEN
THE LAST FLIGHT OF AN ANGEL
From: POTUS
To: 'X'
Sent: Thursday, May 29 3:32 PM
Subject: OUTBREAK
HOW THE HELL DID THIS HAPPEN? HOW AM I BEING PUT IN THE POSITION OF ORDERING A STRIKE ON US CITIZENS?
From: X
To: Dicky
Sent: Thursday, May 29 3:32 PM
Subject: RE: OUTBREAK
Temper. Sometimes these things happen. Containment is the priority, not your poll numbers. Besides, when it comes out that you acted decisively and saved millions or billions of lives, youʹll get reelected again, if not made dictator-for-life.
From: POTUS
To: 'X'
Sent: Thursday, May 29 3:40 PM
Subject: RE: RE: OUTBREAK
Wouldnʹt THAT be nice.
From: X
To: Dicky
Sent: Thursday, May 29 3:40 PM
Subject: RE: RE: RE: OUTBREAK
;o)
***
Janice Kane was thirty years and two hips too late for this trip and didnʹt care in the slightest.
When the other three women she played pinochle with three days a week found out about her plans they went through a strange burst of emotions that Janice found difficult to understand until she realized that she was seeing the five stages of grief.
They laughed at first, thinking she was joking. They wouldnʹt accept she was serious. They just asked her to bid the next hand.
When they realized she was serious–she had actually missed spotting a full family in her hand, and she hadnʹt done that since she lost Frank in the accident–they turned strangely sullen. The rest of the game was almost silent until Sandy started muttering under her breath and then it was like a dam burst. Karen started cursing. That wasnʹt unusual, since Karen had a mouth that could have passed for a sewage processing center, but Janice had never been the target of the generous and creative curses that now issued.
Only Ethel didnʹt say anything. She just glared like Janice had run over her little Chihuahua on the road. Not that the thing needed a full-size car to kill it–a leaf tossed by a stiff breeze probably would have broken it in two.
After the anger they started bargaining. Offering her alternate trips, things to do around town that might be just as fun, even thrown games, for goodness sake. The last were offensive and simply strengthened Janiceʹs resolve. She had refused to sit in the back of the bus before it was cool, she was hardly going to give up this dream for bragging rights around the coffee machine in the common room.
Seeing her unflagging intention to go, the others grew silent again. Not angry this time, but depressed. Karen switched from cursing to crying. The others sniffled.
This stage was the hardest to resist. But Janice thought about everything she had done. All the training. All the time.
She was a steel rod. Quite literally, in places.
Finally, by the end of the game, the girls accepted. They nodded. They blessed.
And Janice flew.
She had little trouble getting into the plane, but quite a bit getting into her seat. No surprise there: a pair of fused hips kept her from bending at the waist without extreme difficulty. Even in a first-class seat she barely had enough room to maneuver into place.
If I canʹt get into a damn seat how am I going to climb Kilimanjaro?
She folded her walker, handed it to the waiting flight attendant. He smiled at her and she smiled back. He was good looking, with wavy brown hair. A little chubby, which Janice liked. Frank had been chubby, which he hated, but she liked a man with something to grab onto.
She had trained for three years. Climbing everything she could get to, everything she could afford to train on while still hoarding enough money to make this final trip.
She wasnʹt insane. She didnʹt intend to climb all the way up. A woman with hinky hips didnʹt do that. Or at least she couldnʹt do that. But she wanted to climb partway. To look at the sun from the side of a sheer wall and know that she had pulled herself up by the strength of her arms like she had pulled herself through life by the strength of her will.
It had been a dream she shared with Frank. A long time ago. The memory had started to fade, and she needed to do this before it wiped itself clean away.
Kilimanjaro rested in Tanzania. Feet buried in earth, head rising above clouds. Just like Janice had always tried to be.
Her seat was luxurious. A single leather-covered chair that reclined to turn into more or less a bed. It had its own television with satellite and all the latest movies available. Janice didnʹt watch it. She watched the window, the clouds and the land that passed below her. They werenʹt even out of the United States yet, but she already felt like she was in a foreign land. A place that was strange and wonderful, like she had received a half-day passport to Heaven.
The only thing that kept it fr
om being perfect was the ever-present throb in her hips.
That and the coughing.
Someone had a cold. She didnʹt know who it was, and was tempted to listen to one of the radio stations–also satellite-based–that would pipe in near-infinite choices of music. But that would mean she would miss out on the sounds of the trip: the near-subliminal whine of the engines, the soft voices of the crew as they offered free drinks (free!) and meals with expensive-sounding French names.
She dealt with the coughing. Into every life a little rain, etc.
She watched the clouds. Looking not for gremlins on the wings but for angels with wings of their own on her short trip through celestial realms.
Something fell. A sharp clatter of dishes that jarred its way into pleasant thoughts, cutting them as surely as the shards of broken glass might cut into flesh.
Then a scream.
Janice had heard screams like that before. She had seen a man beaten to death in front of her once. A pair of men who were afraid because some buildings fell down found another man who looked like the thing they had decided to fear and they killed him. He screamed like that.