Nature of Distress (ePub)

NATURE OF DISTRESS contains six short stories of horror, thriller, and fantasy.
"1031 Avery Way" follows John after a day's work helping old folks learn new electronics. All he wants to do is wash and dry his clothes at the laundromat on 1031 Avery Way and then go home. Things go awry when the store clerk, Cairo, tells him that his car has vanished. That's when he learns there's more than clothes washing going on in this laundromat.

"In The Woods" follows the exiled couple of Damrien Nuede and Angela Von Rethlestraz. The pair hide in an abandoned cabin to wait out the winter, but their world shakes apart when malicious creatures hunt the pair in the night.

"He, Called James" is the story of James, who is ridiculed and abused by the town. While it seems that no one cares, a shy and reserved boy notices the impact the physical and verbal insults have on James, but he's too afraid to say anything. So, he stays a silent bystander as the church does its bidding. Then, one day, James vanishes.

"Strength of an Ox" is the journey of Fedrin, a lumberjack of the town Revelry. He makes his usual trips into the nearby forests to collect firewood for the town to survive the winter. However, things change when Arianis, the witch of the Forest of Frost, stops Fedrin in his collection of firewood to declare her frustrations with his workings.

"One-Thirty-Two" is a tale of two police officers responding to an armed robbery at the Midtown Galleria. Sheriff Halliday only wants to follow the protocol, but Deputy Andrews wants to ensure the safety of the hostages and expedite the negotiations. The two argue with each other as things begin to escalate within the Midtown Galleria.

"A Brief Moment in Life" follows Darla as she cleans her home tirelessly. Her family wishes for her leave her house. She refuses because she must have the house ready for her husband's returns home. However, things aren't quite right in Darla's home, and they only seem to get stranger for her as time passes.