Sunday, September 22, 2024

Sunday Snippet: Infernal Madness

September has been such a weird month. Our weather is all over the place—again—and we're baking in high temps. Also have a drought at the moment. I mean the grass crunches when I walk on it right now.

I think we have our car issues solved. Mine is back with a new computer and we did end up with a total loss on the CR-V. Found one to replace that and we're getting everything in order to finalize the purchase. Here's hoping that ends our car drama for a good, long time.

Another super busy work week. Finished up a project and started a new one. I'm in a holding pattern for two more and I may have a new client for some writing coaching. Very excited about my calendar right now!

Did not have a great week of viewing. Too many things distracting me and needing my attention. I might have to start doing playlists instead of television shows. If I do the playlist thing, be forewarned, I have very eclectic taste in music.

I did get an episode of The Batman watched by starting the fourth season. This introduced Superman to the roster, which also means Lex Luthor put in an appearance along with Lois and Jimmy.

Caught an episode of Classic Rugrats. All three vignettes were new to me, which is fun. I feel like I must have skipped several seasons though because I don't remember watching or rewatching several episodes that really stand out in my memory. Might have to check to see if I did.

Also started an episode of My Life Is Murder. This is a two-parter and looks to end the fourth season. Looking forward to finishing this one up and waiting patiently for a fifth season. Fingers crossed!

And that's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Infernal Madness, a novella that puts an established couple through an unsettling experience.

Here's the miniblurb:

A dreamweaver is wreaking havoc on a fae community with vividly disturbing waking nightmares. Tressa Epps and Monroe Headrick—usually in complete sync—are arguing over everything, but they're tasked with discovering who or what is behind the infernal madness the small village is experiencing … if the insomnia doesn't get to them first.

And a preview snippet…

Tressa Epps shifted restlessly in her bed. Dark images swirled in her mind. The room spun in dizzying rotations.
It's not room, Tress. It's you.
She managed to slow down and focused on the shape of the floor. An octagon with alternating black and silver stripes that started in the center and flared out to the baseboard. The walls were opposite colors with the darker shade meeting the lighter shade of the trim and vice versa. One single door accompanied each wall. Shadows played along the surfaces, bending and twisting the minimal light from … somewhere.
There are no windows. Why aren't there any windows?
Tressa fought the urge to spin in circles again. She trudged forward, her feet moving slowly, kind of like walking through water. Her fingers grasped the doorknob, twisted, and opened the door.
She walked through and entered … the room she'd just tried to leave. Whirling around, she headed for a different exit. The lack of equilibrium kept her off-balance and she stumbled and lurched toward the next doorway.
Taking a deep breath, she pulled the panel open and crossed the threshold … only end up back in the same room. Frustration drew a harsh cry from her throat. And she made another attempt with each different door … and garnered the same results.
She gave a low growl. "What the hell is going on. I can't be trapped. There's gotta be a way out." The spinning sensation engulfed her again and she closed her eyes, trying to make it stop.
But closing her eyes made the imbalance worse and she leaned against the closest surface and slid down to a crouch. Then she got down on her hands and knees and slowly crawled to the center of the floor. She sat where the points met in the middle of the room with her legs pulled up to her chest and her head bent forward.
Overwhelmed with a sense of hopelessness, she looked inward trying to find a logical reason she couldn't get out of the space. The floor shifted beneath her and her head snapped up when a screeching sound surrounded her.
The walls were literally closing in and she scrambled to get to her feet. But she couldn't move. Something held her fast while the room collapsed in on itself. The black and silver streaks rumbled toward her with increasing speed.
Tressa's eyes went wide, her heart hammered in her chest, and her mouth opened on a silent scream … then a flash of light blinded her…
And she jerked bolt upright in bed…

I just got started on this story and I'm so excited to take this journey with my characters.


 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

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