Are you receiving this as a forwarded email? Subscribe, so as not to miss out on future editions:
Attractions in Development
I am absolutely beside myself in sharing with that there is a new attraction under development!
Picture, if you will, a modern library, but with some notable differences. It is entirely digital, but you cannot access the content outside of the library. It is a storehouse of ancient and modern tomes, but the tomes are locked away in the vault. The library itself is a sort of lounge that offers guests plenty of space to sit and consume the content stored in the library’s databanks … that is, if you can find it. And the operator, the cosmic librarian, is a femme fatale: the Archivist.
Now, why would anyone want to visit such a library? Don’t people go to libraries to be surrounded by books? To bask in the representation of such a wealth of knowledge? Is this not one of the primary motivations beyond the access of the actual knowledge? Sure, yes, of course, all of those things. So why would anyone bother to visit this one, devoid of such stacks, of such immersion?
I suppose you will have to wait and find out! The Archivist will likely debut in the Backstage Pass, Volume III, at which time you will be introduced to the Archivist by a series of vignettes.
And speaking of vignettes, Body Count will have its own series of stories following its release. Body Count: Vignettes will follow our protagonist across the lengthy spectrum of time and her experiences in it. In the initial tale, we will be introduced to who she is and both the fortunate and unfortunate set of circumstances that set her on the path she now travels. These stories will also debut in the Backstage Pass, Volume III, making for a rather intense, thrilling, and bloody Volume altogether.
Now, without further ado …
The Groundskeeper, Part XXII
First time tuning in? Start here.
When last we saw our protagonist, they had managed to find their way back to the elevator despite the often times confusing labyrinth. You can catch up with Part XXI here. Now, they are en route to finish what they started to re-inter the zombie. Will we see the zombie finally put to rest? Let’s have a look.
The doors close behind me, softly. I turn to face them as the elevator slowly rises. This is an odd turn of events, as I expected the doors to slam shut and to be thrown to the ground once the elevator started moving. It seems I cannot trust anything to be consistent around here. What are expectations but opportunities for disappointment? Except, I'm not at all disappointed to not be thrown to the ground in an elevator not rising like a bat out of hell. Nope! Not me! I'm so happy the ride up is just like any other elevator ride I forget how tired my arms are in swapping this chipboard lid back and forth.
The ride is long, way longer than trip down, which makes me wonder even more how far down those hallways are. Given how my night went earlier, I wouldn't be surprised if on the way down, the elevator transports me to another dimension where the storage room is kept, and then takes the long way back when its time to go up. And here I am, thinking this is perfectly reasonable for this kind of cemetery. Traveling across dimensions and dealing with all manner of monsters is all in a night's work.
The elevator crawls to a stop, a bell dings, and the doors slide open. Right away, the cold hits me full force. I'd forgotten how cold it was. I even think the hallways got warmer as I explored them, because it wasn't this cold when I got back to the elevator, not like when I first went down. Nothing I can do about it though. Not like there were sweaters in the storage room I could have grabbed, though for whatever reason this does remind me that I should have looked for a broom while down there. As cold as this place is, as freezing as I am, I still have to sweep and dust in here. One thing at a time, though.
With a firm grip on the chipboard lid and the hammer and nails in hand, I step out of the elevator and head straight for the exit. The elevator doors slide shut behind me and I can hear a skittering all around.
I stop.
Wait a minute, that wasn't there before. I turn around, making a full circle, looking for the source of the skittering, but I find none. I start moving to the exit when the skittering sounds rise again, this time joined by all the hairs on the back of my neck. I keep moving toward the exit, but I turn around as I do, nice and slow, turning my attention back and forth to where I think the skittering sounds are coming from. At first they seem to be coming from behind me, but as I turn and am walking backwards toward the exit, it sounds like they're coming from both my left and my right. I turn my head to either side, hoping to catch some sight of what's causing the sound, but I see nothing. I'm about halfway to the doors. I turn back to face the way I'm moving and that's when something catches my eye.
Slight movement. A whirling, but movement nonetheless. There's dust being kicked up to one side, but I see nothing there to kick it up. But the skittering sound is undeniable, and it's coming from that spot. I start walking faster toward the exit, and as I do, the skittering starts to sound all around me. First one dust cloud, then another pops up to either side, and before I know it, I'm charging ahead as fast as I can manage with this damn chipboard lid, as now there are lots of these things everywhere and they're skittering toward me.
What the fuck are these things? They could be anything, but my brain in its desire to terrorize me to my limits raises the idea that these are giant invisible spiders ready to sink their teeth into me once the catch up. That does it. I make a mad sprint for the door.
That's when I notice the dust kicking up by the exit.
Well, apparently we are not going to see the zombie finally put to rest! At least not right now. This skittering nonsense may throw a wrench in the whole ordeal. Is this something to be shrugged off as meaningless? Or will our protagonist come face to face with a trial greater than any they have faced so far? Only one way to find out! Read Part XXIII here.
Here’s a free Backstage Pass. Share it with a friend!
Are you enjoying the story so far? Please consider sharing this with someone you think will enjoy it as well! After all, things tend to be much more enjoyable when you can experience them with acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and loved ones.
What’s Published and Where You Can Find It
Tales From the Odds ‘n’ Endings Boutique
The Proprietor—a timeless individual of many faces, few scruples, and a whole lot of character—runs the Odds ‘n’ Endings Boutique, dealing in artifacts containing peculiar traits. These are the tales of the Boutique’s patrons.
Calypso
Calypso is the reimagining of Immortality, the first story ever written in the Odds ‘n’ Endings universe, and the third to be published in it. Come and brave the journey with the narrator as they realize too late the cost for an otherwise interesting acquisition. Now available:
Showdown at Sunrise
A merchant finds himself in a bind when he manages to survive a duel. A chance encounter in an odd shoppe may just be the luck he needs. The question is, will this luck hold out?
A western with a little bit of magic and a whole lotta gumption.
Vegas Rift
A woman searches for her long lost husband. This is currently the most popular Mad Alex short story.
Other Stories
The Artist’s Spell cover
Final Encounter Cover
Final Encounter
A parent searches frantically for their daughter who has disappeared in their house.
Postscript
The Archivist is one story I am very excited to get started, but alas, I have so many other attractions to complete before we can really begin construction on that one. Tis the struggle of dreaming up fantastical ideas, but also wanting to finish and launch the ones in progress. So much to do, and I cannot do it all at once, as much as I would like. Still, I am incredibly grateful you are here with me on this journey. We’ll see this through together, so that you might enjoy the attractions when they open. Also, if you are on the butterfly app, come follow me! You can find me on Bluesky here.