A Decaying World Chapter 25: Assembly of the Dead

And here's yet another chapter of A Decaying World. Actually turned out to be a little longer again, although I still stopped earlier than originally intended. So no idea how long the following chapter will be. Still getting very close to resolving this part of the story. And then it's actually going to move toward the finale! Although there's still some events that need to be dealt with in-between.

Spam up your Life

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Spam up your Life

> SmexyHexy (18) has sent you a message!

> Wanna last longer in bed?

> Too short? We've got the solution!

Spam, spam, and even more spam. It's the same shit every day.

“How do these fuckers get my address every time?”

I took a sip from my coke and deleted all but one mail from my inbox. It was getting worse again, even though I'd changed my address not long ago. I didn't participate in sweepstakes, had no personal contacts over mail, used an alternate address for all accounts, so how did they still find me? Do the providers themselves sell me out because I refuse to take them up on their bullshit offers?

“Wouldn't surprise me ….”

My stomach grumbled and I slammed my hands onto the wheels of my wheelchair, hurriedly whirling around. I hated being paralyzed, not only because of my inability to walk, but also because I couldn't control my bladder and bowel movements. All because of one son of a bitch who thought that he could take a call while driving his truck through a narrow street ….

Short Story - Haunted

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Haunted

My first encounter with the supernatural were visions of the future hidden within my dreams. I didn't foresee any world-shattering events, just places that I had never seen and conversation that I never could have had, but that's beside the point. The fact that I was able to see anything at all should be evidence enough that there's more to this world than meets the eye.
If that doesn't convince you then please read on, because something far more sinister awaited me in the future―something that I couldn't foresee as my gift has mostly faded away. It only rears its head once a year, if at all.

Short Story - Despicable Friend Zone

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Despicable Friend Zone

*J0hnNimal signed in

<J0hnN1mal> Still no one online? Have you all gone dark or what?

*Fr4nzi5ka signed in

<J0hnN1mal> Franzi ^_^ Finally back from the convention?

<Fr4nzi5ka> Hi John :) I've been back since Friday, but I didn't find the time to go online.

<J0hnN1mal> Why?

<Fr4nzi5ka> I spent the weekend with Michael. Playing games, watching movies and stuff.

<J0hnN1mal> Wasn't he also at the con?

<Fr4nzi5ka> Yeah. It was great to finally meet him in person. Talking online is nice and all, but you never know if the person on the other end isn't putting on an act to get closer to you.

<J0hnN1mal> I suppose Michael wasn't a creep?

<Fr4nzi5ka> Do you think I'd spend the weekend with a creepy guy?

<J0hnN1mal> No.

<Fr4nzi5ka> There you have it :)

<J0hnN1mal> So...I guess you like him?

*Fr4nzi5ka signed out

<J0hnN1mal> Hey, why are you leaving?

<J0hnN1mal> Come back!

<J0hnN1mal> …

<J0hnN1mal> Hello?

*4rg0s4x signed in

<4rg0s4x> Hey, what's up?

*J0hnN1mal kicked 4rg0s4x

*J0hnN1mal banned 4rg0s4x

*Fr4nzi5ka signed in

<J0hnN1mal> You didn't have to leave so suddenly :/

<Fr4nzi5ka> Sorry, my connection collapsed. Must have been the storm. Has it reached you too?

<J0hnN1mal> Yeah, it's been raining all day long.

<J0hnN1mal> But don't change the topic, please...

<Fr4nzi5ka> What was the topic again?

<J0hnN1mal> Do you like him?

<Fr4nzi5ka> Michael? Oh...

<Fr4nzi5ka> I'm not sure. He's a sweet guy and he's always trying to help me.

<Fr4nzi5ka> But you know that I broke up only recently. I'm not sure if I'm ready for a new relationship.

<J0hnN1mal> And yet you spent an entire weekend with him while you never visit me ;_;

<Fr4nzi5ka> What are you saying?

<J0hnN1mal> …

<Fr4nzi5ka> Wait...don't tell me...you love me?

<J0hnN1mal> …

*Fr4nzi5ka signed out

<J0hnN1mal> Yes, I do love you! I have since before you broke up with your boyfriend. You're the only person I can talk to about my problems. The only one who knows how much I've suffered...

*Fr4nzi5ka signed in

<Fr4nzi5ka> Stupid connection!

<Fr4nzi5ka> You still there?

<J0hnN1mal> …

<Fr4nzi5ka> Talk to me!

<J0hnN1mal> There's no point in hiding it, is there? Yes, I do love you, but what does it matter? You'll never like me anyway!

<Fr4nzi5ka> Stop pitying yourself! You'll never get a girlfriend if you behave like this!

<J0hnN1mal> See?

<Fr4nzi5ka> Come on! What do you expect me to do? I like you...as a friend. A really good friend. But that's all there is to it.

<J0hnN1mal> Why do I even try to be nice when it always ends like this? -___-

<Fr4nzi5ka> Stop it! Or do you want me to leave?

<J0hnN1mal> No...

<Fr4nzi5ka> Hey, I think I heard glass shatter below...

<J0hnN1mal> You've got to be kidding me! Already changing the subject?

<Fr4nzi5ka> I'm not joking! Wait a moment...

<J0hnN1mal> Fine, don't love me! But don't play games with me either!

<J0hnN1mal> …

<J0hnN1mal> …

<J0hnN1mal> …

<J0hnN1mal> Helloooo?

<Fr4nzi5ka> Great, the storm uprooted the tree in front of our house and one of its branches crashed through the window. Perfect time to be alone o_o

<Fr4nzi5ka> And why would I make that up?

<J0hnN1mal> To get rid of me?

<Fr4nzi5ka> I can log out if I wanted to do that...

<Fr4nzi5ka> Can't we just be friends? I don't want to hurt you, but I simply can reciprocate your feelings...

<Fr4nzi5ka> …

<Fr4nzi5ka> John?

<Fr4nzi5ka> Answer me...please...

<Fr4nzi5ka> God, what is this? I think I heard another window shatter...

<Fr4nzi5ka> Wait a moment...if you're still there...

*Fr4nzi5ka signed out

*Fr4nzi5ka signed in

<Fr4nzi5ka> John? Please tell me that you're still online!

<Fr4nzi5ka> JOHN?!

<J0hnN1mal> What is it?

<Fr4nzi5ka> I think someone's in the house with me!

<J0hnN1mal> You sure?

<Fr4nzi5ka> Yes! Another window is broken and there are muddy footprints next to it!

<J0hnN1mal> Did you call the police?

<Fr4nzi5ka> I can't get through. Must be due to the storm. I'm surprised that I still have an internet connection.

<J0hnN1mal> Don't tell me you went back into your room!

<Fr4nzi5ka> Oh god, I tink the guy just kicked on of the doors in

<Fr4nzi5ka> And no Im not that stupd! Im inside a small sidechamber in attic.

<J0hnN1mal> Did you turn off your computer?

<Fr4nzi5ka> I didnt have time for that!

<J0hnN1mal> That means the chat-window is still open?

<Fr4nzi5ka> I supp

<Fr4nzi5ka> Oh god I just told tat guy were I am

<Fr4nzi5ka> I need to get outt here!

*Fr4nzi5ka signed out

*Fr4nzi5ka signed in

<Fr4nzi5ka> That was close...

<J0hnN1mal> Are you safe?

<Fr4nzi5ka> Relatively. I couldn't get out of the house, though. I saw a shadow moving round the corner and had to go somewhere else.

<Fr4nzi5ka> I managed to reach the cops btw. They'll be here any minute now!

<J0hnN1mal> That's great. I wish I could help you..

<Fr4nzi5ka> I do too...

<J0hnN1mal> But you still wouldn't love me?

<Fr4nzi5ka> John, please...

<Fr4nzi5ka> Hav to stp writing brb

*Fr4nzi5ka signed out

*Fr4nzi5ka signed in

<J0hnN1mal> What happened?

<Fr4nzi5ka> The guy sems to b lookn fo me had to rn

<J0hnN1mal> Calm down! I can barely understand your sentences.

<Fr4nzi5ka> How amI supposd to calm don?

<Fr4nzi5ka> What if he wanst to rape me?

<J0hnN1mal> No one wants to rape you! You're too beautiful to do such a cruel thing to you.

<Fr4nzi5ka> I dubt the intrudr tinks lik yu

<Fr4nzi5ka> And pls dont call me beatiful

<J0hnN1mal> Am I not allowed to speak the truth just because I like you?

<Fr4nzi5ka> It makes me feel uncomfortable...

<J0hnN1mal> What if I wanted to hug you?

<Fr4nzi5ka> That too...sorry...but can we talk about this later?

<J0hnN1mal> What's the point?

<Fr4nzi5ka> John I cant del witthis rigt now

<Fr4nzi5ka> o no

<Fr4nzi5ka> can hear im breathn

<J0hnN1mal> Stay where you are!

<Fr4nzi5ka> think hes right ouside

<Fr4nzi5ka> im ded if he finds me

<Fr4nzi5ka> maybe I can knok him out

<J0hnN1mal> Don't do it!

<Fr4nzi5ka> have to cu

<J0hnN1mal> …

<J0hnN1mal> Why'd you have to do that?

*Chatlog deleted

*J0hnNimal signed out

Short Story - Carcerus

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Carcerus

How long have I been trapped inside this house? Weeks? Months? Possibly even years? I've long since lost track in this world devoid of light. I don't even recognize myself in the mirror anymore. Long, brittle hair falls over my bony and wrinkled face, all the way to my shoulders. It had such a lovely shade of black but now it's just gray, white and dirty. And my flawless body had taken on a truly horrendous appearance. I've become so scrawny that most of my bones are clearly visible. Not much of a surprise when my entire nutrition consists of rats. Every attempt at discerning their entry point has proven futile, however, otherwise I might have long since escaped.

The other thing that has kept me going is the foul smelling water in the basement. No one in his right mind would consume dirt-colored fluids but it's not like I have a choice. I've gotten used to it over time, though, at least in so far that I'm not throwing up anymore.

Logic would dictate that none of that could have sustained me for very long, but this place doesn't seem to care about logic, else I would have escaped a long time ago. It looked like a normal, if somewhat desolate, house at first. It wasn't. Far from it, actually.

There are dozens of doors spread across three stories and a basement, none of which lead outside. It does have windows, though, but they can neither be opened nor broken. I've thrown and smashed hundreds of objects into them and couldn't even create a scratch.

Seeing as the obvious escape routes didn't work I had to create one by myself and began to painstakingly remove one brick after another, only to find even more bricks beyond. I took a short nap before proceeding but my entire work had been undone when I woke up.

Following that setback I became desperate and climbed into the fireplace chimney. With my back pressed against one wall and my feet against the other I climbed and scrambled towards the top. Hours passed and the floor vanished into the distance, but whenever I looked up the exit was as far away as it had always been. Trying to escape is futile, isn't it?

In the end I just gave up and returned to the bottom. Is there even a point in escaping? The landscape beyond the windows was nothing but a barren wasteland. There were no trees, no stones, no hills...not even a sky! All I saw was a sea of gray surrounded by eternal darkness.

There was also no life inside this world. Apart from the rats, that is. I did spot something moving through the darkness, though, but I'm not sure that it could be classified as a lifeform—small orbs of light that were scouring the horizon. They came closer with every passing day, till they were right on my “doorstep”. I pressed my face against the windows, trying to see something, anything, but those orbs were just that, no matter how long I gazed at them. My initial description had been dead on. They didn't seem to be dangerous but their numbers grew steadily. If I listened very closely I could even hear faint voices from outside. They made me feel uneasy although I couldn't understand a word they said. It's as if something deep inside my mind was telling me to avoid these creatures. I didn't understand why and I'm still not entirely sure, but I've learned to avoid them.

One day I was watching them like usual when a beam of light hit me squarely in the face. Seething pain shot through my body and I tumbled to the floor while the entire windows was lit up like...like... My memories are slowly but surely fading away. I barely remembered anything to begin with, but since then I've forgotten who I was, where I came from and, most importantly, how I ended up here. Was I kidnapped by extra-dimensional beings? Was I in the middle of a magical experiment that went awry? The last one feels a more reasonable and familiar but I simply can't recall anything. Perhaps I don't want to remember.

Anyway, some time after getting hit by the light I was awoken by a series of tremors. I was terribly confused at first and ran up and down the stairs, searching for the cause. You might assume that I'm an idiot who didn't know what an earthquake is but that's not how it felt like. It came and went in waves and there was a certain rhythm to it.

Bam...Bam...Bam...Pause...Bam...Bam...Bam...

After listening to it for half an hour I finally connected the dots: someone was knocking on my house! I know it sounds ridiculous, but what better way to “knock” on a building that has no doors than by shaking it? I had no idea how to respond to that, though.

“Who's there?” I yelled into thin air without expecting any result whatsoever.

The “knocking” stopped instantaneously and that was it.

I went downstairs to see if anything had changed. The uncomfortable couch with its rickety table was still there. So were the bookshelves that contained nothing but empty volumes. I don't know why I was even checking the furniture. There was no reason for it to change unless something got knocked over.

My gaze wandered across the walls but there was still no door. Disappointed I tried to get a fire going while I listened to the endless ticking of the clock behind me. It took forever to light a single piece of wood and the flame was suffocated by the stifling air soon after.

“What did I do to deserve such a fate?” I screamed and punched the wall in frustration. My knuckles cracked painfully and I howled in pain. “Please, I just want to go home! Haven't I suffered enough?”

Depressed I shuffled up the stairs, returning to the bedroom on the second floor. I closed the door, locked it for no particular reason and gazed out the window—the orbs were still increasing in numbers—and pulled the curtains shut before I went back to sleep.

Short Story - Shadow of Jhola

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Shadow of Jhola

-My first entry-

Dear Diary, my name is Erik Ocild and I'm 38 years old. I serve in the army of Pagan and this might be my last week on earth as the hordes of Golgotha are drawing ever closer to our marvelous city. Most of my friends have died in an offensive which was supposed to stop those monsters once and for all but it failed miserably. All I have left is my wife, who is waiting desperately for me in the small village of Jhola. If Pagan falls so will our home. Perhaps it would have been best to remain there and await our end together.

-The beginning of the end-

Pagan is one of the most beautiful cities in all of Meceruun, as its buildings and walls are made out of white marble which glitters in the sunlight. And thanks to being build by dwarves it's near impenetrable, at least it should have been but the walls have fallen and the hordes have entered the city. Fires rage, buildings crumble, corpses litter the streets...I suppose this is the end. It's only a matter of time till the king gives us his final order: protect the city and its inhabitants at all costs!

-Death-

The city lies in ruins as most districts have been destroyed. There's only one more wall left before the castle itself falls. We've received our order now and will stop them or die trying. I don't expect to write another entry.

Goodbye Lissana.

Don't Play With Slenderman - Release!

After countless hours of editing, which have taught me to use functions I've never even cared about, I've finally published my first story! It hasn't reached all platforms yet but that's only a matter of time. I'll set up a page with all purchase options after I'm done writing this article. Of course it wouldn't make sense to post none yet so here you go!

Amazon.com - Amazon.de - Barnes & Noble - Kobo - Payhip - Smashwords and well, bascially every other Amazon store you can find. Don't know when it will hit the remaining stores but I would prefer it if you'd buy from Payhip as they only take a 5% cut. It's entirely up to you though. I'll begin writing my next story in the coming days but I've done barely anything else lately but edit so I'll take a short "vacation"!

Before I go: here's a book trailer I created for Don't Play With Slenderman! Yes, I had nothing better to do!

Don't Play with Slenderman - Ending finished

Just a short update: I've written the ending of Don't Play With Slenderman now so there's only the epilogue as well as editing left. That means I will not publish the rest of the story on this blog because what would be the point of buying it if you could read the nearly finalized version for free?

I still have to create a cover later on but it shouldn't be too hard as I have a little bit of experience after having worked with graphic programs for years while working on my rpg-maker games.

So yeah, that means the next time I post will be when I've uploaded the finished story. After that I'll begin to upload the first drafts of my real novel which is based ony my games and has a much deeper story. I hope you're looking forward to it...although seeing as the blog is very new there aren't that many visitors but that takes time.

Don't play with Slenderman! - Chapter 2 - Nowhere

I was a bit busy in the last few days and today I've been watching the Doctor Who anniversary and will rewatch it later on so I didn't manage to write that much new content. But here's the second chapter and I'll have to see how much more of the short story I'actually post as it's much more than a first draft already.
Maybe it'll change a bit more when I'm actually done.

Chapter 2: Nowhere

I don't know how much time had passed but eventually my consciousness returned once more. Contrary to last time I couldn't hear anything at all and it looked like I was surrounded by total darkness.

Since my flashlight seemed to be missing I pulled out my smartphone to use it as a light source. As soon as I turned it on my eyes were glued to the screen.

October 32^st, 25:83h

“What the...? Is it broken?”

Under normal circumstanced it should have been...but how could I call it normal when people had been spirited away right in front of my eyes...well, close to me at least. Trying to ignore the impossible date I turned the phone away from me and looked at my surroundings. I was sitting in a small room made of stone...although it didn't actually feel like stone...more like...flesh? I quickly withdrew my hand.

My flashlight was lying just out of arms reach but apart from that the room seemed to be completely empty while the doorway was blocked by something I couldn't really make out in the dim light my phone provided, so I picked up my flashlight and stood up.

Strangely enough my body had completely recovered but as I felt neither hungry nor thirsty it couldn't have been that long since I crashed into the tree.

Now how do I get out of here?

I shone my flashlight at the exit but all I could see was an impenetrable wall of darkness. Kinda like fog, just much thicker. There didn't seem to be any other way out so I took a few steps forward. My heart began to race as I reached out tentatively, imagining every possible horror scenario I could think of. It might have engulfed my whole body, devouring me very slowly while keeping me alive throughout the whole process.

But nothing of the sort happened. It simply turned to dust and disappeared.

Huh...that was way too easy...

I stepped outside and found myself standing inside a corridor that seemed to stretch endlessly in two directions. Opposite to my room was another wall of darkness and although it might have been stupid I also touched it to see what lay behind it but this one didn't even budge.

Hm...now which way do I go?

I checked out both directions but they didn't seem to have any distinguishing features. Just endless hallways lined by even more rooms. I tried to open another one but apparently only the occupant could actually open it. Why would anyone build cells that can only be opened from inside? Maybe to lull the prisoners into a false sense of security before the real horror starts...who knows?

“Hello, is anybody in there?” I pressed my ear to the wall so I didn't miss anything but nobody answered. That's when I noticed a strange sensation, as if the walls were shaking. It reminded me of a movie I'd seen once.

I kneeled down and looked at the ground. It was barely visible but it seemed to be shaking. I closed my eyes and listened very intently....bam bam...bam bam...it sounded like...footsteps. Opening my eyes I panicked and spun around in a circle, trying to make out where this creature was coming from. But this isn't what I was made for so ultimately I had to decide on a whim and ran like hell.

The corridor went on and on and on and the further I went the more unstable it seemed to become. The walls shimmered in and out of existence as if something was trying to replace them and once in a while parts of the floor simply turned into sand, only to harden seconds later, nearly severing my foot a couple of times. My flashlight wouldn't stop flickering but I still noticed that it's light disappeared in the distance as if it was hitting another wall of darkness. I couldn't see any obstacles though.

Maybe I should have stopped but out of the corner of my eyes I could see something looking at me, as if the walls themselves were alive. I certainly had no interest in finding out if they actually were. Only a few more steps and...

It felt like someone had rammed his fist into my stomach. The air was forced out of my lungs while something slid down my throat even though there didn't seem to be anything in front of me. I chocked, unable to breath and dropped my flashlight to reach for whatever was trying to enter my body. My hands touched something slimy but were unable to get a grip on it, especially because it just got bigger and bigger. My body felt like it was going to explode any minute now as more and more of this thing forced itself into my body with no end in sight. I fell to my knees and was about to faint when it simply ended. 

Don't play with Slenderman! - Chapter 1 - The Woods

Okay, everything seems to be working now. Could have gone a bit faster if copying one of my other blogs had actually allowed me to save time but ultimately I still had to redo nearly everything...

Anyway, here's the first chapter of my short story, which is the second story I've ever published anywhere. I've written a couple of stupid fanfics years ago, a short story set in my universe for a contest as well as some kind of after-story for my series but I couldn't really show that to anyone without actually finishing the games...

As the title implies this is a story about Slenderman, although it doesn't solely focus on this entity. I don't know if the story is actually scary as I hardly show any reaction to horror games or movies but should anyone stumble upon this story before I publish it I might be able to make it scarier if it isn't already.

Anyway, here I go! Not quite sure if this will be the final title and I'm not quite content with the narration at the beginning.

Don't play with Slenderman

Whoever reads this: Please don't think of it as just another scary story! Everything that's written in here is the truth! I've lived through a nightmare and unless you heed my warning you might share the same fate one day...but you might not be lucky enough to survive!

There are unseen forces in our world, malevolent forces! They can't harm us as long as we don't acknowledge their existence...but the thing is: You don't have to actually believe that they are real! Have you ever played a game based on a myth? That knowledge alone could lead you down a path where you might encounter one such entity. That's how my story began...

“David Bartlett”

Welcome to my eBook Blog

Hello and welcome to my new blog!

Here I'll post drafts of my short stories and novels to get feedback while working on them.

I haven't really written that much as I spend most of my time developing games where I didn't have to care about things like narration or descriptions. Most of the games I created were part of the same universe which grew bigger and bigger and would have led to a final showdown in the third game of my main series but it ultimately grew too big for me alone.
Maybe I could have found someone to help me but the third demo took more then 6 years to make and I really didn't like the beginning after having learned so much. So I needed to redo a whole chapter while still missing more then half of the game...which led to my decision to turn it into a book as this would enable me to create a good story from start to finish as no one wants to read a book with a mediocre beginning.

I don't know if I'll suceed as I can't just copy the game and add a bit of narration but it's worth a try, right? So I'll publish my first drafts on this blog to hopefully create something worth reading.

The first one won't have anything to do with my universe as I wanted to see if I'd be able to sell a short story before I work on a full-fledged novel. The story is nearly finished so I might not publish everything.

As soon as I'm done setting everything up I'll post the first part of the story. In the meantime you can have a look at one of the trailers I made for my game back in the day.