From Darkness Comes: The Horror Box Set (63 page)

He rolled down the window
, the word
Sorry
already on his tongue.

"
You got a call," she said, and that made him swallow the word. It had been the last thing he'd expected to hear.

"
A call?"

Kara ran a hand through her hair. She looked tired. Dark bags hung under eyes made shallow with worry.
"Yeah. A cop in Detroit."

Pete swallowed
, felt himself stiffen with panic. "What...?" he started to say, then shook his head.

"
They said they want to talk to you."

"
About what?"

"
About a woman up there. Louise something."

The mention of her name made him ache inside. In all that had happened
, his mind had not been able to entertain more than one sorrow at a time, but he realized now, in the days ahead, he would have nothing but time to ponder them.

"
She's dead," he said. "She got hurt."

Kara frowned at him.
"She's not dead."

He gaped at her
, sure he hadn't heard her correctly. "What?"

"
She's in the hospital, but she's not dead. She asked for you. Told the cop you were her only living kin, so they want you to come up. Wanted you to know she got hurt, but apparently that's not news to you."

Stunned
, he smiled at her and shook his head.

Kara did not look like she shared his joy.
"Seems like trouble just draws you to it, doesn't it?"

"
Thank you," he told her with genuine warmth. She could stick her arms in and throttle him, or curse him to high Heaven and it wouldn't make a damn bit of difference now because Louise was
alive
. He was almost afraid to believe it. "Thank you, Ma'am," he said again and glanced at Claire, who'd been listening. She was smiling at him, a light in her eyes anyone else might have said was simply a reflection of the sun as it crept over the horizon, but he knew better.

# # #

Born and raised in Dungarvan, Ireland,
Kealan Patrick Burke is the Bram Stoker Award-winning author of five novels
(
Master of the Moors
,
Currency of Souls
,
Kin
, T
he
Living, and Nemesis: The Death of Timmy Quinn)
, over a hundred short
stories, four collections (
Ravenous Ghosts
,
The Number 121 to
Pennsylvania & Others
,
Theater Macabre
, and
The Novellas
),
and editor of four acclaimed anthologies (
Taverns of the Dead
,
Quietly Now: A Tribute to Charles L. Grant
,
Brimstone Turnpike
,
and
Tales from the Gorezone
, proceeds from which were donated to
children's charity PROTECT.

When not writing, Kealan
designs covers for print and digital books through his company
Elderlemon Design
. To date he
has designed covers for books by Richard Laymon, Brian Keene, Scott
Nicholson, Bentley Little, William Schoell, Tim Lebbon, and Hugh Howey, to
name a few.

His short story "Peekers"
is currently in development as a feature film from Lionsgate Entertainment.

Visit Kealan on the web at
http://www.kealanpatrickburke.com
.

Sign up for Kealan's newsletter for all the latest news, ebook giveaways, competitions and more,
here
.

More Books from this Author

Book One of
the Colony Saga

Copyright ©
2013 by Michaelbrent Collings

All rights
reserved.

No part of this
book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic
or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage
and retrieval system, without written permission from the author. For
information send request to [email protected].

website:
http://www.michaelbrentcollings.com

email:
[email protected]

cover
and interior art © 2013

used
under license from Shutterstock.com

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. Your
support of the author's rights is appreciated.

For
more information on Michaelbrent's books, including specials and sales; and for
info about

signings,
appearances, and media,

check out his
webpage,

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Twitter.

PRAISE FOR THE NOVELS OF

STRANGERS

“Highly recommended.” –
Hellnotes

“Collings 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.
” –
Only
Five Star Book Reviews

“Move over Stephen
King... Clive Barker.... Michaelbrent Collings is taking over as the new king
of the horror book genre.” –
Media Mikes

“
STRANGERS
is another
white-knuckled journey that demands to be read in one sitting.” –
The
Horror Fiction Review

“
Michaelbrent spins a tale that keeps you enthralled from page to
page…. Overall I give this novel an A.” –
The Horror Drive-In

DARKBOUND

“Really 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.” –
The Horror Fiction Review

“In
Darkbound
you will find the
intensity of
Misery
and a journey reminiscent of the train ride in
The
Talisman
…. A proficient and pedagogical author, Collings’ 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.” –
Hellnotes

“
Darkbound
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....” –
Horror
Drive-In

THE HAUNTED

“
The Haunted
is a terrific read with
some great scares and a shock of an ending!” – Rick Hautala, international
bestselling author; Bram Stoker Award
^®
for Lifetime Achievement
winner

“[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.” – horrornews.net

“
The Haunted
is just about perfect.... This
is a haunted house story that will scare even the most jaded horror hounds.
I loved it!” – Joe McKinney, Bram Stoker Award
^®
-winning author of
Flesh Eaters
and
Inheritance

APPARITION

“
Apparition
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.” –
Hellnotes

“[
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.” – horrornews.net

“
Apparition
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.” – horroraddicts.net

“[
Apparition
is] Riveting.
Captivating. Mesmerizing.... [A]n effective, emotional, nerve-twisting read,
another amazingly well-written one from a top-notch writer.” –
The
Horror Fiction Review

THE
LOON

“It's always so nice to find one where hardcore
asylum-crazy is done RIGHT....
THE LOON
is, hands down, an
excellent book.” –
The Horror Fiction Review

“Highly 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.” –
Hellnotes

MR. GRAY (aka THE MERIDIANS)

“... 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.”
–
Midwest Book Review

HOOKED: A TRUE FAERIE TALE

“
Hooked
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.” –
Only
Five Star Book Reviews

“[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.” –
Clean Romance Reviews

“Collings 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....” –
Hellnotes

RISING FEARS

“The 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.” –
The Horror Fiction Review