Stories to Inspire and Tales That Terrify.(Volume Three): Stories to Inspire and Tales that Terrify, #3

By Kevin Densmore

Stories to inspire and tales that terrify returns with a third volume. Twenty-seven new stories that will warm your heart and chill your soul. Enter a child's imagination, stare at a pair of disembodied eyes, accidently catch a fairy, or even fight a goblin. All things are possible within, all you need to do is open the closet door. So come along, be afraid and be inspired.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kevin Densmore
• Release date: Dec 12, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393984474

Kevin Densmore

Kevin began writing short stories when he was an awkward teenager living in a small town in Alabama. Now as an awkward adult, Kevin now lives in a small town in Illinois and still writes short stories. Only this time he is releasing his madness into the world.

Book preview

Grateful Acknowledgement

This book would not have been possible without the following people.

Jenn—-My number one fan who became my editor, and primary cover artist. She worked hard to correct my mistakes, which I know were quite a few. She did such a wonderful job that I have to say, without her this book would not exist, her encouragement and desire to read my work and to work on my work, made all of this worthwhile.

Deonna—-Thank you for putting up with me while I pounded this out. Those nights I sat beside you while you watch the Kardasians make idiots of themselves are truly wonderful memories. Plus I never really thanked you for convincing me to go back into writing after I gave you that silly poem years ago. Honestly I love you.

Maxwell—-My most important Source of inspiration, I love you my little monkey and can’t wait to see what you do next to inspire my next story.

Zoey and Precious—-My little furbabys and writing companions who annoyed me as I wrote. You gave me the breaks I needed when I was too stubborn to take them. Wait animals can’t read, oh well.

And to you reading this. Thanks for taking a chance on a new author. I hope you enjoy every story that lays before you. Seriously Thank you.

O.K enough of this sentimental crap, let's get this ball rolling there’s zombies and dragons and goblins and wolves all waiting for us. Are you ready?

Coming Home

Gerald stepped off the bus and inhaled deeply. The air smelled clean and fresh, a welcome change from what he had been breathing in for the past eight months. Being on a military base with over a hundred other men his age, the scents were not all that pleasant. Gone was the moldy sock, sour boot, stale fart smell, and here was the crisp mountain air. Complete with the scent of pine trees, wildflowers, and freshwater. A part of him was happy to be home, but another part of him hated the reason for taking an early leave. His heart was broken, and he really was regretting the next few days, because in all reality, no one ever wants to bury their father.

He walked over to the man unloading luggage from the compartments underneath the bus, and searched for his military issue duffle bag. He didn’t have to look too hard, sitting among the various backpacks and retail store suitcases, was his drab, olive green duffle, a sore thumb amongst the other, more colorful luggage. As soon as he had his hand on his bag, he heard the familiar sound of his mother’s voice, calling out to him.

Her voice was so comforting, when Gerald turned and saw his mother walking toward him, he smiled for what felt like the first time that day. He walked over to her and when she opened her arms, he walked right into them.

Oh my goodness! My boy is home, she exclaimed, as she wrapped her arms around him.

Blushing, Gerald replied, Mom! Dial it back a bit, but he was pleased that she was happy to see him. After all, she did just lose her husband of twenty-four years, and while he felt the pain of losing a father, he could not imagine the pain his mother was in. If her hugging him and embarrassing him could amount to just one moment of happiness, he was proud to provide that for her. When she finally let him go, he looked around and asked, hey, where’s Court? Court being his nickname for his little sister, Courtney.

His mom frowned a bit before answering, well, she is still not feeling up to seeing people, been crying non stop for the last three days, she paused for a moment as she stared off and away from Gerald, trying to fight back tears, your father’s death has hit her especially hard. Her voice started to crack and Gerald pulled his mother close to him, holding her until she stopped crying. When she finally had herself under control, she patted her son on the shoulder and pulled away before saying, let’s go home, I’m sure it’ll make Courtney’s day to see you. Gerald hefted his duffle bag over his shoulder and followed his mom out of the bus station and to her car.

After placing his bag in the trunk and climbing into the passenger seat he decided that it was as good a time as any to ask his mom the question that had really been eating at him the entire bus ride home. Mom, he began, what happened to Dad, exactly? he paused for a moment, trying not to cry, as he didn’t want to upset his mother, I was told he died in a tragic hunting accident, but that doesn’t make any sense.

Gerald’s father was the safest man he’d ever known. His father had a set of rules and safety guidelines, when it came to handling guns, that he followed rather religiously. A set of rules that Gerald himself had to follow, or he would lose his hunting privileges. Finding it very difficult to believe that his father had an ‘accident’ while hunting, he was hoping his mother would be able to shed some light on the matter.

I really don’t know honey, she said, Johnny found him in the woods.

Okay mom, Gerald said, you think I can go talk to Johnny later?

I don’t see why not, dear, she answered, I’m sure he would be happy to see you.

Johnny was the old farmer who owned the property Gerald’s father would hunt on. Whenever hunting season started, Gerald’s father was the first person Johnny would call. So after he went home and talked to his sister, Gerald fully intended to go and visit Johnny and ask him the same question.

They rode the rest of the way to his parent’s house in silence, all the while Gerald staring out his window. As they went on, Gerald noticed several women out and about, walking down sidewalks, working in their yards, even going into the shops downtown. He took note of the fact that there was not a single man outside. Figuring that maybe they were at work, he thought nothing more of it.

Gerald was a bit apprehensive as he stepped through the doorway of his parent's house, and even though he had only been gone for eight months, there were several changes. The living room had been rearranged, a new sofa/loveseat set stood around an ornate little coffee table. The curtains on the windows were new and bright. The dining room had been redecorated. His mother finally got around to replacing that beat up old dining room table she’d always complained about. New art covered the walls, brilliant, beautiful paintings of flowers and mossy meadows. The house even smelled different, but none of that mattered, Gerald was more interested in seeing his younger sister. As soon as he set his duffle bag down he called up the stairs for Courtney.

Court! he hollered, you here?

Soon came the sound of feet running along the upstairs hallway, immediately followed by Gerald’s sister appearing at the top of the stairs, Gerry! she called out gleefully, before bounding down the stairs and leaping into her brother’s arms.

Gerald held his sister close and then pulled away. Look at you, he said, you’ve gotten so big! he looked her up and down, and smiled.

Courtney started blushing. She wasn’t quite sure how to process her emotions. She had the body of an eighteen year old, yet, she still had the mindset of a ten year old girl. Something that Gerald blamed himself for, even if it was just a bicycle accident.

Gerald was supposed to be watching his sister but was instead was sitting on his porch, playing a handheld video game. He would glance up in her direction every now and then, but it wasn’t enough. He figured, she was ten, and would be just fine riding her bike in the driveway. Courtney tried to impress her brother by popping a wheelie, but when she tried, she fell backwards off her bike, and fractured her skull. At first the doctors said she wasn’t going to make it, but she pulled through and proved them wrong. She did however, suffer from permanent brain damage. Gerald’s father took the lead during her rehabilitation, helping her learn basic motor functions, how to dress herself and speak cognitively. He worked hard to make her whole again, even though the doctors said she would forever be delayed.

Gerald’s mother took a different approach, she turned to religion. Just, not a normal one. She started praying to Hera, the Queen of the Gods, the Goddess of Marriage and Birth. Wife and sister of Zeus, she was known to be jealous and vengeful towards Zeus’ many lovers and offspring.

Though he never found out how his mother came to believe in Hera and why she chose this Goddess as the one to follow, Gerald observed that it seemed to help his mother with her grief and fear.

Depending on who you asked, both his father’s determination and his mother’s religion worked, because here his sister stood, eight years later, a bit immature for her age, but healthy and alive. To Gerald, that was all that mattered.

How you doin, kiddo, he asked her.

I’m sad, Gerry, Courtney answered, I miss daddy.

Me too, kiddo, he trailed off, me too.

I’m also mad at mommy, Courtney continued.

Puzzled, Gerald looked at his sister intently before asking her, why?

Courtney only added to his confusion by giggling before adding a childish sounding, almost tauntlike, you’ll see, then she turned and raced back up the stairs.

Gerald smiled and chuckled to himself as he watched her run off. Still confused, he went down the hall, into the kitchen, to find his mother. She was just taking out a couple of bottles of water, when he asked her, why is Court mad at you?

His mother looked at him with what he felt was the same confused look he had, when speaking with Courtney, before answering, I have no idea, son.

Gerald just smiled and said, okay, chalking what had just happened, up to one of his sister’s silly, little attention seeking games. Feeling a bit less befuddled, he smiled before telling his mom he was going to his room. He started back down the hall, toward the front door, grabbing his duffle bag before heading up the stairs.

Gerald’s mother watched as her son walked away, sighing with great relief that he was home, safe. She knew that she was going to have to have a talk with Courtney about her silly games and comments. As for Gerald, he was not in any way a stupid man, and was bound to figure things out, but this was all a part of Hera’s plan. She was just going to have to follow the rules, and be patient. The next few days were going to be full of trials and tribulations, but it was all for the best.

Gerald opened his bedroom door and was not at all surprised to see that nothing had changed. Everything was just how he left it. He walked over to his closet to put away his duffle bag and smiled when he saw a pair of old jeans and his favorite t-shirt hanging there. He had no intention of meeting Johnny in full army fatigue dress, but old, faded jeans, and a t-shirt, would be just fine.

Once Gerald had changed, he headed downstairs to find his mother and sister in the kitchen, talking about that night's dinner. He was pretty sure he heard the word lasagna, and his spirits perked right up. Before dinner though, he wanted to go out to Johnny’s farm and talk to the old man about his father’s death, as this was still his top priority.

Mom, can I use the car for a bit? he asked his mother.

Of course dear, she answered, before asking, where are you going, hun?

He answered her, I’m going to Johnny’s farm real quick, I want to ask him about dad.

There was a brief moment of silence, long enough to seem odd to Gerald, but his mother did eventually answer, alright dear, the keys are on the shelf in the foyer, adding, be careful! as he walked away.

Be careful! Courtney shouted, mimicking their mother.

Will do mom, he called back as he grabbed the keys and headed out the door.

As he drove down Main Street, Gerald once again became aware of the suspicious absence of men. Only a fleeting moment of awareness that he associated with the fact that for the past eight months, he had been around nothing but men, so his mind must be playing tricks on him. Of course the men were present, just not right now, but he was sure, later in the day, he would see men everywhere. After all, his town was a small one, where old values, stereotypes and ideals were still in place. The men would work all day, while the women tend to the home and the children. The clock on the car radio read ‘3pm’ so, the men must still be working.

Occupational hazard, he chuckled to himself, as he turned on the radio and continued his journey to Johnny’s farm.

Gerald smiled as he turned into the familiar driveway, leading up to Johnny’s two-story farmhouse. Johnny was sitting in an old faded rocking chair, smoking a cigarette, like always, and when he saw that he was about to have company, he waved and smiled at the car. As Gerald got closer to the house, and Johnny saw who had come to visit, he practically leapt out of his rocking chair and was quickly approaching the young man with his hand out in eager anticipation of a hearty handshake. Gerald of course accepted the invite and shook Johnny’s hand, vigorously, before inquiring about his father.

After a moment or two of smiles and admirable comments on his height and health, Gerald finally got a word in, hey Johnny, I got a question...

Before he could finish, the old farmer waved him off and said, I know why you’re here son, you better come with me, and with that he spirited Gerald around the side of the old farmhouse.

Gerald looked around and saw that Johnny’s fields were freshly plowed. Gerald and his dad hunted Johnny’s property every year, and the moment they were done, Johnny plowed down his field. The empty field saddened Gerald even more, but he needed answers, so he pushed those feelings down deep, and continued to follow the old man around the side of the farmhouse.

It wasn’t long before they came upon the cellar doors that led underneath Johnny’s house. Gerald watched as the old farmer bent down and unlocked his cellar doors, before opening them, he then turned to Johnny and said, follow me, but listen, you're not going to like what you see, so hear me out before you react.

Confused and a little concerned, Gerald agreed and descended the steps into the cellar, and Johnny closed the doors before joining him.

At first nothing seemed out of the ordinary, then Gerald noticed that Johnny’s wife, Margaret, was tied to the center support post that held up the house. She was gagged and clearly in distress, her hands fastened firmly behind her and her legs strapped to the post with an old leather belt.

Gerald immediately spun towards Johnny, Oh my God, man, he exclaimed, what’s going on here?

Johnny put his hands up and motioned for Gerald to calm down, I know this looks bad, he went on, but, hear me out.

Gerald looked at him, wide-eyed and shocked, You have your wife tied up in your cellar, man! he said, this looks more than just bad.

You’ve been gone awhile son, Johnny started to explain, look, the women in this town, they...they’ve lost their minds!

Gerald was absolutely perplexed. His mother and sister seemed fine, but the look Margaret had on her face, was that of utter fear. A perfectly normal reaction to being tied up in your cellar. Gerald turned back to Johnny and asked, What do you mean? From where I’m standing, YOU look like a person who has lost his mind!

Johnny was shaking his head, the women in this town have taken over, they have killed about seventy percent of the men, Johnny said, before adding, including your father!

That last line felt like a slap across Gerald’s face, who killed my father? he asked while gritting his teeth to hold back the rage and sadness. But it was Johnny’s answer, that brought him to his knees.

Your mother, Johnny replied.

Gerald’s head began to spin. What Johnny was saying, made little sense. He was wondering why