Bent Trees Paperback

Alice watched a white pickup logo “Brown Construction” on the side, pull up in front of the abandoned property. 

The man exiting the pickup had a clipboard. Soft looking dark blonde hair replaced a once greasy pile. Thick locks covered what Alice knew were large ears. Gerard could never be called handsome, but with a full beard, he resembled nothing of the pimple-faced teen she remembered.

Hopefully he wasn't scared of a few ghosts.

Take a peek inside...

Inside the dimly lit store, she reached for the light switch.

Nothing.

Lightening lit up the room and the face of a man by the basement door.

He motioned her toward the stairs.

She made her way across the room.

Alice reached the basement door. He turned and smiled at her.

It was Harold Olson, beckoning her to come down to the basement with him. Drawn by an unknown source, Alice began to descend the stairs. She was having trouble concentrating. Like a long, dark tunnel and at the end, nothing.

Not nothing.

The front entrance burst open and a blast of wind with it.

“Alice!”

She paused, glancing back.

Gerard appeared at the top of the stairs. “We are under a tornado warning.”

“We could go down here.” Alice turned, reluctant to leave. She searched the darkness below and saw no sign of Harold.

“No.” He came down to her level, grabbing her hand.

“When do you think we’ll be back?” she asked. “I need to get something. It will only take a minute.”

He gave her a hard look. “Where is it?”

“In the basement. You go on ahead, I’ll meet you at the house.”

“Nope. You are not getting it, now let’s go,” his voice rose an octave.

“But…” Cold fury emerged from the cellar, slamming into her with a force that knocked her on her backside.

Suddenly, the low husky voice of Leslie Gore floated from the basement, “You don’t own me, don’t try to change me in anyway.”

Experience the chilling thrills that will keep you up all night!