Wednesday Briefs: Bad Karma and the Family Plan #85 (18.1)

 (Sorry in advance for the repeat, but I have COVID)

Good morning and Happy Hump Day! If it's Wednesday, then it must be time for more flash fiction from the Wednesday Briefers! We're a group of authors who bring you our finest flash fiction every week, 500 to 1000 words, inspired by one of our prompts.

A new twist in the confusing saga has now developed. Namely the presence of a small stuffed gator meant for Vinnie! Could this mean what it appears to mean? See what's going on in this week's chapter of Bad Karma and the Family Plan! Don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what's up with them. Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!

Bad Karma and the Family Plan #85 (18.1)

I know it’s silly to be taken aback by something so harmless, but the memories that tiny gator invoked…. Well, let’s say they weren’t pleasant.

“Vinnie…Vinnie…”

Ethan’s concerned voice drew me back to the present. He was stroking my cheek, and the expression in his beautiful blue eyes was one of alarm.

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to space out like that.” I gave him a weak smile, but I knew he understood why I was rather upset. Not to mention this suddenly pointed the grave finger of suspicion toward someone I’d rather forget entirely, but he was making that difficult.

Who else could have sent such a chilling message but Chip, aka the Mangler? The million dollar question was—what did Chip have to do with anything?

“Isn’t that so cute?” St. Clair kept babbling on while my blood turned to ice. “And wasn’t that very thoughtful of him to send it to you? Although, to be honest, I’m not sure why he bothered. Come to think of it, he did seem rather obsessed with you. Even though you aren’t in the industry or anything. I kept telling him you’re no one important, but he just wouldn’t listen.”

My stomach churned at her words even as the truth slapped me in the face. But how? Why? He was safely locked away, behind bars awaiting trial. We’d ascertained that oursleves. Was this Billy Faulkner an accomplice of his? A henchman on the outside, committed to assist the Mangler in his dirty deeds?

Would I never be free of the man?

I couldn’t refrain from shuddering. Ethan helped me to my feet, anchoring me with his arm about my waist. “Miss St. Clair, you’ve been very helpful,” he said. Troy and Brendan had risen too, I noticed. As we started to walk away, Ethan paused and turned back.

“Oh, just ne more question, if you don’t mind. How did that stuffed animal arrive?”

The small gator still sat on her hand, as neither one of us had attempted to claim it. I mean, why would we?

“In the mail. How else, silly?” She cackled, as if she found herself amusing. I’m pretty sure no one else did.

Troy and Brendan made their good-byes as Ethan ushered me out of the building, back to our car.  I was doing my best not to panic, but failing at that pretty much. I kept remembering how St. Clair was able to escape her environs simply by using a double. Could Chip have done the same? Was he out there even now, stalking me…hunting me…waiting his opportunity to pounce? Bil rose in my throat that I had to force back down.

“What if it’s him? What if he’s out?” I asked, somewhere between a whimper and a whisper.

Ethan wrapped his arms around me and held me tightly. “I don’t see how, but that’s something we can check on.

Troy and Brendan caught up with us then. To my dismay, I noticed Troy gingerly held the little gator. Why?

He answered my unspoken question before holding it out toward Ethan. “I just thought maybe there’s something on it. You know, like DNA or fingerprints or something?”

Who was the law enforcement officer here? I should have thought of that, but in my defense, I was a bit busy freaking out.

“Good thinking,” Ethan said. “Hang on a second.” He kissed me tenderly before he released me and opened the passenger door. Opening the glove compartment, he rummaged around for a second before coming out with a plastic bag. “I remember seeing this,” he explained as he carefully bagged the evidence. Evidence of what I wasn’t sure, but it was something.

Once he’d secured that, he pulled out his phone. I heard him talking to Anderson briefly before he hung up. “We’re going to find out if that is really him down in Florida, or an imposter.”

Would this nightmare never end?

 to be continued

Go see what the other Briefers are up to!

Cia Nordwell

J Ray Lamb

Saturday is Horror Day #128 - Saw, Tales of Terror

 Saw

Two men, Lawrence (Cary Elwes) and Adam( Leigh Wannell) awaken on opposite sides of a disgusting filthy bathroom with no recollection of how they got they or any idea of why they are there. To make matters worse, each man is chained and unable to escape. But if they want to survive, they are going to have to rely on one another...and time is running out.

Suddenly Lawrence thinks he knows what is going on, as he was recently a suspect in a serial killer investigation being conducted by two policemen, Detective Tapp (Danny Glover) and Detective Sing (Ken Leung). This killer has left a trail of grisly crime scenes and victims who died horrible deaths in gruesome traps. The only known survivor of his blood lust - at least so far - is Amanda (Shawnee Smith), and the tale she tells is a horrifying one.

The clock is ticking and Lawrence's family is at risk. He must do something before they'll die...even if it includes killing Adam.

This is the film that started it all - the first Saw movie, directed by James Wan and written by him and Leigh Whannell. This film is not for the faint-hearted, although it doesn't show the same degree of callousness as Terrifier. Much like its namesake, Jigsaw, the story is a puzzle with many layers, and the truth lies somewhere in the middle. I first saw it years ago, before I ever saw Lost, so I wasn't familiar with either Michael Emerson (who plays an orderly) or Ken Leung, but I recognize them now. 

I intend to rewatch the entire series, probably not in time for the new one next month. Even so, it will be fun. This one is almost 20 years old and it holds up well, setting the tone for what is to come. Except I already know the traps are going to get worse...far worse. Great beginning to one of my favorite horror series. I give this film 4 Stars.

Tales of Terror

Morella: Lenora (Maggie Pierce) returns to a home she has never known and a father, Locke (Vincent Price) who turned his back on her after her birth because of the death of his wife/her mother, Morella (Leona Gage). At first, he is less than thrilled to see her, until he learns that she is dying. But there is another who rejoices in this news and tends to make use of it - none other than the long-dead Morella, who has been kept uninterred in an upstairs bedroom.

The Case of Monsieur Valdemar - Valdemar (Vincent Price) is an older man who is dying, to the 

chagrin of his young wife Helene (Debra Paget). To make matters worse, he has agreed to allow mesmerist Carmichael (Basil Rathbone) to attend to him, and to be on hand for the moment of his demise in order to carry out his "experiment" regarding what happens at the time of death. Helene is opposed and so is Valdemar's physician, Dr. James (David Frankham). But Valdemark cannot be dissuaded. He also tells his wife that after his demise, she should be with the handsome doctor. But Carmichael isn't all he appears to be, and he has plans both for the dying man and his wife.

The Black Cat: Montresor Herringbone (Peter Lorre) is an unemployed drunk who abuses his long-suffering wife Annabel (Joyce Jameson) in order to get money with which to continue drinking. One day, by accident, he stumbles into a wine tasting contest, and decides to challenge a connoisseur of fine wines, Fortunate Luchresi (Vincent Price). Afterward, Fortunato takes the drunken Montresor home and meets the lovely Annabel. The attraction is immediate and an affair begins. Suddenly, Montresor has no problem getting the money he needs to go drinking and stay away from the house. But when he learns the truth, what revenge will he exact on the lovers?

This is one of Roger Corman's Poe-derived film, and is a favorite of mine, especially the Black Cat segment, which is based on the Cask of Amontillado. Peter Lorre does comedy very well. Also see Comedy of Terrors, which features the same cast, and which I'll probably review at some time. Basil Rathbone does his usual inimitable job as the villain in Valdemar, and Joyce Jameson is stellar as Annabel in the Black Cat. You can never go wrong with Vincent Price. I've seen it a number of times and will watch it again undoubtedly. I give this film 4 Stars.

Saturday is Horror Day #127 - Twice-Told Tales, Wrong Turn 5

 Twice-Told Tales

Dr. Heidegger's Experiment concerns a man, Dr. Carl Heidegger (Sebastian Cabot)  determined to not only restore youth to himself but to his best friend Alex (Vincent Price) and to restore the long-dead body of his fiance Sylvia (Mari Blanchard). Alex tries to talk him out of his well-meant intention, arguing that it cannot be done. But then Heidegger does the seemingly impossible...however not without a price.

Rappaccini's Daughter is about a man named Rappaccini (Vincent Price) so scarred by his wife leaving 

him that he is determined to never lose his daughter Beatrice (Joyce Taylor) in the same way. He inoculates his daughter with a deadly poison that ensures she can never leave the garden which contains the deadly plants, and makes her touch deadly to everyone else. A young man, Giovanni Guasconti (Brett Halsey) happens to see her looking out her window and is instantly smitten. However, she tries to dissuade him from visiting her. True love cannot be thwarted, even though she can never go out with him...until her father discovers what's up and determines to sever that connection for good.

In The House of the Seven Gables, Gerald Pyncheon (Vincent Price) returns to his ancestral home with his new wife Alice (Beverly Garland) after a very long absence, in order to claim what he believes is rightfully his.  His sister Hannah (Jacqueline deWit) attempts to persuade him to let the matter go, but to no avail. Alice seems inordinately sensitive to the presence of something or someone. When Jonathan Maulle (Richard Denning),  a descendant of Mathew Maulle, arrives to right an old wrong, things go horribly awry.

These are three stories told by Nathaniel Hawthorne, but they are not quite as he told him. The writer and director have conspired to give them somewhat of a Poe-esque twist. So be warned if you read the book, this isn't really it. Especially House of the Seven Gables, which is a novel, not a short story. At any rate, it's worth watching for Vincent Price alone, even if it's rather dated now. You may remember Sebastian Cabot from Family Affair as the gentleman's gentleman, Mr. French. Beverly Garland was quite the femme fatale in her day but I remember her from My Three Sons as Fred McMurray's second wife. Richard Denning is probably best known for Creature From the Black Lagoon. All in all, still worth watching. I give this film 3 Stars.

Wrong Turn 5: Bloodlines

A group of college students decide to attend the Mountain Man Festival in West Virginia, on Halloween, and they meet you know who. Because of course they do.

I'll make this short and sweet. I didn't finish this one either, which apparently is the sequel to Wrong Turn 4 that I also turned off. I think I didn't even last as long with 5 because it was that bad. The sad thing is that I didn't even realize Doug Bradley was in it, and I always liked him as Pinhead. Oh well, can't win them all. I'll give this .5 just for Doug, but I recommend avoiding it like the plague. Guess we'll see what the sixth one brings. Will that be the charm?

Book Review: Love Mode, Vol 4 by Yuzi Shimuzu

 

Love Mode, Vol 4      

Author: Yuki Shimizu

Publisher: Blu

American release date:  October 31, 2006

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Yaoi Manga/192 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

Naoya’s life is finally becoming more settled. He is back in school, working part-time, and living with Reiji, who is determined to teach the young man basic civilities. Reiji’s doctor brother, Kiichi, organizes a dinner with Naoya’s guardian, Kajiwara. The idea is to show him how well Naoya is doing, and to persuade him to allow Naoya to remain in Reiji’s household. A chance meeting with the man who took over Naoya’s father’s company, Aizawa, leads to hard feelings when the man displays his true colors in front of a businessman he is trying to impress. Unfortunately for Aizawa, the man is a friend of Reiji and Kiichi and is appalled with Aizawa, saying he will not do business with him. Afterward, in private, a shocking revelation is made.

Naoya has a bad dream that night, one he’s had before, about the accident that took the lives of his family. Reiji comforts him. After work the next day, Naoya runs into Kajiwara, who invites him back to his home. Naoya wants to know why he is against his staying with Aoe, and Kajiwara reveals all. Afterward, Reiji find Naoya in a horrible state, and cares for him. Together, Reiji and Kiichi confront Kajiwara and finally lay certain demons to rest.

Bonus story: Takamiya is not shy about telling Izumi that he loves him, but so far, Izumi has never reciprocated those words. Takamiya proposes they get together in two days and have a date playing billiards. Why that paticular day? It’s a special anniversary for them! Thanks to a chance encounter, they end up spending time with Reiji and Naoya, like a double date! Izumi is incredulous that anyone could live with grumpy old Reiji, but Naoya defends him as a good man. Meanwhile, Takamiya is needling Reiji for bringing home a stray when he supposedly hates cats. Izumi, tired of Reiji’s patronizing attitude, begs Takamiya to play a game of pool with him and clean his clock for him. He promises that if he does that, Takamiya can have anything he wants from Izumi. Yes, anything! Challenge on!

In a second bonus story, a young man is living with a foster family for certain reasons, and he realizes he cares about his foster brother a little too much. A sinister man seems to be stalking him, but can he save him?

Naoya’s past is out in the open now, and the truth has finally been revealed. Now he can let go of the ghosts that haunted him and move on with his life, whatever that may bring.  Will his relationship with Reiji heat up? Does he want it to? Only time will tell. I enjoyed the bonus story very much. I think Izumi and Takamiya are a cute couple! The second bonus story was more bittersweet than sweet. Another great volume, looking forward to the next one!

 

Wednesday Briefs: Bad Karma and the Family Plan #85 (18.1)

 Good morning and Happy Hump Day! If it's Wednesday, then it must be time for more flash fiction from the Wednesday Briefers! We're a group of authors who bring you our finest flash fiction every week, 500 to 1000 words, inspired by one of our prompts.

A new twist in the confusing saga has now developed. Namely the presence of a small stuffed gator meant for Vinnie! Could this mean what it appears to mean? See what's going on in this week's chapter of Bad Karma and the Family Plan! Don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what's up with them. Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!

Bad Karma and the Family Plan #85 (18.1)

I know it’s silly to be taken aback by something so harmless, but the memories that tiny gator invoked…. Well, let’s say they weren’t pleasant.

“Vinnie…Vinnie…”

Ethan’s concerned voice drew me back to the present. He was stroking my cheek, and the expression in his beautiful blue eyes was one of alarm.

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to space out like that.” I gave him a weak smile, but I knew he understood why I was rather upset. Not to mention this suddenly pointed the grave finger of suspicion toward someone I’d rather forget entirely, but he was making that difficult.

Who else could have sent such a chilling message but Chip, aka the Mangler? The million dollar question was—what did Chip have to do with anything?

“Isn’t that so cute?” St. Clair kept babbling on while my blood turned to ice. “And wasn’t that very thoughtful of him to send it to you? Although, to be honest, I’m not sure why he bothered. Come to think of it, he did seem rather obsessed with you. Even though you aren’t in the industry or anything. I kept telling him you’re no one important, but he just wouldn’t listen.”

My stomach churned at her words even as the truth slapped me in the face. But how? Why? He was safely locked away, behind bars awaiting trial. We’d ascertained that oursleves. Was this Billy Faulkner an accomplice of his? A henchman on the outside, committed to assist the Mangler in his dirty deeds?

Would I never be free of the man?

I couldn’t refrain from shuddering. Ethan helped me to my feet, anchoring me with his arm about my waist. “Miss St. Clair, you’ve been very helpful,” he said. Troy and Brendan had risen too, I noticed. As we started to walk away, Ethan paused and turned back.

“Oh, just ne more question, if you don’t mind. How did that stuffed animal arrive?”

The small gator still sat on her hand, as neither one of us had attempted to claim it. I mean, why would we?

“In the mail. How else, silly?” She cackled, as if she found herself amusing. I’m pretty sure no one else did.

Troy and Brendan made their good-byes as Ethan ushered me out of the building, back to our car.  I was doing my best not to panic, but failing at that pretty much. I kept remembering how St. Clair was able to escape her environs simply by using a double. Could Chip have done the same? Was he out there even now, stalking me…hunting me…waiting his opportunity to pounce? Bil rose in my throat that I had to force back down.

“What if it’s him? What if he’s out?” I asked, somewhere between a whimper and a whisper.

Ethan wrapped his arms around me and held me tightly. “I don’t see how, but that’s something we can check on.

Troy and Brendan caught up with us then. To my dismay, I noticed Troy gingerly held the little gator. Why?

He answered my unspoken question before holding it out toward Ethan. “I just thought maybe there’s something on it. You know, like DNA or fingerprints or something?”

Who was the law enforcement officer here? I should have thought of that, but in my defense, I was a bit busy freaking out.

“Good thinking,” Ethan said. “Hang on a second.” He kissed me tenderly before he released me and opened the passenger door. Opening the glove compartment, he rummaged around for a second before coming out with a plastic bag. “I remember seeing this,” he explained as he carefully bagged the evidence. Evidence of what I wasn’t sure, but it was something.

Once he’d secured that, he pulled out his phone. I heard him talking to Anderson briefly before he hung up. “We’re going to find out if that is really him down in Florida, or an imposter.”

Would this nightmare never end?

 to be continued

Go see what the other Briefers are up to!

Cia Nordwell

J Ray Lamb

Virtual Book Tour: When I Look in the Mirror by Tanith Davenport

 Good morning everyone! Please welcome author Tanith Davenport to Full Moon Dreaming! She is here today to discuss her new release, When I Look in the Mirror. Tanith will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to one randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter during the tour. The more you comment, the greater your chances of winning! To find the other stops on her tour, go here. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post!

 

WHEN I LOOK IN THE MIRROR

by Tanith Davenport

 

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GENRE:  Paranormal Erotic Romance

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

BLURB:

 

When hairdresser Tatum Fox takes part in a séance at a party, her only thought is of the attractive man sitting beside her, the mysterious Zack, who appears in her dreams that night and who she hopes to see again. However, when she begins to experience paranormal activity and finds herself confronted by an unnerving client at work, she discovers that the séance summoned a demon – and Zack may be the only person who can free her of him.

 

Zack reveals himself to be an angel, and shows Tatum that she also has the power to battle supernatural creatures – a power that is increased through sex with him. Their connection soon strengthens, but is Tatum strong enough to defeat the demon with Zack by her side – and can there be a future with an angel, or is their passion doomed to end?

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

EXCERPT:

 

“What you saw wasn’t in your head. It was real.”

 

“What are you talking about? I saw Dante turning into a—into I don’t know what. How could that be real?”

 

Zack sighed, taking her hand. “Listen. There are things in this world you don’t understand. And Dante is one of them.”

 

Tatum gave him a look. Seriously?

 

“This stays between us.” Zack gently took her chin in his hand, tilting her head up to look at her directly, and then…

 

A sudden glittering haze seemed to surround them, and Zack’s eyes glowed white.

 

“What the—”

 

“Shh.” Zack held her still as the glitter dissipated, his eyes returning to normal. “Like I said, there are things you don’t understand. Not yet.”

 

“And you’re one of them? What are you?”

 

“You don’t need to worry about me. Worry about Dante.”

 

“And what’s Dante?”

 

Zack’s thumb caressed her cheek. “Dante is a demon.”

 

A demon. The idea would have seemed impossible that morning, and yet now it was somehow believable. Dante, who had given her the creeps since she first met him, who she had seen turning into a hideous creature in the mirror, was a demon.

 

“How do you know? Ezer has known him ages and never picked up—this.”

 

Zack rolled his eyes. “Ezer is great, but he’s not the kind of person to pick this up. I only invited him to see if he might have that power—he doesn’t. His senses are dead in the water.”

 

“And mine?”

 

“Besides…” Zack continued as though she hadn’t spoken. “Dante wasn’t always a demon. Remember Nicole’s party? That was when it happened. He’s been taken over.”

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Tanith Davenport began writing erotica at the age of 27 by way of the Romantic Novelists' Association New Writers' Scheme. Her debut novel "The Hand He Dealt" was released by Totally Bound in June 2011 and was shortlisted for the Joan Hessayon Award for 2012.

 

Tanith has had short stories published by Totally Bound, Naughty Nights Press and House of Erotica. She loves to travel and dreams of one day taking a driving tour of the United States, preferably in a classic 1950s pink Cadillac Eldorado.

 

Tanith's idea of heaven is an Indian head massage with a Mojito at her side.

 

www.facebook.com/TanithDavenport

www.twitter.com/TanithDavenport

tanithdavenport.blogspot.com

Books 2 Read: https://books2read.com/u/bOPO7W

Amazon US:  bit.ly/46xnwe5

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

The Questions –

1) What is your idea of how to spend romantic time with your significant other?

When my husband and I do a date night we’ll usually go out to one of our favourite restaurants and then, when we get home, take turns picking songs to play on iTunes. It’s a great way to enjoy spending an evening together.

2) When you start a new story, do you begin with a character, or a plot?

It tends to be the character who inspires the plot, but occasionally I’ll have separate ideas for characters and plots and end up marrying them together. In the case of “When I Look In The Mirror”, I had the character of Tatum already in my head and also the plot on my ideas list, so it was just a matter of seeing it they worked together.

 
3) If they were to make the story of your life into a movie, who should play you?

I would say Florence Pugh. She’s got amazing range and I’ve loved everything she’s been in. I’d also like to cast her if any of my books became films, which I’m not hopeful of, but you never know.

4) Who’s your favorite horror villain and why?

I love horror films and have seen most, if not all, of the famous series, but my favourite villain is still Jason Voorhees from “Friday the 13^th”, primarily because the moment when he sat up in the bed in the second film scared me to death. I definitely preferred him in the earlier films, back when he was a man and not an unkillable zombie – I thought he was much scarier that way.

5) Do you have an historical crush and if so, who is it?

I’m a closet Ricardian – I’m fascinated by Richard III and am firmly of the belief that he didn’t kill the Princes in the Tower. He, like me, has scoliosis, so I think it’s remarkable that he was such a skilled soldier given how much pain he must have been in.

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Saturday is Horror Day # 126 - Kill Bill: Vol 1, Men

 Kill Bill: Vol 1

Weddings are generally joyous and happy events in a person's life. But sadly that is not always the case. A bride (Uma Thurman) awakens from a four-year coma to discover her world as she knew it no longer exists, ripped away by person or persons unknown. She is determined to have her revenge. But first things first...where is Bill?

I've heard about this movie for a long time and finally got around to watching it. Uma Thurman is the 

distraught bride who intends to put an end to those who caused her such pain, including the death of her unborn child. She systematically hunts them all down, asking everyone the same question - where is Bill? The fight scenes are decent, if bloody. But then it is a Tarantino film, so that's to be expected. I also expected more answers than I got. Such as where is Bill? I guess that's why they made a second film. Guess I'll have to watch that to find out.

This film does contain some familiar faces, such as Daryl Hannah and Lucy Liu. I don't think it's as great as the hype makes it out to be, but it was worth watching. I'll hold further judgement until I see the second part. I'll give this film 4 Stars.

Men

Harper (Jessie Buckley) is distraught over the death of her husband James (Paapa Essiedu) and decides to retreat to the country to soothe her aching soul and find some sort of peace.  Unsure of whether his death was a suicide or an accident, she blames herself. The more she tries to forget, the more she remembers. She finds the men in this remote village to be...well, off. Even the parish priest seems to blame her for what happened to James, and then there is a insufferable child who speaks to her as no child should.

The more she explores her beautiful surroundings, the more troubled she becomes. Is there something 

sinister here? Why do all these men resemble one another so much? Many questions, but few answers. And then there is the naked man (Rory Kinnear) who just appeared outside her window one day, and haunts her. She can't seem to get anyone to help her! Maybe coming out here wasn't such a great idea after all!

I'm not gonna lie, I was intrigued by the trailer and excited to watch this film. It doesn't hurt that I am a huge fan of Rory Kinnear. The setting and photography was lush, I really enjoyed it. The acting was top notch, as was the direction. But the story...oh, the story. Where I was turned off was when it turned from simple horror story to something else entirely. Metaphorical, maybe? As in not everything you're seeing is real, it's all part of her grief.  Yeah, not what I wanted or expected. And the ending...oh the ending. It's...beyond words. See for yourself and see what you make of it. I'll just give this film 3 Stars and move on.