When Even Death Can't Stop Someone

A paranormal investigator tries to help a boy deal with the ghost of his dead, but still abusive father. Of course, the investigator has a secret of his own.

By Death Abused by Gary Jonas is a flash fiction piece about the worst kind of ghost dad, still terrorizing his children from beyond the grave. I appreciate the way the author avoids going into detail about the abuse...what little is revealed is horrific enough. It's not difficult to imagine the physical and psychological trauma inflicted on Paula and Davey.

Having the story told from Davey's POV brings a perfect balance of fear and determination, as the young boy is determined to protect his teenage sister. I only wish more had been revealed about the investigator, Sherrod. I'd like to know why he felt he owed "paybacks." I'm not sure if he is trying to make up for something he did or not.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Kept In The Dark

She was a stranger in her home. Holland, at only sixteen, had managed to deal with every issue imagined. Abuse, drugs, depression, and emptiness. 

Parents can only keep a hold of a child so much, what about the parents who are too into their children?

A Stranger In Her Own Home: The End by Aya Marie begins with a description of Holland's emotional state, as well as a few facts about her home life. As soon as her father's addiction is mentioned, I cringed. I had my suspicions, especially with the careful way the author lays out the story...unraveling the family secrets, without revealing any graphic details...just waves of thoughts and emotions lapping over one another inside Holland's mind. The ending is heartbreaking.

This short story could very easily trigger anyone who grew up with abuse and/or neglect. However, Aya Marie does a stunning job bringing attention to a serious issue, without further exploiting the main character, and I am curious what other stories she might have to offer.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Friday Fright: Jerk Alert

Ol' Jeb by Lissa Dobbs is a straight-forward story about a rotten old man named Jeb. He's a wife-beater and unpleasant to everyone in general, with a huge sense of entitlement. His son foolishly allows Jeb to move in with his family.

Jeb bullies his son, beats his daughter-in-law and threatens to physically harm his two granddaughters...he evens considers rape an acceptable way of getting what he wants. However, he doesn't realize that his granddaughters have a secret and they are determined to get rid of their grandpa.

While the writing style is simple, I found myself hooked just the same, wanting to know Jeb's fate. Too bad the ending didn't last longer.

As always,
AstraDaemon