Aaron Rayburn
Craig Johnson had two best friends, two caring parents, a hot girlfriend, and a nice truck--not bad for a twenty-year-old. A decent life, until he began hearing voices in his bedroom late at night. Then a bright blue light manifests from within his closet. And he is drawn to it, mystified by its beauty.
He walks through the light ... and into a world of darkness and emptiness, where he learns of a fabled Shadow God, an entity that wants him dead.
Murders spring up in the neighborhood, and the local detective is quick to put the blame on Craig and his friends.
Through Craig''s sinister encounters with the Shadow God and his constant run in with the law, he discovers he is part of something great--a reincarnation maybe--that takes him back to the first murder of the world.
Aaron Rayburn loves to scare people, which is his outlet to reality. And he does so by writing stories. Although this is his first novel, he says there will be more to look forward to from him in the future. He also says that he owes a great deal of gratitude to the Devil ... for filling his mind with such horrific images. Mr. Rayburn resides somewhere along the Ohio River where he is at work on his second novel.
The three boys stood silent, listening to the crickets, the cicadas, the occasional hoot of an owl and the soft purring of the wind.
"What am I listening for?" said Craig.
The three of them were silent. Once their suspicions were raised, there came a soft growl not far from where they stood. The crickets instantly shut off their nightly song.
There was a shuffle of leaves, then another short period of the ominous soft growling.
"What is it?" whispered Craig. "A coyote?"
"It''s close to us," whispered Mark, ignoring Craig.
"Oh, God!" rasped Todd, quivering behind Mark''s back.
"Then let''s get out of here," said Craig.
"We can''t move," said Mark. "If we do, it''ll attack."
Todd pursed his lips exhilaratingly. "I can''t stand this anymore. Let''s just get out of here!"
"It might be just a bobcat," said Craig. "I''ve heard they''re back in the area."
Mark shook his head. "No, it''s not. It''s definitely something from the Dark World. I can feel it.
"Would you shut up!" cried Todd. "Nothing from the Dark World is in our world. It''s impossible!"
Mark looked down at Todd''s face. "Is it?" he asked. "We were there and we came back."
"Remember how my dad said the Shadow God was probably trapped in the Dark World?" Craig said. "That probably goes for any of the creatures there as well."
"Probably," Mark stressed. "Which means not a hundred percent true."
The growling rumbled louder -- thicker several yards away. Which meant that whatever it was -- it was closer.
Mark extracted his gun and held it close to his chest.
Todd nodded. "Yeah," he said, gripping, once again to his Louisville Slugger. "That''s a good idea, Mark." He looked back at Craig. "Do you see anything back there?"
Craig looked behind him. He didn''t see anything, but the dark silhouettes of trees. Had something from the Dark World followed them into this world? Anything was possible. If so, what dangers would this world be facing? He turned to face Todd. "No," he said, "nothing."
"Can we go now?" asked Todd hurriedly.
Mark faced front and began walking again, Todd and Craig following close behind. As they moved along the narrow dirt path, none of them believed for a moment that they were safe. At least not until they were locked securely inside Mark''s house. Craig peered ahead to where Mark''s house was supposed to be, but wasn’t able to see the front porch light yet. He knew they were still a little ways off.
There was another long deep growl. And it was closer still. Craig could have sworn he felt it right behind him. "Mark," he said. "Shine your light behind me."
"Why?" he asked.
"Just do it … please."
Mark clicked on his flashlight, a cone of white light cutting an arc into the night. He spun around and shined the light at Craig.
Craig watched Mark and Todd''s face transform from an indifferent state to a white, petrified state.
"What is it?" Craig asked, a sliver of fear running down his spine.
Neither Mark or Todd were able to speak. Their mouths hung agape as their eyes popped from their white waxen faces. Mark dropped the light, but kept a firm grip on his gun. He raised it toward Craig.
Craig slowly craned his neck to the rear, keeping his eyes peeled to the ground. Through the small amount of light cast from the fallen flashlight, he caught sight of a pair of brown hairy legs which sprouted huge talons at the ends of its feet.
The thing growled louder as if it knew its identity had been revealed.
IT''S HIM!" screamed Todd. "RUN!"
Craig knew right then that the beastly thing behind them was the werewolf Todd had seen in the church.
Craig, Mark and Todd''s bodies flooded with panic as they dropped their bats and ran for bloody Mary. Mark was unable to get a shot off for his fear overburdened his bodily control. Though he was able to dig deep into the ground, sprinting forward and away from the grotesque monstrosity.
"What is it doing out here?" Todd shouted, stepping on Mark''s heels.
"I don''t know!" Mark shouted, barely able to keep ahead of Todd.
"Just keep going!" Craig shouted. If they weren''t able to outrun it, then Mark was going to have to shoot it. Or at least try. But getting a good shot was going to be a very hard thing to do.
Craig brought up the rear behind Mark and Todd and he knew he was the first thing the werewolf could get to. The though didn''t settle very well with him, but he kept as close to Todd as he could. In the back of his mind he knew that if any of them tripped or fell, then each of them were as good as dead. Unless … "SHOOT IT, MARK!" he screamed, unable to stand the tension any longer. "SHOOT THAT FUCKING THING!"
"I can''t get a good shot off!" Mark yelled back.
"Yes, you can!" Craig yelled back, suddenly feeling drops of moisture on the back of his neck. At first, he thought it was sweat, but then realized the werewolf was drooling over top of him. It was nauseating to know the creature was that close to him.
Suddenly the wolf took Craig''s legs out from under him. He fell forward screaming, dropping down onto the dirt path, then rolling to the side as quickly as he could. The thing would soon be on him, he knew. He rolled over the embankment of leaves, sliding down to the bottom where he thought for sure he was doomed. "It''s got me!" he shouted.
