Book Review- "A Scream Full of Ghosts" by Jane Nighshade.

I had a great time reading Jane Nightshade's new collection of ghost stories titled "A Scream Full of Ghosts."

Many of the stories are set in California's Gold country and feature several colorful old west characters, but my favorite of the anthology takes place in modern day San Francisco.

"Red Onion" is the bittersweet tale of a young man's love for a struggling single mom that extends beyond the grave.

A Scrhttps://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/515XSz7E82L._SX311_BO1,204,203,200_.jpgeam Full of Ghosts: Nightshade, Jane: 9781943201891: Amazon.com: Books

"The Cave" a short story by Craig Zimmerman

Jim was deep in the back country when he noticed the cave. He had been that way several times before and had never noticed a cave, but there it was.

Jim pulled a flashlight out of his backpack and walked up to the entrance of the cave. The cave ceiling appeared to be high enough for him to walk upright. Jim took a few steps and stopped. Caves could be dangerous, but he decided to explore this one just a little.

After about 100 yards inside the cave, Jim noticed the faint traces of a light ahead. Jim followed the light until he entered a large cavern. Suddenly, a panel opened in the cavern wall exposing another room. 

Bones of every kind were scattered around the room, and some kind of shapeless thing occupied a kind of throne against the cavern's wall. Jim turned to run, but found the exit gone. "There is no need to be afraid" the thing in the chair said.

"Who or what are you?" Jim asked the creature. "I can't answer either question." The creature said. "My only memory is of being in this cave. I have the ability to manipulate matter in some fashion, but I do not have the power to leave.

"So, I am to be dinner?" Jim said looking at all the bones. The creature laughed. "No, I have no need for what you think of as food. The bones you see are from people and animals that have kept me company over the long years."

"I don't understand." Jim said "I do not have the physical needs of your kind." the creature said, but I do need companions. I will provide you with food and drink and you will be my friend for as long as you live."

"What if I do not wish to be your friend.?" Jim said. "There is no other choice. The cave entrance has been sealed." 

Jim looked at the bones on the floor. The creature was right. For the time being, there was no escape.

Short Story- The Siren Of The Sound

The following is a short story that I just wrote.: "Tim watched the Seabirds with envy. It was just two years ago that he had run on that beach. He could run for miles and not get tired.

Tim turned away from the window. He should never have come here at all. His parents thought it would help his "recovery" if he spent some time at the family's vacation home on Orcas Island.They even hired a physical therapist to work with him. The question was: how does one recover from a missing leg?

After Tim graduated from high school he was full of patriotic fervor and he joined the army. A year later a roadside bomb in Iraq took away whatever naive patriotism that he had left.

A light knock on the door downstairs brought Tim out of his dark thoughts. That would be his physical therapist Julie. Tim gathered his crutches for the trip downstairs. A slight mis-step and Tim crashed down the stairs.

Upon hearing the noise, Julie came in and helped him up. Tim was not seriously hurt, but he was angry. In the old days, he could run those stairs without thinking. "you were lucky"Julie told him. "yeah lucky" Tim repeated bitterly. "How about we skip the PT, and go into town and get something to eat" Julie suggested. Tim nodded. "I need to get out of here."

Dinner did little to brighten Tim's mood and he immediately went to bed when Julie took him home. Tim dreamed that he was watching the water as he often did, but this time it was different. A beautiful woman rose from the water and floated toward him. The woman touched his leg and he was healed. He had two legs again. It was all so real, but in the morning, he was still crippled.

 Tim told Julie about the dream. "It is not unusual for people with injuries like yours to have dreams like that." Julie said in her best clinical voice. That night, Tim dreamed of the woman again, but this time she spoke to him. "I can give you anything you wish." she whispered in his ear. Tim decided not to mention the dream to Julie. she might think that he was losing it.

The third night, the woman came to him again. This time the woman wanted Tim to follow him.Tim got out of bed and went outside. He did not feel the cold and continued to follow the woman to the shore. Tim began to wade into the surf, the freezing water did not bother him.

 Tim heard a voice behind him, he ignored it and continued to follow the beautiful woman deeper into the water. The voice on the shore became more urgent and Tim stopped for a moment. It was Julie yelling at him. What was she doing here? Tim looked toward the beautiful woman floating above the water and back at Julie.

Time began wading back toward shore. When he stepped on the beach, Julie hugged him and looked in his eyes with a serious look. "Suicide is not the answer, Tim." Tim looked out at the dark water, "I was not trying to commit suicide. She was going to heal me"