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"Scare It Forward!" (Tale Two) Chapter 10


Well, gang- Monday has rolled around... another long start to a long week.  Fortunately, we have my weekly summary of William Castle's second "Scare It Forward!" tale to make the day go a little bit easier!

The story so far:
Rod "Hot Rod" McIntosh, is a guitarist with a taste for cocaine, liquor, and fast bikes.  During his band's performance one night, a mysterious woman gives him a note and a kiss.  Soon, Rod is faced with a growing horror as the woman stakes a claim on his soul.  Is this hellish nightmare a bad trip... or a fast trip to Hell?
A night of passion turns into a nightmarish vision of shadowy death and and an creepy mystery for Rod after he meets, "Mindy".  Kisses land like feathers, and blood flows like wine in the fog of his memories from that night.  Who IS this mysterious woman... and what does she want with him?
 Seeking answers to the fragmented questions about the strange night with "Mindy," Rod is on a journey to find her and discover the truth behind the secret hiding under her seductive allure.  He soon finds himself on the road to the Ranford Ranch... but is that road also the road to Hell?
Having reached the Ranford Ranch, Rod is greeted by the haunting beauty of "Mindy", and her... "friends".  They're having a party- and Rod is the star performer.  Rod quickly finds himself in the intoxicating grip of pain and pleasure- and then left to crave the terrifying rush of losing his soul to the music.
Like an addict, Rod is caught in the steel grip of a hungry need to feel the music inside him... a need so great that he'd willingly suffer the terror that "Mindy" and her friends inflict on him.  His need may bring him greater horrors now that he's met "Malina"... their queen...
Inspiration flows like blood inside of Rod as the dark queen and her trinity of maidens pull him deeper into their court of terror.  Lyrics seep like life from him as he writes for the dark queen and her trinity of maidens.  Words drop on the page like tears as he sees a way to escape the obscurity that follows him and his band.  Fame and glory lay before him like a body on the floor as he loses himself to the music...  Will he become the court minstrel... or the fool?
Some musicians are blessed by the music they create, while others are cursed by it.  Some control their music, while others are controlled by it.  Sinking deeper into his addiction to the music he plays for "Malina" and her trio of maidens, Rod encounters three strange men and learns the horrid truth behind the music.  They offer him a chance at reclaiming his life and his soul... but only a slim chance.  Too bad the dark queen isn't likely to make it easy for him...
Sometimes, we're trapped in a fantasy we wish would end, while other times we're trapped in a reality we wish would end.  For Rod, reality has taken a darker turn into grim fantasy that he can't escape.  He needs to break the hold of the horror that grips his life now... but is confronted with the possibility that the life he had may have been just as a nightmare as what he's facing now...

Chapter Ten is brought to you this week by Richie Weird.  All I have to say is, "Wow..."  He definately brings a bit of a shocker to the story.  If you don't believe me, check it out the full story at William Castle's blog!  There are three chapters remaining in this story, and I'm really curious how it'll end.

While you're visiting his site, check out the first tale of terror for 2011- "Scare It Forward: Undertow," as well as last years errie tale, "Scare It Forward: Angel Island".

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