LOGINShare
This is Where it Lives
Last Updated:
2024-09-09 07:47:43
Related chapters
Whispers of the Devil What I Have to Do
TannerEverything is fragmented, like I’m skipping through a movie and picking frames at random.I’m not in the swamp anymore. Instead, I’m standing at the back of the house where the fuse boxes are.How did I get here? The last thing I remember is Amos’ hand against my forehead, pushing, forcing. My eyes trail out toward the cemetery, but there’s no movement out there, no telltale shadows amidst the cypress trees.Why am I here? At this point, I notice a weight in my hand and look down. To my confusion, I realize that I’m holding a hammer, gripping the handle so tightly that my knuckles have gone white.I turn back to the fuse box, which is hanging open on one mangled hinge. The whole thing is destroyed. Bits of metal and plastic litter the dead grass underneath. A tang of burning electronics lingers in the air.Did I do this? I have a vague impression of swinging the hammer, but no memory of an impact.“What the fuck?” I groan as the tools slips from my grasp. My throat feels raw, a
Last Updated : 2024-09-09Whispers of the Devil Killing It
BaileyThere’s so much blood.Oh God, there’s so much blood.I’m screaming, and I can’t seem to stop. My head swims at the sight of the nail gouged into Tanner’s hand. His agonized howls pierce through my skull in jagged bolts as he flails and fights against something I can’t see.And then he’s gone, staggering out into the night with only incoherent shouts trailing in his wake.I need to move. I need to get out of this fucking place.Groaning, I struggle to my feet and assess the situation. Amos, using Tanner’s body, managed to fix a panel of drywall to the bottom of the small space, and it’s too high for me to simply step over.I gather my strength and then kick out at the sheetrock. It splits with a sharp crack. At the same time, I cry out as pain shoots through my ankle and zings up my shin.“Fuck!” I sob, bracing myself in the small space as my foot begins to throb.But I don’t stop.I can’t stop.Somehow, Tanner must have broken Amos’s hold over him. I don’t know how he did it,
Last Updated : 2024-09-09Whispers of the Devil The Aftermath
TannerMy eyelids close for what I’m sure is the last time as the swamp swallows me whole.I blink, and I wake up from the nightmare of mud and mire to see an angel.Bailey is smiling down at me, her eyes shining with relief and love. Muck from the swamp covers every inch of her, and brackish water drips from her hair.She’s the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen.“Tanner?” she asks, her voice hushed and quiet as though she’s by a patient’s bedside. “Baby? Can you hear me?”“Yeah,” I sputter. My lungs are on fire, and my mouth tastes like I’ve been licking a sewage pipe. What the fuck happened? The last thing I remember is Amos trying to take me over again.Amos.Fear rushes through me, and I grip Bailey’s hands desperately. “Where’s Amos?” I wheeze as my eyes dart around, trying to catch a glimpse of the demon in the shadows.“Gone,” she replies firmly, her face grim. “I kicked his fucking ass.”“Good,” I sigh, settling back against the mossy soil. My whole body aches. All I want
Last Updated : 2024-09-09Whispers of the Devil The State of Sunshine
Bailey“Tanner!” I yell, hoping he can hear me in the next room.I’m frozen in fear, unable to move as I stare up at my enemy.“Tanner!” I scream again.Summoned by my shouts of terror, Tanner bursts into the room. His muscular body is tense, his arms raised and ready to fight. But then he catches sight of my mortal foe and relaxes into a relieved grin.“Seriously, babe?” he asks in a teasing tone, shaking his head. “A spider?”I glare at him, finally taking my eyes off of the eight-legged freak that’s been making itself at home on the ceiling of our brand new living room. “What?” I snap as he struggles not to laugh at my predicament.“Bailey, you fought a literal demon. And now you’re afraid of a little bug?” he chuckles.“It’s not little,” I huff, but his mood is contagious, and I can’t help but crack a smile. He’s right. It is pretty ridiculous. Nevertheless, he scoops the arachnid up in a cup and carries it carefully outside, releasing it in the driveway as I watch from the safety
Last Updated : 2024-09-09Whispers of the Devil Julia and Jack
JuliaI hate this place.As the movers scurry about, hauling boxes and expensive furniture under Jack’s watchful eye, I lounge in a deck chair with a glass of lemonade in one hand, trying not to cry.This whole place is ghastly, no matter where I turn. The landscapers had been out a few weeks earlier and had turned the backyard where I’m currently sitting into a patchwork of sod. Unfortunately, it hadn’t taken, and the grass is now dead and lifeless. Beyond, the yard gives way to mud and marsh. Cypress trees rise up in gnarled fingers, their roots hidden by murky sludge. Insects whine and drone amid the greenish haze.I won’t even let myself think about those dreadful tombstones. Jack’s been arguing with the town for permission to remove the cemetery, but so far, he hasn’t been able to cut through the red tape. I take another sip of lemonade and then press the side of the sweating glass against my forehead. How is it so hot? It’s early November. Even the mountains of snow we had whil
Last Updated : 2024-09-09Whispers of the Devil Side Piece
Jake“I missed you, Jake.”The woman’s words linger on the humid night air.What’s her name again? Ellie something, I think. She’s a busty blonde that I’d picked up at a real estate development conference a few months earlier. After spending several raucous nights in the hotel room with her, coupled with the fact that she lives in New Orleans, she’s currently my most convenient option for a quick and willing fuck.She isn’t the only one, of course. I’ve got women scattered across the country, and they tend to make themselves available to me once they know I’ll be in town on business. But with most of my meetings scheduled for the New Orleans office, I’ve been seeing a lot more of Ellie lately.“I missed you too,” I fib. The whole truth is that sometimes I find myself daydreaming wistfully about the feeling of my cock in her cunt, but her personality is utterly forgettable.I raise my arms above my head and allow myself a luxurious stretch before settling back down onto the sheets. T
Last Updated : 2024-10-19Whispers of the Devil Ding Dong Ditch
JuliaThe morning is blindingly bright and damp as hell.“Shit!” I yelp as I jump up from the rocking chair I’ve just sat in. I should’ve realized that all of the furniture out here on the back porch would be soaking wet after last night’s rain. The sun has only been up for a few hours, and with the humidity churning the air into a soupy mess, nothing has even begun to dry out from the thunderstorm.I really fucking hate it out here. Even the house’s redeeming qualities, like the luxurious deck, are rendered useless by the swamp and the unrelenting Louisiana weather.“This is why we can’t have nice things,” I mutter grumpily as I raise my mug to my lips and take a sip. At least the coffee’s good. Thank God for small mercies.My original plan had been to settle out here with my morning coffee in an attempt to make peace with the swamp. Obviously, nature isn’t too keen on this tentative truce, so I resign myself to leaning against the railing with the ceramic mug clasped between my hand
Last Updated : 2024-10-21Whispers of the Devil The Artifact
ZekeJulia.I overheard her introducing herself to the foreman yesterday, which is how I learned her name.My mind conjures the memory of her staring up at me, lips slightly parted and eyes widened in surprise. I do feel bad for having startled her earlier. She’d seemed so shaken up. It makes me wonder if something else has happened to her today, something unexplainable.From where I stand amidst the crumbling tombstones jutting out of the cemetery, I peer through the twisted trunks of the cypress trees toward the house. The white façade shines like ivory beneath the unrelenting summer sun. Neat rows of windows gleam, and my eyes roam upward as I catch a flash of movement in one of them.Julia, wrapped in nothing but a towel, walks past. Her long auburn hair is twisted up in a bun, but a few strands have escaped to frame her face. She doesn’t seem to realize that anybody could see her. My gaze lowers to the spot where the top of the towel conceals her chest before the guilt kicks in.
Last Updated : 2024-10-23
Latest chapter
Whispers of the Devil The House at the Edge of the Swamp
JuliaIt’s hard to believe that a whole year has passed since peace came to the house at the edge of the swamp.I roll over in bed, blinking lazily in the golden sunlight that filters in through the windows. Zeke, already awake beside me, smiles.“Good morning, beautiful.” He greets me in a voice that’s husky with sleep. He scoots closer to press a kiss to my lips.It’s chaste at first. But as the grogginess of slumber flows from my veins, the warmth of his body against mine starts to become awfully distracting. A stirring between Zeke’s legs shows me that he’s no more immune to our current situation than I am.The kiss deepens as Zeke rolls on top of me, caging me in against the mattress. His body is deliciously firm against mine. No matter how many times we do this, I can never seem to get enough of him.“You’re insatiable,” he murmurs against my lips.“Only for you,” I counter.Can he really blame me? After so many years trapped with Jake as my partner, I didn’t exactly get a chanc
Whispers of the Devil Yours for Eternity
JuliaThe whole house feels different now.For the first time since moving here, I’m not plagued by the sensation of being watched. No more creaks or bangs plague the endless rooms. The laughter and running footsteps of ghostly children no longer echo through the halls. All of the noises I attributed to the settling of new construction are gone.It’s quiet now.Empty.“They’ve all moved on,” Zeke explains when I ask if he notices it too. “They gave everything to help defeat Amos.”“Moved on?” I repeat, morbidly curious. “To where?”Zeke shrugs. “Heaven, I guess. Or maybe another dimension. I don’t really know for sure. I suppose if there were bad ones, they got sucked down into the portal with Amos.”It strikes me that these spirits must have become family to Zeke over the last century that he’s walked this land. Even the annoying or unpleasant ones must have grown on him.“Do you miss them?” I ask gently.The glimmer of sadness in Zeke’s honeyed eyes confirms my suspicions. “I do,”
Whispers of the Devil Through His Eyes
ZekeI’ve been given a tremendous gift.I hover for a moment next to the vacant body that floats limply in the mud and glance down at the harrowing scene below.The ghoulish red glow emanating from the gaping maw of the portal illuminates the tableau, though I see a soft white light as well. Jake’s soul, now cleaved from his flesh, is dragged ever downward into the abyss in Amos’s wake, but I’m hopeful that change in the light means his last act redeemed him enough to save his soul.As much as I despise Jake for having harmed Julia so deeply, I’m also filled with a grudging sense of respect for the dying wish he imparted onto me. I have no doubt that he understands that he wasn’t capable of coming back and living a life that would make up for all he has done. Offering me his body wasn’t for him, not one bit.This is for Julia, a final act of the love that once flared between them.I’ll do my best to honor Jake’s last request. But can it even be done?I’ve never heard of a spirit inha
Whispers of the Devil So This is Death
JakeFor once in my life, I’m absolutely sure I’ve done the right thing.I can’t believe that I fell for Amos’s empty promises. Even now, I wonder how much influence it exerted over my mind and actions.Every shout, every slap, every nasty thought about Julia swims through my brain as my soul is torn to pieces. How much of that was Amos? I shudder to think about how much was me.Because I do hold a hell of a lot of blame, don’t I?None of this would have happened if I’d been stronger.But I was weak, and now, I have a terrible feeling that Amos knew that from the start.As soon as I struck that deal in the driveway, Amos invaded my mind. The process itself was horrible. My brain and body was only big enough for one soul. The ordeal of adding another passenger wa sunbearably painful, and though my memories are hazy, I’m pretty sure that I passed out.At first, it wasn’t so bad, not after that first part. Amos promised me anything and everything, and I had stupidly believed it.It wove
Whispers of the Devil The Sacrifice
JuliaThe whole world spins.The driving rain is relentless, sloughing down my skin in cold rivulets. My hair hangs limply in a sodden curtain around my face, blocking my view of everything except the swirling muck below. There’s a rank taste in the back of my mouth, and I understand dimly that I must have bitten my tongue when Amos hit me.The place where the branch slammed into my skull throbs with every step the demon takes. Even though I can’t see it, I’m pretty sure that I’m bleeding. My vision swims as I’m drawn deeper into the swamp.“I’m going to break you on your husband’s cock,” Amos croons as it carries me over its shoulder like a sack of potatoes. “I’m going to fuck you until you plead with me to release you from your sorry life.”There’s nothing I can do to block out the filthy, horrible things that spill from its twisted mouth. Instead, I fight against its hold, kicking my bare feet into the torso of Jake’s body and pounding my fists against its back.But my efforts don’
Whispers of the Devil Fight for Domination
ZekeI’m not strong enough.After Amos tossed me like a ragdoll from Jake’s body, I barely have any energy left. Still, I won’t stop until there’s nothing left of me. I have to fight for Julia. I can’t let Amos take her.As Julia runs outside into the storm, I square up to the demon. It’s wearing Jake’s body like an ill-fitting suit. While it’s clumsy and uncoordinated, its movements are still powerful.“I told you not to get in my way, Hezekiah,” Amos growls. It doesn’t seem in any rush to chase after Julia. What game is it playing? Whatever it is, I don’t want to find out.“I won’t let you hurt her.” I stand firm, unwavering beneath its midnight stare.“I will destroy you,” the demon threatens as it stalks forward. “I will devour your very soul.”I parry to the side as it attempts to dart around me, blocking it from pursuing Julia’s retreating form. “You can’t kill somebody who’s already dead,” I snarl.Amos laughs. The sound is something that a human throat shouldn’t even be able t
Whispers of the Devil Back to the Swamp
JuliaThis is a terrible idea.Every nerve ending in my body screams for me to turn around, but it’s way too late for that.I’m already here.The house on the edge of the swamp rises up before me, blotting out the overcast sky. Clouds the color of fresh bruises creep overhead, threatening rain. It’s barely evening, yet the darkness is already encroaching.There’s no sign of Jake. I’d half expected him to be waiting for me in the driveway, but the whole place seems deserted. I can only hope that Amos is lurking out in the swamp and is unaware of my arrival.I survey the building in front of me. It looks like years have passed since I was last here, though it’s only been a few hours. It looks like it could crumble into the swamp at any moment.The front door hangs open, as though it’s been waiting for me this whole time. I approach it cautiously, scanning for movement within, but everything is still.Waiting.“It’s just a house,” I whisper to myself, though I know now that it’s much mor
Whispers of the Devil Ganging Up
ZekeI’m going to kill Jake.It’s all I can think about. I didn’t have the energy to intervene as he hurt Julia and shattered their relationship beyond repair. I’d tried to manifest myself, to fight against Amos’s hold on Jake, but it was no use.I wasn’t able to protect Julia.I failed her.A powerful surge of anger flows through me as I think about how distressed she was as she snuck outside, jumped into the driver’s seat of Jake’s car when he wasn’t looking, and sped off into the rainy night. Even though I desperately wanted to go with her, I’m unable to cross the invisible line marking the boundary of the property. I can only hope that she’s taken refuge somewhere safe, some place where Jake can’t follow.It’s morning now, and there’s no sign of Julia. Jake lays in the driveway amidst a mess of mud and gravel, unconscious. I’m itching to kick him, but I’m still too weak to summon my corporeal form. Instead, I spare him a scathing glare as I bypass his prone form and head toward th
Whispers of the Devil An Open Door
JuliaIt’s over.There’s no room for doubt as I drive through the worst of the storm. I feel violated, all the way down to my soul. My face is red and streaked with tears, and my lungs constrict with every breath I take, as though my chest is trapped in an immovable vice.Jake’s actions are unforgivable.And it had been Jake, not Zeke. I’m absolutely sure of that. Aside from the fact that Zeke would never treat me so horribly, we’d simply spent so much time together during Jake’s absence that the ghost was all but drained of energy by the time my husband returned home.But there was something else wriggling through the back of my mind, insidious and full of venom.How had Jake even known about Zeke in the first place?He didn’t look at all surprised when I spoke the spirit’s name aloud. In fact, he played along with it, lulling me into a false sense of security until the point of no return.Only then did Jake reveal himself.Somebody must have told him about Zeke. Somebody must have p
