Unfulfilled wishes are sad. Wishes granted by Zuphreen are unfortunate!
Three unlikely friends unwittingly unleash the horrors of hell in a vain attempt to boost their plummeting grades. Duped by their scheming professor, the friends summon Zuphreen and command the evil demon to enhance their lives with his gifts. But the gifts soon become curses and the friends watch in horror as they slowly turn into monsters. In a desperate race against time, the students must undo the curses and defeat the demon before the “gifts” destroy them forever. How far would they go to lift these curses? How deep would they sink to save themselves?
Excerpt
“I wanna be normal again,” Diana pled to no one specific in a sad whisper.
Art wanted to hug her, to reassure her that everything would be okay, but he couldn’t. For one thing, she might scowl at his friendly gesture, and for another, he might have to do the same for Sally. No way.
Still, he knew what brought on the emotion; it was the serenity of the pond that fluxed in front of them, defying time and space. As reliably as it emptied out in the summer, it steadily and enigmatically filled up every autumn, rain or shine. As they gazed at the pond, it blustered an excess of water; its spill sprang noisily to life, and all seemed right with the world.
Except for them. They didn’t belong in such a tranquil place. They didn’t belong anywhere. Art hadn’t measured his loss until he stepped out of the car. The serene pond and its surroundings made him ache to lay eyes on beautiful Diana and shy Sally. Now they were awkward together, each carrying a burden of mutations, self-doubts, and suspicions of one another.
Pray for the light. Pray that you last that long. The Long Hour Before Light is a classic collection of Horror tales, re-mastered by Champagne Book Group