In the quiet town of Walnut Grove, something evil lurks within the occupants' minds. Only those dwelling twenty feet below Hattie's Bar and Grill are safe from the malevolent "holy water" handed out during Sunday church service. On the outside, the townsfolk are clean and friendly, but beneath the surface evil creeps toward an explosive and destructive end.
Wind swept rain against the window and splattered it down the panes. Lightning lit the sky and thunder grumbled in the distance.
Lenora Elayne squirmed and twisted in her sleep, fisting the sheet in her hands. Images of fire and a dark force flickered behind her lids. A little girl stood in the midst--calm, undisturbed by the chaos around her. Suddenly the girl looked directly at Lenora and mouthed sentences she couldn't understand.
"Please--I can't hear..." her words trailed off in a desperate whisper. She kicked the blanket to the foot of the bed and mumbled unintelligible words in her sleep.
Outside the storm drew closer. Jagged forks of nature's electricity split the black clouds. The dark shapes of trees hulked in the night--demons coming from the sulfur pits of Hell to devour the town.
"No." Lenora rolled her head from side to side on her pillow, willing herself to scream to jolt her out of the hideous nightmare paralyzing her with its hold.
The little girl opened her mouth and yelled, "He's coming soon!"
Lenora shot straight up in bed, breathing in short, little gasps. Lightning lit her room as bright as a surreal landscape, but withdrew as quickly, leaving her in darkness again.
She dropped against her pillow. Tears sprang to her eyes as she clutched the comforter to her chin, which offered no comfort at all. The message in her dream had made no sense-again.
Your savior will come on wings and thunder.
Professional Reviews
Reviewed by Amanda Killgore
Former preacher Kirk David rides back into his hometown of Walnut Grove after a protracted absence. When he enters the church in which he grew up, he is immediately confronted with the face of evil incarnate sitting beside the pulpit. Unprepared to face the devil in such an unexpected place, he exits, heading to a local bar where he finds less room for evil to flourish than in the church. He also finds a young woman working there, Lenora, who helps him learn the truth about Walnut Grove. Since the advent of the new preacher, evil has pervaded the hamlet, and it's up to Kirk and Lenora to stop it. Somehow, they must break the mind and spiritual control the Devil has on almost everyone who lives there. Kirk thought his calling had ended, but now he will need all the gifts God has given him more than ever.
Though knowing a bit more of the backstory would have been interesting, nonetheless, this simple, yet profound story has a very true message. Christians who enjoyed the X - Files will surely enjoy this, for there are some similiar points of comparison.
WEIRD RHODY is a short story collection featuring five strange tales all set in Rhode Island and written by five Rhode Island authors. The anthology is a tribute to H.P. Lovecraft, the Ocean State's famed author of pulp horror.
Did you ever wonder what happened after the Archangel Michael through the demons out of heaven? Let one of them guide you through the origin of evil in the world.
