Chapter 1

Doc receives a strange book

“Doc Demens was a man of simple tastes. He loved to drink, and he loved to read. I've heard he loved one of those things a bit too much. Hard to say which. Doc… well. Doc was a bit of an arrogant one. He made a point of letting you know how much more intelligent he was than you. Than anyone. He was a brilliant man. There's no debating that. He read everything he could get his hands on. Any genre, any author. He even read technical manuals for things he didn't own, and had no intention of purchasing. “You never know. There could be a single gem of wisdom amongst the heaps of nonsense. I'll read anything.” One day he ran out of things to read. Small isolated towns have their drawbacks. He'd searched for months something new to read. To no avail. He even tried sending away for literature. It did nothing but bring him more of the same. In a last ditch effort he went around town offering to buy up used books. He'd been everywhere. Asked everyone. With nothing to show for it. At long last, he gave up. Stopped searching. He had but two hobbies. Unable to read, he turned to the bottle, and the drink consumed him. He lost his family, his friends, his lover, and his wife. Thankfully his days of working were long past, otherwise he'd have lost his job as well. Hope died last. He'd had enough. Intent to nix his depression, he made up his mind. He planned to end his life. Lovers Leap. Quick. Painless. None would even know. As he reached for the doorknob, he heard a knock. He briefly considered not answering. Thought to wait and avoid a pointless conversation. Something deep inside urged him to open the door. Reluctantly, he did. On the stoop stood an odd man. Elvish in appearance. Like the silly fantasy books his child enjoyed so. Dark of dress, pale of skin, and smelling sickly sweet. “I've something for you to read.” The man said. He held a rather large leather bound book. No markings on the cover. Odd. He started to speak but the man cut him off. “It's yes or no. That's all I need.” He hesitated, and then nodded in agreement. “Know this. The price is high.” The man said. He was a very wealthy man. A point of pride for him. “Money's no.” The man cut him off yet again. “Yes, or no. That's your piece to say.” “Yes.” Doc said, reaching for his billfold. “No Son. You pay when your work is done.” He said, handing him the book. “Now wait a minute.” He said, but the man turned and left without a word. That's how the book came into Doc’s possession.”


“I started reading the book. It's. It's rather odd. Not like anything else I've ever read. Right from the start I knew I made the right decision.
“Whosoever opens this book would be wise to read no further.” Not exactly the way I'd go about hooking the reader, but that's me. “You have a decision to make. A monumental task lays before you. The road will be long, and the work will take its toll. You will be rewarded for your efforts, but know this. Should you choose to continue, there's no turning back. Think on it. Take the night if you need. This is the most important thing you'll do with your life. This life, anyhow.” Good Lord. What have I gotten myself into?”

“I honestly don't know what came over me. I paid heed to the ominous warning of an inanimate object. I did what it said. I took the night. It's still just a book. Author's these days will try anything to be edgy. To be different. I was anxious to continue on. Once again, the book took me by surprise. The first sentence took my breath away. Twisted my stomach in knots. “Morning Doc. Glad to see you accepted the offer.”

“Coincidence. Nothing more. I'm not a prideful man. I'll admit it shook me. Although, briefly. No use dawdling. “Right then. Down to business. Before you may continue on, you'll need to sign the contract. There's a spot just there at the bottom of the page. It'll need to be blood, of course. Just nick your thumb, and press it to the page.” By the Gods. It's not like anything I've ever seen. It reads in a manner all its own. I'm not cutting myself. These modern authors. I tell you.”

“Seem’s the book was right. I keep trying to move on. Keep trying to read. It’s impossible. I thought myself a fool. I had to get another book to test it. I can read fine. Just not that blasted book. I don’t understand what’s happening. I’m… I’m a logical man. That book has no power over me. There’s no way it’s affecting my ability to read. I’ll keep trying. I guess I’m tired. So very tired. I’ll rest a while, then give it another go.”

“I’m out of carrots, and I’ve no more sticks. I’m tired of this book, and it’s fiendish tricks. I set out to destroy it earlier today Built a nice fire, intent on throwing it in. I distinctly remember leaning towards the hearth. Book in hand. The next I know, I’m at the desk. Staring at the book. The only words on the page. “Stop this Doc. Just Sign the contract.” I… I think I’m losin it. The harder I try to destroy that thing, the deeper I descend. I.. I hate to say this, but I think I’m gonna have to do it. In the mornin, I sign the contract.”

“Turns out the book was right. It was as simple as it’d said. A small cut. A drop of blood. Then all was clear. I can read again. I’m feeling much better. Signing that thing. It was like.. Steppin out of a thick fog. Everything came into focus. The world was brighter. Crisper. Clear. I was so far down I.. I think I could actually see the haziness in my head. I read a bit more. “Now that the business end is settled, let’s have some fun. Do me a solid, Doc. Close the book for me. Read the title aloud.” I actually shouted. “God damn you!” The book is.. it’s toying with me. It has to be. Reluctantly, I acquiesced. Even though I knew full well that the cover of the book was blank. I looked it over completely when I first received it. There’s nothin on the cover. Or the back. Spine neither. I’m through questioning it, for now. I closed it. My jaw quite literally dropped. There on the cover lay the title. I did as I was bid, and read it aloud. “Carrier, Harbinger, and Key. The truth about the end.”

“That’s quite the title. “The truth about the end.” That part there. I must say. Had I seen that when he offered it, I’d have considered turning him away. “The end.” No doubt some Fool’s take on the “Afterlife.” There is no “God.” There is no “Heaven.” No “Hell.” No end. Nothing. When you die, that’s it. Nonsense, the lot of it. Heh. No use squabblin. The book made one thing abundantly clear. There’s no backing out. I’m in it to win it. I will see this through. Something I should mention… I don’t know why anything about this book still surprises me, but it keeps on happening. See. When I opened the book today, everything was gone. All that I’d read before had vanished. In its place were two words. “Phase One.”




“It’s insane. Utter lunacy. It’s the first phase, and the book’s already making crazy demands. I really should have… no. I didn’t have a chance to think it through. When he showed up with the book, he never gave a chance to ask questions. When I signed the contract, the book was… The book was manipulating me. I’m certain of it. I felt as if I had no choice. I was honestly afraid of what would happen if I refused. I’m considering just ditching this thing somewhere. I know I can’t destroy it. Trust me. I tried numerous times. I’m just gonna take it somewhere remote, and hide it. Hide it somewhere that it’ll never see the light again. I mean. Listen to this, “Harbinger, or Carrier. The choice is yours. That’s where you’ll need to start. Either way you’re going to have to nab a child.”


“I… I'm starting to question my sanity. The book… the book talks. It doesn't answer questions. Doesn't respond to me. It doesn't. Well. It doesn't say anything, really. Not directly. Still. The damned thing talks. It knows. It knows me. I'm not “nabbin” any children. I refuse. I'll suffer the consequences. I went to reread the last instructions. See if I had misinterpreted them somehow. They're gone. I went through the entire book. Nothing. Even the title had vanished. I thought to myself, “Good riddance. I'm done with this thing. It's goin down a hole somewhere.” Then I got the oddest feeling. Like I'd missed something. I tried to fight it. It persisted through the day. Finally I opened the book once more. There on the first page was a message. A message meant for me. “Do you really want to do this, Doc?” Did… did the book just threaten me?”