R E F L E C T I O N S

  CHAPTER FIVE Through tightly closed eyelids, Tom saw some light, a good sign.   He was not completely blind.   He opened his eyes.   The clear image of the cloth with the serpent on it was the first thing he saw. He felt relief at not being blind, yet he was angry with himself for taking such a risk.   He looked around the room.   On the floor of his living room were the burnt-out candles, incense, and empty vial. “It looks like a crack addict lives here.   What would Angela think if she saw me now, naked and stoned? He looked for the book, but it was gone.   It was not on the coffee table where he left it.   Searching for the apartment, he found it sitting on the open windowsill in the kitchen. He assumed he must have put it there when he was wandering around his apartment in a drugged state. Tom reached for the book.   A gust of wind sent it flying down to the sidewalk three floors below.   Still naked he ran down th...

How to get the chapters to line up. At the top of the page on the right are three horizontal lines.     (This icon, consisting of three horizontal bars, is also known as the  collapsed menu icon .) Press this icon to open the side, revealing:   Press "labels" and "Reluctant Killer" will appear. Press it and the chapters will line up, but with the later chapters first.  This book is classified as a horror novel. The story will become bloodier with delusional and mysterious scenes. If you will be offended by this, don't read any more.   (These images are not in the book)

CHAPTER FOUR     Back at his apartment, Tom immediately returned to where he had left off on chapter three, "Initiation Ceremony". The illustration was of a man on a road that ended.   There it split into two paths.   The path to the left was wide and straight.   It gently sloped downward. The path to the right was narrow and had several sharp turns.   It was a steep climb. On this Y-shaped road, the man headed down the path to the left. The chapter began with the reassurance that if he later changed his mind and believed the new direction in his life was not right for him, he could easily go back.   The following chapter held the key to reversing the ceremony. Tom decided to read over the next chapter quickly to be sure it would be possible to change his mind.   Even though he did not believe that anything in the book was real, he was curious. He was having such good luck; meeting Angela, an expensive gourmet meal for free, re...

  I just found out about "Baritenors". I love it! Music is NOT one of my strengths. I can't read music. I don't play an instrument. I don't know most of the famous personalities from the past nor from today. But, I enjoy listening to good music, popular or classic.  I wish I'd spent more time learning about and listening to it. Here is an explanation of Baritenor: A little mix: Tenor:

 Chapter Three is mostly in my post about  Too Realistically Scary for Halloween! So you can go back to see it again if you like before going to Chapter Four.  There's no need to repost it here.  Chapter Four is next.

  Photo is for blog post, not book. CHAPTER TWO     After leaving the bookstore Tom headed for the Bus Stop Diner where he usually had supper.   It was on the way to his apartment. Snow began to fall with a cold wind blowing the icy snowflakes in his face.   He wiped the melting flakes away from his eyes as he squinted to see.   The diner was only half a block away.   By jogging he was soon at the front door. The familiar smell of stale coffee and greasy food made him nauseas.   Standing inside the doorway he stopped for a moment.   Across the street was Café de France, a restaurant he always avoided.   It was too expensive for a student like himself with a part time job and an ever-growing student loan. The excitement of getting away with stealing the book put him in the mood to take a chance, to try somewhere new even if he could not afford it. “What’s the worst that could happen?"   He asked himself. He went back ...