The Ghost Diaries: Episode IV

An original comedy horror serial

A ghost’s afterlife is turned upside down when an obnoxious family moves into his haunted house. Their presence quickly brings his worst nightmare to life — people who refused to be scared of ghosts.

The Ghost Diaries is a comedy horror story told through diary entries. It’s set in Deer Falls — the same small Colorado town featured in my stories Snow Dragon, Pandora Reborn, and The Crimson Reaper. This first episode of this serial is free to all Strange New Worlds subscribers. The entire eight-episode serial will be available exclusively to paid subscribers of Strange New Worlds and paid subscribers of my Patreon page.

I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | VIII

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June 1 —

What is the point of this family owning cats?

I found myself asking this question repeatedly throughout the day. All three cats cluttering my house — Poe, Ginger, and Marbles — are completely worthless animals in every sense. I’m certain a herd of mice has set up a burgeoning colony inside my pantry. Holes and gnaw marks are showing up on the wallboards. Don’t get me started on the little pellets which look suspiciously like tiny mouse droppings.

What have those cats done about it?

Not one damn thing.

Instead, I’m forced to endure nonstop misery of dealing with mangy felines who alternate between three static states of existence — sleeping, eating, and ruining random household objects for fun.

The most destructive one is Ginger.

Hummingbirds used to flock around a backyard bird feeder until he showed up. Charles and Emma first put one up a few years ago and I had grown accustomed to peacefully spending many afternoons watching the little buzzing birds swarm the feeder in a greedy frenzy. Ginger took that pleasure away from me.

That little orange monster leapt high into the air yesterday morning and snagged a little hummingbird off the feeder for a quick snack. Broke the bird feeder on the way down. I’m still steamed thinking about the incident and I’ve long since sailed past my limit of nonsense I can tolerate.

Time to put Mallory’s haunting guide to use after a week’s worth of study. Nothing will give me a greater dose of delight than scaring off this clan of losers and their pets for good. I won’t rest day or night until the whole family is screaming and running for the hills.

I don't care if it takes me the rest of their lives.