At the multimillionaire’s wife’s funeral, a homeless girl pointed at the casket and screamed, “She’s not dead! I saw him lock her in!” The husband sneered, “Get this lunatic out of here.” But when the lock broke and the lid slid open, what lay inside made the entire crowd freeze in terror…

the monster she had awakened in me.

Chapter 4: Ascent into Madness

The Horizon Tower was a skeletal monstrosity of exposed steel girders, poured concrete, and flapping plastic tarps, looming over the central district like a decaying monument. The city had halted construction months ago due to zoning disputes, leaving it a desolate, wind-howling shell.continue reading …