Clay Whitney has spent a lifetime running-escaping ghosts from his past, some men, some darker. When a mysterious figure offers him a deal promising everything he's ever wanted, Clay steps into a bargain he can't fully understand. A deal no man should ever make. The road he walks becomes more than just a path. It's a winding, endless journey through the fog of his choices, each mile costing him a piece of his mind, soul, and humanity. As he travels deeper, he realizes this road was never meant to end. It loops back, twisting through time and regret, pulling him into something darker than he ever anticipated. Born from Johnny Cash's haunting Further On Up the Road, this tale is a journey through the price of desire, desperation, and choices that cannot be undone. The road promises freedom and desire, but it always catches up, and once it does, there's no going back.

Jack Coulter, a man torn between tenderness and rage, becomes captivated by the elusive Kate McCannon-an enigmatic beauty whose mystery only draws him deeper. What begins as a passionate courtship quickly spirals into something darker as Jack's possessiveness takes root, leading to a tragic act of violence. In the aftermath, he is left alone with his demons, surrounded by the cold presence of his actions. The raven, a constant companion, watches from the shadows, echoing his guilt and marking the price of his sin. This short story is a reflection on the dangerous line between love and control, and the suffocating weight of choices that cannot be undone. As the past relentlessly haunts him, Jack's journey through guilt and obsession is only just beginning. This story is inspired and a slightly deeper dive into the song, 'Kate McCannon' by Colter Wall.