In the remote and enigmatic town of Hollowbrook, where chilling legends whisper through the autumn winds, lies an abandoned manor known only as "The Haunting Hollows." It stands as a solemn sentinel of a dark past, cloaked in eerie tales of ghostly apparitions and sinister secrets.
Amelia, a young and adventurous writer, cannot resist the allure of this ominous place. Driven by an insatiable curiosity, she sets foot into the decaying mansion, armed with nothing but a notebook and a pen. But what she discovers within its walls is far beyond her imagination.
As she delves deeper into the murky depths of the manor, chilling whispers surround her, painting shadows of the past that refuse to fade away. Cobwebs cling to the forgotten corners, and broken windows allow slivers of moonlight to reveal haunting remnants of forgotten lives.
As Amelia ascends the creaking staircase, she encounters an inexplicable presence-a room filled with dusty toys and tattered picture frames, and a dollhouse that harbors a terrifying secret. Soon, she finds herself entangled in a malevolent force that lures her into a sinister dance, leaving her bound to a nightmarish fate.
With each passing moment, the line between reality and the supernatural blurs, as Amelia's life becomes inextricably linked to the darkness of the Haunting Hollows. Whispers of forgotten nursery rhymes hold the key to her escape, but as she battles the malevolent spirit that lurks within, she finds herself wondering if she can ever truly break free.
"Whispers from Haunting Hollows" is a spine-chilling tale of mystery, fear, and the unyielding grip of the past. Join Amelia on her perilous journey as she confronts the malevolent force that seeks to ensnare her soul, unearthing the haunting secrets that lie hidden in the shadows of the forsaken manor. Will she survive the horrors that await her, or will she become a mere echo of the haunted legends that have gripped the town of Hollowbrook for generations?
Antique store owner Liz brings home a Victorian taxidermy hound from auction, unwittingly unleashing dark forces on her wife and son.
*****
Nat Loman has finally married the love of her life, Liz, and is getting used to her role as stepmother to Liz's 5-year-old son, Liam. The Loman family runs a bustling antique business so they attend a sale where a striking, black taxidermied hound is up for auction. Liz picks it up for the business, but it ends up being stored in their home, where Nat notices strange things occurring. She quickly discovers the past residents had died violently. Then she hears from a friend about the myth of "the devil's dog", a hound that perches in the shadows, tearing families apart from the inside. Soon, people around the Lomans are dying, and Liz is changing, darkening. It's up to Nat to save the woman she loves from the darkness closing in, and to save Liam from danger no matter what she has to sacrifice.
[[Winner of the 2018 Wattys "Hidden Gems" category]]
[[word count: 60,000-70,000 words]]