Collei's life once brimmed with happiness in her peaceful village, surrounded by the warmth of her loved ones. But all of that changes when a sinister storm, personified by the enigmatic Dottore and his malevolent group, descends upon her idyllic world, shattering her joy.
As the storm of destruction wreaks havoc on her village, Collei's loved ones fall victim to its cruel winds, leaving her heartbroken and consumed by grief. In the wake of tragedy, her happiness turns to burning determination, and a fierce desire for revenge takes root in her soul.
Setting forth on a treacherous journey, Collei embarks on a quest to confront Dottore, vowing to make him pay for the devastation he unleashed. Along the way, she encounters a mix of challenges and allies who try to guide her towards a different path, imploring her to find solace and healing.
Yet, the path to vengeance proves tortuous, and the weight of her mission begins to twist and turn her once bright spirit. As her relentless pursuit reaches a chilling climax, Collei faces a tumultuous battle not only against Dottore but also against the darkness within herself.
Haunted by the memories of her fallen friends, her mind becomes a labyrinth of haunting hallucinations, tormenting her with doubts and insecurities. The same voices that once cheered her on now taunt her, telling her she was never good enough, and pushing her towards a precipice of self-destruction.
Caught in a maelstrom of conflicting emotions, Collei must navigate the thin line between vengeance and surrender, grappling with her inner demons as she strives to find a way back to the light. In this haunting tale of loss, vengeance, and the resilience of the human spirit, readers are taken on a rollercoaster journey of emotions, witnessing the transformation of a once happy soul as she battles to reclaim her shattered identity.
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]]