Crossing the Threshold

Federico turned his earpiece off. He needed to lock in. Federico had taken gymnastics as a kid, so this should be easy. The laser crissed and crossed from the ceiling to the floor. Federico was sitting in a square that went up into a triangle. The lasers weren't in a specific pattern. They made up random shapes. Federico started out slowly. Stepping over one laser after another. Then he started twisting and bending his body across the lasers. Sweat dripped off Federico's face. He could hear the sizzle as it hit the laser beam. Time to put the gymnastic skills to good use.

Joey is the leader of the notorious gang, MBD Madras. Named after his dad. Joey is also a control freak. He likes to be the boss, make all the plans, and know everything about what's going on inside the gang . He feels like sometimes he has the weight of the world on his shoulders. Even though he is a control freak, he is terrible at decision making.
He lets fear take over his life. Whenever this happens he gets transported to a whole new world. The Dark Place. A figment of Joey's imagination but feels so real to him. It is all darkness just as it sounds but there is something there. A door frame lit by blue flames. The flames never burn the door frame or go out.
When people from his past, who were supposed to be dead, and new challenges arise, Joey and his gang will have to roll with the punches, and Joey will have to overcome his fears to get the truth. Or he'll be the one who ends up dead.

Content Warning: This novel contains themes of grief, death of family members, emotional abuse, family dysfunction, violence, criminal activity, murder references, gun violence, betrayal, psychological distress, panic and anxiety, manipulation, kidnapping references, romantic conflict, and mild body horror imagery.

#1 badguy (4/21/26)