Haven
of Evil
Melvin
Rivers
Genre: Horror
Re-release date 10/25/16
ISBN: 978-1494317461
ASIN: B01384ES70
Number of pages: 265
Word Count: 41,200 words
Cover Artist: Artrocity
Book Description:
When Kevin and Sandra Wilson’s home
and personal possessions were destroyed by flood waters, the couple relocated
to a town called Havenville. Things started out rough when they avoided hitting
a mysterious woman on the road. Later Kevin was attacked by hawks in a cemetery
where a stranger rescued him. Kevin and the stranger become fast friends, but
later the stranger wasn't who he had appeared to be.
After some tragic and terrifying
events Sandra goes into a murderous rage not long after Kevin finds out about
an evil that dwelled inside their house--an evil that will change their lives
forever.
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/QZ_pTAvuVKo
Excerpt:
He turned to walk back home. A
woman in a black dress stood a few paces in front of him. The woman’s eyes were
black marbles embedded in a sunken face. Her white hair hung down over her
shoulders like spaghetti strings, and there were more cracks in her face than
there were on a broken sidewalk. A foul stench seemed to follow her around –
the scent of rotting meat.
Kevin grimaced and held his nose.
The horrid odor clung to him like stench on a decomposed corpse. “What in the
–”
“Leave that place now,” the woman’s
voice gurgled.
He took a step back, fanned his
nose, and spat. “You’re the woman I almost hit on the road.” He narrowed his
eyes and scratched his head. “How – I mean, what in the –”
“Miss, what are you talking about?”
He pinched his nose to keep the woman’s stench at bay and followed her through
a stretch of woods, coming to an open field. A steep hill was not far away.
“Hey, Miss, where are you?” he called, looking around. She was nowhere in
sight.
She’s obviously
crazy. I wonder if her family knows she’s out here. If she has family at all… he fanned his
face and blew out a breath. That smell… how did it get on her?
Squawking came from somewhere above
him. Kevin looked up to see hawks circling the area as if they owned it.
Kevin started up the hill when a
hawk swooped down. He ducked. The bird soared past him and came up squawking,
wings flapping and beak open. Kevin covered his face with his arms and ran. The
animal’s talons, long and sharp, reached for his arms. Kevin sidestepped to the
right and caught hold of a wing. He hurled the hawk with all his strength. The
bird fluttered wildly before flying away.
He sat and breathed heavily
while watching the sky in case the hawk came back. After resting, he climbed
the hill and surveyed the defeat it.” She turned and pushed
her way through a hedge of high bushes to the right of the highway.
“Miss, what are you talking about?”
He pinched his nose to keep the woman’s stench at bay and followed her through
a stretch of woods, coming to an open field. A steep hill was not far away.
“Hey, Miss, where are you?” he called, looking around. She was nowhere in
sight.
She’s obviously
crazy. I wonder if her family knows she’s out here. If she has family at all… he fanned his
face and blew out a breath. That smell… how did it get on her?
Squawking came from somewhere above
him. Kevin looked up to see hawks circling the area as if they owned it.
Kevin started up the hill when a
hawk swooped down. He ducked. The bird soared past him and came up squawking,
wings flapping and beak open. Kevin covered his face with his arms and ran. The
animal’s talons, long and sharp, reached for his arms. Kevin sidestepped to the
right and caught hold of a wing. He hurled the hawk with all his strength. The
bird fluttered wildly before flying away.
He sat and breathed
heavily while watching the sky in case the hawk came back. After resting, he
climbed the
hill and surveyed the view. There was, on the other side of the hill, a
cemetery – the biggest he had ever seen. Headstones, grave markers, and crosses
spread out over at least five-hundred acres.
He descended the hill for a better view. Something snapped and he fell.
“Oh, shit!” he screamed. He
clenched his jaw against the pain and fought to keep back tears. He pried the
mouth of an animal trap from his leg and staggered to his feet, managing to
limp a few feet before falling again. He winced in pain.
A hawk flew down and perched on a
headstone.
I’m going to die
only a few yards from a cemetery. At least they won’t have to carry me far.
The bird raised a wing as if it was
ready to attack.
“No, I’m going to fight. I refuse
to die out here,” Kevin said under his breath. He struggled to his feet. A
knife-stabbing ache went through his leg. He went down on one knee. He slowly
shook his head back and forth. “Must go on.” He got to his feet and glanced at
the headstone. The hawk was gone. He hobbled to the hill.
I can make it if I crawl. A shadow loomed and covered the area in front
of him. He heard heavy breathing from somewhere nearby. He stood still,
balancing his weight on the uninjured leg. Something began
snarling. He turned around slowly. Two menacing black eyes stared into his.
About
the Author:
Melvin Rivers was inspired to write
horror by imitating the writers of his favorite horror comics many years ago.
As he grew older the works of Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, and
of course Stephen King grabbed his attention.
Melvin Rivers was born in the town
of Luxora, Arkansas, and grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. He received a degree in
Journalism from the University of Iowa. He lives in Cedar Rapids Iowa with his
wife, dog and two cats. When he is not writing or surfing the web, he enjoys
having a hot bowl of popcorn while watching his favorite horror flick on TV.
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