Unstrung: Failure is not an option.
Chapter 1
Blossom watched in a mixture of shock and anger while Buttercup shot through the opening door. The air in the airlock followed, creating a wind from behind that blew her long, red hair in front of her face. Her vision obscured by the flapping locks, she watched the small bay doors close as she wondered whether she should have followed.
Blossom struggles with obsession and depression. As these opposing forces fight inside her, will she emerge victorious or be consumed in the struggle? Can Blossom regain control of her life before she does something she can never take back?
Unstrung is the second entry of a study in horror—the Ladder series. Unstrung is intended to stand alone, although it may spoil parts of Ladder. Unstrung is followed by Crimson and White, Project Rebreather, and Ashes from Ashes.
Each story in the series examines a different form of horror. Horror does not always inspire fright, nor does it always try. Unstrung focuses on loss, emptiness, and obsession.
Other stories in the series examine horror from other perspectives. Each has a different focus and a different "feel." However, they all continue the same story line, and they were all written with the assistance of mood-setting music.
These stories list a musical accompaniment that is entirely optional, but which the reader is welcome to follow. Although not a crossover with Silent Hill, its music and music inspired by it includes some of the most beautiful, haunting melodies this author has heard. Readers who have taken the time to find these albums and songs (many freely and legally available online) have expressed happiness at the impact it had on their reading.
I personally dislike reading certain things, and try to avoid writing them. Well-established characters acting out-of-character without good reason or explanation. Grittiness and death as an alternative to telling a story. It's up to you, dear reader, to judge my eventual success or failure in these regards.
Finally, I'd like to thank my beta reader, TheDarkestRed, for giving a critical eye and helping correct some of those little errors I never seem to fully eradicate on my own.
Suggested listening, presented in the order they are used:
01 - Angel's Thanatos (Silent Hill 2 OST)
02 - Haunted - Admittance (Ashes of Bitterness)
03 - Haunted - Waiting Room (Ashes of Bitterness)
04 - Melody of the Desperate Ones (Ashes of Bitterness)
05 - Haunted - Roof (Ashes of Bitterness)
06 - A Lullaby for Two (Endless Delusions)
07 - Innocent Times (Ashes of Bitterness)
08 - Into The Depths Of Self Discovery (Silent Hill 4 OST Disc 1)
09 - Sanctuary (Broken Notes Melancholy Disc 2)
10 - Remanences (Ashes of Bitterness)
11 - I'm Here (Silent Hill Fan Soundtrack)
12 - The Fog (Part I) (Broken Notes Sanatorium - Lost Chapters Disc 2)
13 - Balkan Church (Silent Hill Fan Soundtrack)
14 - Droplets of Recovering Memory (Ashes of Bitterness)
15 - Down (Ashes of Bitterness)
16 - Nonsense Prayer (Ashes of Bitterness)
17 - Compressed Into Time (Broken Notes Unreleased)
18 - Gray Afternoon (Broken Notes Sanatorium - Lost Chapters Disc 2)
19 - Unjust Truth (Silent Hill Fan Soundtrack)
20 - Unsettled (Unedited Version) (Broken Notes Unedited)
21 - Shattered Waltz (Broken Notes Sanatorium - Lost Chapters Disc 2)
22 - If Only (Ashes of Bitterness)
23 - Chimerical (Letters from Condemned Worlds)