Featured Writer: Ashley Greathouse
Good morning and happy Friday! Today's feature is horror writer Ashley Greathouse! Ashley is an exceptionally talented writer, and also happens to be the co-owner of Magic of Books bookstore in Seymour IN alongside writer Madison Jacobs.
I met Ashley back in May at the author fair, and immediately loved her writing. She's also one of the most positive and upbeat people I've met, and openly shares her journey through mental illness in a very real, and very inspiring way. She has recently moved into limited runs on perfume as well, which I have loved.
Check out the short story below, links on where to purchase will be at the bottom.
Nightmare
By Ashley Greathouse
It was about three o’clock in the morning when I heard the sound of the wooden floorboards creak in the hallway, leading to my bedroom door. I wasn’t typically such a light sleeper, but for whatever reason, that sound jolted me awake. Well, half awake, I should say.
“Mom.” Molly’s small voice cut through the dead air, startling me.
“Oh sweetie, you scared me,” I laughed nervously, my heart still racing.
“I had a nightmare,” she confessed, her voice trembling with lingering fear.
I scooted towards the center of my bed and patted the mattress. “Want to tell me about it?” I offered as Molly climbed up without hesitation.
“I don’t really remember it now.”
“I see,” I added, wrapping her cold little body in my oversized comforter. “I hate when that happens. Did you bring Raz with you?”
She held up her favorite stuffed bear. “Yup, but he didn’t keep the nightmare away like he’s supposed to.”
“Raz!” I playfully scolded the toy. “Shame, shame.”
A long yawn escaped me. “Well, then, hopefully I can keep the boogeyman away better than him.” I gently pulled my daughter towards me. “You ready to give sleep another chance?”
“No,” Molly insisted. “The part I do remember still scares me.” She leaned her head down, her eyes searching her bear for the strength to tell me what she had gone through. “The only thing I remember was, I was trapped in a dark place.” She turned her head to face me, and I could see her eyes filling with tears.
“Molly,” I soothed, “you’re right where you should be.”
My words didn’t instantly dry her frightened eyes, but I did manage to get a slight, reassured smile from her. “That’s my girl,” I encouraged.
Molly’s face stiffened again. “What if I go back to that place when I fall asleep?”
“Well, you tell yourself that you’re just having a nightmare.”
“Is that what you’re telling yourself right now?”
Her blunt and odd question threw me off a bit. “What do you mean, sweetie?” I asked, leaning up to see her better.
“Mom … I think I’m dead.” Her voice was flat—lifeless.
“Don’t be silly,” I scoffed, leaning down to kiss the top of her head. My lips pressed against something cold and damp.
“Yeah. I am dead,” Molly confirmed. “You don’t remember?”
Suddenly, that day came flooding back. My precious daughter playing in the yard where I could keep a close eye on her while I finished mowing the grass. And then the memory shot pain through my entire being when I recalled the rock I hadn’t noticed before, flying out from underneath the mower’s powerful blades. The next thing I knew, Molly was on the ground, and a deep red puddle pooled around her head.
“Wake up, Mom, you’re having a nightmare.”
shley Greathouse is an author and paranormal investigator who resides in Indiana.
Despite her fascination with the paranormal, Ashley maintains a healthy dose of skepticism, fully aware of the mind's capacity to conjure illusions, especially given her diagnosis of schizophrenia.
This self-awareness brings a unique depth to her narratives, as she explores the psychological dimensions of fear and the unknown. Her stories, often categorized under horror, delve more into the psychological nightmares rather than relying on gore, reflecting her personal battles and insecurities.
Greathousehorrors.com
Ashley also has a ko-fi page where you can buy her books signed by her, or you can find them for paperback and Kindle on Amazon, as well as one audible. Thank you, Ashley, for being today's feature!
You can find all of Ashley's books on her author page here
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Ashley-Greathouse/author
And be sure to check out her ko-fi page for a chance at grabbing exclusive content or signed books!
https://ko-fi.com/encounterswithhorrors/
