Johnny Hempseed's Emporium of Terror

While the man dreams, overcome with exhaustion, the wind outside begins to blow, pushing a storm practically on top of the compound.

In the pouring rain and strobing lightning, hooded figures move through the woods, practically frolicking in and worshipping the foul weather.

Their deranged chants and songs rode the night along with the peals of thunder like the ringing of a giant gong. The thing below grows restless, anger once again rousing it.

A nightmare wakes the old man from his light rest, a jolt to his weak, puttering heart. He hoped this would be the one, but after a moment, the pain passes, leaving him both depressed and relieved.

The rumbling below was quiet for now, and he had been working steadily, determined to maintain control.

He lays back down and drifts back into an uneasy slumber..

The thing below stirs again, its slumber beginning to wane once more. The fat, pallid green tongue pokes between dry, pus-crusted lips. Hungry. So hungry for time. It wasn't dead, probably would never die.

Above, the old man takes a deep breath, hearing the noise below, knowing the thing was waking again. It would need to be fed soon. He would have to sacrifice some of his time and lifeforce to the thing again.

He continues typing, trying to delay that moment...

Another ill wind, and another pause.

The bloodied finger tips freeze as the boards beneath his feet vibrate with a barely audible roar.

The thing below was dreaming again, its unfathomable mind always calculating, waiting for the old man above to make a mistake or die. Death would be preferable. Then the building would rot, and in time, it would be free.

The compound itself seemed to breathe a great sigh even as the Curator, or Caretaker, did the same. He knew the thing was secure, but he was still afraid.

He stared at the world he was weaving, so near completion, yet so far from the climax. Another piece was sliding into place as he began typing again.

'It's been a while.' the Caretaker thinks. his fingers hover over the tabs of bone beneath them, his twisted fictions halting for a moment. the world he is weaving pauses mid-birth.

The thing below is silent for now. He knows it still hungers, threatening to devour the compound, the people within, the Caretaker... and then the World.

This is HIS task, though. He checks the lock on the sigil-bound cellar door, inspecting the lines carved upon it, brushing them free of dust. No damage.

All was well. So why then, was he so disquieted? So dissociated? So alone, even with his love near by?

There was something in the air, a gritty, earthen odor like that after a flood. He moves back to his place, aching body and soul, bleeding heart sputtering as once more he begins to type.

Patreon story was up on the first for those who care.

https://www.patreon.com/posts/kamraj-clinic-64602310

New story up now on Patreon.

https://www.patreon.com/posts/63193943

Awareness comes to the thing. It was drowsy, having been doped for a year or longer, its massive back rising from the cold stone floor beneath the Emporium.

It roars, but the curator cannot hear it, consumed with the music that fills his head.

The great beasts gut rumbles raucously again, and the motivation to hunt begins to overtake the lethargy that drugs and alcohol had inflicted upon it.

The more the human allowed himself to be sober, the stronger it would grow, and very soon, it would begin to feed, devouring the creator's time.

Dreams run through the beasts dreaming mind and it stirs yet more, emitting a foul, structure rattling belch escapes its distended, ravenous gut. This time rather than settling back into slumber, it begins to rise.

The beast beneath the rotting, ooze-slicked floorboard turns, one of its multiple eyes opening half-way as the Curator moves above, tapping away at the keyboard, or feeding himself.

It, too, begins to hunger, an earthquake like rumble filling the sub-basement around it. The heavy lids roll closed, and the creature goes back to dreaming.

Something strange brews beneath the floors of the Emporium...

A thought, long believed dead is stirring, groaning and tossing in its death-like slumber.

Something big, and slightly terrifying is taking shape.

Beware, and be ready, Friends and Readers.

The story has been up since February 1st. Being banned doesn't stop me from working on other platforms.

Editing of the fantasy novel is going well, and I have a few smaller projects and one huge one I am working on.

I hope I can remain unbanned enough to post more than once this month, Friends and Readers.

https://www.patreon.com/posts/last-camping-60616261

The Last Camping Trip | Johnny Hempseed on Patreon Join Johnny Hempseed on Patreon to get access to this post and more benefits.

So, I'm back from involuntary exile again.

My story has been up for almost two weeks for supporters.

https://www.patreon.com/posts/last-camping-60616261

December of 2022's story is done and in the books.

I'm probably going to be quieter than usual here because of that. I will give updates on the script progress, though.

Talk soon, Friends and Readers.

Over 4k words written on the story I am working on, creeping up on 5.

I am going to try to end it on time (Monday) but, no promises.

Next December's story is nearing 3k words.

Going to try to finish up by next Monday, then turning my focus to that fantasy project for a little bit.

Updates coming soon, Friends and Readers.

Started on December of 2022's story.

Almost 1k words already.

Didn't quite get next November's story done, but it is just under 5k words at the moment.

It took a turn on me that I didn't expect. I guess it IS related to one of my series after all.

Should have it done tonight. Then I can work on a story for December of 2022.

November of 2022's story is up to almost 3k words. I should have it finished within tonight or tomorrow.

Then it's on to my twelfth and final story for next year.

I might write a bonus one here and there, but I am going to focus on bigger, more ambitious projects in the beginning of next year.

That fantasy thing for one, though I may pivot from a novel. I'm not sure of anything yet, but I am having some pretty cool thoughts.

Also, this script needs to get done by the end of January.

It's going to get wild, so strap in, Friends and Readers.

December's story is up.

https://www.patreon.com/posts/59324812

Finished Next October's story.

I'm going to get started on another here in a minute.

I also have to get my draft ready for tomorrow on Patreon.

Two more stories to write in just over a month to reach my goal.

I'm getting there, Friends and Readers.

Over 6k words on October 2022's story.

Going to try and finish this up tonight. It's probably not going to happen, but I am getting there.

I would love to get on with November and December's stories.

It would be awesome to have the whole year's stories done before New Years.

I know the goal is self-imposed, as are all of my deadlines, but I have to set goals or I'll never do anything..

Talk soon, Friends and Readers.

Over 4k words on the page, and working toward 5k, and hopefully an ending so I can start on a new story for November of next year.

I'm also considering a slight pivot on my fantasy project. It's a cool idea, and I kind of like the new suggestion I got.

Keep your eyes here, Friends and Readers, as December approaches.

Almost 3k words written for October of 2022's story. It's roughly half-way done.

Still poking at the script thing as well.

Rolling on, Friends and Readers.

Over a thousand words on the page on the story I am working on. Also poking at the treatment, trying to turn it into a proper script.

I might need to punt this to a friend for some help. I just simply do not know what I am doing here.

This is the disadvantage of never taking a formal writing class.

Anyway.

Talk soon, Friends and Readers.

I finished the story I was working on (September of 2022). That leaves three more to write before the end of December.

I can do this. I'll get started on October of 2022's story in a few minutes or an hour or something.

Pushing hard, Friends and Readers.

The story I am working on is just over 3k words, and still rolling on. Once this is done I will move on to the story for next October. Getting closer to the 12 stories done goal.

Working, even when I don't feel it, Friends and Readers.

August of 2022's story is finished. It's a kind of short one, but I like it.

On to September of next year. I'm thinking a return to an old-ish universe I started back in my nosleep days.

This train keeps rolling on, Friends and Readers.

All Aboard.

July of 2022's story is complete, and I will keep on trucking tonight, and start the one for August of Next year. My goal is to have all twelve stories for next year done by early December.

That will allow me to finish editing the Fantasy novel and get it back out to my Beta readers in January or late, late December.

That will also give me time to turn my treatment for the short into a full-fledged script, with all the blocking directions and such.

Pressing onward, Friends and Readers.

I have written stories for Patreon that will carry me all of the way into next summer (July to be exact), and have started editing on the fantasy book.

I just hope that when I finish this up, that the publisher I have my heart set on sees its potential.

If not, I will probably be discouraged, but I refuse to give up. I'll just shop it to other publishers.

I am also going back and tightening up the script I wrote, cleaning it up with proper formatting (camera and stage direction etc.) and getting ready to start the recruiting process for the short film project in February.

We'll see how long I am able to post here before the truth hurts someone's feelings and they mass report me again.

Talk soon, Friends and Readers.

Taking a little break from writing at the moment.

I should have some good feedback to work from and will start editing as soon as my last couple of Beta Readers get back to me.

So far, I have heard good things.

Slowing down, but still working, Friends and Readers.

Just finished the story for May of 2022. Just over 9k words.

I need to start editing soon, but I still don't really want to.

I need a couple days off or something.

Talk soon, Friends and Readers.

Here's my Patreon story for this month.

HAPPY SPOOKY SEASON FRIENDS AND READERS!!

https://www.patreon.com/posts/56801442

The story I have been working on is nearly finished, and over 7k words.

It is the continuation of a series I started back in the Reddit days.

Get Hype, Friends and Readers.

May of 2022's story is already over 3k words.

I might be able to finish it up before the first. That would be pretty cool.

Talk soon, Friends and Readers.

April's Patreon story is up over 6k words and about 3/4 of the way done.

Once this is done, I might jump-start May 2022's story, but October first it's OverWorld editing time. That should only take me a week or so.

Then it's on to editing the Fantasy story, which I still don't have a title for.

Working as hard as I possibly can, Friends and Readers.

So I wrote March's story in less than 24 hours. Almost 3k words. A little short, but it is the introduction to a new series.

The story I write for April will probably be related to it, as I'm probably going to start working on it tonight. Like I said yesterday, I am going to try to get as far ahead as I can before I start editing my two longer projects, as that's going to take a while.

I'm juggling as hard as I can, Friends and Readers.

Just finished February's story for Patreon. Just under 13k words.

I will start working on March of 2022's story next. October will be for editing the fantasy story with the feedback I have been getting back from my readers.

Not much else to say again, so I will see you soon, Friends and Readers.

Almost 10k words on February of next year's story. Getting closer to the end of the tale.

I don't have a lot of updates right now, and I apologize for that. I am just trying to tie up some loose ends before I get really busy again at the beginning of next year.

Talk soon, Friends and Readers.

Almost 7k words written on the story for February of 2022 as of right now. Probably just over half-way finished at this point.

Next will be March of next year's story, which I will work on while I edit the OverWorld Novella, starting next week probably.

Nose to the grindstone, as always, Friends and Readers.