David McIlroy Fiction

David McIlroy Fiction

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David McIlroy Fiction
David McIlroy Fiction
Imposter Syndrome: Chapter 5, Part 3

Imposter Syndrome: Chapter 5, Part 3

A New Mystery.

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David McIlroy
Jan 03, 2025
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David McIlroy Fiction
David McIlroy Fiction
Imposter Syndrome: Chapter 5, Part 3
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Imposter Syndrome is a spooky young adult mystery set in the weird town of Shady Springs, where nothing’s ever quite what it seems. Paid subscribers can read full segments of the story as they’re released (and help support my fiction writing in the process). Annual subscribers will also get a free physical copy of the novel when it’s published in full.

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Previously…

Imposter Syndrome: Chapter 5, Part 2

Imposter Syndrome: Chapter 5, Part 2

David McIlroy
·
December 20, 2024
Read full story

If you’re enjoying Imposter Syndrome, why not try my debut novel on for size? The Soulburn Talisman is available to buy now.

“Is that it?”

“Yes.”

“Is that the house?”

“I saw them go in, Joe.”

They fell silent. In the near-distance, a car went by. Bryan waited until the sound of the engine faded before speaking again. “We should warn them.”

In the darkness, Joe’s reply was emphatic: “No.”

“We have to.”

“No we don’t.”

Another car, further away this time. Fading.

“We don’t, Bryan.” The bush rustled as Joe shifted on the spot; Bryan couldn’t see him clearly, even though the moon was mostly full above them. His little brother was just an indistinct dark shape by his side.

“We don’t owe them anything,” Joe said, insistent now.

“I know we don’t,” Bryan replied. He parted the leaves of the bush with one hand, clutching the splintery fence rail with the other. The Oakwood house was a black shadow against the star-speckled night sky. The last upstairs light had flicked off right after they’d arrived, panting breathlessly after the uphill journey from town followed by the sprint across the open field next to the Oakwoods’ land. A faint, flickering glow emanating from between a crack in the curtains of one downstairs window was the only remaining sign of life in the house.

They’d been in town that evening when the red light appeared above the woods, just where it’d been almost every night for the last few weeks. It’d been Joe’s idea to leave the old house - normally he was the cautious one but something had been nagging him all day, telling him they should be in Shady Springs that night, to “keep their eyes peeled” for something different. Sure enough, the light appeared in its usual place, right where they’d expected to see it. But instead of zipping around erratically in the sky, it’d floated slowly and steadily eastward, just above the treetops, and then dropped out of sight altogether.

“I don’t like this,” Joe had muttered as they stood in the park bandstand, looking towards the Woodland Trail sign. Even from there, they caught glimpses of red light between the trees. “I don’t like this at all.”

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