LJ HOLMES PRESENTS A WORLD OF ASH

Hey! Thanks for inviting me to tell you my story before I head out. My name is Jax.
And this dude is the man I have been working for since I was not much more than a kid...My Boss.

Sometimes it seems like I've been working for him since I stepped out of my diapers, so when he came to me and asked me to do him a favor and pick up a package from a couple of guys in a nearby town, several miles away, I mean hey, I was flattered, and yeah, eager. Especially when he added those magic words, "As part of your promotion," into the mix. In today's economy, hell, in any economy the word "promotion" means more money, and who can't use more money?

Then the boss mentioned the name of the town. There's danger going there, I remind him. Surely he's been paying attention to the news. Not for a wise young guy like me, he assures me with a strong pat on my back, and I can equip myself however I see fit. I can even take along a friend. He'd see to it. Oh and he'd supply the arms...
I kinda gulped when I saw these bad boys. Can you blame me? This is some SERIOUS firepower. What the hell kinda danger did the boss suspect I may be facing? Certainly more than what I had expected. Can't back out now though. I'm not a wuss!

I roped my friend Stu in. He helped me spend the money for our supplies. Stu was more than a bit thrilled about being able to purchase all that we were able to purchase, so he didn't put up much protest...and so we loaded the truck and headed out of town.


Oh My God! The news hadn't shown the danger to be THIS bad. No way we can drive through that. The engine would clog up before we'd get a few feet in. We'll have to walk.

Yanking our supplies from the truck...full paintball gear, air tanks, and the stashed guns, we quickly dress. Stu yelps something at me that sounds strangely like, "Did you see a face in that cloud?" Stu's easily excited, and let's face it, it's a cloud, not some genie coming out of a bottle...and off we go.

Will we make it through the cloud? Did Stu see a face? Are we both idiots for not turning tail and running? And will these high powered weapons have any effect on something that might have been a face in that cloud?

A World of Ash by Kevin Hopson, Cover Art by the Amazing Muse It Up Publishing Cover Art Goddess Delilah K. Stephans releases on November 1, 2010 with the answers and maybe more questions. Follow Kevin and the many other talented authors Muse It Up Publishing has ready to entertain and enthrall you at http://www.museituppublishing.com/