When Jena's new boyfriend, Herm, announces that he is traveling the North Shore of Lake Superior to meet Commander Donner, she is skeptical. After all, Herm is convinced that he is an alien from the planet Xylan who has been sent to Earth to search for rare minerals. As far as she is concerned, he is living in a dream world. However, Herm is also a nice guy, the best she's ever known, and she enjoys being with him. So does her eight-year-old daughter, Sylvie. If only it weren't for that alien issue…

Jena is conflicted. Herm's entire trip up north seems like a figment of his imagination. The night before he is scheduled to leave, they argue, but to no avail. He leaves the next morning, and Jena is not so much distraught as she is ready to forget all about him and move on. Six hours later, though, she receives a text. Herm has been put in jail for hitchhiking in a small town north of Duluth. Against her better judgment, Jena travels north to help him, taking Sylvie with her, along with her best friend Kalli.

Unbeknownst to Jena, on the drive north, Herm escapes from jail and goes on the run. Jena is able to find him, and she agrees to take him to his meeting with the commander. It is then she learns the awful truth about Herm's past.

This is a story of the horrors that some people can inflict upon the innocent. It is also a story of how incredibly strong the human spirit is. Ultimately, it is a story of how strong the bonds of love truly can be.

"Eye of the Beholder – A Novella" was published in 2024 by Dark Myth Publications

Chapter Five Excerpt: Escape

He turned to Stu. The big guard had his phone out and was scrolling through it with his tobacco-stained fingers, paying more attention to the screen than to his prisoner. "Say," Herm said, causing Stu to glance at him.

"What?"

"I was wondering…Before I meet with the Chief, could I please use the bathroom?""Jesus." Stu sighed, annoyed. "You sure?"

"I am." Herm nodded, pasting a worried look on his face, and doing a quick little back-and-forth shuffle. "I'm very positive."

Stu pictured this little goofball of a guy having an accident in the meeting with Dale Faber, the Basalt city Chief of Police, and momentarily smiled. Then the moment passed and he frowned. Faber was new to the job and a no-nonsense kind of guy. He'd most certainly blame the stink coming from Herm on Stu, which was something he didn't need. Getting on the Chief's bad side was not a habit he wanted to start getting into.

"Oh, alright," the jailer relented. "I guess so." He pointed. "This way."

They turned to the right and down another hallway. Herm made sure to pay attention to where he was. Both the front door and the back door weren't too far away.

Halfway down the hall, they stopped. "Here," Stu pointed to the men's room on the right. "Go for it."

"Thank you," Herm said, pretending to be relieved.

"Hurry up."

"I will."

Herm pushed open the door and stepped inside.

Five minutes later, when Stu stuck his head in and yelled, "What's taking so goddamn long!" Herm was gone.

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