The files below are related to my upcoming novel titled The Reach. Whispers In The Mill is a short story revolving around a key location in the novel, and a couple of unfortunate people who wander inside, unaware of its dark history. HARPER MILL - History and Legacy is a fictional history report written by Tommy Mancini, the main character of The Reach, who is obsessed with haunted locations and scary stories.
Leonard Mancini had seen a lot in his lifetime, and fought everything from Nazis in World War II to his own alcoholism and depression in the years following the war. All of this, though, paled in comparison to the unexpected death of his son years later, which left him and his wife to care for their two young grandchildren.
The Shift has been developed for years by Leonard in his workshop, hidden away from his family. It has served the quiet purpose of allaying his anxiety since its development, but Leonard has recently made a breakthrough. The machine is more powerful than he once thought. Can it change the fabric of reality itself? Can he right the wrongs that have seemed to plague him his whole life? If so, at what cost?
Tommy’s overactive imagination and interest in all things paranormal leads to an obsession with a local legend: the haunted Harper Mill. Unexplained incidents have happened there for years, starting long before the mill was even built. He and his Ghost Club just might pay it a visit and see what all the fuss is about. Along the way, and with the introduction of a strange character that deals in antiques and other curiosities, questions begin to arise. What is really behind the occurrences at Harper Mill? Why does Tommy suddenly feel sickly? What is the connection between the mill and the flashes of light coming from his grandpa’s workshop?