Mercy Loomis

Jon's dreams of the primordial Nexus have become all too real, to the point where waking up is accompanied by nausea and disorientation. The nightly fight for survival is far more enticing than Jon’s waking life, and he feels more and more detached from reality.

When Jon meets gargoyle and Nexus guardian Tamal, Jon learns that not only is the Nexus real, he might be able to stay permanently. But it’s Tamal’s job to keep squishy, vulnerable humans like Jon safe and out of the Nexus. Can Jon convince Tamal he has what it takes to survive? Contains sexual situations.

Published in Taste Test: Welcome to the Jungle by Torquere Press, 2010.

This story can also be purchased singly as an ebook from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, Kobo, Diesel, Smashwords, Sony, and Goodreads.

This is a story I've been wanting to tell for many, many years--or, more preceisely, a setting and a supposition I've wanted to use. Jon and Tamal are fairly recent introductions to the Nexus. The place itself was actually inspired by my husband's night terrors. His, of course, are always terrible, but I was taken by the idea of their emotional power, and how real they seemed. I liked the idea of a dream that became more real than reality. I still haven't gotten around to writing the original story that was inspired when he first told me about his night terrors, more years ago than I care to remember, but I'm glad I've had a chance to get to play in the Nexus for a little while.

I had a hard time finding an excerpt for this one, so here's a bit from the beginning.

The sound was too soft for a human to have made, not that he’d ever seen any others in the jungle. Well, not in one piece, anyway. Jon tried to slow his breathing, taking a firmer grip on his weapons, the anticipation rising.

The sound drew closer, skirting the edge of the clearing.

His muscles tensed. A feral grin spilt his face and he didn’t even try to hide it. There was no one here to see.

Closer now. A whuffling sound of something sniffing. It probably had his scent. Jon took one last deep breath and sprang onto the rocks, already hurling the stone in his fist. He caught the creature square between its wide-set eyes. It reared back, startled and snarling, and Jon leapt forward.

The alarm blared in his ear, and he jerked awake with a yell. Jon shook his head, disoriented, and fumbled with the alarm until he managed to shut it off.