Ashland Hollows

Ashland Hollows KRISTY PERKINS Copyright © 2023 Kristy Perkins Written by: Kristy Perkins Cover Design by: Lore Nicole Editing by: Kate Seger Formatting by: Kate Seger All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, and events portrayed are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author. No part of this book may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the author. I once had a dream to be the best me there could possibly be. I have always wanted to be an author; from the day I taught myself to write, I knew that this would be my life. There is no such thing as farfetched dreams. You can make them come true, no matter what. It just takes hard work, dedication, perseverance. I once read a quote: “Winners are not people who never fail, but people who never quit.” So, to those who always get back up and try, try, and try again – this is for you. This book has seen many years in the dark and seen several editions. Written in sweat, tears, and dark hours – to the triers, I dedicate this to you. Never give up. Because if I can do this, so can you. Dreams are meant to be conquered, not squished. Never give up. Contents Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Afterword About the Author Also by Kristy Perkins Generation Freaks Prologue Long ago, the world used to be run by the humans. They rose in dominance and pushed us aside. We hid in the dark, pretending we didn’t exist. There were very few who knew about us. Some protected us and some hunted us. But one day, we fought back. The vampires took control and made a name for themselves. The werewolves were next on the ladder and the rest of just fell into place. With humans dead last, on the very bottom. Now, either we hunt them or protect them. There is no in between. Tables had turned. Until a far greater force made itself known. The darkness began to brew, sweeping across the nation. We watched as the creatures rose from below. Creatures that only nightmares could conjure. We formed an army of all species, including the humans. We have fought for so long. We still fight. It’s neither a winning battle nor a lost one. Because every time we think we’ve come to an end, more make themselves known. There is no direct enemy. Just walking nightmares. Some of our own kind have crossed the line to join them. So we fight against our own as well. It’s a bloody mess and not all return home. For those who do, they’re not the same. Not a single one. The world has gotten colder and heavier. We survive on what we can grow, obtain now and again. We aren’t as strong as we used to be. All our resources are shipped to the war, to keep the soldiers going in this unending war. Yet, more slip over the line. Drafts grow smaller, more demanding. We must protect, save, heal. All species alike, whoever asks for us. Chapter One Timothy pulled me through the throng of ruins. We weren’t supposed to be here, which made this even more exciting. My heart beat wildly in my chest, thrumming in my ears. Our fingers were clasped together. The feeling of them intertwined made my head spin. I still couldn’t believe he was mine – all mine. Our first kiss tingled on my lips when I laid my head down at night and let my mind wander. He was my brother’s best friend and part of the reason we were even here – to keep our precious relationship a secret. Jasper would lose it if he knew we were together, but he was allowed to have feelings and ogle my best friend, right? Annoyance flickered through me, not for the first time, at my brother’s hypocritical mind. It was annoying how he bugged me to pry information from Carli, but Timothy and I had to keep our relationship secret, knowing he wouldn’t be thrilled. But – if he was more accepting, we wouldn’t be here in the ruins of what had once been a human town. It was mostly overgrown grass, flowers, and the works of the goddess mother nature taking her beloved land back. I didn’t blame her. Humans ruined the world's beauty by throwing toxic chemicals into the air, plastic into the seas, and cutting down so many trees that the oxygen levels were depleted. Had the vampires and werewolves not risen when they had, the world would’ve been destroyed. Witches and warlocks followed suit once we were sure we weren’t about to be burned at the stake, of course. We gave mother nature her land back and treat it right. What we take is what we give. As we stepped around the contraptions that humans once sped along the now moss-strewn roads in, Timothy dragged me to a place with a faded sign indicating it was once some form of a restaurant. I saw the remnants of chairs trying to withstand the crumbling stone around them and the vines sprouting up on their seats. This was where we stopped, and he turned to me, reaching to tuck back strands of white hair, locking it behind my ears. If I didn’t have it put up,