Shattered from Within

A collection of short stories and novellas by Kathy-Lynn Cross. Including a bonus short story by author Amber Hassler.When Emily was Here - Locked away in her bleak forgotten world, Emily wanted what every caged bird does, freedom. Surrounded by patients who have succumbed to their way of life in the asylum, Emily works to convince them to leave the confines of their hell. But as certain events shake her resolve and pieces from her past threaten to realign her fractured soul she begins to wonder if the doctor is right."She can never escape the evil within, but only learn to live with it."Maryanna's Mirror - Before you play her game, ask yourself, "Am I ready to die?" Maryanna is a product of privilege and wealth in sixteenth-century southern, England. After her father's untimely demise, she is invited to her uncle's home with a promiseto host her twentieth birthday party. When the day arrives, Maryanna is given a cryptic family history lesson that drags her into certain events unlocking an evil both her father and uncle have tried to conceal for the last twenty years.Tainted Currents - A change of scenery is exactly what Ceanna's friends believe she needs to mend her broken spirit. A hiking trip to Skelton Lake may help to relieve her pain. But whispers of vengeance lie beneath the currents awaiting such a heart to release their rage from the river's depths.Clipped Wings - For over four hundred ninety-nine years, Raziel has protected her cemetery and the souls placed in her care. Once an angel in charge of maintaining justice was now bound to pay penitence as a Judge for damned souls.Devilkin Breckford finds himself in a difficult situation, he's dead and about to be judged. Unfortunately, for Raziel, this demon poses a perplexing problem, she is unable to judge him and may end up having a new cemetery sidekick.Did exercising free will doom their future or alter their destiny?Misplaced - Pranic Cyphers are wandering soulless creatures cursed to exist as spiritual parasites. Curiosity gets the best of one and it wonders if imitating a human is possible-for a spell. After a botched-up aura transfer, leaving both host and cypher on the brink of death, it is determined to claim the broken body and life of Ava. Once certain characteristics are discovered, pretending to be Ava might be more than this Pranic Cypher can handle. What happens when a predator becomes prey?Lonely Hearts by Amber Hassler Loner, Mila Webber is persuaded to attend a class trip to Stayville Asylum. While exploring, repressed memories from a year ago emerge, and Mila has to decipher if it's a hallucination or if what she is seeing is real. Can Mila set herself free from the mental chains holding her mind hostage, or will she become another twisted family secret?(*) Trigger warnings: All works are fiction but some touch on real-life problems such as mental health issues, drug and alcohol abuse, implied physical abuse, and traumatic situations.