Here be monsters of the human variety--evil is, after all, a human construct, is it not? Inside these pages you'll find the mayhem of the human mind, from the thought-form of a vile murderer brought to life by imaginative teenagers, to a new god who accepts his sacrifices on the filthy city streets, to a vast wasteland that feasts on flesh and drinks blood with relish. From a mind that, like so many, can't help but wander to the possibility of darkness, to a penpal who turns out to be no 'pal' at all. All of this and more, brought to you by the fine authors of Pavor Nocturnus, the ones who might understand night terrors better than most. The ones who close their eyes and see the horrors within....

Twelve authors from across the globe come together in one volume to tell their unique, dark tales. The short stories in this first volume speak of misfits, murderers, and psychos; a painting haunted by its past; a broken angel who will spread heartbreak to regain his former glory; a hangman who must continue his wretched job in the face of utter desperation; a teenager's unforgettable, and terrifying, first kiss. Enter a new world created by twelve exceptionally talented authors whose names you will not forget.

David Hunter understands intelligence in a way no one else can grasp. He has created life...only to see it caged. His life is his work, and his work is Aurora. Ethan Alexander had been a military man, but now he's involved in something even bigger. He's seen the ultimate weapon...seen it ruined by its creators. His life is his work, and his work is war. Dr. Sophia Grace is as intelligent as she is beautiful. She dedicated herself to studying the intricacies of the human mind...but now she's been hired to work with something else entirely. Her life is her work, and her work is unlocking secrets. Aurora is a mystery even to her creator. She cannot be duplicated nor can she be controlled. Aurora's life has not yet truly begun, but it is about to. There are strange things in the sky over Groom Lake. Black triangles and hovering disks and rockets that fly faster than any craft known to exist. There are stranger things, things hidden even from the workers at Groom Lake. There is Aurora...the ultimate secret.