Alex Hollins has almost survived eighteen years in Pinehurst without dying, getting arrested, or being exiled by his small town’s rumor mill. That alone puts him ahead of most of his classmates. But when his best friend Eric Maynard shows up with a rusty Mustang, two six-packs, and a very bad idea, Alex’s quiet fall afternoon tilts sideways fast.

A late-night run into the woods turns into something far darker. What should have been a stupid teenage adventure becomes a dangerous secret and the kind of secret Pinehurst isn’t forgiving about. 

This exclusive short story pulls you straight into the gritty heart of Pinehurst, Virginia. If you enjoy small-town suspense, unreliable adults, and the slow tightening of a noose around a character’s neck, this is your first step into the world of my upcoming debut novel The Least of These.

Download it now and see how the nightmare begins.

"The Man"

by William Price