David didn’t have an easy childhood. Coming from the poorest part of the city, an abusive mother and facing a childhood trauma he would never get over gave him a difficult journey into adulthood. The odds were stacked against him but with the help of his friends and a steely determination David defied those odds to become one of Coldford’s most promising young talents.
THIS CHILD BUGS ME: David turns his childhood misery into a striking piece of art.
One thing that could never be taken from his was his natural artistic ability. to cope with his past he lost himself in his vision. His reputation spread but his focus became lost. The art was still speaking to him but the words started to echo the negativity he was trying to bury. The words were lies he had tried to ignore but it was no use.
NEGATIVITY: It’s a heavy burden to carry.
Like so many fallen before him drugs – heroin or needles as they are known on the streets of the Shady City – brought him relief when the art couldn’t. When the thrill of being at the top faded the needles were always there to distract.
David is the product of his rough neck upbringing but wrapped in a hardened outer shell is a genuinely sweet disposition. He has a fondness for helping others but lacks the execution. In short he tries hard but without the right support he is destined to fail.
FLAMES OF A CITY CONSUME
David finds his vision again with the help of a coy, farm girl. With his new MUSE he is making shades in the city again.
When David discovers his friend’s baby has been taken getting through rehab becomes critical.
You lose a bit of yourself stepping over the city line.
But those demon tongues will make you feel fine.
She comes in the form of a beautiful woman.
She will take all you have, leave you less than human.
She is the Shady City and she has a hunger for flesh.
Once she is finished she will come back for the rest.
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David Finn was once described as a Coldford’s most promising young talent. An addiction and a self destructive nature caused a very public fall. He knows better than most how the City can eat you up. In order to reach those lofty heights again he’ll have to leave behind his negativity with the help of coy farm girl, JULIA HARVESTER. His latest MUSE.
It doesn’t have to be this way with such beauty around.
But it takes a sacrifice to see the colours so profound.
Carrying negativity can be such a heavy load.
Leave it behind. It is support you are owed.
As you move on from this place to THAT,
and you take with you the emotions you tried to combat,
Remember it is your presence that continues to live on.
The art and joy you created will never be gone.
In Loving Memory of D Laigo.
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David Finn was once described as a Coldford’s most promising young talent. An addiction and a self destructive nature caused a very public fall. In order to reach those lofty heights again he’ll have to leave behind his negativity with the help of coy farm girl, JULIA HARVESTER. His latest MUSE.
The Doyle family have a reputation in the Shady City and cousin Micky has his eyes set on the position of City Mayor. He will be given the opportunity to do what he can to make sure order reaches every part of the city from the comfort of City Hall.
Micky makes plans to run for mayor.
If the KNOCK KNOCK CLUB is responsible for Mayor Feltz going missing Micky can’t be too mad. It has left a spot open for him. Micky is ambitious, so when the door of the Mayor’s office opens he sees opportunity. Why shouldn’t he? He can play a round of politics better than most. Will he improve matters in the Shady City though? He does have some skeletons he can’t let escape his closet.
Micky discusses future plans with his cousin.
His powerful friends need his particular charm. Whilst his cousin rules with fear from the HIGH COURT, the LAW MAKERS need someone who can win over a city. Micky Doyle is the wild card of the Doyle family. He is the happy face they put on in times of trouble.
Complete season 1 of the Knock Knock graphic novel series is free to read HERE.
Coldford Veterinary clinic was the busiest new recruit Alex Ferrald had ever known it. Fresh out of Vet School Alex found himself thrown in the deep end. He had just sent Mrs Rowsely home with her boxer dog in a fresh cast. The appropriately named Fussy just couldn’t stay out of oncoming traffic. Luckily it had been a bike that had hit him this time and not a car. “You really should keep him on a leash,” Alex warned her. As he leaned over to check the cast Fussy licked him. He could feel Mrs Rowsely’s stare so he kept his head down. When she was gone Alex gave a sigh of relief and dropped himself into the plastic clinic room chair. He looked at the clock. Appointments had been cleared for the next couple of hours but just as he began to contemplate the tuna fish sandwich he had packed into his bag the vet nurse Kayleigh opened the door. “We’ve got an emergency, Mr Ferrald. All the other vets are busy. Can you take it?” The girl in his room made him bashful – more reluctant than under the glare of Mrs Rowsely. “The name?” “Penn,” she explained. “Penn? As in the PENN AUCTION HOUSE? Is it Rita?” He asked. The family were well known. Rita being the mother and her triplet sons being the main rulers of City Main. “Reggie,” Kayleigh confirmed. “One of the triplets.” “I … errr … “ stammered Alex. “What’s the animal?” “Rats. Two of them. He’s already filled in the paperwork. “You better send them in then,” Alex resolved taking a deep breath. “I’ll have a look.” Just as Kayleigh cleared the entrance her petite frame and braces, laced smile was replaced by a much larger, looming presence with a mop of blonde hair, dressed all in black. The Penn triplets had a reputation. Most people in the Shady City knew them. Violent, wild, respected. Their reputation had been passed down from their father – Reginald – the so called King of City Main. So when Reggie pushed a carrier holding two fat rats into Alex’s arms the mild mannered vet was taken aback. “Can you help them doctor?” He asked. “Some low life fucker has given them poison.” Alex was thinking vets aren’t generally titled doctor but who was he to correct one of the triplets? He opened the carry case. One was darker than the other. One was still on it’s feet, sniffing the air. The other lay down breathing harshly. Both were clean. “Are they pets?” REGGIE frowned. “What else would they be?” Alex focused on the sicker of the two rodents. “I just mean … erm … where would they have come into contact with poison? Do you know what kind of poison it was?” “Some fucking scumbag playing silly beggars. I keep them at the warehouse normally. It was broken into. They only got as far as those two. Sick fuck …” Alex handled the sick rat softly. He turned it in his freshly gloved hands. “Do you have some time to wait? I’ll put them on an IV and I can give them a transfusion and see how it goes.” Reggie was smiling but to the rat rather than the vet. He looked up and when he noticed Alex was watching him he confirmed. “That one’s name is Smash.” “After the lonesome nights character?” Alex responded without thinking. Lonesome Nights was an online video game his artist friend, David Finn, had introduced him to. It involved hunting prostitutes and stealing cars. Whilst Alex found the idea of theft and prostitution distasteful there was something quite therapeutic about wandering aimlessly around the virtual city. The latest release from Coby Games had made it look a lot like Coldford. “You play?” Reggie asked as he anxiously watched Alex take blood from Smash and lay him gently in a cage. “A little,” Alex replied as he opened the carrier for the second rodent. The second rat still had the energy to run and made a break for it the moment the door was opened. SLAM! Reggie’s palm clashed on the table catching the rat by the tail. He pulled it back and clutched it by the body. “This one is Jacket. You see how his fur is a little darker around the top of his body? It looks like he’s wearing a jacket. I never used to name them. It was easier when they didn’t have names.” “Uh Huh,” Alex replied, unsettled. He took the more boisterous rat and extracted blood as quickly as he could. “I’ll have the bloods checked so we can know what type of poison it was. I’ll put them on a drip in the meantime and see how the fair.” “Thanks doctor,” Reggie replied with genuine gratitude. “Errr,” Alex averted his gaze. “I’ll have to give them a few hours at least. I can call you when I know more.” Alex felt a tremble as Reggie brushed the mass of blonde curls back from his face and looked behind him with a cool stare. “Take care of them. The girl at the desk has my number.” He drew his phone from his back pocket and busied himself with a text message as he left the room. When alone with the rats Alex gave another sigh. This time it wasn’t relief. Jacket seemed fine. Alex was confident with some treatment he could go home. Smash on the other hand was sniffing very closely to that eternal rat trap. Could timid Alex really be the one to tell one of the Penn triplets he had lost their precious pet under his care?
***
“They back doctor?” Reggie Penn came bounding in the following morning. For the third time Alex resisted the urge to correct the towering presence of the youngest triplet. He had called the clinic three times the previous afternoon to check up on his rats. He finally gave up when he spoke to Alex himself who explained he was going to keep them overnight for further observation but both (thankfully Smash took a turn for the better) were fine and looking well. Alex laid the carrier on the examination table. Both rats were squeaking with delight. The vet was glad to have them off his hands. He thought Reggie would have taken the carrier but instead he opened it up and plunged his long fingers and drew the rat out. He sat Jacket on his shoulder and held Smash out in front of him. “I thought you were a goner,” he cheered, tickling the rats twitching nose. When he noticed Alex was watching him the vet averted his gaze. “Luckily the rodenticide used was slow acting. I gave a few transfusions for Smash to flush out the poison and one for Jacket to be safe,” explained the vet. “Slow acting, huh?” Reggie kept his focus on the rats. “I’ll give you some Vitamin K1. Keep giving them that for the next month and they should be fine.” Reggie put them back in their carrier. His phone bleeped again. He pulled it from the back pocket of his black jeans, checked it and stored it away again. “I really owe you.” Alex’s eyes widened. “It’s just my job. No worries.” He took a deep breath. “Happy to help.” The last thing. He wanted was to have a Penn indebted to him.
Lonesome Nights is the most popular game in Coldford.
***
By the time Alex got home he was looking forward to washing off the day. “Alex! Wait up!” Alex turned. His chest tightened as he caught sight of blonde hair. Luckily it wasn’t a Penn. It was the unkempt bleached hair of his friend, DAVID FINN. “Thank God it’s you,” Alex gasped. David narrowed his gaze. “Who else would it be?” I had one of the Penns in my clinic today. David asked, “which one?” “Reggie. The one with all the rats.” “I bet that was an experience,” David jested as they slowly started to climb the steps. The Penn Auction House had shown some interest in David’s work. The sent one of their acquisitions agents to liaise with the Harper Dalway gallery that held most of David’s pieces but he hadn’t met the triplets personally. “Luckily I managed to save the rats.” David laughed. “That’s good. You might have ended up in one of the cages.” He stuck his tongue out and made a comical imitation of a man dying. Alex punched his arm good naturedly. “It’s not funny,” he said but he was now laughing too. His phone beeped so he stopped on the steps to check it. It was a notification from the Lonesome Nights game. REG3 SENT YOU A FRIEND REQUEST. “Fuck!” Alex exclaimed. He showed David. David shrugged. “You better not ignore it. Do you want to have rats put up your arse?” Alex stared at him in horror. “True story, man,” the artist confirmed with a shrug. Alex accepted the request. Just has he made to store his phone away it beeped again. REG3 SENT YOU 5000 COINS Alex had been given a generous amount of credit to use within the game. A message followed. THANKS AGAIN DOCTOR. HAVE A GOOD QUALITY PROSTITUTE ON ME. David laughed more heartily when Alex showed him the new development. “Can you believe this?” Alex exclaimed. David grinned. “You should ask him for real money or a real prostitute.” The both continued joshing until entered Alex’s apartment. Alex’s mind turned back to why the rats had been poisoned in the first place. “Why would someone do that?” Alex wondered. David picked up the copy of the Coldford Daily the downstairs neighbour put through the door as she did every day when she had finished reading. “Those guys have enemies. People out there are sick.” Alex dropped into the sofa. “Well I hope it doesn’t happen again. I don’t think I’m cut out to be Reggie Penn’s personal vet.” David had been flicking through to the sports pages for the latest news on the Coldford Athletic football team when he stumbled on an article from Sam Crusow. “Well I don’t think they’ll be doing it again anyway.” He showed Alex the headline that caught his attention. MAN FOUND DEAD IN A NORTH SIDE LOCK UP. Coroner’s report confirms death by rat poison. Coincidence? Not very likely.
Alex Ferrald is a kind soul. No matter what people tell him about his friend, David Finn, who is descending into drugs he always stands by him. He knows the truth behind David’s addiction.
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The fly grew fatter and fatter, waiting for the end of days.
“This child bugs me,” one day it said.
Too fat now to buzz away.
It didn’t matter, it was already dead.
The pain was finally removed that day.
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David Finn was once described as a Coldford’s most promising young talent. An addiction and a self destructive nature caused a very public fall. In order to reach those lofty heights again he’ll have to address that bothersome fly with the help of coy farm girl, Julia Harvester. His latest MUSE.
Down in the South East, SWANTIN area of the Shady City lies the Chamberlain Docks. It is where you can catch the HAULAGE ferry to HATHFIELD BAY ISLANDS and further beyond to the sunny coastal city of LUEN if you’ve got the cash.
Swantin is known as the fashionable area of town. It has a trendy wine bars, boutiques and it is also home of the SWANTIN TOWN football team. Despite the glamour of the area there is a dark cloud that hangs over the docks – the looming, distinctive profile of HARBOUR HOUSE. Some call it a psychiatric institute. CEO and owner DR G WINSLOW calls it a rehabilitation clinic for those who have faced trauma.
Happy Hathfielders and Coldford day trippers fill the docks and whilst the cheery travellers come and go no attention is paid to the illegal goods that are arriving regularly. Drugs, counterfeit money, human trafficking.
As the bustling day at the docks darkens down into night it’s not advisable to wander. It may be the fashionable part of the city but it can also be one of the most dangerous ones after dark. It’s the best place for prostitutes to ply their trade and who knows what you may pick up!
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The second UNIVERSITY team in the city, Fullerton claim supremacy over their rivals at KINGSGATE by their Sport Science program whose research has benefited larger teams such as COLDFORD CITY and ATHLETIC. Graduates of the sports science course include BUDDY OWEN, although some would argue this was not without his father, THE CAPPY’s, money and influence. The backing of his brother’s at KAPPA SO also helped.
As a football team Fullerton are quite consistent. They rarely manage to quash the big two but they keep their heads high and are a constant feature on the stages of the bigger competitions. The bridge on their badge is representative of the FULLERTON BRIDGE which connects the rich town of FILTON in the north to the rest of the city.
Our most notable supporter of Fullerton is the BOSS LADY herself. She may be Queen of the Shanties but her roots in Filton are never forgotten.
Have you gotten your membership for the Boss Lady’s CLUB yet?
Volume 1 of the hit graphic novel series is free to read HERE on Vivika Widow Online or you can download for kindle by clicking HERE.
A beautiful, expansive piece of land set beyond the north of the city before reaching the northern town of BOURNTON. Leaving the hustle and bustle of Coldford City behind the Harvester farm seems like a world away.
Owned by the HARVESTER family for a number of generations, the most recent being Jacob Harvester and his daughter JULIA.
Julia Harvester is a nice girl.
A meat and dairy farm, the Harvester brand brings some of the finest produce to the Shady City and beyond. When Jacob fell ill his doctor, WINSLOW, bought over the farm in order to help out and to bring the brand into a modern world before it was lost completely to a day and age long past.
The eminent Dr Winslow and Harvester farm hand Glenn.
Hard work and dedication is given completely by the farm hands. They are all like family to Julia, especially GLENN and Curtis her two main hands who keep the farm functioning.
Hard working and dedicated. The farm hands are like family.
Whilst you can enjoy the beautiful scenery and become lost in the day dream inducing old fashioned architecture of the farm house, like most places in the Shady City there is a dark cloud hovering over the land and it’s not just bringing gloomy weather. Julia is losing control over her family legacy little by little to the domineering doctor.
When Julia meets an artist, DAVID FINN, he manages to see past her naïve, pretty farm girl exterior to a furious fire that burns beneath. The inspiration falls both ways as the daring artist gives her a new lease of life. Time to make some changes around Harvester farm and desperate times call for desperate measures.
When artist, David Finn, meets his new muse its his chance to get his life back together again. It seems though the shy seeming farm girl has other ideas.
