The summer sun beat down mercilessly on the four teenage boys as they hiked up the winding trail to Darkwater Falls. Sam led the way, his confident stride setting the pace for the others. Jason and Mike followed close behind, exchanging excited whispers about their plans for the day. Bobby brought up the rear, his steps becoming more hesitant with each passing minute. As they neared the top of the falls, the roar of cascading water grew louder, drowning out the forest sounds around them. The air became cooler and misty, a stark contrast to the oppressive heat they'd left behind. "We're almost there!" Sam called back to the others, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. Bobby's stomach churned with anxiety. He'd been dreading this moment ever since the others had proposed their daring plan to jump from the top of the falls. Now, as they approached their destination, his fear threatened to overwhelm him. "Guys," Bobby said, his voice barely audible over the thundering water, "I don't think I can do this. I... I can't swim." The other three boys stopped in their tracks, turning to face their friend with looks of disbelief and amusement. "You can't be serious," Jason scoffed. "We've been planning this for weeks!" Mike chimed in, "Don't be such a baby, Bobby. It's just a little water." Sam approached Bobby, slinging an arm around his shoulders in a gesture that seemed friendly but held an undercurrent of mockery. "Listen, buddy, there's nothing to be afraid of. We'll be right there with you. If anything happens, we'll save you. Promise." Bobby looked from one face to another, searching for any sign of understanding or compassion. He found none. These boys, whom he'd thought were his friends, now seemed like strangers – cold and uncaring. "I really don't think—" Bobby began, but Mike cut him off. “Enough of this. We came here to jump, and that's what we're going to do." He exchanged a meaningful look with Sam and Jason. "Here, we'll help you." Before Bobby could protest further, he felt hands on his back, shoving him forward. Time seemed to slow as he teetered on the edge of the falls, his arms windmilling desperately as he tried to regain his balance. For a brief moment, he locked eyes with Sam, silently pleading for help. But Sam's expression remained impassive, almost cruel. Then Bobby was falling. The world spun around him as he plummeted towards the dark water below. He caught a glimpse of his so-called friends laughing at the top of the falls, their faces distorted by the mist and his own terror. Bobby had just enough time to think, "They never intended to jump," before he hit the water. The impact was devastating. Bobby's head struck a submerged rock, and consciousness fled in an explosion of pain and darkness. His body sank beneath the churning surface, carried by the current to the depths of the falls' basin. Above, Sam, Jason, and Mike stared down at the spot where Bobby had disappeared. Their laughter died away, replaced by a growing sense of horror as the seconds ticked by and Bobby didn't resurface. "He's... he's just messing with us, right?" Jason asked, his voice trembling. Sam shook his head slowly, his face pale. "I don't think so." The reality of what they'd done began to sink in. They'd killed Bobby – the boy they'd tormented for years, the one they'd never truly considered a friend. And now, they were bound together by this terrible secret. Mike was the first to break the shocked silence. "We can't tell anyone what really happened. They'll think we murdered him." "But we did," Jason whispered. Sam's expression hardened. "No. It was an accident. That's our story, and we're sticking to it. Bobby slipped and fell. We tried to save him but couldn't. Got it?" The other two nodded numbly, sealing their pact of silence. As they hurried down the trail to raise the alarm, none of them noticed the strange ripple that passed across the surface of the dark water below – or the ghostly whisper that seemed to echo in the mist: "I'll make you pay..." The years that followed Bobby's death were hard on the three boys. Though they'd managed to convince everyone that Bobby's fall had been a tragic accident, the weight of their guilt took its toll. They drifted apart, each dealing with the aftermath in their own way. Sam threw himself into his studies, determined to leave their small town and its painful memories behind. Jason turned to alcohol, trying to drown out the nightmares that plagued him. Mike became withdrawn and paranoid, jumping at shadows and avoiding the outdoors altogether. It was five years before they saw each other again, brought together by a chance encounter at the local grocery store. The awkward silence that fell over them was broken by Sam's forced cheerfulness. "Hey guys, it's been a while. How about we grab a drink and catch up?" Jason readily agreed, already itching for his next fix. Mike hesitated but eventually nodded, unable to come up with a believable excuse. They found themselves at The Rusty Nail, a dingy bar on the outskirts of town. As they nursed their drinks, the conversation inevitably turned to that fateful day at Darkwater Falls. "Do you ever think about him?" Jason asked, his words slightly slurred. Mike flinched, glancing nervously around the bar. "Keep your voice down! Someone might hear." Sam leaned in, his expression serious. "Look, we all agreed never to talk about this again. It was an accident, remember? We need to move on." "Move on?" Mike hissed. "How can we move on when I see his face every time I close my eyes? When I hear his voice in the wind?" Jason nodded vigorously. "I know what you mean. Sometimes, when I'm near water, I swear I can hear him calling for help." Sam slammed his glass down on the table, startling his companions. "Enough! It's all in your heads. Bobby's gone, and no amount of guilt or superstition is going to bring him back. We need to let it go."

"Compulsively readable."—New York Times Book Review From Stuart Turton, author of The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, comes an extraordinary new locked-room murder mystery. A murder on the high seas. A remarkable detective duo. A demon who may or may not exist. It's 1634, and Samuel Pipps, the world's greatest detective, is being transported to Amsterdam to be executed for a crime he may, or may not, have committed. Traveling with him is his loyal bodyguard, Arent Hayes, who is determined to prove his friend innocent. Among the other guests is Sara Wessel, a noblewoman with a secret. But no sooner is their ship out to sea than devilry begins to blight the voyage. A strange symbol appears on the sail. A dead leper stalks the decks. Livestock dies in the night. And then the passengers hear a terrible voice, whispering to them in the darkness, promising three unholy miracles, followed by a slaughter. First an impossible pursuit. Second an impossible theft. And third an impossible murder. Could a demon be responsible for their misfortunes? With Pipps imprisoned, only Arent and Sara can solve a mystery that stretches back into their past and now threatens to sink the ship, killing everybody on board. Shirley Jackson meets Sherlock Holmes in this chilling thriller of supernatural horror, occult suspicion, and paranormal mystery on the high seas.

Your Special Illustrated & annotated edition includes: •14 Pen & Ink Stations of the Cross by Jacob Rice •Extensive Glossary of time-honored Catholic expressions •Stabat Mater in both English & Latin •Essay Narrative on the Last Hours of John of the Cross +Spiritual Combat - For over 400 years, Fr. Scupoli's the Spiritual Combat has provided time-tested strategies for achieving victory over the flesh and the devil, and is acknowledged to be one of the greatest guides to guide one to virtue in time of temptation. St. Frances de Sales carried this little work wherever he went, consulting it often. The Spiritual Combat is one of the all-time greatest and best-known classics on the spiritual life and is a book that will inspire and instruct today just as it has for over 400 years. +Dark Night of the Soul - The Dark night has been described as a point of deep "spiritual crisis" and the pathway Fray John lays out isn't merely to recover but to thrive and experience true union with God. This is mysticism with a purpose, to change your life right now, to become more like Christ every day. This is no bleak night but a bright light of hope lit on a clear path to living holiness by the premier spiritual master, St. John of the Cross. In a homily commemorating the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist, Pope Francis remarked "I think of the dark night of the soul of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta" and is inspired with the hope only Christ can give each of us. Together St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila are considered the founders of the Discalced Carmelites. +The Way of the Cross - St. Alphonsus Liguori's method is the most treasured way of praying the stations ever to bless Christendom. The Saint is also the creator of the classic "The Glories of Mary." The pious practice has been around since Christians visited the Holy Land the the 5th Century and emulated the actual way of the cross. In the 14th century, to remind Catholics of the ties to the Holy land the Franciscans promoted the devotion and ever since it has become an annual Lenten tradition.

This book tells about the mystical journey of the soul toward the union with God. This journey is made in darkness since we don't know anything of God, the Light, at the end of the trip. The journey comprises two critical phases of purgation: the purgation of senses and the purgation of spirit. These two phases make the first part of the spiritual journey. After the purgation, there comes illumination and then union.

This eBook edition of "Darkwater: Voices from Within the Veil" has been formatted to the highest digital standards and adjusted for readability on all devices. "I venture to write again on themes on which great souls have already said greater words, in the hope that I may strike here and there a half-tone, newer even if slighter, up from the heart of my problem and the problems of my people." William Edward Burghardt "W. E. B." Du Bois (1868 – 1963) was an American sociologist, historian, civil rights activist, Pan-Africanist, author, writer and editor. Born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Du Bois grew up in a relatively tolerant and integrated community. After completing graduate work at the University of Berlin and Harvard, where he was the first African American to earn a doctorate, he became a professor of history, sociology and economics at Atlanta University. Du Bois was one of the co-founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in 1909. Contents: Credo The Shadow of Year A Litany at Atlanta The Souls of White Folk The Riddle of the Sphinx The Hands of Ethiopia The Princess of the Hither Isles Of Work and Wealth The Second Coming "The Servant in the House" Jesus Christ in Texas Of the Ruling of Men The Call The Damnation of Women Children of the Moon The Immortal Child Almighty Death Of Beauty and Death The Prayers of God The Comet A Hymn to the Peoples

“In darkness, we become devoted to clarity, courage, peace, and harmony. We discover the basic goodness of all humanity when we experience darkness together,” Zenju Earthlyn Manuel writes. “Life itself is a dark experience—a magical experience.” When you hear the word “darkness,” what does it make you feel—horror, danger, or maybe despair? We’ve been conditioned to fear and avoid darkness and blackness, yet Zenju Earthlyn Manuel challenges us to consider: “What if we chose to go deeper into darkness instead of running from it? What might we find there beyond our longing for light?” Drawing on the ancient wisdom found in Zen Buddhism and African and Native American indigenous traditions, Osho Zenju reveals how a change in perspective and increased wisdom can help us awaken to the sacredness of dark experiences in our lives—so we may experience a reality beyond avoidance and fear. Opening to Darkness will take you on a courageous journey into the mandala of darkness, a symbolic expression of your inner world, where you will travel through eight gateways that are inspired by Buddha’s Eightfold Path. Along your way, you will meet dark mothers from India, Nigeria, Japan, Haiti, and Dahomey, who both protect and destroy. Osho Zenju provides reflective inquiry, blessings, and meditations as you navigate your way through the vast depths of the unseen. It is through this spiritual pilgrimage that we learn how to: • Experience the wonders of life that can flourish only in the dark • Discover a collective doorway to healing and deep transformation • Awaken to the illusory nature of light versus dark • Illuminate false perceptions and beliefs of darkness • Heal the fear and anxiety around darkness and blackness Wrapped in gorgeous lyrical prose, Osho Zenju’s offerings provide deep soul relief and collective strength to embrace the dark—so we may reunite with the sacred process of darkness that flows through the canvas of our lives.

St. John of the Cross is widely considered one of the most prolific and important poets of his time. In fact, in Spanish poetry, the Spiritual Canticle and Dark Night of the Soul are two of the most important works of all time. He is known for his rich use of symbolism and imagery within his poetry. Dark Night of the Soul is the title of a poem written by 16th-century Spanish poet and Roman Catholic mystic Saint John of the Cross, as well as of a treatise he wrote later, commenting on the poem.

In this spiritual masterpiece — a classic of Christian literature and mysticism — the author addresses pride, avarice, envy, and other human imperfections, describing methods of conversion through prayer, submission, and purification.

This book presents the first comprehensive interpretation of the Paraphrase of Shem, Codex VII,1 in the Coptic Nag Hammadi Library. The lenghty introduction discusses the literary genre of the treatise, its plan and system, its situation among the Gnostic systems, its provenance and date. The translation sets out the text in paragraphs, with headings and subheadings. A short commentary follows the translation. The analysis of the system shows that the author is working from a model of the universe, whose principles have been drawn from Stoicism and Middle Platonism. While dipping into the springs of the major Sethian and Valentinian systems, the author follows his own way and offers an original system, anticipating in many respects Manichaeism.