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The Saltwater Marathon
Bryan Combs is a cheater.
Broke a pact with his loving wife, Sirena. Put off having kids. Made her second to his management career. Distanced himself from her. Then slept with his seductive boss, Carmela.
That’s when Sirena broke. Fell into a depression so deep, she took her life by driving her car into the Atlantic. Her body was never recovered.
Fast forward six months later. The fling has ended. The career Bryan once revered is now a meaningless existence. He finds brief solace in the form of sneakers and bottles. Running and drinking. But neither seems to quell the guilt for long.
Bryan opts for late night shifts at the mall, often drinking himself to sleep in the back office of his once beloved job.
This is the norm. This is the pattern. Sulking after hours. Walking the mall at midnight. Passing out on the cold linoleum floor.
But all of that changes one morning.
The morning they show up – strangers at his office door. Smashing their fists. Screaming. Waking him from his drunken stupor. Begging for him to let them in. Begging as if their lives depended on it. Begging him to open the door because they’re not alone and need somewhere to hide.
Is this some elaborate joke? Is this a prank put on by Carmela? Bryan wouldn't be sure until he let them in.
And once he does, he soon witnesses for himself what has these people so afraid, so panicked, that he finds it impossible to stay caught in his own circle of self-loathing.
Broke a pact with his loving wife, Sirena. Put off having kids. Made her second to his management career. Distanced himself from her. Then slept with his seductive boss, Carmela.
That’s when Sirena broke. Fell into a depression so deep, she took her life by driving her car into the Atlantic. Her body was never recovered.
Fast forward six months later. The fling has ended. The career Bryan once revered is now a meaningless existence. He finds brief solace in the form of sneakers and bottles. Running and drinking. But neither seems to quell the guilt for long.
Bryan opts for late night shifts at the mall, often drinking himself to sleep in the back office of his once beloved job.
This is the norm. This is the pattern. Sulking after hours. Walking the mall at midnight. Passing out on the cold linoleum floor.
But all of that changes one morning.
The morning they show up – strangers at his office door. Smashing their fists. Screaming. Waking him from his drunken stupor. Begging for him to let them in. Begging as if their lives depended on it. Begging him to open the door because they’re not alone and need somewhere to hide.
Is this some elaborate joke? Is this a prank put on by Carmela? Bryan wouldn't be sure until he let them in.
And once he does, he soon witnesses for himself what has these people so afraid, so panicked, that he finds it impossible to stay caught in his own circle of self-loathing.
103 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 29, 2015
36 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Chateau
8 books97 followersJonathan Chateau grew up reading books by Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and Michael Crichton. However, it was Fight Club--both the 1996 novel by Chuck Palahniuk and the 1999 film by David Fincher--that inspired him to pursue writing. He has also had a love of movies since he was five and was even named after James Caan's character, Jonathan E, from the 1975 cult classic, Rollerball.
He has completed five novels, Nightmares in Analog, The Death Wish Game, Faith Against the Wolves, and Faith Against the Angels. His fifth book, The Sprawling, is slated for release next year.
When Jonathan's not writing, he's working out, painting table-top miniatures like those from Warhammer or the Walking Dead, playing way-too-many video games, eating spicy food, jamming out to Emo & EDM, or spending time with his family, friends and his spoiled cats, Boo (the Dork) & Luna (the Princess.)
He lives in Tampa, Florida and loves hearing from his readers, so stop by and say hello:
JChateau.com
Facebook.com/JonathanChateauAuthor
Instagram.com/jchateau
He has completed five novels, Nightmares in Analog, The Death Wish Game, Faith Against the Wolves, and Faith Against the Angels. His fifth book, The Sprawling, is slated for release next year.
When Jonathan's not writing, he's working out, painting table-top miniatures like those from Warhammer or the Walking Dead, playing way-too-many video games, eating spicy food, jamming out to Emo & EDM, or spending time with his family, friends and his spoiled cats, Boo (the Dork) & Luna (the Princess.)
He lives in Tampa, Florida and loves hearing from his readers, so stop by and say hello:
JChateau.com
Facebook.com/JonathanChateauAuthor
Instagram.com/jchateau
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 17, 2021
Bryan is haunted by the ghost of his deceased wife. He cheated on her with his boss Karmela. Sirena, his wife, committed suicide. Is she really dead? When the mall, Bryan has his videogame store in, is attacked by strange creatures the situation becomes very strange and uncanny. Is there any connection to Sirena? Again the author comes up with a masterly told innovative horror tale. This time the novella got a tad too long for my taste. Nevertheless extremely eerie and fast paced. Really recommended!
May 2, 2015
I received this book as part of a giveaway and was able to fly through the short read. There was very little time to catch your breath, because there was a lot of action packed into the novella.
Based on the book description, I was surprised with the direction the story took. I was not expecting the science fiction, but enjoyed it.
It's tough to give characters depth in so few pages, but Chateau does a nice job with the lead character. I hope in his future work we get more content and detail about supporting characters.
I will definitely keep an eye out for future work from JC.
Based on the book description, I was surprised with the direction the story took. I was not expecting the science fiction, but enjoyed it.
It's tough to give characters depth in so few pages, but Chateau does a nice job with the lead character. I hope in his future work we get more content and detail about supporting characters.
I will definitely keep an eye out for future work from JC.
September 6, 2020
Wow. All I can say is thank gawd this book was only 90 pages.
It was seriously bad.
Jellyfish like species with long tentacles lights etc attack a few people in a mall, meanwhile a cheating husband drives his wife to drive into the ocean where these creatures are from.
It was seriously bad.
Jellyfish like species with long tentacles lights etc attack a few people in a mall, meanwhile a cheating husband drives his wife to drive into the ocean where these creatures are from.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2017
Interesting read
The book was a good read for a short story. I have met with the author on many occasions and find the story flows in the same way as his personality. There are some minor grammar issues, but all in all well done. Looking forward to reading some of his other works.
The book was a good read for a short story. I have met with the author on many occasions and find the story flows in the same way as his personality. There are some minor grammar issues, but all in all well done. Looking forward to reading some of his other works.
July 26, 2017
The Saltwater Marathon by Jonathan Chateau was a good read. Bryan finds himself full of guilt due to cheating on his wife. His wife disappeared into the ocean and her body hadn't been recovered. Bryan drinks his guilt away until one day everything changes. He woke up out of a drunken stupor to strangers at his office door. I enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to read more by Jonathan Chateau.
August 14, 2021
Thanks for this story.
At first I wasn't sure that I would like this story, it skipped very quickly over the past, and you didn't quite connect with the main character. When the story really became enjoyable was when the action started, I found myself becoming invested without fully realising. I enjoyed this story, and the ending wasn't predictable, although you knew some of what would happen.
At first I wasn't sure that I would like this story, it skipped very quickly over the past, and you didn't quite connect with the main character. When the story really became enjoyable was when the action started, I found myself becoming invested without fully realising. I enjoyed this story, and the ending wasn't predictable, although you knew some of what would happen.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews