Stone from HELL: An 'Apollo Illusion' Short Story

by Shari Lopatin

NOTE TO READERS: This is a short story offshoot of Shari Lopatin’s debut novel, “The Apollo Illusion,” about one of the book’s supporting characters.

WHAT MAKES A MONSTER?
When Stone’s younger brother tears into his world midsummer 2131, Stone is sure his life is over. With every penny going to care for his brother, Stone can no longer save for college, dooming him to a life of economic slavery in the desert inferno of Sector 1.

After a random ice-cream trip one night, tragedy strikes, turning Stone’s life upside down. Thrust into a sudden reality filled with his worst fears, Stone harnesses his desperation to survive. But in the process, will he drive away the one thing he loves most?

If you liked the world of The Apollo Illusion and are dying for more, you’ll get your fix with “Stone from HELL.” It is the backstory of notorious hacker Stone’s creation, of the birth of his frightening hacking collective HELL, and of society’s dark forces that turn the best of us into the demons we fear at night.

24 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 3, 2018

About the author

Shari Lopatin writes stories that matter. An award-winning journalist in her earlier years, she now writes novels that tie into modern-day social issues, serialized fiction, short stories, personal and political essays, and poetry. Over the course of her seventeen-plus year career, Shari has worked as a newspaper reporter, magazine writer, public relations professional, social media manager, and earned the title of “Cat Mom of the Year.” She published her debut novel, The Apollo Illusion, in 2018 and lives in Phoenix, Arizona, where she was born and raised. Read more of Shari's work and be the first to learn about new books by signing up for Shari’s newsletter as either a free or paid subscriber: sharilopatin.substack.com.