Fiona Matney, a woman who, after losing her puppy, discovers a mysterious app that opens a portal to a hidden realm where frequencies and energies transcend life and death--- forcing her to confront both her grief and a painful betrayal from her past.
Fiona Matney, a woman who, after losing her puppy, discovers a mysterious app that opens a portal to a hidden realm where frequencies and energies transcend life and death--- forcing her to confront both her grief and a painful betrayal from her past.
Fiona opened the door of her apartment. The home smelled like kibble and old tennis balls—like him. Fiona’s hand trembled against the doorknob. She’d sworn she was ready, but now... God, the absence hit like a punch. No paws. No breathless welcome. Just the echo of a wagging tail that would never greet her again.
The thought felt surreal. Ace had only been hers for eight months. He didn't even get a chance at life. Her mind drifted back to the day she'd brought him home.
Fiona was shopping with her sister, Terinda, when a high-pitched yip made her freeze. Peering around the corner, she spotted them. A huddle of scruffy puppies, their wide eyes gleaming in the dim alley light. The pups were a Chihuahua-Jack Terrier mix, each one more adorable than the last. Terinda had fallen for the runt, a tiny ball of fur she'd nicknamed Bean, but Ace had stolen Fiona’s heart.
He was the bold one, scrambling to the edge of the box, tail wagging and barking as if already claiming her. She didn't hesitate. Handing the cash to the man, she and Terinda carried their new companions home.
Ace had been everything she'd dreamed of in a dog—playful, brimming with energy, and endlessly curious. His white fur seemed to glow in the sunlight, and his mischievous eyes never failed to make her smile. He reminded her of Grandpa's old dog, Tinker, a lively companion who had brightened her childhood.
But the vibrant puppy she adored began to fade. At first, Ace simply seemed tired, sleeping more than usual. Then he stopped eating, and his trips to the bathroom became infrequent. The growing dread in Fiona's heart pushed her to the vet, where her worst fears were confirmed: Ace was anemic.
"He'll need a blood transfusion," the vet had said, the words heavy with warning. "It'll cost three thousand dollars, and even then, there's no guarantee he'll survive the procedure."
Fiona hadn't cared about the risks or the expense. Ace was family. She agreed to the payment plan without hesitation, determined to do everything she could to save him.
Today was the day. Fiona had taken Ace in for his transfusion, clinging to a fragile hope that he might pull through. But his tiny body had been too weak and frail. He didn't survive the procedure.
Now, the apartment felt emptier than ever. Fiona buried her face in her hands, grief pressing down on her chest like a weight she couldn't lift.
Life is so unfair, she thought bitterly.
Setting Ace's doggy bed carefully on the floor, Fiona reached for her phone, desperate for a distraction. The sharp ache of guilt gnawed at her—had she failed him? Could she have done more? She shook her head, trying to push the thoughts away as she dialed her workplace. The line rang three times before her boss picked up.
Fiona's apartment was as unassuming as she was. Her tattered couch, a hand-me-down from her sister, bore the marks of Ace's playful claws—tiny holes punctuating the black leather. The coffee table and end tables had been gifts from her mom, and not a single piece of furniture was new. She liked it that way.
Her appearance was equally simple. She kept her black hair tied in a low ponytail, never bothering with elaborate styles, and her glasses were black square frames—nothing designer. Modesty was a value she lived by, and Ace had been her one splurge. The $300 she spent on him was the most she'd ever shelled out.
But now, as she sat in her quiet apartment, anger bubbled beneath the grief. Not at the man who sold her the puppy without warning her about genetic anemia—it wasn't his fault. No, she was angry at herself.
If I’d dug deeper into his past, could I have stopped this?
"Hello," came the familiar voice on the other end.
Fiona took a deep breath. She liked her boss, Edward, who was kind and understanding—especially since he was a dog lover. Asking for a few more days off didn't feel like such a burden with him.
"Edward, hi. It’s me, Fiona," she said, her voice trembling.
"I know. I've got your number saved. How did the procedure go?"
The lump in her throat swelled, and she couldn't stop it from spilling into her voice. "He didn't make it."
"Oh no!" Edward's response was instant, his voice thick with genuine concern. "I'm so sorry, hun. He was such a spirited little guy."
Fiona's mind drifted to when she took Ace to the store. He'd dart around her and Edward, barking insistently as though determined to be part of every conversation. His excitement was contagious, and she couldn't help but laugh at his antics.
"Yeah," she said softly, snapping back to the present. "Listen, I know I'm supposed to come in tomorrow, but... do you think you could get my shift covered? This has hit me harder than I expected."
"Oh, of course, take all the time you need," Edward said instantly. "I'll figure it out. I can't even imagine if I lost Moose..." His voice trailed off. Moose, his golden Labrador retriever, was his pride and joy. "I'll check with Marcus to cover your shifts. He's always asking for extra hours."
"Thank you, Ed. I appreciate it," Fiona said, her voice steadying a little.
"It's the least I can do," he replied warmly. "Honestly, it’s a shame the company doesn't offer bereavement for our furry friends. But if Marcus can't take the shifts, I’ll cover for you myself. We’re all in your corner, Fiona."
Tears pooled in her eyes. "Thank you so much. I'll try to pull myself together quickly."
"Don’t rush it," Edward said gently. "It's going to hurt, and there's nothing worse than feeling helpless in a situation like this. Take all the time you need."
"Thanks again, Ed."
"Just focus on letting your heart heal, okay?"
"I will," she whispered before hanging up.
As she hung up the phone, Fiona felt a crushing loneliness settle over her. The silence in her apartment was deafening. She glanced down at her phone, the screen still glowing, and opened the app store. She needed something... anything... to distract herself from the ache of losing Ace.
As she scrolled through the options, one app caught her eye. Its name was unfamiliar, and its description was intriguingly vague:
"Is there someone you're missing?"
Intrigued, Fiona tapped Install. The app downloaded in seconds, almost unnervingly fast. When she opened it, a simple welcome screen greeted her:
Hello, welcome to Obournion. Please tell us about yourself.
A blank field waited for her input. Hesitantly, she typed: Fiona Matney.
The screen flashed, transitioning to another prompt: Hello, Fiona Matney. We tend not to use last names here. Do you prefer that we call you Fiona?
A small box appeared beneath the question, waiting for her reply. Interesting, she thought, her curiosity growing. She typed: Yes.
The screen flickered, confirming her response before displaying the next question: Please tell us, Fiona... is there someone you are missing?
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard as she thought of Ace. Slowly, she typed his name, then quickly erased it.
This is crazy, she told herself.
She knew apps like this often requested access to photo libraries. The last thing she needed was a flood of pictures reminding her of failure. Too many snapshots of Ace and his curious eyes, wagging tail, and glowing fur still lingered on her phone.
Her thoughts shifted to her grandpa, JC, and his lively Chihuahua, Tinker. Both were long gone, memories tucked safely away. Unlike Ace, her new phone doesn’t have any photos of him. Probably the best reason she could come up with. The app won't be able to dig up any images if there aren't any.
After a brief pause, Fiona typed: JC Chasteen.
The screen dimmed for a moment before a different prompt appeared: Allow Obournion to access your photo and video library?
Knew it, Fiona thought bitterly. She rolled her eyes, certain the app was just another gimmick designed to dredge up old memories. Still, with no photos of her grandpa or Tinker stored on this phone, it seemed harmless enough to hit: Allow.
The screen went dark once more before a new disclaimer appeared: Obournion uses augmented reality to display what you choose to see based on your answers. By clicking "Agree," you consent to release Obournion from liability for anything that may occur from this point forward.
This is... strange, she thought, her curiosity outweighing her hesitation. She tapped Agree.
The screen faded again before another message appeared: You’re ready to begin. Hold your phone up and look for the portal.
Seconds later, her phone switched to camera mode on its own. Fiona blinked in surprise.
"Huh," she muttered to herself. "That's... new."
Fiona held up her phone, the camera lens capturing her surroundings. She stood and slowly turned in a small circle, scanning her apartment. Everything appeared exactly as it should be; the couch, coffee table, and end tables were in their usual places. Her high school graduation photo hung on the wall beside her diploma, and the TV sat silent and off. Nothing was out of the ordinary.
"This is lame," she said aloud, unbothered by the sound of her voice filling the empty room. "Maybe the app's broken."
But as her camera passed over the front door, there was something that wasn’t there before. Ordinarily, it was just a simple brass door, identical to all the others in her building. But through the camera lens, a faint shimmer danced around the knob, subtle but undeniable. Lowering the phone, Fiona squinted at the knob directly. Nothing. Raising the phone again, the shimmering light reappeared. Curiosity piqued, she stepped toward the door and turned the handle.
As the door swung open, Fiona's breath hitched. Through the camera, her screen revealed a stunning scene—a sunlit beach with swaying palm trees and waves crashing against rugged rocks. It was vibrant and impossibly surreal.
Lowering the phone, she looked at the space directly. The hallway stood unchanged, her neighbor’s door facing hers, the potted plant faithfully guarding her welcome mat, every detail preserved as if time had agreed to stand still.
A faint melody reached her ears, so soft she wasn't sure if it was real or imagined. Was it playing in the background, or just in her mind? The song was familiar—a track she hadn't thought of in years. She hadn't heard it since her grandpa's passing. It was from his favorite singer, Tina Turner.
The haunting melody of "We Don't Need Another Hero" filled her ears, sending a chill down her spine.
Holding her phone up again, she stared at the shimmering beach on the screen. Waves crashed. Palm trees swayed. And then, just beyond the shoreline, she saw him.
Her grandpa, JC, walked away from her, looking exactly as she remembered him.
There he was—JC. He wore his signature bucket hat, a gray shirt, and his usual blue jeans.
Fiona felt her chest tighten. It was him. JC had always been stout, with a build that reminded people of a bear. Though he'd been just 5'6", his strength was legendary.
Fiona remembered his tales of constructing the Hollywood Bowl, how he’d hoist heavy lights by hand while others scrambled for forklifts, as if gravity didn’t apply to him. His powerful arms had always left an impression, as did the way strangers marveled at his bear-like presence.
It was him. It was really him.
Her heart pounded as disbelief mingled with hope. The music continued to play softly, pulling her forward.
Without thinking, Fiona stepped through the door...
DJ Campbell's gripping novel, Obournion, is one to recall that skilfully weaves together loss, betrayal, and personal discovery. Fiona Matney's world is forever changed when she downloads a mysterious app, unknowingly opening a portal into a world where the boundaries between life and death are blurred. This powerful and unsettling world forces Fiona to confront the darkest corners of her own past while decoding the intricate web of her feelings.
Right from the start, Obournion puts the reader firmly in the midst of Fiona's raw, despairing grief over the loss of her beloved puppy. When she falls into despair, the mysterious app offers a tempting sanctuary – a chance to sift through her emotions in a world where time and death are differently framed. This is a nicely developed concept and a good-looking one with some sharp passages describing the eerie but engrossing world that Fiona enters.
Nevertheless, Obournion stands out in its sensitive handling of human relationships and the weight of old hurts. As Fiona becomes deeper entrenched in the secret world, she learns of a breath-taking treachery that rankles deep in her brain. The writer tackles this sensitive topic with admirable care, producing a natural and truthful evolution of Fiona's emotional process.
With Fiona's battles, Campbell skilfully delineates the fine balance between healing and pain, light and darkness. The supporting characters, even though they are not innumerable, are competently sketched and serve as catalysts for Fiona's growth. Her interactions with them, particularly with an unidentified individual named not at all but "The Keeper," bring about an otherworldly atmosphere and feel of enchantment to the narrative.
The writing itself is great, the vivid descriptions that are so good at capturing the otherworldly, life-altering nature of Fiona's visions. Campbell's pacing is excellent, bringing a gripping, near-unstoppable narrative that has no trouble moving from the mundane ache of grieving to the dreamlike, otherworldly setting of the hidden world.
In conclusion, Obournion is a remarkable, thought-provoking novel that deftly balances suspense, emotional depth, and philosophical introspection. DJ Campbell's daring storytelling and Fiona Matney's unforgettable journey make this a must-read for anyone seeking a compelling, impactful tale that will linger long after the final page is turned.