Publisher's Synopsis
The story begins in 1863 deep in the swamps of Baton Rouge Louisiana, on a plantation owned by Master Harold Johnston. He has a wife by the name of Ellen and a daughter Sarah, whom he treated nearly as cruel as he did his slaves. Master Johnston liked living far away from any cities or towns, because he enjoyed having complete control over everyone and everything around him. But learning the war had ended and the slaves had been freed his true cruelty was about to be seen. With his anger aroused Master Johnston retreated into the house and soon returns with pistols and rifles. Toby, his foreman wasn't a smart man and all he ever knew how to do was follow orders, so taking a weapon he set out to help Master Johnston kill every slave on the plantation. One by one they kicked open the slave's doors and shot them on sight, however one would slip away unharmed and make his way up to the plantation home to exact some revenge of his own. Sugar, the only surviving slave slipped into the Manson and killed Master Johnston's family, and once Master Johnston realized Sugar wasn't amongst the dead he ran up to the Manson to stop him. However arriving too late to save his family he found Sugar upstairs, where after a lengthy struggle between them sent them down the staircase to their deaths. Having a cold cruel heart Master Johnston's evil spirit kept all the souls trapped on the plantation, not just from his time but anyone over the years that tried to live in the tainted home. With the plantation taking to many lives the house couldn't be sold and after years of sitting silent the land reclaimed the Manson making it truly isolated from humanity. That is until four friends steal a barrel raft and get trapped in the swamps, where they finally happen upon the Manson after walking for days through the mud and muck. Believing they'd found their salvation they would soon learn they'd only found hell on earth with no escape.
