Strange Suspense Stories #28

A young artist and his girlfriend discover a haunting unsigned painting at an antique shop, but what begins as casual fascination takes a sinister turn when the handsome figure depicted within seems to come alive—emerging into the real world to court Linda and taunt Paul with an otherworldly laugh. As reality blurs between the studio and the canvas, Paul must confront the impossible truth behind the painting and the centuries-old secret of the man who refuses to let Linda go.

Ted Nelson is a struggling watch salesman until he saves a drowning man—a mysterious fortune teller named Raj Poppeno—who rewards him with a peculiar doll crafted in Ted's own likeness. Following Raj's instructions to keep the doll close and observe it daily, Ted's sales mysteriously skyrocket, and success seems within reach at last. But when Ted's ambition grows darker and he demands more dolls to dominate the market, Raj takes matters into his own hands, setting off a strange chain of events that forces Ted to confront what the doll truly means.

Fred Mason, an engineer on vacation, falls asleep aboard a replica pirate ship during a town celebration—only to wake up in the midst of real pirate action with Captain Kidd and his crew. Caught up in a swashbuckling adventure on the high seas, Fred finds himself drawn to Lady Annabella, a captive aboard the vessel, as the ship faces an overwhelming attack from a rival pirate fleet. What begins as a vivid dream blur becomes increasingly real, and Fred must grapple with feelings for a woman from another time while danger closes in around them.