WRITING IN THE SHADOWS

Hey everyone,

It's been a busy week or two for me with school author visits, but I'm back at my writing desk now. I've had a great time, worked with some amazing young people in the creative writing workshops, and met some brilliant teachers. I love what I do for a living!

I've got a story for paid members today. If you haven't got a paid subscription and you want to read the whole story you can sign up below to get access.

This one starts off like it's going to be a horror story, but it isn't. Keep reading, I think you'll like it.

FallDeep

Lucy pulled the trigger on the shotgun and the dreadite exploded in a shower of guts and flesh and bone. Quickly ejecting the two spent shells she then slid two more in the chamber and pumped the shotgun to prime it.

‘This way!’ Mr Digits shouted, leaping over a porter’s cage and scampering down the hospital corridor. He screeched with delight and performed a couple of somersaults as he ran. The others followed the chimpanzee as he led them to safety.

Lucy remained standing right where she was, shotgun aimed at the advancing dreadites.

The dreadites were an unholy combination of human and spider. Their humanoid shaped bodies were held aloft by the long, thin spindly legs that had erupted from their torsos. Their bodies were covered in dark brown bristles, and their eyes glowed red with hunger and hate. If a dreadite managed to pin you to the floor with its six legs, it then lowered itself until it was close enough that it could start eating you.

The nearest dreadite opened its mouth to reveal rows of sharp, pointed fangs dripping with saliva. Each drop of saliva sizzled and steamed and burnt a hole in the floor.

Lucy squeezed the trigger and let loose another explosion of shrapnel. The blast blew a hole right through the dreadite’s stomach. For a moment it simply stood there, almost looking surprised, and then it collapsed to the floor, legs splayed out everywhere.

More of the monsters gathered behind the corpse and stared balefully at Lucy.

Lucy reached for more shotgun pellets.

None left, she’d run out.

Lucy turned and ran.

Writing in the Shadows is a reader supported publication.

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