When I was in high school, I read a short story by Ambrose Bierce, "The Damned Thing." Published in 1893, Bierce's story wondered, "What is the scariest thing you can imagine?"
Eeuuwww! Invisible zombies?! Creep-city. I loved this little insertion of levity: "Faux monsters fatally bit people, who then wiped off the stage blood and took a lunch break." I don't usually read this genre, but if it is Bill Adler, I will give the benefit of the doubt. Maybe...
I dabble in horror now and then, but I try to give my stories a twist or two. We're all afraid of something (or for me, many things.) It's fun to explore these fears with literature.
The scariest thing isn’t that the zombie was invisible. It’s that the zombie was invisible AND seemed to have silently waited before attacking someone. How long had it been in the room before James got chomped? Chilling!
Interesting. It would appear that the zombies evolved in two ways. First, the ability to become invisible. Second, and I believe it to be more important though you didn’t mention it: patience. How long had the invisible zombie been in the vault with them before deciding to attack? They’re getting smart and they’re learning.
When I was in high school, I read a short story by Ambrose Bierce, "The Damned Thing." Published in 1893, Bierce's story wondered, "What is the scariest thing you can imagine?"
That question has haunted me for decades.
Eeuuwww! Invisible zombies?! Creep-city. I loved this little insertion of levity: "Faux monsters fatally bit people, who then wiped off the stage blood and took a lunch break." I don't usually read this genre, but if it is Bill Adler, I will give the benefit of the doubt. Maybe...
I dabble in horror now and then, but I try to give my stories a twist or two. We're all afraid of something (or for me, many things.) It's fun to explore these fears with literature.
I'm glad you enjoyed The Vault.
Good story, Bill! I see a potential screen play here. Seriously. 😊
P.S. Surf on over to my publication, to Claire’s New Years adventure. There’s a surprise inside. 😉
Thank you for the dedication on your Substack page, Jenise.
I would love to see The Vault go places.
Keep your readers posted!
Definitely!
The scariest thing isn’t that the zombie was invisible. It’s that the zombie was invisible AND seemed to have silently waited before attacking someone. How long had it been in the room before James got chomped? Chilling!
Exactly. That zombie is even scarier because it's more than just invisible.
Arjun should have stayed in the forest.
Interesting. It would appear that the zombies evolved in two ways. First, the ability to become invisible. Second, and I believe it to be more important though you didn’t mention it: patience. How long had the invisible zombie been in the vault with them before deciding to attack? They’re getting smart and they’re learning.
Exactly. How did the zombie get in the vault? That's the important question left unanswered, and another terrifying one, too.
Wow! Gripping story today!
Thanks, Jason. My hands were trembling after I finished writing this story.
I'm sure there are scarier creatures out there, but I don't want to conjure them.
There are Fallen Angels in many forms everywhere on this Earth. We are not alone.