68 Comments
User's avatar
Jon T's avatar

Great Collab - I love how things come together and then come undone. Very good format for your complimentary skills both. Now do one out at sea!

EJ Trask's avatar

watch out, you will absolutely inspire something

Author Michele Bardsley's avatar

I love this. But also, I do not want to go camping. Ever.

Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Thanks, Michele! I don't want to go camping either! But mostly because I don't like bugs. haha

Author Michele Bardsley's avatar

The woods have all the nature. I don't even like going out into my backyard, Sean.

Nick Winney's avatar

not in the woods. no. and there aint even wolves or bears in england

Liz Zimmers's avatar

Great collaboration! Both characters and storylines were riveting. I knew they would converge, but never predicted how! Loved it!

Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

❤️ Thank you, Liz!

Will Boucher's avatar

Damn, I was going to go hiking this weekend but I think I'll pass. I wa son the edge of the whole time. I knew someone was going to die but couldn't guess until the twist!

Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

You had a 50/50 shot! haha (although, we did consider death for all)

William Pauley III's avatar

Humans will always be the scariest creatures in the woods. Excellent story! Now you've got me in the Halloween spirit. 🎃

Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

When we first started out there was going to be a demon in the woods inciting them, but we decided humans didn't need that to be wild.

Nick Winney's avatar

demons already built in, arent they...

William Pauley III's avatar

Excellent choice. 👌

A.P. Murphy's avatar

Absolutely correct, though having said that I'm working on one with a potential but not 100% sure demon right now. Coming soon.

Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

I love demon stuff. My story Apple Snake has one (in a forest to boot).

A.P. Murphy's avatar

Reminds me of the old days hiking through the woods, just me, my pack and my trusty wakizashi.

Wonderful stuff, fellas! Excellent work. May I venture a guess that EJ did the Ken bits and Seany the Tori bits? Or is that not cricket?

Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Thanks, Murph! We're both big fans and appreciate the compliment! I was Ken's puppeteer, EJ animated Tori. 💀

A.P. Murphy's avatar

How about getting that completely wrong then? Just goes to show... er, something.

EJ Trask's avatar

I am super intrigued by that!

Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

I like that you got that wrong. If I can be mistaken for EJ I know I must be doing something right. ❤️

Miguel S. | The Fiction Dealer's avatar

Finally got around to reading this 🤩 awesome stuff guys! The dual narrative was a lot of fun.

Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Yay! Thanks, Miguel!

Linda Cardillo's avatar

Nothing like killing someone to bring your life into focus. Another on the edge of my seat thriller!

Carolyn Bedgood's avatar

Nothing scares me more than woods horror and I love nothing more than woods horror. 10/10, would read again while camping and scare the living shit out of myself.

Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Yay! Thanks for the lovely comment! ❤️

Nick Buchheit's avatar

A great read for this time of year. As a lover of the woods and camping, I love how you’ve made me question about going back out there! At least for the moment.

Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

haha sorry we ruined camping for a moment. Appreciate you reading our story! ❤️

Bette Perkins's avatar

These two as a team are seamless

Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Thank you for these comments, Bette! It means a lot to us! ❤️

Bette Perkins's avatar

maybe. Or maybe it’s because people want something big to happen–something to cut through the nothingness” Ken’s obsession and reason in one sentence

Bette Perkins's avatar

She noticed the pristine beauty of the clearing for the first time. The soft white moon, the crunchy pine needles, the ancient trees that smelled like Christmas. BEAUTY IN HORROR!!!

Sean Archer's avatar

Great stuff y’all! Spooky!

Jessica Renz's avatar

But what was Ken going to do!? Does Tori share this with the YMCA group? Loved this collab. Fun and terrifying stuff.

EJ Trask's avatar

hahaha Tori goes back to the camping debrief and she’s like “I killed a guy, how was yalls trip?”

Sandy Stuart Shaller's avatar

I read this story and loved it. I had intended to read half and get back to my own writing. NO WAY! I had to finish it. READ IT, you'll be happy and satisfied.

Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Thank you, Sandy! ❤️ ✨