38 Comments
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Bob Graham's avatar

One of your creepiest ones, which is saying something. Totally unnerved by the end, and then when I read EJ's after I nearly jumped with excitement at how they tied together. Love it so much when you two work together.

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Thanks, Bob! I do love creeping people out! 🖤

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Will Boucher's avatar

Love how these two pieces feed off each other and weave together. The imagery of Pee-wee with all this blood makes it extra creepy

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Thanks, Will! It was a fun process. A lot of the themes came about organically. Like, “Oh wait, your story does that too?” haha

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Will Boucher's avatar

It was a very organic read for sure

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EJ Trask's avatar

oh Julie! your new life is so close!!!

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Hanna Delaney's avatar

A very clever collaboration. Well done. I wanted to see more of the Elk, but this was all very satisfying and I could feel the silence and the tension.

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Thank you, Hanna! 🖤

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Keith Long's avatar

Excellent. This dual story thing is so cool and done perfectly complimentary

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Thank you, Keith! The collab felt good!

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Artemis's avatar

Absolutely loved this. Such a creepy story and the imagery was vivid and unique.

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Thank you so much! 🖤

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Author Michele Bardsley's avatar

Loved it!!!

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

🖤!!!!

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Shane Bzdok's avatar

Oh man, this was a doozy, Sean. When Beth pulled her into that closet, I was like, "Ah, hell naw! No way, uh-uh, don't do it! Don't you go in that closet, Julie!!"

But in all seriousness, this was super creepy, with some really nice subtle bits that gave me the chills. Your pacing on things like the bloody reflection in the mirror is so well done. Awesome work.

Okay, now for EJ's piece.

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Thank you Shane--high praise! Also, EJ's story is gonna make you flip. It's sooo good.

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troy adkins's avatar

this was marvelous. loved the motifs and queer undertones in both stories. the ending was enrapturing

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Thank you, troy! The queer undertones were actually not planned. I love that it just sort of happened that way.

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Nick Buchheit's avatar

Dang. That’s a creepy closet. Now I have to go read the other. Great work.

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Thanks for reading, Nick! EJ’s story is sooo good.

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Nick Winney's avatar

this made me go creepychills cos i wrote about a hidden door behind wallpaper and this is so similar its freekin me out.... the as yet unfinished prequell to The Widower...

amazing stories the pair of you... 😬😬😬😬

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Ohh dark minds think alike haha

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Nick Winney's avatar

here's a snippet… you can see why i got a shiver…

“She stared for a while, rubbing sleep from her eyes, but couldn't make sense of it. She stumbled crossing the unfamiliar room and eventually her flapping hand found the pull string light under the medicine cabinet. She ran a glass of water, but had to turn off the cabinet light before she could see the strange glow. Reaching out her hand, she realised it wasn't something shining onto the wall, it was coming from inside the wall, from behind the textured wallpaper. A thin line like the top of a door. She tapped the wall; there was a hollow wooden sound. It must be an old doorway into the kitchen she thought, but when she went out of her bedroom, expecting her dad to have left the kitchen light on again, the house was dark. Huffing, she went back to bed and dragged the covers over her head. “

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Whoa! Love it!

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Nick Winney's avatar

absolutely! the door is the one with the glowing inlaid silver in my weather reports story...

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Matthew Alexander’s Logorrhea's avatar

The collaborative is brilliant! It sounds fun to work on as well.

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Thank you, Matthew! 🖤 Sooo much fun!

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Saint-Lazare's avatar

Superb atmosphere, Beth is such a charismatic character. The two stories are fascinating to read together, perfect syncing of horror mood.

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Thank you! 🖤 I’m happy you liked them!

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Sandy Shaller's avatar

Shony, I love your contribution to the saga of "Chasm." I wrote to E.J. Trask about the first part and how much I like it and its descent into corruption. Your companion piece fit right in to the themes that the first part of the story established, and it did it in a wholy original way - in the incredible and unforgettable Shony Style. The ending, which feels as if it is leading to madness for your protagonist is outstanding. Too bad there isn't a third part written in a collobaatrion between you and E.J.

I can see this as a movie with a little more character develoopment and a dynamite, enigmatic ending. Bravo, kiddo!

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Ohh I’d love to see a theatrical release! :) Thank you, Sandy! 🖤🖤

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Sandy Shaller's avatar

Can't you imagine it? I can.

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Liz Zimmers's avatar

Tremendous! I'm off to read Part 2!

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

🖤 EJ’s piece is stellar!

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Liz Zimmers's avatar

It is. Both pieces are stellar! This was a fabulous collaboration. You guys rock!

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Garen Marie's avatar

I read this on the edge of my seat. Incredible tension.

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