28 Comments
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Liz Zimmers's avatar

Cooked differently…I’m screaming inside! This was a subtle little infiltrator, and now it’s in my head. How am I supposed to sleep tonight?

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

It is unsettling haha

Kids are creepy to begin with. I love them, but they can be creepy.

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William Pauley III's avatar

Oh man, I love this so much! I love how subtle the weirdness is here. It sort of creeps in little by little, then ramps up quickly right there at the end. Perfection.

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Thanks! You've inspired me to go back and look at some of my stranger tales for inspo. ❤️

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William Pauley III's avatar

I'd love to read them!

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Ika Wright's avatar

Wow, this was good weird. I like it. Had to google spider crabs, all I know is that coconut crab which tastes good. Looks creepy these crabs. But this fic kinda feels like a twilight zone episode

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Ika, interestingly, I was reading Stolen kiss when I got the notification that you commented on my story. We must be on the same wavelength! I really enjoyed your poem/story.

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Ika Wright's avatar

Result of brain on sleep fasting. Thank you.

It was because I was creeped out by the obsessive stalker fans they had in South Korea. Don't want such around me for sure.

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

It's a really interesting topic. I need to write a horror poem for a contest. Maybe I should create something around that..

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Ika Wright's avatar

Also good luck on the contest!

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Thank you!

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Ika Wright's avatar

If you search for it you will find creepy stories that will make most stalkers envious

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Hanna Delaney's avatar

Not the spider crab! There's a large one in our local museum and I've been scared of it since 1998.

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

They're wild looking. :scream:

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Bridget Riley's avatar

I love this! Very creepy (but also funny in places), and you do a great job of maintaining the mystery!

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Thank you, Bridget! <3

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Daniel Barber's avatar

Damn, I'm dying to get some more of this. I love that you leave so much to the imagination with the creature... but still manage to paint such a clear picture of it in my head. And the connection between the eyes and the peas changing colour is so damn cool. Love this!

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Thank you, Daniel! That means a lot to me. <3

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Honeygloom's avatar

That is so weird! And what!? The ending is killer, too. I hope this creature makes it into a longer story someday🤞

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

haha I love this reaction so much! Well, I guess now I need to bring the creature back. *whistles

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Honeygloom's avatar

Can’t wait for morning!

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EJ Trask's avatar

this is so scary! i want more crab monster.

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Look under your bed tonight! ;)

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Will Boucher's avatar

Just ran to the bathroom to look in the mirror to make sure my eye color didn't change...

Fantastic as always. Love the "the Laura who cried switcher" vibe.

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Thanks for reading, Will! :)

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daisy cashin's avatar

what an ending man

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Thanks, Daisy!

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Dusty Hope's avatar

do something called free writing. where let the birds out of the cage flapping yapping and tippy tapping. and I really found its helpful to automaton -- in order to come across the unexpected. and it gave me freedom to expose things I didnt even know were there, to create a way through well for me nonsense rhyme am closer to CS Lewis in some ways, still agve a way into speaking to them -- this is interesting you bring in the mysterious creature -- is it going kafka or the alien...

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