$1.99
Below Ground by Ash Ericmore
Carrie is night security at a facility that does God-only-knows what. Her husband is an arsehole. Her kid misses her.
And now she’s all alone.
These things have come from somewhere, and she’s trapped, and alone. And scared. All Hell has broken loose on the surface, and she doesn’t know if she’s the last one left.
She doesn’t know how long the facility will last. How long the lights will stay on. How long she can stave off those things…
United StatesWOW
Carrie works security at an underground facility; she has no idea what they do there. Her child wants her home more, and she is having major marital issues. Something horrible has happened on the surface, and she isn't sure exactly what it is. What she does know is that she is alone and scared. These things are roaming around outside. How soon before they try to get in? How long will she be trapped down there? Are there other survivors on the surface? Will she survive long enough to get answers? This story was phenomenal. Like, holy sh*t, what a buildup! Intense, claustrophobic, and heartbreaking. The ending is just wow. WOW. Outstanding. An absolute must-read. 5 severed fingers out of 5
United Statespsychological horror on point!
Another amazing read from Ash! Not so much of his usual splatter gore, but so good! This short will have you feeling some hard feelings along with the protagonist. She’s safe. Alone, trapped, but safe. As you follow her through her spiraling journey, you’ll feel the weight of her predicament pressing down. There’s no easy way out, but there is a simple one. What would you do, faced with the end of your own reality?
United StatesEpicmore for the win.
This lil story was creepy af, gave me claustrophobia I didn’t even know I had. Just all around uncomfortable. Oh and that ending, wtf! Bravo Ash!
United KingdomOne Person's Apocalypse
I read this little story in what no time. Engaging and emotional, we follow protagonist Carrie as she lives her (FNAF-like?) security job - when the apocalypse seems to happen outside. This is her tale, trapped in her bunker, worried about her son and what's going on in the world. This is a microcosm of '10 Cloverfield Lane'. One woman, slowly deteriorating in isolation, but written so well that we can't help but empathise with her. What would we do in such a situation? The story doesn't outstay its welcome, either, heading for a natural conclusion... or so it seems. That ending! It could do with another proofreading pass, but that didn't detract from the 'action'. A sad but lovely tale.