19 Comments
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A.M. Blackmere | Author's avatar

Gary, this was gripping from the very first line. I love how you blended the intimate, everyday details—the hum of the fridge, the feel of linoleum underfoot—with this overwhelming sense of dread and loss of control. It made the horror feel so real and close. I’m really enjoying your work! please keep sharing more of these stories.

Gary Mucklow's avatar

Thank you so much, I am glad you enjoyed it.

Sylvienne Ethara's avatar

Amazing! Absolutely! I think you have one of the most cinematically layered writings I have read in a long time. This was so good. Thank you! Keep writing, it’s powerful.

Gary Mucklow's avatar

Thank you Sylvienne, I very much appreciate your comment.

In this one I tried two new things for me: first person POV as I felt it increased the claustrophobia Thomas must have felt within his own mind, and writing in media res.

Sylvienne Ethara's avatar

Yes, a prisoner in his own mind. He was there, but had no control. The bird in the cage is a very poignant way to describe his state inside of himself, being controlled by something else entirely. Watching it transpire. This is how it feels to people with mental disorders. They are prisoners, and they want to get better. To put the voices to rest and just be themselves, however, many times they medicate or overmedicate and become addicts to drown it out. Then the addiction compounds the situation, and they are then a shell of what they once were completely. Truly amazing. Many people can see themselves in this. You honestly will resonate with many people with this. Because you can add anything holding you back into this place. That is its superpower.

Gary Mucklow's avatar

Thank you very much for your insightful comment. I hope it does resonate. I like to try to get into characters’ heads, explore facets I don't have first hand experience with, try to convey my interpretation.

Sylvienne Ethara's avatar

You do it well. I call it an immersive writer. I can do it too. Once I am there, I can smell , hear, feel, taste and surround myself with them and then make it resonate on paper.

Charlotte Balladine's avatar

Brilliant use of imagery, what a piece! 👏👏

typo's avatar

Great concept, very well executed

Leo thee Lemon's avatar

Very fun to read.

M. Paula Coelho's avatar

The way you wrote his internal battle, especially when he kept thinking back to his son, made my heart sink. The details were perfect where I felt like this is something that could actually happen. Especially when he greeted his neighbor. The smile at the end gave me chills. This was an amazing read!

Gary Mucklow's avatar

Thank you so much for your comment. It's such a great feeling when one's writing resonates.

Judith Ashcraft's avatar

Oh, this was so good. Your writing is beautiful and flawless, and the fight between Thomas and Jonas is heart-wrenching, especially the battle between those images/memories of their loved ones.

Gary Mucklow's avatar

Thank you Judith, so glad you enjoyed it.

Brenda - A Voice that Wonders's avatar

So gripping. I was hooked. A brilliant write Gary. So enjoyed. The buildup was overwhelming. You have an amazing imagination. Your stories always come to life.

Gary Mucklow's avatar

Thank you very much Brenda. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Dblkrose of BSP's avatar

What chilled me most here wasn’t the knife or the target, it was the warmth of that stolen “Evening, Carol!” That’s where the story sank its teeth.