Tag / horror

by Warren Benedetto

“Something’s Wrong With Mom” published by 7th Circle Pyrite

My short horror story Something’s Wrong With Mom has been published in Issue 8 of 7th Circle Pyrite. It’s the story of two brothers who wake up in the middle of the night to discover that their mother is on the ceiling. Again.

Content warning: suicide (implied)

“Jimmy!” Grant whispered. He grabbed his sleeping brother’s shoulder and shook him. “Jimmy, wake up!”

Jimmy groaned. He opened one eye and looked at the Darth Vader clock next to his bed. It was 3:05 AM. He rolled over and pulled his Star Wars blanket up over his head. “Go away,” he mumbled.

Grant yanked the blanket away from Jimmy’s face and shook him again, with both hands this time.

Jimmy planted a hand on Grant’s chest and pushed him away. “Stop, I said!”

“You have to get up!”

“Why?”

“Something’s wrong with Mom.”

by Warren Benedetto

“A Piece of the Sky” published in the Wreckollections anthology

My sci-fi horror story A Piece of the Sky has been published in Wreckollections: Restrained Cries of the Past by Wicked Shadow Press. It is told through the testimony of the surviving member of a two-person asteroid mining crew that picked up an unfortunate souvenir during their expedition.

Content warning: gore

With all due respect, sir, you don’t know what you’re talking about. There was no way Bakely could’ve known what the thing was when he picked it up. It looked like a rock. Hell, it was a rock, just a hunk of the asteroid’s crust that he grabbed as a souvenir for his kid. There’s no way he could’ve known it was a nest.

by Warren Benedetto

“Things Are Looking Up” published in Call Me When You’re Dead

My short horror story Things Are Looking Up has been published in Call Me When You’re Dead. After a man and his wife are in a fatal car accident, the man decides he will do anything to see his wife one more time. Even if he has to dig.

I’ve been in a dark place since the accident.

I know I need to let her go, to accept that I’m never going to see her again, but I can’t. I can’t rest. I can’t lie still. I can’t move on. All I can do is think about her. My wife. My love.

My Lisa.

by Warren Benedetto

Listen to “Matches” on the Lunatics Radio Hour podcast

The audio production of winter horror story Matches—a dark(er) retelling of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Match Girl—is now available to listen to on the Lunatics Radio Hour podcast.

It’s the first story, starting about one minute into the show.

by Warren Benedetto

“Things Are Looking Up” published by Exquisite Death

My short horror story Things Are Looking Up has been published by Exquisite Death. After a man and his wife are in a fatal car accident, the man decides he will do anything to see his wife one more time. Even if he has to dig.

I’ve been in a dark place since the accident.

I know I need to let her go, to accept that I’m never going to see her again, but I can’t. I can’t rest. I can’t lie still. I can’t move on. All I can do is think about her. My wife. My love.

My Lisa.

by Warren Benedetto

“A Perfect Fit” published in The Literary Hatchet #38

My psychological horror story A Perfect Fit has been published in Issue #38 of The Literary Hatchet. This special double issue is available to download for free, or you can pick up a print copy from Amazon.

The story is about a middle-aged woman who will do anything to maintain her youthful appearance. If the movie The Substance resonated with you, you should appreciate this one. It’s not a body horror, but it comes from the same place.

I stepped back to admire Poppy’s frame, noting the slight dimpling of cellulite visible on her hips and the fine vertical lines along the top edge of her upper lip. The ghost of a gray hair peeked out from behind the bangs she had added to hide her creased forehead.

“Poppy! Look at you!” I gushed. “How are you so perfect?”

by Warren Benedetto

Listen to “Leftovers” on the Lunatics Radio Hour podcast

The audio production of my horror story Leftovers is now available for free from the Lunatics Radio Hour podcast. It’s about an elderly woman living in a rapidly-declining urban neighborhood who subsists on an unconventional recipe from the old world.

Content warning: gore

The story starts around 6:50.

by Warren Benedetto

“Baby Food” published in Anthology of the Damned: Necromoirrium

My creature horror story Baby Food has been published in Anthology of the Damned: Necromoirrium by Treeshaker Books. It’s about a man who convinces his wife to overcome her fear of bears to go camping with him, only to discover that what awaits them in the woods is much, much worse.

Content warning: gore, suicide (implied)

It was my idea, the camping trip. I had so many great memories of camping over the years: with my family, with the Boy Scouts, with my college buddies. We’d find some remote spot in the woods, then spend a week just doing … nothing. I wanted Liz to experience that, to get her to unplug from everything for once. Her phone. Her email. Her social media accounts. To just stop and live.