How This Came Together
In The Pursuit, a set of fraternal twins are exploring the convention, and the line between performance and reality blur, especially when you’re chasing your next viral moment. When they turn their attention to a potential lead, it draws them off the main floor and down a restricted hallway. While looking for a shortcut to something special, the whispers of promised growth blinds them. However, shortly after diverting from the approved path, they discover a nightmare beyond their worst dreams and descriptions.
While they begin in a bustling crowd, the story blends creeping tension, sibling banter, and rising dread into a fast-paced horror experience. This standalone horror short is paired with the haunting blues track “Creeping” to deliver a uniquely atmospheric tale. Whether you’re a fan of dark fiction, supernatural suspense, or a slow-burn horror, this one’s for you. Fans of flash fiction, horror shorts, and musical storytelling will feel right at home.
Step into the hallway. Just… don’t expect to walk out the same.
Music Pairing
Naturally, I needed the right musical companion. “Eerie Stroll” could have worked, but it wasn’t the right fit. Luckily, I had just finished “Creeping”, and once I paired it with this story, everything fell into place.
Behind the Scenes
This was one of the earliest horror stories I wrote. Revisiting it for Eloquent Tales & Blues, I was pleasantly surprised by the strength of its core. Don’t get me wrong, it needed work. The prose was rusty, and parts had to be smoothed and cleaned. But the foundation held. The tension, the pacing, the unsettling shifts, they were still usable.
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Excerpt of The Pursuit
Jemma and Charles weaved through the heart of Comic-Con, their senses alive with the buzz of neon lights, distant cheers, and the scent of fried food hanging in the air. Cosplayers brushed past them in elaborate armor and silk capes, laughter echoed from panel rooms, and the murmur of thousands of fans filled the space like a living machine.
For the twins, the event held significance beyond simple escapism. They’d gathered enough footage, interviews, and exclusives to propel their YouTube channel to new heights. Though they both knew they needed something more.
“This is perfect,” Charles said, adjusting his camera’s rig. “We’ve got enough content here for a week, from a small section.”
Jemma grinned. “Let’s find that keynote panel Gregory mentioned. If the whispers swirling around the mystery startup are true, it’s going to skyrocket.”
After sharing a nod, they exited the show floor, heading for a corridor reserved for the staff alone. The lights were dimmer here, as if they strived to extinguish the convention’s din. When they rounded a corner, the overhead fluorescent lights flickered, casting long shadows that shifted with every step. But a sign at the far end of the hall promised they were heading toward their destination.
A strange figure stepped into their path. A tall, thin, and impeccably dressed man stood before them in a full butler uniform, complete with white gloves and a silver tray balanced on one hand. Crystal glasses sparkled with golden liquid as the bubbles drifted up in the dim light. Without moving his lips, the man’s voice sliced through the hall with a crisp British accent. “Would either of you care for a refreshment?”
Jemma slowed, her brow furrowing as she glanced at her brother. “No, we’re not looking for a drink. Thank you, sir.”
The butler narrowed his eyes as he tilted his head, as if trying to look through them. With a nod, he turned, movements precise and unnatural, before disappearing around the corner.
Charles grabbed Jemma’s arm and pulled her close. “Did the butler creep you out, too?”
“Are you kidding me?” Jemma scanned the now-empty hallway before resuming her march. “Let’s just find the panel.”
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Have a wonderful day my friends!