ŷ������

Dibbers adjusted his tie in the mirror of his Skoda Fabia.

“Too formal. You need a trench coat. And a cigarette.�� Bee slurped down her cola before stopping to look at it with disgust. “Straw’s gone soggy. Greta Thunberg has ruined Maccas.�� She pulled the lid off and tossed it into a paper bag to join the forest of greasy wrappers.

“How do I look?�� Dibbers asked, ignoring her criticism.

“I can’t decide, either like an estate agent or an insurance salesman—I get it now, that’s why you called your YouTube channel Pixies Paranormal Investigation, after PPI!��

Dibbers blinked. “No, not at all, nobody else would think that. It’s alliteration, a common literary device to make the channel name sound more exciting.�� He brushed some lint off his waistcoat, looking hurt. “A lot of thought went into it.��

“Why pixies though? Have you ever done a video on pixies? What about ‘Paranormal Pursuits��, ‘Ghost Gang,�� ‘Supernatural Sightings—��

“We’re not changing it. We’ll confuse our 243 fans,�� Dibbers snapped.

Rolling her eyes, Bee pulled out her phone and started scrolling.

Dibbers checked the clock on the car dashboard. “Okay, time to get set up. Let’s get the livestream ready.��

The two of them gathered the vast array of ghost hunting equipment and loaded up the folding cart. A sticker on the cart’s side proudly named it ‘PPI Mule��.

“Got backup memory cards? Check the power bank.”��

“Three green lights. Come on Dibs, I know how a power bank works.��

“Sorry, it’s a big night for me.�� He pulled his jacket tighter. “It’s my first broadcast and we only have the site for one night. We don’t get a second chance.��

“Stop stressing you oaf.�� Bee flashed Dibs a cheeky smile as he squirmed, his foot tapping on the car park tarmac. She loaded the remaining items onto the PPI Mule and gave him a pat on the shoulder. “Come on poppet, it’s no different to any of the YouTube videos you’ve recorded before, just stick to the script and act scared.��

“I’m not acting. Being a ghost hunter is a serious profession.��

Each taking an end, they wheeled the cart to the prison entrance. HMP Shepton Mallet loomed ahead, its imposing stone façade casting long shadows in the dim evening light. The building, long abandoned, exuded an air of silent menace, its barred windows dark and unwelcoming. The iron gates creaked ominously as Dibbers pushed them open, the sound echoing eerily across the empty grounds.

Inside, the air was thick with the smell of damp and decay, mingling with the faint, metallic scent of rust. 

The exterior of the fortress was covered in graffiti, the scrawled words barely legible beneath layers of grime. 

Dibbers fumbled with the padlock on the main entrance door, his hands shaking slightly in the cold. The lock clicked open with a reluctant clank. "It’s one of those locks with a knack to them," he excused. Dust motes danced in the beams of their flashlights, creating ghostly patterns in the gloom. Every footstep reverberated off the stone walls. As they moved deeper into the facility the narrow corridors stretched out before them like a labyrinth. The chill in the air was sharper here, accentuated by the cold stone.

The air tasted stale as they ventured further, the darkness pressing in from all sides, broken only by the feeble glow of their lamps taped to the cart, and the narrow beam of Dibbers' torch. “It’s quite a way in. Malik was held in solitary until his execution.�� Dibbers led the way through the old reception area. The doors inside were all unlocked. It was pitch black except for the head-lamps taped onto their cart, Dibbers�� torch and—“Are you texting?��

“Hmm? Yeah, Phil. I’m making sure he is free for pizza tomorrow.��

“This is an important night.�� Dibbers pushed open another set of double doors.

Bee finished her text and dropped the phone in her pocket. “It’s not just a date, Dibs. It’s free pizza. He could go rogue and accidentally, or worse intentionally, order vegan.��

“Let’s start here for the opening scene. You can prefix the livestream with it.�� Dibbers set himself up in front of the HMP Shepton Mallet sign. “Ready?”��

“Rolling,�� Bee said, setting the camera. 

“HMP Shepton Mallet, home to Britain’s most depraved killers. Tonight, we bring you a live broadcast from the cell of the Butcher of Bath, Malik Kowalski.�� Dibbers�� voice grew in confidence. “Malik was a Polish airman who escaped the German occupation of his homeland to join the RAF in 1939. After the war, he opened a butcher’s shop. It was then that the children began to disappear.�� Dibbers coughed. “Whoopsie.�� He motioned for Bee to stop recording. “Can you crop that?”��

Bee laughed. “You, an adult man, said ‘Whoopsie.�� You looked so serious!”��

“I AM serious, Bee. If you can’t handle this professionally, wait in Yoda.”��

Her eyes narrowed before opening as she gave a bright smile. "I’m sorry, I just—Got it! Yoda the Skoda. I like that one. It’s actually quite clever." She gave him an apologetic grin. “Sorry it’s just that my nights out normally involve cider, crisps and if I’m feeling cheeky, which I always am, a little ‘bucca.��

“I let you come tonight because you’re my best friend. This isn’t just a hobby for me, this is a job. I don’t want to let down our fans.��

“All two hundred and forty-three of them.�� She smiled at him innocently.

“Come on,�� he relented, accepting that she was as serious as she could manage. “It is time we penetrated the interior.�� He set off before pausing. It was quiet, too quiet. He tilted his head to one side and listened.

Turning, he saw Bee frozen still, her face red, until, with an explosive gasp, she released her breath and erupted into laughter. “You are so intense, I love it, I really do. Why aren’t you like this at the bookshop?��

Pursing his lips, Dibbers regarded her. “Did you add something to that Coke?��

Bee suddenly stopped laughing, adopting a look of childlike innocence.

“B���!��

“What? Christ. A little voddy, chill out.�� She caught up with him, the squeaky sound of the cart echoing down the corridor. “Come on then. Let’s go. Whose house? Ghost house!��

Dibbers closed his eyes and sighed. Tonight of all nights. He pulled out a printed map and led her down the long corridors filled with rows of bleak concrete cells and iron doors, past long-abandoned security checkpoints. The lamps on the PPI Mule lit the way but cast long shadows. His small security torch flicked into the corners as the oppressive weight of the brutalist structure bore down on him. Looking at the iron beds, he tried to imagine what it would be like, confined in the cells day after soul-crushing day.

Suddenly, he stopped, yelping as the cart ran into the back of his heels. “We are here.�� His flashlight shone into the empty cell, seemingly identical to all the others. “Help me set up the equipment.�� A feverish air of excitement tinged his voice. “I’ll stand here.�� He marked an X on the floor with tape. “Set the camera here and the light there.�� He pointed to the relevant positions.

“Just a reminder. You went to university to study classical literature, whereas I went to film school. So you stand there and I’ll handle the lighting.��

He stretched, standing tall as Bee set up the equipment. “Okay, but make sure the camera is angled to keep the tape out of the shot.��

“Shush, I know you are stressed, but you’ll only wear yourself out with your nonsensical micromanagement. I’m the tech girl.You are the eye candy in a cheap suit.��

“This isn’t a cheap suit,�� Dibbers snapped. “It’s from M&S, from their Autograph range!��

“I don’t have time to eye roll right now, so I need you to imagine that I’m doing it. Hard.�� Bee ran the cabling back to the power bank. “We’ve got a green light on the wireless router, we’re getting a�� decentish upload speed. Three minutes, Dibs,�� Bee called out.

“Right, right.�� He flexed his arms, trying to shake out some of the tension. Mentally, he ran through a checklist of the points he wanted to cover. He checked his watch. Then, tapping his foot, he concentrated on Bee and waited for her countdown.

She looked up. “I can feel you staring at me. It won’t make time move any—Oh, 5, 4, 3.�� She silently mouthed two and one.

The lights went out, and they were plunged into darkness.

“Bee! This is our first live show. Three green lights, I was clear.�� Dibbers fumbled for his phone to shine a light in her direction. The cloth of his trousers felt coarse. Blinded by the darkness, his fingers couldn’t even find a pocket, let alone his phone. “Bee! Where are you? This is not the time to fall silent.��

Shhh.

Dibbers jumped. “Who is that? Who is in here with me?�� He flailed his arms to see if he could find whoever had the temerity to shush him. “Bee, if this is a prank to produce a blooper video or to make me a meme, I told you we don’t do that; we are a professional...�� His voice tailed off as the lights turned on in the corridor.

Now you’ve done it.

The voice sounded faint, dispassionate, as if it was both in Dibbers�� head but also far away. “Done what?�� Dibbers snapped at the darkness.

Two large uniformed men appeared at the cell door. There was no sign of Bee or the equipment. The corridor and cell seemed cleaner than they’d looked under torchlight, the dust was gone.

“Hello, yes, I have permission to be here. I can show you an email of confirmation from the trustees.��

The first man opened the cell door, his companion locking it behind him. He had a grim, angry expression on his face. “Well, aren’t we feeling chatty today?��

“Yes, I’m producing a video on the history of Shepton Mallet, do you—�� a meaty fist slammed into his solar plexus, leaving Dibbers gasping on the floor, his mouth opening and shutting like a fish out of water.

The officer kicked him in the stomach.

“If you’ve hurt Bee, I’ll—��

“If I hurt you?�� The man chuckled.

Dibbers looked up, enraged. “Not me, BEE.��

“Oh, I’m going to hurt you.�� The man picked up Dibbers by his shirt. 

Dibbers looked down at it with disgust. His suit was gone, and he was dressed like an inmate. He tried to push free, but his usually immaculate hands were filthy, his nails long and black. 

Pressing Dibbers against the wall, the officer leaned in close, his rancid breath catching at his throat. “See, it’s troubled me for a long while now. You were caught dead to rights, you murderous son of a bitch, but you never confessed.��

Because I didn’t do it.

The officer pulled out a pair of handcuffs and clinked them round Dibbers' wrists. Shoving Dibbers onto the bed, he cuffed his ankles.

Despite his best efforts, Dibbers couldn’t break free of the restraints. “Stop it. Listen, I believe we have a classic case of mistaken identity; my name is Robin Alan Wood, commonly referred to by my pseudonym of, OOF.�� Dibbers was once more left winded by another blow from the ham-fisted assailant.

He was lifted forwards and slammed back against the wall, his head smacking against the concrete with bruising force. “It’s a bit late for that, Butcher, tell me your name, or—�� he took one of Dibbers' hands and held it against the wall. “I’m going to start breaking your fingers one by one.��

“You can’t, you’ll be arrested for abuse.�� Dibbers protested. He kicked out at the man’s shins.

The man grunted with pain and then headbutted Dibbers. “You really shouldn’t have done that, Butcher.��

Disorientated, Dibbers would have fallen over had he not been held up.

“I believe I can contact Malik and pass your questions on to him.��

“Oh, I bet you can. Now, which finger do I break first?�� He lifted up Dibbers' restrained hands and played with each digit individually. “Ah, this little piggy went to market.��

Before he could snap it, Dibbers yelled out. “Fine, I’m Malik Kowalski.��

I confessed too, when the torture got too much.

“There we go, that wasn’t so hard, was it?�� He released Dibbers' fingers.

Dibbers whimpered when the guard released him, and he curled up tighter on the bed. “This is retrocognition. It isn’t real.��

“Oh, it is very real, Butcher. See, I know what you did. What I don’t know is why.��

I didn’t do it. The real killer is still out there.

Dibbers looked around, but the source of the enraged voice couldn’t be found, just the murderous-looking officer.

“What was it? Did you kill someone in the war? Get a taste for it? Or maybe you are ashamed because you hid from the Germans? Decided to take it out on those kids.��

I fought in the Battle of Britain. I shot down four NAZI fighters.

“Please, I will say anything, just please, let’s be reasonable here.��

That was the wrong thing to say. The officer gripped Dibbers around the throat. He squeezed hard, choking him. Dibbers tried to break free, his face going red, his lungs burning.

“Bill, stop it, you can’t kill him,�� the other officer called out from behind the cell door.

Bill held on for just a bit longer before shoving Dibbers back onto the bed. “No, I can’t kill you, the courts deserve that pleasure, but I can hurt you and I will be present to watch you hang. See, one of those kids, a little girl called Beth, was my niece. Do you remember her?��

Dibbers remained silent.

“So, this is what we know so far. A Polack is allowed into our country after fleeing the NAZIS in his own lands. He’s then given a job in the RAF.�� He spat at Dibbers. The thick, congealed phlegm stuck on Dibbers�� cheek. “I couldn’t even get a job in the RAF. Bad eyesight, you see, but I bet they didn’t even check you, did they?�� Bill gazed down at Dibbers, who was lying cuffed on the bed and shaking with fear. “Not so chatty now, are you?�� He slapped Dibbers soundly. “I said, ‘Not so chatty now, are you?’��

“No,�� Dibbers bleated.

“That’s better. So, after we’ve given you a lovely job, you are discharged. You could have gone home. You should have gone home. Why would you? Lovely country like England. No, you didn’t want to go back to your backwater, your little shit-hole of a country, did you?��

The NAZIS killed my family; I had nothing to go back to.

“So, you stayed. You became a butcher, but dead animals weren’t enough for you, were they? What led you to kill your first kid?�� He hoisted Dibbers up again, his eyes filled with hate. This time, he squeezed Dibbers�� throat even harder.

Dibbers looked into his eyes, and when the second officer called out to Bill and told him to ease off, he knew that Bill wouldn’t. Dibbers' eyes bulged, his mouth widened, desperate for any scrap of air.

Find the truth.

Dibbers gasped as air filled his lungs. He staggered back against the wall. Reaching up, he found the pain had gone. He held up his hands, nails neatly clipped and clean. His jacket, thankfully M&S, Autograph, of course. “What�� what happened?��

He looked around him, the camera was recording. Bee was looking at him in shock.

“Cut, cut.�� Dibbers felt faint. “Turn that bloody thing off.��

He sat on the dusty floor amidst the debris of the abandoned prison and hid his head in his hands.

Bee came over and looked at him in awe. “That was amazing, Dibbers. You are trending!��

“I’m what?�� Dibbers looked up.

“Over a thousand followers from just that broadcast alone. You should have warned me that you were doing a one-man show thing.��

“A thousand?�� Dibbers looked down at his neatly polished shoes. “How many does Taylor Swift have?��

Bee paused. “A few more, but a thousand is still amazing.�� She offered a hand to him.

Shakily, with Bee’s help, Dibbers rose. “A thousand…��

“When are you doing your next performance?��

Dibbers took a breath. “I’m not, Bee, we have a new mission.��

“Oh?�� Bee pulled out a chocolate bar from her jacket.

“We have to prove the innocence of Malik Kowalski.�� He straightened his posture. “And PPI has to discover who the real Butcher of Bath was.��

“One question,�� Bee asked hesitantly. “Are you really, really, 100% set on calling us PPI?��

If you enjoyed this free short story, then please consider or its sequel .

For more free stories, check out the links below:

: 75 FREE horror stories, including ‘��, ‘��, ‘��, ��,�� ‘��

: 103 horror stories, including ‘��, ‘��, ��,�� ��,�� ��,�� ��,�� ��,�� ��,�� ��,�� ��.��

Sweet screams!

PS: Happy Birthday Dibbers! If anyone here is interested in . They are on Facebook and can be found .

Praise for Tales of the Macabre, Vol. 1
"This book was full of nail-biting moments. The book was full of variety that kept you engaged and wanting to read the next story"
"Newton Webb never disappoints. His debut collection includes most of his best stories, spanning a huge amount of time and going through a great variety of settings. Some are novelettes, others more of a typical short story length, always well written, with a fantastic use of the English language"
"These 16 scary stories are really, really good! My absolute favorites of the bunch were Festival of the Damned and The Heir Apparent (man, what a twist I was NOT expecting!)"
"This was a very enjoyable collection of eerily prophetic stories, full of variety and encompassing a world of demonic entities, cannibalism, ghouls, murder, ancient curses and deviant sex addiction. From folk horror to supernatural sci-fi tales, what more could you wish for? Each story slowly unfolds with a sense of unease and menace, complimented by many unexpected twists and turns. The moral theme of these stories would appear to be, 'be careful of what you wish for'. Highly recommended"

To read this story online, click .

If you enjoyed this free short story, then please consider or its sequel .

For more free stories, check out the links below:

: 101 FREE horror stories, including ‘��, ‘��, ‘��, ‘��, ‘��

: 53 horror stories, including ‘��, ‘��

Sweet screams!

Praise for Tales of the Macabre, Vol. 1
"This book was full of nail-biting moments. The book was full of variety that kept you engaged and wanting to read the next story"
"Newton Webb never disappoints. His debut collection includes most of his best stories, spanning a huge amount of time and going through a great variety of settings. Some are novelettes, others more of a typical short story length, always well written, with a fantastic use of the English language"
"These 16 scary stories are really, really good! My absolute favorites of the bunch were Festival of the Damned and The Heir Apparent (man, what a twist I was NOT expecting!)"
"This was a very enjoyable collection of eerily prophetic stories, full of variety and encompassing a world of demonic entities, cannibalism, ghouls, murder, ancient curses and deviant sex addiction. From folk horror to supernatural sci-fi tales, what more could you wish for? Each story slowly unfolds with a sense of unease and menace, complimented by many unexpected twists and turns. The moral theme of these stories would appear to be, 'be careful of what you wish for'. Highly recommended"

For the video version, click :

Greetings, my wicked darlings!

The lineup for Tales of the Macabre Vol. 3 has been completed (as always subject to change) and is off to my copy editor. At the moment, we are looking at eighteen frightful fables, although I really want to make it nineteen�� Either way, I’m really excited to be unveiling the concluding part of the trilogy. What’s your favourite story from Tales of the Macabre?

Where do I go next? Well, we’ll be releasing an enormous book, a special edition combining all the stories from Tales of the Macabre in a chunky hardback with all kinds of premium features, but that is more of a job for my editors and beta readers, really. What do I do? I could wander around listlessly for a bit. We have a splendid 11th-century Norman church just five minutes�� walk away that could use a haunting. Or I could take up a new vice�� could I? I thought that, like Pokémon, I’d caught them all. Maybe I should return to my roots and write another novel?

Whatever I do, and no matter how many ales I’m plied with, I absolutely should not sign up to produce another trilogy of short stories. Next newsletter, I’ll let you know what the Newt will get up to in his next literary adventure (if we are realistic, it’s definitely going to be another trilogy of short stories, isn’t it?).

Last month, I released two free eBooks, The Winter Wraiths and The Catfish Killer, for download or to read online. I released five audiobooks, The Croydon Ripper, Lassitude, The Black Shuck. I also promised two versions of Mind Games. One version of Mind Games to be narrated by myself for ����ɳٴDz�’s Tales of the Macabre, the other by ElevenLabs for Phantom Frequencies. I really want to know how they compare? Which do you prefer? Let me know.

This month, I’ve been taking a journey into 1962—bell bottoms and go-go boots are the order of the day and you’d better believe the girls�� hair is bouffant! The working title is The Blighted Child, but I’m likely to change that. I’m also hoping to finish The Butcher of Bath.

The installation team will set up the new kitchen on the 18th, so I'm excited to start cooking up a storm. Though it is a relatively big job as it’ll be a large kitchen (by UK standards where, like Harry Potter, we all live in closets).

Wait. Just to be clear, I might live in a closet, but I am not trapped in the closet.

Phew, well, that went on longer than anticipated. Anyway, over to you. I hope you are all doing wonderfully and are reading some wondrously terrifying tomes.

Sweet screams,

Newt

PS: Many thanks to for their 5* review for TotM 1!

PPS: If you have an interest in project management and job hunting, then check out .

Coming up this month, I have some horrific treats in store for you with four free audiobooks. I am also hoping to release two eBooks, but with the work on TotM v3, they might get pushed to October.

6th September 2024 - The Diadem of Kings (Audiobook)
Betrayed and disinherited, José leads a doomed expedition into the heart of the jungle in search of an ancient treasure.

13th September 2024 - The Winter Wraiths (Audiobook)
Trapped in a crumbling manor during a harsh winter, a governess and her young charge must uncover its dark secrets before time runs out, or risk being consumed by its curse.

20th September 2024 - A Portrait of Sin (Audiobook)
The sunlit alleys of sixteenth-century Florence hide a dark and tragic struggle as a brilliant painter battles a devastating creative block.

27th September 2024 - The Catfish Killer (Audiobook)
In the chilling depths of online dating, Jedd's predatory pursuit of vulnerable women traps him in a nightmare when he matches with more than he expected.

In case you missed them, last month, we released the following:

9th August 2024 - (Audiobook)
Confronted by her own demons, Tina embarks on a harrowing journey, navigating through guilt, fear, and the restless spirits of the wronged.

16th August 2024 - (Audiobook)
Mystery, peril, insanity intertwine. In the depths of writer's block and personal despair, Alfie encounters a mysterious stranger in a Soho bar.

21th August 2024 - (eBook)
Jedd's careless catfishing triggers a catastrophic chain of events, plunges him into a nightmarish battle for survival.

23st August 2024 - (Audiobook)
The Croydon Ripper's reign of terror casts a shadow over Sheila's life, transforming her daily walk home from the library into a journey fraught with suspicion.

28rd August 2024 - (eBook)
Trapped in a crumbling manor during a harsh winter, a governess and her young charge must uncover its dark secrets before time runs out, or risk being consumed by its curse.

30th August 2024 - (Audiobook)
Greyhair, the last of his pack, is hunted by bloodthirsty men through an unforgiving forest. When he crosses paths with a lone two-leg, they form an uneasy truce.

: 75 FREE horror stories, including ‘��, ‘��, ‘��, ��,�� ‘��

: 103 horror stories, including ‘��, ‘��, ��,�� ��,�� ��,�� ��,�� ��,�� ��,�� ��,�� ��.��

I watched and made video reviews for several movies as part of Cinema Society Saturday:

Thanks for reading ����ɳٴDz�’s Free Horror! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

If you enjoyed this email, then please consider . My first collected works on Amazon containing sixteen short stories and novellas by Newton Webb.

2022 �� , Novella

2018 �� , Novella

2017 �� , Novel

2013 �� , Novella

2012 �� , Novella

1958 �� , Short Story

1864 �� , Novella

1832 �� , Novella

1818 �� , Novella

1194 �� , Short Story

Read a collection of free short stories or listen to free audiobooks by Newton Webb on his website.

To read this story online, click .

If you enjoyed this free short story, then please consider or its sequel .

For more free stories, check out the links below:

: 101 FREE horror stories, including ‘��, ‘��, ‘��, ‘��, ‘��

: 53 horror stories, including ‘��, ‘��

Sweet screams!

Praise for Tales of the Macabre, Vol. 1
"This book was full of nail-biting moments. The book was full of variety that kept you engaged and wanting to read the next story"
"Newton Webb never disappoints. His debut collection includes most of his best stories, spanning a huge amount of time and going through a great variety of settings. Some are novelettes, others more of a typical short story length, always well written, with a fantastic use of the English language"
"These 16 scary stories are really, really good! My absolute favorites of the bunch were Festival of the Damned and The Heir Apparent (man, what a twist I was NOT expecting!)"
"This was a very enjoyable collection of eerily prophetic stories, full of variety and encompassing a world of demonic entities, cannibalism, ghouls, murder, ancient curses and deviant sex addiction. From folk horror to supernatural sci-fi tales, what more could you wish for? Each story slowly unfolds with a sense of unease and menace, complimented by many unexpected twists and turns. The moral theme of these stories would appear to be, 'be careful of what you wish for'. Highly recommended"

FREE on

Available to order on .

Welcome to the final collected works in the Macabre Codex, by Newton Webb. Tales of the Macabre, Vol. 3 is intended for mature audiences.

����ɳٴDz�’s , the final chapter in The Macabre Codex, takes you on another breathless ride through the terrifying annals of time. Presenting a chilling collection of eighteen tales, the journey spans from Renaissance Florence and 1950s New Orleans to the modern-day streets of London. In this unnerving collection, Newton Webb crafts stories that will have you sleeping with the lights on. With his signature blend of psychological depth and atmospheric tension, Newton Webb crafts stories that will have you sleeping with the lights on.

- When Jackson hears the soulful blues duet of his neighbor and a mysterious woman, he becomes drawn into a haunting mystery that threatens to consume him.
- When Giovanni accepts a commission that could make or break his career, he embarks on a frantic race against time. Consumed by his obsession to create the ultimate masterpiece, he battles to keep hold of his morality and sanity as the deadline looms.
- For years, Toby lived with a silent companion only he could see—a spectral girl lurking in mirrors. As she draws closer with each passing day, Toby must confront a terrifying truth that could cost him everything.

If you relish page-turning frights, haunting revelations, and the thrill of your blood running cold, then you’ll love the concluding book in Newton Webb’s baleful trilogy.

To read this story online, click .

If you enjoyed this free short story, then please consider or its sequel .

For more free stories, check out the links below:

: 101 FREE horror stories, including ‘��, ‘��, ‘��, ‘��, ‘��

: 53 horror stories, including ‘��, ‘��

Sweet screams!

Praise for Tales of the Macabre, Vol. 1
"This book was full of nail-biting moments. The book was full of variety that kept you engaged and wanting to read the next story"
"Newton Webb never disappoints. His debut collection includes most of his best stories, spanning a huge amount of time and going through a great variety of settings. Some are novelettes, others more of a typical short story length, always well written, with a fantastic use of the English language"
"These 16 scary stories are really, really good! My absolute favorites of the bunch were Festival of the Damned and The Heir Apparent (man, what a twist I was NOT expecting!)"
"This was a very enjoyable collection of eerily prophetic stories, full of variety and encompassing a world of demonic entities, cannibalism, ghouls, murder, ancient curses and deviant sex addiction. From folk horror to supernatural sci-fi tales, what more could you wish for? Each story slowly unfolds with a sense of unease and menace, complimented by many unexpected twists and turns. The moral theme of these stories would appear to be, 'be careful of what you wish for'. Highly recommended"

I don’t normally do trigger warnings, but this story is a touch more extreme than I normally release. It is an attempt at classic splatterpunk. Let me know if it is too much, or not enough.

TRIGGER WARNINGS: FatPhobia, TransPhobia, Murder, Mutilation, Gaslighting, Sexual Content.

The sun was fading as Jedd flicked through the images of women on LocalDate. He peered through his spectacles, two-day-old ragged stubble failing to hide his leer.

Fat. Swipe left.

Short hair. Swipe left.

Naughty secretary look. Swipe right.

He gagged when a transsexual appeared on his screen. Jedd tapped the 'Report' icon, then chose 'Fake Profile.' The next photo appeared. Bikini, swipe right. A notification flashed up. 'Matched. Cheerleader2005.' Jedd immediately tapped to view and then sucked at his teeth. The woman had replaced her head with a giant yellow smiling emoji, but her body... Jedd felt his groin swell at the sight of it in the girl’s mirror. Who cares what her face is like with a body like that? He swiped through the photos. Every photo had her face concealed, but her body, well, that was barely concealed. Thot. He flashed a message over to her, [Hey, looking hot. Wanna show me your face?]

He waited, tapping his fingers against the side of his phone. Anger flashed across his face as he was forced to wait. Picking up his glass, he sipped at the water. Just as he was going to give up and write her off as a dyke, a message appeared. [Thank you, I’m a bit shy 🥺]

For fuck’s sake. [I bet you have a lovely smile. I’d love to see it.]

This time, the response was immediate. [You are just saying that ♥️]

Jedd rolled his eyes. A time waster. She was just fishing for compliments. Last chance, bitch. [Come on over. We could watch a movie and get to know each other. I have a really nice bottle of wine I’ve been saving.]

[I’d like that? But, can we take it slow?]

Oh yeah, like you are leaving here without getting fucked. [I just wanna get to know you. I really like your profile. You seem really cool.]

[I guess. You live close. When do you want to meet up?]

[How about tonight?] A nagging suspicion tugged at his mind. [Do you have any more photos?]

A series of photos appeared, sunbathing at the beach, driving in a convertible, drinking a cocktail. I meant without that stupid emoji.

Jedd angrily prepared another message. [You look gorgeous, but I really want to see your face. I’ve been catfished before. I know it sounds bad, but it’s only because I really like you.]

She started to type. Stopped. Started. Stopped. Watching his phone was an exercise in frustration. Finally, she replied. [I can’t�� I am really insecure about my face. Maybe we could swap spicy pics instead?]

Jedd licked his lips. He raced into the shower, watching a pornographic video until he was fully erect, his small but angry-looking member jutting up in a rock-hard salute. He took a photo before looking at it critically. Loading up Artmaster.ai, Jedd attached the photo and asked it for suggestions to improve his photo.

The suggestions came back, and he grinned as he authorised them, watching as his belly turned to abs, his skin gleamed with oil, and his body hair was waxed. He entered in a prompt to make his cock bigger, then repeated the command until the screen was focused on a giant, thickly veined monster. By the time she sees it, it’ll be too late to back out.

He sent the picture to her and paced as he waited. This had better be worth it.

[OMG, that is crazy. And it is all mine? You are going to give it to me?]

Raising his eyebrows, Jedd replied. [It’s all yours, baby... Your turn 👿.]

A topless photo appeared. Still with the damnable emoji for a head, but the most impressive, flawless pair of breasts awaited him. His heart seemed to skip a beat. He immediately texted her his address and leant back in his chair, resisting the urge to beat his meat there and then.

Jedd was availing himself of his Jack Daniels. After three Jack and cokes, he was getting tipsy and had to push away the bottle. He still needed to perform, after all. Jedd was going through a dry spell; despite his best efforts, it had been over a year since he got laid. Everyone knew how frigid the girls were in his area.

He glanced angrily at his watch. Where is that bitch?

Biting his lip, he looked thirstily at the bottle of Jack and was about to give in when the doorbell buzzed. He clenched and unclenched his hands with excitement as he walked over to the door and peered through the peephole. For fuck’s sake.

She was wearing an emoji mask. His gaze lingered, though, as the rest of her body was covered up by a skin-tight PVC outfit. She wore a spotted swimsuit over the top, even though the PVC obscured any flesh. Her only accessory was a Hello Kitty clutch. You kinky bitch.

Well, if she wanted to be slapped around, Jedd was more than happy to oblige. The figure-hugging PVC showed everything with its��

She rang the bell again, causing Jedd to jump. He stumbled and banged his nose on the door, swearing. Standing up ramrod straight, he regained his composure and opened the door. “Hey, how are you doing?�� He suddenly realised he only knew her as Cheerleader2005.

The mask looked down. “I’m okay, thank you, Jedd.�� Her voice sounded nervous.

“What should I call you? I can’t call you Cheerleader2005.�� Jedd stepped back and motioned for her to enter.

“Why not?�� She answered, moving past him. As she did, she was sure to allow her PVC-clad buttocks to slide up his groin.

He moaned involuntarily as his eyes followed her into the room. Not so shy then. Why are all the hot girls mental?

“Can I get you a drink?�� He smirked. She’d have to remove the mask to drink.

“Hmmm, yes. Thank you. I’ll have whatever you’re having.�� She walked around his living room, looking at his DVD collections and magazines.

Jedd suddenly wished he’d tidied up. He went and made two Jack and Cokes. he paused. She seems pretty keen. Then decided that he couldn’t risk it. He picked up a small bottle and added a capful to her drink, stirring the contents with his finger. Picking up the glasses, he turned and jumped, spilling some of the contents onto his t-shirt. “Oh shit, sorry.��

She was standing right behind him.

“Someone is a little nervous,�� she tittered, delicately stroking his chest with a finger. “What happened to the wine?��

“Yes, well, I don’t always get such a–Look, I don’t mean to be a prick, but that mask is really freaking me out. The–with the eyes all black like that, it’s like staring into a shark.��

Cheerleader2005 took the drinks from him and placed them on a side table. “Would you feel better if you tied me up?��

Jedd blinked. “Well, yeah, that would be magic.�� Then I can tear off that fucking mask.

“We should have a drink first, so we can get cheeky together.�� She giggled.

“Yeah, definitely. Yeah. That sounds great.�� Stop babbling. Fuck, this is the weirdest date ever.

She reached for a glass.

“No, that’s my glass. It’s lucky.�� Jedd tried to cover up his slip. He was so nervous in the presence of this woman; she was unnerving. Nothing like the dowdy cows he normally flirted with.

“You first, then,�� she indicated the drinks, and he took his glass, drinking half of it immediately.

“Someone is a thirsty, thirsty boy.�� She picked up her glass and clinked his.

He waited for her to remove her mask to take a sip. Instead, she put down the glass and moved to his CD player. “Do you mind if I put on some music?��

“Don’t you want a drink?�� Jedd insisted.

“What’s the point of alcohol if you can’t dance?�� She looked through his collection, flicking past the P Diddy and R Kelly until she found 2Pac’s ‘Me Against the World.�� “This’ll do.�� She fiddled with his system until the beats started booming. “You have an excellent sound system.��

Jedd sat down heavily, watching the girl with frustration as she gyrated in front of him. “How about that drink, then?�� He took another slug. “I’m drinking alone here.��

“Don’t you like my dancing?�� She asked, giving him a flawless view of her butt as she moved, running her hands over her thighs.

Jedd exhaled. “I do like your dancing, but I’m drinking alone, and I haven’t even seen your face.�� He tried a different tack. “I bet you have a lovely smile.��

She froze.

“Come on, let me see it. I bet you are beautiful.��

She turned around and tilted her head, regarding him.

“Go on. Let me see…�� He slurred. I shouldn’t have had another Jack. Then, as if to prove the point, he took another sip from his drink.

“I do have a beautiful smile,�� the girl said eventually. “I always smile.��

“See, I knew it. Come on then, take off that stu–that mask.��

She walked up to him and straddled his lap. “Okay.�� She stroked the hair on his head as he looked up at her blearily.

“My ex-boyfriend cheated on me, you know?��

For fuck’s sake. Who cares?

“Oh no, that’s terrible. Well, you’ve found me now.��

“He said it was because I never smiled.�� She reached up and took off the mask. “So I made it so I will smile forever.��

Bitch switched the drinks!

Jedd wasn’t listening. “Yer baych!�� He slurred, trying to push her away, but his arms were weak and she easily moved his arms to one side.

Her face had two giant scars from the corner of her lips up to the top of her jawline. Metal rings lined the scars as if they were reinforcing them. “It didn’t make a difference, it just made him grumpy. That is when I realised he was just a liar. So, as a parting gift, I made him smile too.��

She stroked Jedd’s cheek before pulling a knife from her clutch.

“Now, I make all the liars smile.��

If you enjoyed this free short story, then please consider or its sequel .

For more free stories, check out the links below:

: 101 FREE horror stories, including ‘��, ‘��, ‘��, ‘��, ‘��

: 53 horror stories, including ‘��, ‘��

Sweet screams!

Praise for Tales of the Macabre, Vol. 1
"This book was full of nail-biting moments. The book was full of variety that kept you engaged and wanting to read the next story"
"Newton Webb never disappoints. His debut collection includes most of his best stories, spanning a huge amount of time and going through a great variety of settings. Some are novelettes, others more of a typical short story length, always well written, with a fantastic use of the English language"
"These 16 scary stories are really, really good! My absolute favorites of the bunch were Festival of the Damned and The Heir Apparent (man, what a twist I was NOT expecting!)"
"This was a very enjoyable collection of eerily prophetic stories, full of variety and encompassing a world of demonic entities, cannibalism, ghouls, murder, ancient curses and deviant sex addiction. From folk horror to supernatural sci-fi tales, what more could you wish for? Each story slowly unfolds with a sense of unease and menace, complimented by many unexpected twists and turns. The moral theme of these stories would appear to be, 'be careful of what you wish for'. Highly recommended"

I don’t normally do trigger warnings, but this story is a touch more extreme than I normally release. It is an attempt at classic splatterpunk. Let me know if it is too much, or not enough.

TRIGGER WARNINGS: FatPhobia, TransPhobia, Murder, Mutilation, Gaslighting, Sexual Content.

The sun was fading as Jedd flicked through the images of women on LocalDate. He peered through his spectacles, two-day-old ragged stubble failing to hide his leer.

Fat. Swipe left.

Short hair. Swipe left.

Naughty secretary look. Swipe right.

He gagged when a transsexual appeared on his screen. Jedd tapped the 'Report' icon, then chose 'Fake Profile.' The next photo appeared. Bikini, swipe right. A notification flashed up. 'Matched. Cheerleader2005.' Jedd immediately tapped to view and then sucked at his teeth. The woman had replaced her head with a giant yellow smiling emoji, but her body... Jedd felt his groin swell at the sight of it in the girl’s mirror. Who cares what her face is like with a body like that? He swiped through the photos. Every photo had her face concealed, but her body, well, that was barely concealed. Thot. He flashed a message over to her, [Hey, looking hot. Wanna show me your face?]

He waited, tapping his fingers against the side of his phone. Anger flashed across his face as he was forced to wait. Picking up his glass, he sipped at the water. Just as he was going to give up and write her off as a dyke, a message appeared. [Thank you, I’m a bit shy 🥺]

For fuck’s sake. [I bet you have a lovely smile. I’d love to see it.]

This time, the response was immediate. [You are just saying that ♥️]

Jedd rolled his eyes. A time waster. She was just fishing for compliments. Last chance, bitch. [Come on over. We could watch a movie and get to know each other. I have a really nice bottle of wine I’ve been saving.]

[I’d like that? But, can we take it slow?]

Oh yeah, like you are leaving here without getting fucked. [I just wanna get to know you. I really like your profile. You seem really cool.]

[I guess. You live close. When do you want to meet up?]

[How about tonight?] A nagging suspicion tugged at his mind. [Do you have any more photos?]

A series of photos appeared, sunbathing at the beach, driving in a convertible, drinking a cocktail. I meant without that stupid emoji.

Jedd angrily prepared another message. [You look gorgeous, but I really want to see your face. I’ve been catfished before. I know it sounds bad, but it’s only because I really like you.]

She started to type. Stopped. Started. Stopped. Watching his phone was an exercise in frustration. Finally, she replied. [I can’t�� I am really insecure about my face. Maybe we could swap spicy pics instead?]

Jedd licked his lips. He raced into the shower, watching a pornographic video until he was fully erect, his small but angry-looking member jutting up in a rock-hard salute. He took a photo before looking at it critically. Loading up Artmaster.ai, Jedd attached the photo and asked it for suggestions to improve his photo.

The suggestions came back, and he grinned as he authorised them, watching as his belly turned to abs, his skin gleamed with oil, and his body hair was waxed. He entered in a prompt to make his cock bigger, then repeated the command until the screen was focused on a giant, thickly veined monster. By the time she sees it, it’ll be too late to back out.

He sent the picture to her and paced as he waited. This had better be worth it.

[OMG, that is crazy. And it is all mine? You are going to give it to me?]

Raising his eyebrows, Jedd replied. [It’s all yours, baby... Your turn 👿.]

A topless photo appeared. Still with the damnable emoji for a head, but the most impressive, flawless pair of breasts awaited him. His heart seemed to skip a beat. He immediately texted her his address and leant back in his chair, resisting the urge to beat his meat there and then.

Jedd was availing himself of his Jack Daniels. After three Jack and cokes, he was getting tipsy and had to push away the bottle. He still needed to perform, after all. Jedd was going through a dry spell; despite his best efforts, it had been over a year since he got laid. Everyone knew how frigid the girls were in his area.

He glanced angrily at his watch. Where is that bitch?

Biting his lip, he looked thirstily at the bottle of Jack and was about to give in when the doorbell buzzed. He clenched and unclenched his hands with excitement as he walked over to the door and peered through the peephole. For fuck’s sake.

She was wearing an emoji mask. His gaze lingered, though, as the rest of her body was covered up by a skin-tight PVC outfit. She wore a spotted swimsuit over the top, even though the PVC obscured any flesh. Her only accessory was a Hello Kitty clutch. You kinky bitch.

Well, if she wanted to be slapped around, Jedd was more than happy to oblige. The figure-hugging PVC showed everything with its��

She rang the bell again, causing Jedd to jump. He stumbled and banged his nose on the door, swearing. Standing up ramrod straight, he regained his composure and opened the door. “Hey, how are you doing?�� He suddenly realised he only knew her as Cheerleader2005.

The mask looked down. “I’m okay, thank you, Jedd.�� Her voice sounded nervous.

“What should I call you? I can’t call you Cheerleader2005.�� Jedd stepped back and motioned for her to enter.

“Why not?�� She answered, moving past him. As she did, she was sure to allow her PVC-clad buttocks to slide up his groin.

He moaned involuntarily as his eyes followed her into the room. Not so shy then. Why are all the hot girls mental?

“Can I get you a drink?�� He smirked. She’d have to remove the mask to drink.

“Hmmm, yes. Thank you. I’ll have whatever you’re having.�� She walked around his living room, looking at his DVD collections and magazines.

Jedd suddenly wished he’d tidied up. He went and made two Jack and Cokes. he paused. She seems pretty keen. Then decided that he couldn’t risk it. He picked up a small bottle and added a capful to her drink, stirring the contents with his finger. Picking up the glasses, he turned and jumped, spilling some of the contents onto his t-shirt. “Oh shit, sorry.��

She was standing right behind him.

“Someone is a little nervous,�� she tittered, delicately stroking his chest with a finger. “What happened to the wine?��

“Yes, well, I don’t always get such a–Look, I don’t mean to be a prick, but that mask is really freaking me out. The–with the eyes all black like that, it’s like staring into a shark.��

Cheerleader2005 took the drinks from him and placed them on a side table. “Would you feel better if you tied me up?��

Jedd blinked. “Well, yeah, that would be magic.�� Then I can tear off that fucking mask.

“We should have a drink first, so we can get cheeky together.�� She giggled.

“Yeah, definitely. Yeah. That sounds great.�� Stop babbling. Fuck, this is the weirdest date ever.

She reached for a glass.

“No, that’s my glass. It’s lucky.�� Jedd tried to cover up his slip. He was so nervous in the presence of this woman; she was unnerving. Nothing like the dowdy cows he normally flirted with.

“You first, then,�� she indicated the drinks, and he took his glass, drinking half of it immediately.

“Someone is a thirsty, thirsty boy.�� She picked up her glass and clinked his.

He waited for her to remove her mask to take a sip. Instead, she put down the glass and moved to his CD player. “Do you mind if I put on some music?��

“Don’t you want a drink?�� Jedd insisted.

“What’s the point of alcohol if you can’t dance?�� She looked through his collection, flicking past the P Diddy and R Kelly until she found 2Pac’s ‘Me Against the World.�� “This’ll do.�� She fiddled with his system until the beats started booming. “You have an excellent sound system.��

Jedd sat down heavily, watching the girl with frustration as she gyrated in front of him. “How about that drink, then?�� He took another slug. “I’m drinking alone here.��

“Don’t you like my dancing?�� She asked, giving him a flawless view of her butt as she moved, running her hands over her thighs.

Jedd exhaled. “I do like your dancing, but I’m drinking alone, and I haven’t even seen your face.�� He tried a different tack. “I bet you have a lovely smile.��

She froze.

“Come on, let me see it. I bet you are beautiful.��

She turned around and tilted her head, regarding him.

“Go on. Let me see…�� He slurred. I shouldn’t have had another Jack. Then, as if to prove the point, he took another sip from his drink.

“I do have a beautiful smile,�� the girl said eventually. “I always smile.��

“See, I knew it. Come on then, take off that stu–that mask.��

She walked up to him and straddled his lap. “Okay.�� She stroked the hair on his head as he looked up at her blearily.

“My ex-boyfriend cheated on me, you know?��

For fuck’s sake. Who cares?

“Oh no, that’s terrible. Well, you’ve found me now.��

“He said it was because I never smiled.�� She reached up and took off the mask. “So I made it so I will smile forever.��

Bitch switched the drinks!

Jedd wasn’t listening. “Yer baych!�� He slurred, trying to push her away, but his arms were weak and she easily moved his arms to one side.

Her face had two giant scars from the corner of her lips up to the top of her jawline. Metal rings lined the scars as if they were reinforcing them. “It didn’t make a difference, it just made him grumpy. That is when I realised he was just a liar. So, as a parting gift, I made him smile too.��

She stroked Jedd’s cheek before pulling a knife from her clutch.

“Now, I make all the liars smile.��

If you enjoyed this free short story, then please consider or its sequel .

For more free stories, check out the links below:

: 101 FREE horror stories, including ‘��, ‘��, ‘��, ‘��, ‘��

: 53 horror stories, including ‘��, ‘��

Sweet screams!

Praise for Tales of the Macabre, Vol. 1
"This book was full of nail-biting moments. The book was full of variety that kept you engaged and wanting to read the next story"
"Newton Webb never disappoints. His debut collection includes most of his best stories, spanning a huge amount of time and going through a great variety of settings. Some are novelettes, others more of a typical short story length, always well written, with a fantastic use of the English language"
"These 16 scary stories are really, really good! My absolute favorites of the bunch were Festival of the Damned and The Heir Apparent (man, what a twist I was NOT expecting!)"
"This was a very enjoyable collection of eerily prophetic stories, full of variety and encompassing a world of demonic entities, cannibalism, ghouls, murder, ancient curses and deviant sex addiction. From folk horror to supernatural sci-fi tales, what more could you wish for? Each story slowly unfolds with a sense of unease and menace, complimented by many unexpected twists and turns. The moral theme of these stories would appear to be, 'be careful of what you wish for'. Highly recommended"

To read this story online, click .

If you enjoyed this free short story, then please consider or its sequel .

For more free stories, check out the links below:

: 101 FREE horror stories, including ‘��, ‘��, ‘��, ‘��, ‘��

: 53 horror stories, including ‘��, ‘��

Sweet screams!

Praise for Tales of the Macabre, Vol. 1
"This book was full of nail-biting moments. The book was full of variety that kept you engaged and wanting to read the next story"
"Newton Webb never disappoints. His debut collection includes most of his best stories, spanning a huge amount of time and going through a great variety of settings. Some are novelettes, others more of a typical short story length, always well written, with a fantastic use of the English language"
"These 16 scary stories are really, really good! My absolute favorites of the bunch were Festival of the Damned and The Heir Apparent (man, what a twist I was NOT expecting!)"
"This was a very enjoyable collection of eerily prophetic stories, full of variety and encompassing a world of demonic entities, cannibalism, ghouls, murder, ancient curses and deviant sex addiction. From folk horror to supernatural sci-fi tales, what more could you wish for? Each story slowly unfolds with a sense of unease and menace, complimented by many unexpected twists and turns. The moral theme of these stories would appear to be, 'be careful of what you wish for'. Highly recommended"

To read this story online, click .

If you enjoyed this free short story, then please consider or its sequel .

For more free stories, check out the links below:

: 101 FREE horror stories, including ‘��, ‘��, ‘��, ‘��, ‘��

: 53 horror stories, including ‘��, ‘��

Sweet screams!

Praise for Tales of the Macabre, Vol. 1
"This book was full of nail-biting moments. The book was full of variety that kept you engaged and wanting to read the next story"
"Newton Webb never disappoints. His debut collection includes most of his best stories, spanning a huge amount of time and going through a great variety of settings. Some are novelettes, others more of a typical short story length, always well written, with a fantastic use of the English language"
"These 16 scary stories are really, really good! My absolute favorites of the bunch were Festival of the Damned and The Heir Apparent (man, what a twist I was NOT expecting!)"
"This was a very enjoyable collection of eerily prophetic stories, full of variety and encompassing a world of demonic entities, cannibalism, ghouls, murder, ancient curses and deviant sex addiction. From folk horror to supernatural sci-fi tales, what more could you wish for? Each story slowly unfolds with a sense of unease and menace, complimented by many unexpected twists and turns. The moral theme of these stories would appear to be, 'be careful of what you wish for'. Highly recommended"