44 Comments

Every time I get a cake with candles , i blow them out and close my eyes, quietly mumble the wish then open them and sigh loudly and grumble... "You're all still here then."

they think im joking.

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😳🤣

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YOU DID IT I love it!!! HOW CREEPY

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Thanks! I hope you now understand why it disturbed me so much (I'm over it now) 😂

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congrats on second place! I would have put you first but its a matter of taste up to a point. i love the more direct horror in this one!

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Ah thanks Nick! Leigh is a phenomenal writer though. One of her short stories (The Effigy) was the first story I ever read on Substack and I still think about it.

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ill try and find that one!

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Oooff. Another exceptional story, Stephen - nobody writes horror like you do! Poor, old Alice. I'm not even sure how much she deserves it... Did she kill him? Or did she just wish that him dead, as I'm sure a lot of other people do about their siblings sometimes?? I love the uncertainty!

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Thank you so much! No she never really deserved it, an innocent wish that he brother would disappear 💔

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Oh bless her cotton socks! Now i feel bad for doubting her integrity! 😅

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Wow, fantastic! I took a risk and read this before bed and that may or may not have been a good idea. I read it three times and then kept going over it in bed. Such a gripping story - literally!

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Thank you, Daniel. I'm so glad you enjoyed it 🖤

Reading it 3 times is wild though 😂

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To be honest, I don’t read a ton of short stories, one reason being my attention wanders and I struggle to focus in the first few moments or pages. So if it’s a collection of, say, 25 short stories over 200 pages, I find it tricky to keep rereading those first few pages of each one before moving on. I feel like it slows me down. If it’s a 200 page book, I only need to do that once and then I can easily continue reading along. Make sense?

But also, with your story, I just enjoyed the language and the suspense and the way it built and I was rereading to be sure I understood it correctly and to study your techniques. It’s such a talent to write like that, I’m in awe of this kind of suspenseful writing.

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Wow, I don't know what to say to that, other than thank you very much. Too kind, really.

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Oh man! Definitely a Drag Me To Hell vibe. Nice!

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Yes!!! Those demons have been trying to get a bank loan for years 😂❤️

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I loved it!

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Thanks Reda! Hope you're well ❤️

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Oct 19·edited Oct 19Liked by Stephen Duffy

So good, Stephen! You really pulled me into that kitchen with all the sights and smells. Having her tortured brother sleep in his old bed next to Alice was absolutely terrifying. Nicely done, man.

I happen to be born on Halloween. When I was young, my grandmother made me a ghost cake every year with eggshell eyes that held a little denatured alcohol she would light with a match. The eyes would burn that weird flickering blue glow until I blew them out. And I used to think THAT was creepy...

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Thanks Shane! 🖤

I really wanted the reader to feel that something was very wrong before anything had actually happened (hence the depressing kitchen/dining room). And yes, the idea of them sharing a room really freaked me out, so I knew the readers would feel the same.

And just the thought of your birthday cake is giving me the creeps! 💀👻

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Oh, so good! I want the whole story, in book form! And another book telling all about how Jack went on from the day he gave up his sister. This is a terrific premise!

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Thanks Liz! I'd love a picture book of this, maybe I'll comission one 😁

And who knows, maybe one day we'll see Jack again 🤷‍♂️

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Jeeeeesus, man. *Slow, stunned applause*

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Thanks Lewis, too kind 🖤🙏

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I thought I knew where this was going but nope. I did not see any of it coming. Kudos

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Thanks Jared 🖤

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That was deliciously dark. Loved it!

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Thank you! It was fun to write after the initial trauma settled 😂

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Ok, I love this! Now I want cake haha

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🤣 A pleasant side-effect.

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Very!

Speaking of, you should check out the show Killer Cakes

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Scary cakes? I'm in 👌🏻

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I think you'll like it! Considering you watch the british bake off haha

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And Nailed it 😂🙌🏻

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LOL

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I don't want cake now. Boo. Haaaa....

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Sorry 😂🙈

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With a little of the monkey's paw thrown in, but taken to a wholly original level with your customary beautiful descriptive touches," A thin trail of smoke rose from the wax, the sharp smell filling the room."

I loved it and, of course, want to know more about everyone in the story. Why was Jack sent to the 'Demonic Domain?" What is the secret about Alice and her magic? My brain is frantically trying to answer those questions.

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Thank you, Sandy! I'll do a post in a day or two with some more info 👍🏻

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Stephen! haha Very nice.

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Thanks Sean! Glad its out of my head now lol.

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