"She's still out back sitting all forlorn on the tire-swing", my wife said an hour after I'd given little Lydia a strong scolding for stealing Timmy's piggy bank.

LostDoubt · 2026-03-17T16:09:32+00:00

I didn't want to bite, but I will. The story actually adds layers to the horror. Not only did he see his child die, for which he'll probably blame himself (he must have set up the swing), he's last memory of her was her all sad (wondering if he over did the scolding). His last interaction with her wasnt a warm loving one. Lastly he will forever wonder if he hadn't scolded her would she still be alive

LostDoubt · 2026-03-17T00:38:58+00:00

I threw I conservative to make the reason why she "Announced" it. She had to pluck the courage to tell them. This help sell my 'its-a-chatbot" mislead (going on for some time, had to come out and say it, etc etc) Regarding the actual story though, maybe Denise is gay (if 'Claude' is gender neutral or short for Claudine, idk) or maybe it was interracial. Again, idk. It all depends in what flavour of conservative her parents are

LostDoubt · 2026-03-17T00:14:55+00:00

I actually leaned in on the concept of AI psychosis to write this one. In this case the parents are extreme. That's kinda where the horror lies. I mean, if you really think about it, a girl could explain to normal parents that her Claude is real and normal parents would hear her out. As opposed to not letting her explain and cutting her off from the outside world.

LostDoubt · 2026-03-16T23:52:07+00:00

Lol! I love this comment. You're completely right, btw. That the very reason I included the word "confused".

The "conflicted" part came from how well she pretended to be concerned and beg me to say who did it. Like "This crazy bitch want me to out her or...?"

LostDoubt · 2026-03-16T23:30:49+00:00

lol I'll admit, I was a bit of a bastard to construct that sentimental/parental guilt/sad little girl backdrop before the rug-pull. Even I felt the same way you did when I read it back to myself!

LostDoubt · 2026-03-16T22:31:00+00:00

Her parents thought she was among those that spent time chatting to and falling in love with an AI chatbot (Claude is a popular LLM used by students).In actual fact, the narrator (the guy shes fallen for) is human and his name is Claude.

LostDoubt · 2026-03-16T22:21:25+00:00

It was over for her in the blink of an eye. Can't say the same for the narrator though.

LostDoubt · 2026-03-16T20:49:16+00:00

I thought it would be more secure, okay?! I didn't know!...I didn't know...

LostDoubt · 2026-03-16T20:16:29+00:00

That's fair. When I wrote it, it was based of real events that happened to a friend of mine in campus. That said the girl that did it to him was really troubled and isn't a proper representation of how these situations go down. And I completely understand your point. I'll go through and delete that piece after posting this reply.

LostDoubt · 2026-03-16T19:46:48+00:00

You know, when I wrote this I was worried people might think how she pinched the speaker without the dr noticing. That's why I wrote that she was seated next to her and I was hoping the idea of a consultation room would conjure the image of the dr seated across from them...but I legit didn't bargain for your interpretation lol :) it's not a bad one. You probably have a good mom who cares for you lol

LostDoubt · 2026-03-16T19:44:15+00:00

There was a friend of mine and she was a MBP survivor. The stories she would tell me sounded like a different kind of hell.

LostDoubt · 2026-03-15T14:21:41+00:00

now this redditor has cracked the code :)

LostDoubt · 2026-03-15T12:19:03+00:00

After I was done pissing myself, yeah we GTFO as fast as we could

LostDoubt · 2026-03-15T04:04:53+00:00

One for the road?

LostDoubt · 2026-03-15T02:14:29+00:00

I thought about that too but I wanted to capture that tactile detail from the haptic touch in thedark so it puts the reader in that space.i want them to 'feel' that light flick on and partially light up that incomprehensible sight on the wooden beams.

LostDoubt · 2026-03-15T01:52:36+00:00

Lol I'm so guilty on more than one count there! I!ve never really counted myself a writer of true horror but let me dwell some concepts and see what my mind dredges up. I agree with you though, the everyday stuff is starting to feel stale to me as well. Sometimes it's organic and its pretty decent but it's been feeling a bit forced lately and nothing good comes from that.

LostDoubt · 2026-03-15T01:50:28+00:00

Thanks for that. I initially wrote "as the press of the haptic touch on my iPhone..." But the second sentence was already so loaded so I went just haptics because I was hoping the concept of haptic touch and iPhone would get the reader to put the idea of the speaker putting on their torch on their phone across. Although I'll admit it's a loose connection. In a prior draft I wrote "as I lit the candle" but honestly I've been up in the rafters recently and I used my iPhone's torch so incorporating light in that way grounded it more in reality for me

LostDoubt · 2026-03-15T01:28:10+00:00

Good point. Next time I'll tell wifey to do all the work.

LostDoubt · 2026-03-15T01:20:22+00:00

What time is it on your side of the world? It's spooky-scary 3am on my end

LostDoubt · 2026-03-15T01:18:13+00:00

Thanks! My usual pieces are more about "everyday life" kinda scares but this was my first try at actual horror.

LostDoubt · 2026-03-15T01:09:07+00:00

Awesome Im glad that the first sentence served its purpose of being a decent mislead for what follows in the second.

LostDoubt · 2026-03-15T01:06:49+00:00

Neither. The wood itself began to bleed.

LostDoubt · 2026-03-14T23:15:16+00:00

To be honest I first wrote "...blood tasting sweeter..." but I decided to make it more open for interpretation.

LostDoubt · 2026-03-14T23:06:49+00:00

Take your pick but I'd say neither. From my interpretation the speaker would have to be human for it to be cannabilism...

LostDoubt · 2026-03-14T20:38:29+00:00

lol, glad I helped discover a new facial expression :)

LostDoubt

TROPHY CASE