THE UNSPEAKABLE HORROR!

a Trapped By Monsters story

with art by David Melling

(for the closest you’ll get to an explanation of what follows, click here)

Episode 1, by Sam Enthoven

‘Nails!’ barked the Grutler, giving the rusty pliers he carried a meaningful snip.

‘I’m trying!’ I sobbed back.

‘Nails! Now! Or Grutler takes your toes!‘

The Grutler’s visits began right after we were captured. Every night, without mercy, he came to each of us in our cells, demanding his strange tribute. Now, after over a year of our captivity, his sock of authors’ toenail clippings was almost full.

What did he want them for? For what unspeakable purpose could the Grutler possibly be doing this? Whatever the reason, my nails just couldn’t grow fast enough to satisfy him: they were clipped back to the quick, the skin cracked and bleeding. Still, bravely sniffing back a tear from the pain, I dug the surgical steel scissors in harder and squeezed.

SNAP! A razor-sharp fragment of the nail of my right big toe flew through the air… and into the Grutler’s eye.

‘AAAAAAGH!’ roared the Grutler, dropping his pliers.

‘Sorry!’ I said.

‘AAAAAAAAAAAGH!’ The Grutler clapped both hands over his injured eyeball, but I couldn’t help noticing the gouts of pale slime that appeared to be squirting rhythmically from between his fingers. I was still staring in horrified fascination as the Grutler fell to the pit floor, shuddered once, then was still.

Oh dear. One of our monster jailers lay dead – by my hand (or, um, toe).

‘Guys?’ I tried to keep the panic out of my voice as I called for my author colleagues in their cells. ‘Guys? I’ve got a bit of a problem here!’

Would the other authors leave me alone to suffer whatever dreadful retribution was in store for me when the Grutler’s body was discovered? Or had the time at last come for us to stand together, team up and make a break for freedom?

Click here for Episode 2, by Andy Briggs

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