32 Comments
User's avatar
Rebecca Poleto's avatar

Poor Billy! I really liked this story

Mata Haggis-Burridge's avatar

That could have gone many ways - I liked the choice!

Louis Urbanowski's avatar

Smashed it, John! As ever, an excellent story!

Psychic Medium, Donna Frasca's avatar

Carpet on the basement stairs? Fancy! 🙃

Nicolette - Horror Author's avatar

Poor Billy. Reminds me somehow of Dr Noonien Soong trying to perfect Lore, so that we could have Data. (Star Trek ref, for those that don't know what I'm talking about, lol)

John Watson - Horror Author's avatar

LOL. I’m glad you explained that one.

Moscanovski's avatar

Exceptional writing. Reminded me of my childhood.

M.O.Stewart Writes Dark Stuff's avatar

This is great! Puppets and automatons are something I love in horror. This particular relationship is very twisted Pinocchio!

John Watson - Horror Author's avatar

I love a good, creepy puppet story. The whole uncanny valley thing weirds me out.

Elizabeth Green's avatar

Excellent story. I thought I knew where it was going, but I was wrong in the best possible way. I particularly liked the line “Curiosity overcame obedience,” like going into the secret room when his father forbade it was a rite of passage.

Michael Hatcher's avatar

That's chilling, John!

Kimberly B🌴👻🌴's avatar

I was not expecting that!!! Love it!

Fragments and the Dark's avatar

Sad but brilliant! 🥰👍🏻

A. Dimitri's avatar

What?! 👏👏 Amazing story.

Histories & Hauntings's avatar

This is great

williamphaynes/elliott's avatar

That was different and a nice change of pace/ enjoyed

Teresa Dovalpage's avatar

Awesome story. Poor Billy!

Nicholas Samuel Stember's avatar

I liked it. A fun little story (I had something similar a while back, it's a great theme) :) Thanks for sharing it with us.