Hell and Back: A Short Story

by Joshua Scribner

The ghosts of one's past are the worst ghosts of all.

Genres: Short Stories, Horror, Thriller, Crime, Paranormal, Mystery, Suspense

10 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 25, 2011

About the author

Joshua Scribner is the author of the novels Mantis Nights, The Coma Lights and Nescata. His fiction won both second and fifth place in the 2008 Whispering Spirits Flash Fiction contest. Up to date information on his work can be found at joshuascribner.com. Joshua currently lives in Michigan with his wife and two daughters.

Reviews

[Rain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m still thinking about this one, and I love it when an author can do that to me.

Mind manipulation
Horror
Suicide attempts
Psychosis?
A second chance

I found it confusing yet also introspective. Five stars for writing such an interesting story, in so few pages.

*Thank you Dan for encouraging me to read this one!

[Lainy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very short story (will take you around 30 mins for even the slowest reader to get through). Imagine the most horrifying and baddest things you have done in your life and now its time to pay up. What goes around comes around and it is certainly the case in this wee story. Good pace and action and as it is free from Amazon for the kindle it is definately worth a look.

Will certainly be keeping an eye out for this author to read again, 3/5 for me.

[Becks! · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Matt Ferenczy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An intense brief story to enjoy with a Starbucks coffee while waiting for the bus home.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story. I've read four of this author's works in one night. He's very talented.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite like the writing of Joshua Scribner; you can read a good many of his books because he excels at short stories. He writes horror, dark thrillers taking you places you hoped your imagination wouldn’t be able to bring into focus.
I guess many people can have a dark thought or a sinister idea and death and worlds beyond. In the main this author has excellent idea and poses the ability to bring most of them into clever, frightening, soul-searching and chilling thrillers. Yet each seems to be original and rarely it seems does the same ground or similar themes dull their freshness.
Heaven and Hell are religious concepts and literary favourites that have been turned out ad infinitum.
It may not surprise you if you have been paying attention that Scribner spins an almost original tale of a contract killer unable to escape his organisation, hunted down he is left with taking his own life or risk a slow death by torture and everlasting pain.
A novel look at what ifs; reassessing a meagre life wasted and without redeeming qualities of a hitman no-one sheds a tear for his passing. Deserving of death and the chance of escaping the Hell of being on the run and fear of being captured.

[Nancy Jensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh the memories

Some ghosts are hard to get rid of no matter what we do to purge them. Liked the story and will read more from this author.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Willie Tantel joined the Organization at age 18.

Training, desensitization, programming, deprogramming, working as an assassin, hiding from the organization…being found.

Willie knows that hiding after his desertion is futile, yet he attempts nevertheless. But Scar finds Willie.

Fraught with danger…crazy visions from the past…crimes and victims. Trying to flee Scar and his men, permanently, without success…

Awesome ending. This author writes some of the strongest conclusions in horror/suspense.

Creepy story with a brilliant final twist.

[Sarah Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read by Scribner! This story makes you wish that you could have a second chance in life to do some things over or not do them at all.

It didn't take me long to read, but I'm glad that I DID read it.

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What if all the evil a person does in life comes back to visit them in death? That's the question posed by this short story. Fast paced and interesting look at the choices we make and where they can lead us.

[Griff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crazy good short story.... if only we all had second chances.

[Bill Tillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

To look at your life as one great mistake, then get the chance to change it.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mind candy. Not bad.

[CATHERINE · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing but original but alright.

[Tammy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Promising short but the ending ruined it for me.