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Empathy
It begins with an email containing a link to a video that has to be seen to be believed. A video so horrific it stays in the mind long after it has been watched. And once it finds its way inside your mind, only then does the true nightmare begin.
From Bram Stoker Award-winning author Kealan Patrick Burke comes a terrifying story of supernatural horror and violence for the digital generation.
"In this exceptionally well-developed story, a man is so emotionally scarred by watching a torture scene on the internet (just out of curiosity), that he can't stop envisioning the visceral scene playing out again and again, especially on his family. Burke effectively gets us inside the mind of the haunted and obsessed, as the protagonist's nightmares seep progressively into his waking life...It's certainly worthy of an award for best scary novella of the year." - Michael Arnzen, The Goreletter
"Well crafted and disquieting" - Hank Wagner, Horror World
23 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 25, 2011
2 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
About the author
Kealan Patrick Burke
194 books2,325 followersHailed by Booklist as “one of the most clever and original talents in contemporary horror,” Kealan Patrick Burke was born and raised in Ireland and emigrated to the United States a few weeks before 9/11.
Since then, he has written six novels, among them the popular southern gothic Kin, and over two hundred short stories and novellas, many of which are in various stages of development for film/TV.
A five-time nominee, Burke won the Bram Stoker Award in 2005 for his coming-of-age novella The Turtle Boy, the first book in the acclaimed Timmy Quinn series.
As editor, he helmed the anthologies Night Visions 12, Taverns of the Dead, and Quietly Now, a tribute anthology to one of Burke’s influences, the late Charles L. Grant.
More recently, he wrote the screenplays for Sour Candy (based on his novella), and the remake of the iconic horror film The Changeling (1980), for producer Joel B. Michaels.
He also adapted Sour Candy as a graphic novel for John Carpenter's Night Terrors.
His most recent release is Cottonmouth, a prequel to Kin. The Widows of Winding Gale, a maritime horror novel set in Ireland, is due for release in October as a signed limited edition from Earthling Publications.
Kealan is represented by Merrilee Heifetz at Writers House.
He lives in Ohio with a Scooby Doo lookalike rescue named Red.
Since then, he has written six novels, among them the popular southern gothic Kin, and over two hundred short stories and novellas, many of which are in various stages of development for film/TV.
A five-time nominee, Burke won the Bram Stoker Award in 2005 for his coming-of-age novella The Turtle Boy, the first book in the acclaimed Timmy Quinn series.
As editor, he helmed the anthologies Night Visions 12, Taverns of the Dead, and Quietly Now, a tribute anthology to one of Burke’s influences, the late Charles L. Grant.
More recently, he wrote the screenplays for Sour Candy (based on his novella), and the remake of the iconic horror film The Changeling (1980), for producer Joel B. Michaels.
He also adapted Sour Candy as a graphic novel for John Carpenter's Night Terrors.
His most recent release is Cottonmouth, a prequel to Kin. The Widows of Winding Gale, a maritime horror novel set in Ireland, is due for release in October as a signed limited edition from Earthling Publications.
Kealan is represented by Merrilee Heifetz at Writers House.
He lives in Ohio with a Scooby Doo lookalike rescue named Red.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 12, 2022
Nothing more sinister than empathy.
What a dark, messed up, sad little story. I kept expecting this piece to go in one direction, but then it went somewhere totally different and caught me fully off-guard in the end. I love horror shorts with a technology element behind them, and the idea of a guy being this haunted by an online snuff film is one I hadn't seen written before, plus I always love Kealan's writing — needless to say, I enjoyed this a lot. 4.5 stars!
✨ Content warnings for:
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August 3, 2019
This is again a short story. It's creepy and their is a mystery and it was a really good read. This was also quite gruesome and spooky.✌
October 27, 2025
Chronicle of the Silent Witness:
A profound exploration of the role we play as absent witnesses and the solitary empathy felt for the tragedy of others. The importance of that role and its consequences. Because nothing is free.
The work stands as a dark metaphor for how the fascination with the forbidden —with that which should not be seen— is a slippery slope toward self-destruction, dragging its nearby orbit along with it.
Its final message, far from being exaggerated, resonates as a vital warning: depression and loneliness form a lethal duo, making professional help a crucial beacon.
(I understand why not everyone liked it. But as someone who has been exposed to that type of material, I truly resonated with it.)
A profound exploration of the role we play as absent witnesses and the solitary empathy felt for the tragedy of others. The importance of that role and its consequences. Because nothing is free.
The work stands as a dark metaphor for how the fascination with the forbidden —with that which should not be seen— is a slippery slope toward self-destruction, dragging its nearby orbit along with it.
Its final message, far from being exaggerated, resonates as a vital warning: depression and loneliness form a lethal duo, making professional help a crucial beacon.
(I understand why not everyone liked it. But as someone who has been exposed to that type of material, I truly resonated with it.)
July 27, 2020
A journalist starts having nightmares after seeing a video of a woman being tortured. The nightmares start to invade his life and his marriage. Chilling short story with a hint of the supernatural. Good without being great!
March 11, 2018
Новела, която хвърля още жарава в огъня на лудитите от нашето съвремие. Красиво написана и рационална, но и някак призрачно, мрачно нелогична.
Един журналист не може да се отърве от кошмарите, след като е изгледал клип на екзекуция на руска журналистка от чеченци. Негов приятел психолог предполага, че е развил пост травматичен стрес(вече не е коректно да му се вика така, но да пукна ако знам модерното наименование) подобен на този при завърналите се от война. Докато успее да се ориентира и да му помогне с помощта на съпругата му, кризите достигат до брутална психо-соматична форма и... няма да разказвам повече.
Пак казвам, малко ми е наивен, но си заслужава дори само заради невероятно красивия език.
Един журналист не може да се отърве от кошмарите, след като е изгледал клип на екзекуция на руска журналистка от чеченци. Негов приятел психолог предполага, че е развил пост травматичен стрес(вече не е коректно да му се вика така, но да пукна ако знам модерното наименование) подобен на този при завърналите се от война. Докато успее да се ориентира и да му помогне с помощта на съпругата му, кризите достигат до брутална психо-соматична форма и... няма да разказвам повече.
Пак казвам, малко ми е наивен, но си заслужава дори само заради невероятно красивия език.
May 25, 2020
Pure and utter garbage. Reading this was such a waste of time. What a lame, boring, mediocre and extremely annoying short story. I obviously didn't like it but not just that, I dispised it. For starters is so so soo boring that, even though is 23 pages long, I had to put it away more that once because I couldn't care less about the story nor the characters so it took me HOURS to finish it.
Second, I didn't see the point of the story. Yeah, "cool" idea trying to make "Empathy" scary by combining a known psychological disorder, a long-dated unexplained phenomenon mostly related to religion and a frightening reality of the digital age to ground the tale; I'll give the author that. At least he includes relatable elements as points of reference... But really, what's the point? Towards what are those elements oriented? To scare and that's it? Or to make the reader think? On both he does a pretty lousy job, at least for me. It's really a pointless story.
After how boring it is at the beginning it becomes repetitive and precludes any effectiveness to make the "horrific" stuff described scary which just leads to no other reaction but yawning or rolling one's eyes. Finally when it comes to the last portion of the story the "explanations" become so but soo outlandish, ludacris, ridiculous and so far streched that it's not just plain not-believable but so far out that any credibility, convincing and good faith the reader might had until that point to the well-intended attempt of the author to fulfill the original goal to sell empathy as scary is lost completely.
Don't read it.
Second, I didn't see the point of the story. Yeah, "cool" idea trying to make "Empathy" scary by combining a known psychological disorder, a long-dated unexplained phenomenon mostly related to religion and a frightening reality of the digital age to ground the tale; I'll give the author that. At least he includes relatable elements as points of reference... But really, what's the point? Towards what are those elements oriented? To scare and that's it? Or to make the reader think? On both he does a pretty lousy job, at least for me. It's really a pointless story.
After how boring it is at the beginning it becomes repetitive and precludes any effectiveness to make the "horrific" stuff described scary which just leads to no other reaction but yawning or rolling one's eyes. Finally when it comes to the last portion of the story the "explanations" become so but soo outlandish, ludacris, ridiculous and so far streched that it's not just plain not-believable but so far out that any credibility, convincing and good faith the reader might had until that point to the well-intended attempt of the author to fulfill the original goal to sell empathy as scary is lost completely.
Don't read it.
January 26, 2012
Chilling and original story.
November 24, 2017
Creepy. I feel very on edge after reading this story. This author is good!!!
January 31, 2019
This teeny story packs a truly scary punch.
July 31, 2020
This one should have been left in the drawer.
October 14, 2021
It scares me to think that we could witness something,
that would not only give us PTSD...but kill us.
Here's a tip:
Don't ever watch a "snuff" film...
November 7, 2022
YIKES how psychologically spooky!
January 16, 2012
Great story that leaves you unsettled, especially since the central idea - stumbling across a website that shows real deaths - is so real. I unfortunately found one of those sites years ago, and it does stay with you. I kind of wish it had just stuck with the theme of empathy in our modern world of horrific images available at the tips of our fingers. I think it would have been more affecting that way. The supernatural aspect feels like it should have been left out.
August 26, 2013
This short story was great as a little time-filler. However I did expect something a little meatier, a little less predictable and not so many questions at the abrupt ending. I also found the whole premise very unrealistic which is usually fine, it's fiction after all, but I would like an explanation for a what has just happened even if it's just as unrealistic as the story. If I have to come to my own conclusions for so much, I might as well write the story myself!
July 14, 2014
Just read this because I've been a big fan of the author's other short stories and this was no different. It was a quick read, just about 20 minutes but plunged me into the damaged psyche of someone who accidentally ended up in a nightmarish existence. The characterization of the main character was almost too good, because in a weird way I was feeling empathy for him ironically. Good stuff :D.
December 19, 2011
I once watched an on line video much like the one in this story. It's been years and it still bothers me quite a bit. When I think of it now, I still get that faint feeling that made me turn the damn thing off way back when.
Let's just say I didn't sleep well after reading this.
Let's just say I didn't sleep well after reading this.
May 12, 2012
Blimey ! I'm so worried I might be next on the line now ! After all if it can happen through watching a video then reading a book is no safer! So glad I didn't read it last night !
Totally disturbing short story ! Loved it !
Totally disturbing short story ! Loved it !
June 10, 2011
One of the creepiest things I've read in years.
August 19, 2011
Great story; review to come soon at Xomba.
September 21, 2011
Gripping, 'made my skin crawl', horror short.
April 22, 2015
Great read! Actually made the :-O face.
June 2, 2018
Dated: 2nd of June, 2018...
In last two and three days I was not in myself. Totally devastated by my mind I was looking for a really good book to read not just good but more than good of course for a strong come back. And here it is again the master of horror Kealan Patrick Burke did satisfies my needs one more time...
Before I proceed I want to clarify one thing first that if you still didn't read this authors work then I must say you have no good taste in horror literature and again of course I mean it with no freaking doubt at all...
Just speaking some personal matter for a while that it was really tough time for me in last 2 to 3 days. Well I am not going to elaborate that but I was deliberately switching from one book to another. I just sy could not settle into one but but getting frustrated time to time. So finally I decided to choose this author it was then that moment I knew that I was not wrong. But of course I am indeed doing the right thing. So nevermind the fact is you do have to fight to make yourself better no matter how much time unit. You just have to face it by your ownself. Lesson learned obviously...
A husband who happened to watch banned film or say a type of film that you never wanted to see in your life. If you know what I mean. Will the prime character of this story one day suddenly he found in email in his email address with link of a horrific video. It was a video of air traumatic or see more violent Murder. Will watched that and day by day whenever he tried to getting a good sleep he always visualise that same horrific Murder of that Russian women. But this time whenever he visualise that it was more horrific than ever. And the result of it well I do not want to spoil the story but of course I really felt very sorry for him and for his wife Melanie...
5 out of 5...
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews