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Watcher
The stalker – spending his time observing, following, studying those who he calls his Play Mates. His victims – spending their time living their lives, going about their daily routines, oblivious to the fact they have been singled out, have been selected to participate in the End Game.
Driven by a need even he doesn’t fully understand, the stalker is compelled to play his game until the very end, compelled to ensure he and his chosen Play Mate are locked together, as close as lovers, as the End Game concludes. It is his game. They are his rules.
But what would happen if one of his victims refuses to play his game, refuses to abide by his rules. Would the End Game be completed, as dictated by the stalker’s primal urges, or would a new and even more sinister game be created?
He watches, that’s what he does.
Can you feel his eyes upon you?
Driven by a need even he doesn’t fully understand, the stalker is compelled to play his game until the very end, compelled to ensure he and his chosen Play Mate are locked together, as close as lovers, as the End Game concludes. It is his game. They are his rules.
But what would happen if one of his victims refuses to play his game, refuses to abide by his rules. Would the End Game be completed, as dictated by the stalker’s primal urges, or would a new and even more sinister game be created?
He watches, that’s what he does.
Can you feel his eyes upon you?
- GenresHorror
45 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
1 person is currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Alen B. Curtiss
1 book28 followersBorn in the southern counties of England, Alen has travelled extensively throughout the UK, living for a time in most of it’s various different regions.
Now settled – for the time being – in the Lake District, Cumbria (local to Penrith), he has decided to dedicate his time to one of his greatest passions – writing. An avid reader, and a big fan of horror, fantasy, sci-fi, adventure, and anything else in between, Alen has decided to write in all the various styles that he loves.
With numerous short stories published in print and online publications, a well received short story published on Amazon Kindle, and various other short stories and novels being worked on when he can, Alen spends most of his time freelance writing for an eclectic mix of clients. He has also ghostwritten several works for a number of individuals.
As he has said – “Storytelling is a passion of mine, and being able to earn a living from it is a great privilege. To imagine a story, to be able to create places, characters, entire worlds, and be lucky enough to have the opportunity to share these creations with other people – well, what could be better than that? They say a journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step. I say a journey into the fabulous unknown begins with the first word on a blank page. Now, where’s the wine?”
You can email Alen direct at: info@alenbcurtiss.com
For more information and stories, follow Alen's blog:
www.alenbcurtiss.wordpress.com
You can connect with Alen on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/ABCurtiss.writer
You can follow Alen on Twitter @
www.twitter.com/ABCurtisss
Now settled – for the time being – in the Lake District, Cumbria (local to Penrith), he has decided to dedicate his time to one of his greatest passions – writing. An avid reader, and a big fan of horror, fantasy, sci-fi, adventure, and anything else in between, Alen has decided to write in all the various styles that he loves.
With numerous short stories published in print and online publications, a well received short story published on Amazon Kindle, and various other short stories and novels being worked on when he can, Alen spends most of his time freelance writing for an eclectic mix of clients. He has also ghostwritten several works for a number of individuals.
As he has said – “Storytelling is a passion of mine, and being able to earn a living from it is a great privilege. To imagine a story, to be able to create places, characters, entire worlds, and be lucky enough to have the opportunity to share these creations with other people – well, what could be better than that? They say a journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step. I say a journey into the fabulous unknown begins with the first word on a blank page. Now, where’s the wine?”
You can email Alen direct at: info@alenbcurtiss.com
For more information and stories, follow Alen's blog:
www.alenbcurtiss.wordpress.com
You can connect with Alen on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/ABCurtiss.writer
You can follow Alen on Twitter @
www.twitter.com/ABCurtisss
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 4, 2013
It's a short read, but entertaining. The story is that of a peeping Tom and the End Game he plays with the women he is stalking. It's graphic, but there are plenty of twists and turns in this short story. There are really only two characters, but both were well developed. Great action and a wonderful quick read.
July 7, 2013
Wow! This was an extremely short story, but very effective! The author did an excellent job of pulling everything together in such a short time; the only thing that comes to mind is "The Twilight Zone". What a scary thought!
July 4, 2013
It's not often that we get to crawl inside the mind of a killer and stay there; rarer still that the cesspit is exposed as much more than an excuse for random blood and guts. The Watcher allows us both.
A piece of short fiction, The Watcher goes into perversely loving detail as we are presented with the titular character's attack on a young woman... and the surprising aftermath. I'm known to have a sick enjoyment of things that leave me feeling filthy and unclean - tend to rate such things as being much more difficult to achieve than the usual happy thoughts or scary stuff; 8MM, for example, is one of my favorite movies for this reason - and this managed that feat quite easily. The language, the hints of what led to The Watcher's state of mind and his increasing mental instability as the siege continues were all well done and vividly presented, focusing on smell and taste - I'll never look at gumdrops quite the same way again, I'll tell you that - as much as the usual sight and sound.
Only a few small quibbled prevented me from flagging this as five stars; first, some of the language is a trifle awkward or repetitive. Not a huge amount, and not really what it was docked for, but there was more than one moment where I paused upon seeing the same word for the third or fourth time on a page. Second was the focus on the victim; her backstory was interesting enough but I felt it toned it back too much when we popped into her head to "take a break" as it were from The Watcher; disgusting though he may be, I think there would have been a little more "oomph" if we were with him the whole time. Lastly, the ending. I like it, I do, and part of me says that it makes the victim's chapters necessary in its way, but I felt it was a little too foreshadowed and predictable by the time it came. It's not all bad, as it at least doesn't take the typical slasher-film route, nor does it give you the snuggle-bunny feeling of "It's all okay, now," so bonus points for being original. Just not quite what I was hoping for.
There's also the tightrope issue of wanting more. Short fiction always has that abyss yawning below, while the author skips across, trying to keep a balance between word-glut and not telling enough; to be certain, leaving the readers wanting to know more is usually a good thing, but at the same time too much left unsaid can sometimes stifle the enjoyment. I think this one stays on the "good questions left" side of things, but I'd still like to see more. Expansion on The Watcher's youth and early "career" would be a fascinating read, I suspect. While one can make some educated guesses on why he is the way he is (there's certainly a handful of clues scattered about), the warped part of me would have liked more of the psychology behind him. Of course, that could very easily balloon up to novel-length, which might kill the charm of being inside The Watcher's head.
Overall, though, a pleasing read for those who don't mind getting their hands (and minds) dirty. Great presentation, good characterization, and a twist ending put it well ahead of the pack.
A piece of short fiction, The Watcher goes into perversely loving detail as we are presented with the titular character's attack on a young woman... and the surprising aftermath. I'm known to have a sick enjoyment of things that leave me feeling filthy and unclean - tend to rate such things as being much more difficult to achieve than the usual happy thoughts or scary stuff; 8MM, for example, is one of my favorite movies for this reason - and this managed that feat quite easily. The language, the hints of what led to The Watcher's state of mind and his increasing mental instability as the siege continues were all well done and vividly presented, focusing on smell and taste - I'll never look at gumdrops quite the same way again, I'll tell you that - as much as the usual sight and sound.
Only a few small quibbled prevented me from flagging this as five stars; first, some of the language is a trifle awkward or repetitive. Not a huge amount, and not really what it was docked for, but there was more than one moment where I paused upon seeing the same word for the third or fourth time on a page. Second was the focus on the victim; her backstory was interesting enough but I felt it toned it back too much when we popped into her head to "take a break" as it were from The Watcher; disgusting though he may be, I think there would have been a little more "oomph" if we were with him the whole time. Lastly, the ending. I like it, I do, and part of me says that it makes the victim's chapters necessary in its way, but I felt it was a little too foreshadowed and predictable by the time it came. It's not all bad, as it at least doesn't take the typical slasher-film route, nor does it give you the snuggle-bunny feeling of "It's all okay, now," so bonus points for being original. Just not quite what I was hoping for.
There's also the tightrope issue of wanting more. Short fiction always has that abyss yawning below, while the author skips across, trying to keep a balance between word-glut and not telling enough; to be certain, leaving the readers wanting to know more is usually a good thing, but at the same time too much left unsaid can sometimes stifle the enjoyment. I think this one stays on the "good questions left" side of things, but I'd still like to see more. Expansion on The Watcher's youth and early "career" would be a fascinating read, I suspect. While one can make some educated guesses on why he is the way he is (there's certainly a handful of clues scattered about), the warped part of me would have liked more of the psychology behind him. Of course, that could very easily balloon up to novel-length, which might kill the charm of being inside The Watcher's head.
Overall, though, a pleasing read for those who don't mind getting their hands (and minds) dirty. Great presentation, good characterization, and a twist ending put it well ahead of the pack.
October 12, 2013
Be the Voyeur and the Target
In Watcher, by Alen B. Curtiss, voyeurism or peeping tom behavior escalates from looking in the window to stalking and beyond. As the story unfolds, the past history and the actions of the Watcher both horrify and fascinate.
As the reader, I enjoyed the change of perspective between the watcher and his target. The thought processes of the voyeur were explored, and I got some sense of his motivations. It was particularly poignant to read the hopes and dreams of the victim. She comes across as motivated, goal-oriented, and willing to work hard for success. Knowing what's ahead for her adds to the spine-chilling effectiveness of the story.
The ending of the story is a surprise, and takes a totally unexpected twist.
In Watcher, by Alen B. Curtiss, voyeurism or peeping tom behavior escalates from looking in the window to stalking and beyond. As the story unfolds, the past history and the actions of the Watcher both horrify and fascinate.
As the reader, I enjoyed the change of perspective between the watcher and his target. The thought processes of the voyeur were explored, and I got some sense of his motivations. It was particularly poignant to read the hopes and dreams of the victim. She comes across as motivated, goal-oriented, and willing to work hard for success. Knowing what's ahead for her adds to the spine-chilling effectiveness of the story.
The ending of the story is a surprise, and takes a totally unexpected twist.
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April 9, 2014I liked the way that this book gets you hooked from the beginning! From the get go, "he is watching" and the reader is pulled right in with him. You get a good view into who this man is and what his tendencies are. This all is explained through his actions, past endeavors and the author's graphic explanation of character.
The killer's obsession with the End Game catches you and stays with you even after the read. The thought process of the sick and obsessed mind of a serial killer was very intriguing to say the least and I thought this author caught it and shared it well in this quick read.
Even the latest victim questions her belief in the killer's possible reality!
The killer's obsession with the End Game catches you and stays with you even after the read. The thought process of the sick and obsessed mind of a serial killer was very intriguing to say the least and I thought this author caught it and shared it well in this quick read.
Even the latest victim questions her belief in the killer's possible reality!
July 14, 2013
Intense and suspenseful! Keeps you on the edge of your seat. Fast-paced short read. I chose to read it because I'm a Dexter fan and always interesting to get inside the mind of the evil-doer.
Love the end...
A little more polishing would get the 5 star.
Love the end...
A little more polishing would get the 5 star.
October 20, 2014
I really liked this novella. As you begin reading, you are looking into the thoughts of a stalker. We begin to get snippets that add to the image of our watcher. He is a handsome man, and he has been at one time confined in an institution. He believes that his ‘prey” is a willing participant in his game. He has killed often, and he believes that he immortalizes his victims by breathing into himself their last breath. He seems to be your stock serial killer; he is smart, cunning, and delusional. He follows and spies on his victims waiting for a ‘sign’ from each one to signal that the time is right for their ‘endgame.’ As the story opens, he is in fact casing his latest victim.
The story is very well written; there are no bothersome errors in spelling or confusing sentences. The narrative is clear and evocative; the voice of the serial killer is compelling and believable. The suspense is thick, and your interest is engaged immediately. There is not a single boring moment from start to finish. The ending is quite a surprising one; I never expected it.
This is the first story I read by this author. It was a very fast read since it is really a short story. I was left wishing that it was longer. I will definitely read more of his work. Do I recommend it? Yes, absolutely. Be warned, there are quite a few explicit words used and strong content; there should be a caution for younger readers.
The story is very well written; there are no bothersome errors in spelling or confusing sentences. The narrative is clear and evocative; the voice of the serial killer is compelling and believable. The suspense is thick, and your interest is engaged immediately. There is not a single boring moment from start to finish. The ending is quite a surprising one; I never expected it.
This is the first story I read by this author. It was a very fast read since it is really a short story. I was left wishing that it was longer. I will definitely read more of his work. Do I recommend it? Yes, absolutely. Be warned, there are quite a few explicit words used and strong content; there should be a caution for younger readers.
October 23, 2014
You’re in for a gruesomely horrific treat with Alen B. Curtiss’ “Watcher.” I’m tempted to compare this short story with the early works of Stephen King or, for a particular story, Dean Koontz’ “Intensity.” Mr. Curtiss (as Koontz in his novel) describes much of the action in the story via the main character’s thoughts. Still, this author is truly in a class of his own; a high level to be sure.
The insanity of the watcher is immediately prevalent as he goes about playing his game and continues into an occasional back-story that firmly establishes the character. His current victim, however, proves difficult and the author does an excellent job of charting her course from a confident, ex-military woman to desperate to paralytically frightened victim to…well, I won’t spoil the show here. Woven throughout the tale are several unexpected plot twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat through to the conclusion, which if you’re like me…will knock your socks off.
Mr. Curtiss’ writing style is clean and easy to follow without excessive narrative detail that allows the reader to utilize their own imagination to color the pictures he provides. I highly recommend this story to all horror, speculative fiction fans. I’m looking forward to finding and reading more of this author’s works.
The insanity of the watcher is immediately prevalent as he goes about playing his game and continues into an occasional back-story that firmly establishes the character. His current victim, however, proves difficult and the author does an excellent job of charting her course from a confident, ex-military woman to desperate to paralytically frightened victim to…well, I won’t spoil the show here. Woven throughout the tale are several unexpected plot twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat through to the conclusion, which if you’re like me…will knock your socks off.
Mr. Curtiss’ writing style is clean and easy to follow without excessive narrative detail that allows the reader to utilize their own imagination to color the pictures he provides. I highly recommend this story to all horror, speculative fiction fans. I’m looking forward to finding and reading more of this author’s works.
August 14, 2013
I've often wondered, when I hear about a serial killer, what was he thinking? When he killed all those people, what in he world was going on in his head. The Watcher by Alen B. Curtiss puts you inside the head of a serial killer and spins you around.
The book is haunting, exciting and scary. Watcher is a page turner. An easy read that draws you in and holds you there.
The narrative tells a story that creates a feeling of authenticity even though there are hints of the supernatural.
I didn't like the switching of back and forth between the characters when it retold the same parts of the story, just from the other character's POV. It seemed redundant and made the story lose its momentum and intrigue. Also, the side statements, in parentheses seemed inappropriate for the most part. The idea was good but the dialogue didn't fit.
Overall, Watcher is a short read but a very enjoyable one and I would readily recommend this book to anyone.
The book is haunting, exciting and scary. Watcher is a page turner. An easy read that draws you in and holds you there.
The narrative tells a story that creates a feeling of authenticity even though there are hints of the supernatural.
I didn't like the switching of back and forth between the characters when it retold the same parts of the story, just from the other character's POV. It seemed redundant and made the story lose its momentum and intrigue. Also, the side statements, in parentheses seemed inappropriate for the most part. The idea was good but the dialogue didn't fit.
Overall, Watcher is a short read but a very enjoyable one and I would readily recommend this book to anyone.
October 23, 2013
A short story of horror, Watcher goes into the mind and acts of a grizzly stalker, rapist and killer. The killer's motivation are thoroughly hashed out, and how you think the story will play out, thankfully, does not. Instead, the story ends with a not-so-nice (pun intended) twist. Some of the storyline could have been developed and "shown" more instead of being "told," however, linger questions keep you intrigued even after the story ends. In the whole, this was an entertaining story into a demented mind.
July 30, 2013
Watcher grabbed my attention from the first line and held it to the very last. I usually stay away from stories such as Watcher because they hang in my mind and scare me witless. This short horror is perfectly written and structured. The killer has an agenda and women beware! The game must be played. The stalker's rules, the stalker's game . . . until he chooses a victim who knows exactly how to play games. You will NOT guess the ending!
January 6, 2014
This is the first story I've read by this author, but I'll watch (no pun intended) for more. I was captured by the first paragraph. As the tale unfolds, the tension builds. With limited dialogue, the author places the reader inside the minds of the two main characters. The suspense continues throughout, until the unexpected ending brings everything together for what I thought was a very good story.
July 11, 2013
A great story, a fast read. Very captivating storyline, should yield a possible second book if the author chooses to.
October 5, 2014
What a creepy, paranormal, psychological predatory / prey story. From the beginning, the tale draws you into the mind of the killer. During the course of the story, Curtiss slowly fills in the questions, what is the End Game? What is the killer’s motivation? This type of story should make you look nervously outside your windows, wondering, is there someone watching me. Even walking down the street, Has someone targeted you? I did figure out the twist 2/3 into the story, but it didn’t detract from the ending, which I thought was perfect.
This is a well written story that I highly recommend. A great Halloween read. I give it 5 feathers.
This is a well written story that I highly recommend. A great Halloween read. I give it 5 feathers.
October 9, 2014
What a creepy, paranormal, psychological predatory / prey story. From the beginning, the tale draws you into the mind of the killer. During the course of the story, Curtiss slowly fills in the questions, what is the End Game? What is the killer’s motivation? This type of story should make you look nervously outside your windows, wondering, is there someone watching me? Even walking down the street, Has someone targeted you? I did figure out the twist 2/3 into the story, but it didn’t detract from the ending, which I thought was perfect.
This is a well written story that I highly recommend. A great Halloween read. I give it 5 feathers.
This is a well written story that I highly recommend. A great Halloween read. I give it 5 feathers.
October 21, 2014
Don't read this one just before bed - especially on a dark, late night when you're alone. You'll want to get up and make sure those curtains are closed...
A crazed creep, watching and stalking his prey, who's fortunately not entirely defenceless, but the ending...well, I don't do spoilers, so all I'll say is that it's intriguing. The stalker's perspective is enough to churn your stomach, that's for sure.
A well-written short story to keep you up at night.
A crazed creep, watching and stalking his prey, who's fortunately not entirely defenceless, but the ending...well, I don't do spoilers, so all I'll say is that it's intriguing. The stalker's perspective is enough to churn your stomach, that's for sure.
A well-written short story to keep you up at night.
January 5, 2015
This is the first time I've read anything by this author and I was impressed.
Watcher is a short read in which majority of the time is spent in the distorted mind of a stalker and his weird yet interesting mindset. His Endgame.
Again, I liked how the author was able to push us into the mind of this stalker and I was able (and sometimes, didn't want to) understand his crazy thoughts and his creepy fascination about those he chose as his victims.
This was a quick and interesting read.
Watcher is a short read in which majority of the time is spent in the distorted mind of a stalker and his weird yet interesting mindset. His Endgame.
Again, I liked how the author was able to push us into the mind of this stalker and I was able (and sometimes, didn't want to) understand his crazy thoughts and his creepy fascination about those he chose as his victims.
This was a quick and interesting read.
January 17, 2015
This is a perfect example of not only a novella, but a well-crafted horror story. Excellent plot build-up, wonderful character build-up on the stalker, and an unexpected twist at the end. Marvelous! This little gem was a great read.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews