Through the Scarlet Threads: A Short Horror Story for Clive Barker Fans

by Nicolás Francis

THROUGH THE SCARLET THREADS

Kirsty has already filmed the last scene of her adult film career in Budapest. In Prague, a new job and a new life await her... but first, she must board the last midnight train. A pleasurable journey at first glance, until the train stops, the carriage doors close, and passengers begin to die in inexplicable and terrible ways.

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Nicolás Francis (Buenos Aires, 1988)Journalist and graphic designer. His horror stories are heavily influenced by the readings of H.P. Lovecraft, Clive Barker, Stephen King, Junji Ito and Ray Bradbury, as well as the films of John Carpenter, Wes Craven and Sergio Leone.

25 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 20, 2023

About the author

Periodista, diseñador gráfico y uno de los autores independientes de terror más influyentes de Argentina. Ha desarrollado trabajos de branding, diseño editorial e identidad visual para empresas de Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Estados Unidos y China.
Su obra literaria está marcada por influencias profundas de H. P. Lovecraft, Clive Barker, Stephen King y Ray Bradbury, y por la estética del cine de John Carpenter, Wes Craven, Sergio Leone y David Lynch.

Debutó en 2021 con El Dios Pálido y otros relatos de terror, una antología que combina horror cósmico, dimensiones paralelas, rituales demoníacos, asesinos seriales y mitología nórdica.
En 2022 publicó Black Metal, su segunda colección de relatos extremos y atmosféricos.
En 2023 lanzó su primera novela, Octubre 94’, una obra de culto que fue censurada por Amazon, generando repercusión en los principales medios de Argentina. Ese mismo año cofundó el Nuevo Terror Argentino y participó en sus tres antologías oficiales.
En 2024 publicó From Kragerø, el primer ensayo sobre Theodor Kittelsen y su influencia en el black metal, con notable recepción en Noruega. A finales del mismo año editó Kuronami, una antología de J-horror con ilustraciones originales.

En 2025 lanzó Yo Soy el Terror, su novela más ambiciosa, además de participar como editor y autor invitado en Horror Animal, una antología pionera en la que cada relato está narrado desde el punto de vista de un animal.

Sus libros combinan atmósfera, pesadilla y un enfoque estético único, construyendo un universo donde lo extraño, lo ritual y lo imposible se manifiestan con brutal claridad. Su obra continúa expandiéndose con proyectos en alemán, italiano y nuevas series de terror en desarrollo.

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

A horror story, a short horror story, not a story, short of horror.

Some may have heard me mention in reviews before the opportunity short stories give to a reader. The chance to sample a new author or dip into a guilty pleasure and try a different genre without the cost of 300+ pages to distract you.

Short stories cannot be written well by all writers but like a prologue it is a skill to be enjoyed when done expertly.

Kirsty is off on an overnight train journey. Leaving behind her past that she is desperate to escape. Leaving one country for another, changing her name, seeking anonymity and a fresh start.

The story begins with the assessment of your fellow passengers; but it is a means to an end and perhaps just 7 hours to share a compartment. Then disaster strikes.

I liked the sympathy built up for Kirsty initially. The sense of non-judgemental observation rather than fulfilling the voyeur stereotypes she encounters. I also liked her sense of action to help her fellow travellers when normal events seem beyond their comprehension. Caring for the children when not particularly maternal, showing compassion when instinctively she was ready to defend herself.

I enjoy stories where you are taken out of your comfort zone and humanity ceases to function well. In horror there are no heroes only survivors and few of these it seems.

The question is will Kristy’s new beginning end before it can begin? Is there a cost to be exacted for her previous lifestyle? What price will she be prepared to pay to start over?

Like all questions posed the answers are not always revealed at the end of a book. However, unless you read on you will never know and for me the insights given in these short pages are worth the effort.

[Rae Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

First time experience with this author

I enjoyed this short story; I was invested and needed to know what would happen to Kristy and the other passengers. The author’s literary influences - especially Lovecraft and Barker - are very clear. I think other horror fans would also like this.

[Beaubooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well that was uncomfortable

[Doctor Morbid · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't even come close to understanding what the fuck was going on, even at the end. It explains nothing. It gives you this weird concept that this porn star can see weird fleshy wiry things on a train that make everybody get brutally mutilated for no reason but her, then she sees two big hands, agrees to fuck them for her freedom, and she is found covered in blood next to a train wreckage, unwounded. This is an absolute shitshow. If Francis had even taken a second of his precious time to unravel why all of this had happened, then this one star rating would be different. Shit, this was a massive stepdown from October '94.

[T.M. Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gory good brief tale

I wondered how questions could be answered in such a short tale, but it all seemed to be neatly tied up. There is a lot of gore in such a short tale, and a dip into the lows of the adult movie world. I connected with Kirsty’s character. There is a shock at the end. And it’s good to see from the authors photo that he is a Mayhem fan.

[Heather Duvall · Rating 4 out of 5]

this one will stick with me for a bit
i wish it was longer

[Anthony Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through the Scarlet Threads is an interesting read with a good amount of gore.

This short story gave me Clive Barker vibes.

[Dale Sharpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great.

A quick, enjoyable read from an author that I'm not familiar with.
Five stars seems like a fair rating since the book was free.

[Rita · Rating 2 out of 5]

what the fuck did I just read
2.5🌟 , because im in such a state of confusion that I don't know what to rate it

[Alan Loewen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well Written, But I Found The Ending Confusing

Kirsti is leaving her life as a porn star being traveling on a train toward a new beginning. However, odd things begin to happen in the train car and to its passengers. Lots of gore and violence, but all in all an interesting story.

Masterfully written with only one typo.

[Monica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Relato corto de terror entretenido aunque sin un argumento claro, excepto un exceso de muertes que no quedan explicadas.
Quizás como novela de tamaño estándar hubiera estado bien, pero tal cual deja sensación de que falta mucha información.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ She resigned her job as a third-rate film actress, hoping to start fresh in a faraway place, but boarded a train of death.
“Make me happy. Dress in red.”
“To be reborn, she had to do what was necessary.”

[Sebastian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best short story I've read in years. He's the new Clive Barker

[Paola Prieto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Relato corto con un poco de misterio, creo que si la historia fuera más larga habríamos explorado más sobre cada personaje.