Back Roads

by Joshua Scribner

Something has come out in the night, and it's waiting down the road.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories

ebook

First published January 21, 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

[Peter]

I really like this atmospheric little story about a student driving home some eerie back roads. When he sees crosses next to the road the horror is starting. What are those faces from the backseat talking about? And what about that horrible monster trying to take him? Uncanny read for situations almost everybody knows in winter time (snowing hard and being on deserted roads). Very unsettling story I really recommend. Had something of an urban legend to me.

[Richard]

One of Scribner’s earlier works, this master of writing about the dark things shows his potential here.

Driving down familiar country lanes Carter seems to have some internal self-destruct mechanism. This night is no different from previous times it seems, but the weather is closing in, reduced visibility and less grip on the snowy roads.

Then a roadside memorial grabs his attention and rather than slowing down he seems to floor his foot and quicken his pace.
Then he wonders what he is doing and question why he always rushes through life.

The the author takes us further into Carter’s mind, and within the car a debate seems to be raging. You just know it can’t end well for Carter!

[Dan]

“He tried to convince himself to slow down. But the urgency wouldn’t let him. It never did.”


Carter is driving back home from college, on the same route that he has traveled for years. It’s a dark, snowy, and desolate night.

Carter is always in a hurry. And he’s profoundly unhappy.

After passing a mysterious cross on the roadside, Carter begins to feel like he’s. Not. Alone in the car.

Going by a second cross off the side of the road, Carter inadvertently picks up a second…traveler.

Bizarre—but cool—story. Scary. Original.


“Storms like this are the best. So few people on the road. So easy to let the weather take the blame.”

[Diarmuid O'Sullivan]

Mundane Horror Short

Not a bad little story. Its quickly told, surprising and builds a quick tension. However, it is very short and not anything special - just average. It would be a great part to an anthology and it is good to get for free, but don’t buy this as a stand-alone.

[R.]

Eh . . . it was okay. It seemed like it could have been great but it needed a little bit more detail. I think it was cut about ten pages short. I know it was supposed to be a short story, but this may have been too short.

[Kamas Kirian]

It was an OK short story of the paranormal/supernatural sort, nothing exceptional. The little twist was a nice touch.

The eBook edition was formatted well with no errors.

[Maria Banning]

Could've been so much more..

[Nancy Hammond]

nice little scary short story