Pact

by Daniel Lorn

Fans of short, sharp psychological horror with an intense atmosphere will love this twisted tale.

Can you ever really know someone?

With his wife recently deceased, William has fallen into a spiral of depression and alcoholism. Memories haunt him when he is sober. Memories he struggles to contain, no matter how hard he tries. But there is something else that comes with those memories. Something which causes him to question his sanity. Something unwelcome and deeply terrifying.

I am Daniel Lorn.

Welcome to PACT.

WARNING: This book contains elements of psychological and physical horror, which some readers may find disturbing.

Genres: Horror

41 pages, ebook

First published September 18, 2022

About the author

Daniel has been obsessed with horror since childhood and is particularly interested in the works of Edgar Allan Poe, Charles L Grant, H.P. Lovecraft, and M.R. James.

With his spine-chilling debut, Obsession, in 2022, Daniel marked his entry into the world of horror literature. The resounding acclaim for his unique brand of horror quickly fuelled his creative drive, leading to the release of PACT, See You Later, RED, Sins of the Wronged, and Formulation.

Daniel has been commended on his ability to transform the ordinary into the monstrous. While he has primarily delved into psychological horror, his true passion lies in supernatural horror. This genre will be the key focus of his future works, and Daniel promises many more spine-tingling tales to come.

Reviews

[Janie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Confused and drunk, an elderly man struggles to uncover the source of his fear and dread. Something lingers in the essence of his home, and constant memories of his deceased wife hover at the edge of his memories. They were supposed to try to communicate with each other after one of them had died. Who could be knocking so steadfastly at the edge of his fading consciousness? It will take a vampire of human flesh and soul to decadently unravel the truth. What is your deepest desire?

[Vicki Herbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Secrets Are Hidden Within the Flesh...

PACT: A Psychological Horror Novelette
by Daniel Lorn

No spoilers. 4 stars. 64 year old William has had demons from childhood...

Now...

He doesn't remember how long his wife has been dead. He drinks himself into a drunken stupor every night...

And...

Every night, he wakes from a nightmare of his wife calling to him. Her mouth moves, but there are no words or sounds...

He reaches for her...

But, she is always dragged back into the darkness, and he is alone again...

Then, the banging begins, causing his hangover to erupt in nauseous vomiting...

William is in desperate shape...

He would kill himself, but he is afraid of what waits on the other side in the hereafter...

The couple made a pact...

If one of them dies, that person will return to visit the survivor. So, they needed to come up with a sign that only they would know...

It could be...

A song, a sound, or a smell. Something to focus on in the netherworld...

Or maybe...

They can return to the place where they died, at the exact time of their death...

Showing signs of dementia...

William passes out, and when he regains consciousness, he is lying in front of a padlocked door beneath the stairs...

He can't recall ever seeing this door before, but somehow he knows it's the door to the cellar...

And there is a foul odor behind that door...

William has always had a morbid fascination with death and gore. It excites him. The world's secrets are hidden within the flesh, and he would like to know them...

This little novella is a great little one-nighter, which can satisfy a craving for a short story before bedtime.

It looked as if the story was going to be a standard tale, but it ended differently than I anticipated.

I haven't yet run across a story by this author that disappointed or bored me in the telling, and I hope that he combines them into an anthology. I look forward to his next release!

[Fiza Pathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Pact’ by exceptionally talented horror writer Daniel Lorn is a story that can take you on a roller coaster ride of terror. He is truly the modern version of the classic scholar horror story writer M.R. James as well as of H.P. Lovecraft who worked with unusual topics related most of the time to psychology & insanity. Being an ardent fan of both authors, I found Lorn’s story to be impactful, spine-tinglingly frightening and a very fast page turner. The story of an alcoholic 64-year-old man with a dead wife and a rather laxed memory can be more terrifying and deeper than any reader could ever dream it to be. But that was the power of James and Lovecraft too, creating the thrill of the fear where you least expected it to come from. Daniel Lorn has mastered their craft in this story centred on forgetful William; the story of his ultimate destiny is told with the precision of a scholar educationist like James and narrated in a ferocious dark tone which is very much Lovecraft all the way. And yet, one sees that Lorn has his own excellent narration skills, concrete matter and fantastic writing style which is mixed in this perplexing tale of horror making him not a mere imitator but an outstanding horror story writer in his own right. I really enjoyed the ‘Pact’ and was really on the edge of my seat while reading it in the wee hours of the hot Mumbai night. I admired the troubled character of William as well as his complex nature with regard to the many ‘spirits’ in his life! I loved the plot of the tale and I highly recommend Daniel Lorn’s ‘Pact’ to every fan of unique, well written, and fast paced horror fiction. I kept guessing till the very end and yet was held spell bound as the mystery of William’s wife’s death was solved – or was it? Grab your copy of ‘Pact’ by stellar author Daniel Lorn today to find out! If you want to read an unusual horror story with a spooky couple acting peculiar regarding the afterlife, then ‘Pact’ is the story for you. If you want to read something vintage but with a modern flavor to your psychological horror story, then do read ‘Pact’. If you are a fan of M.R. James, H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allan Poe and want to read something in their line with an even disturbingly darker shade to it, then you should not miss reading this story. I hope to read more of Lorn’s frightening tales in the near future. ‘Pact’ obviously gets 5 stars from me! Kudos to the author on a job well done. Looking forward to some longer fiction from him as well!

[Peter Topside · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Wowza! This was so well done. Daniel Lorn created something really awful and mesmerizing here. William, our lead, navigated through this troubled existence of reality and hallucinations. As the reader, you’re left wondering what was real and what was not. Disorienting, but not so much to take away from the story. Just a great balance. And the thing that really got my horror roots growin,’ was how, even as you had no clue what was going on, and multiple possible realities were introduced, any one of them would have been magnificent. The imagery was gross and horrible, but in all the best ways. Here I am gushing about this, but it rightly deserved it. Loved it and wish it just kept on going…

[Brian Bowyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark, Haunting, and Beautifully Written.

A two-sitting read for me, and one I highly recommended to anyone who enjoys twisted fiction. Lorn is the real deal, definitely. I'm looking forward to reading more!

[Janelle Schiecke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not expecting that ending!

I've had my eye on Daniel Lorn's works for a while now, and figured this one would be a good introduction to his writing style and storytelling.

In Pact, we are introduced to an elderly man who is barely living day to day, heavily dependent on alcohol and swimming with confusion over his wife's death. Lorn morphs the story throughout, so you're not quite sure what is reality and what is illusion.

As we near the end, however, it becomes clear what is going on. What a treat that ending is, and I especially love Lorn's choice of metaphors.

With spooky season approaching, I definitely recommend this short and twisted read!

[Eryn McConnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well I enjoyed that immensely. The author had me going back and forth through the whole thing. What a finale!

[M.G. Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I sit here in a hotel room going over this story in my head moments after finishing it, I have one word... wow.

I can't quite believe that such a short story (a 45 minute read, give or take), had so much punch to it, as many changes of perspective, and such intense characterisation.

Fantastic job, Daniel!

[Barbara Avon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Daniel Lorn chooses each wicked word carefully in this chilling and suspenseful short story. Psychologically twisted, it punches you in the gut. Lorn is a wordsmith.

[Eve L. Fell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely

This here is a story about a man who unknowingly gets revenge on his wife. It’s a short story so I don’t want to go beyond that. Dive in!

[Adam Hulse · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick, bloody read. Lorn does a great job of creating so much depth to the narrative and main character in such a short word count. The depiction of age and mental health can be moving at times and gut-wrenching at others. This is a good showcase of Lorn's skill as a storyteller and indicates there's much more to come.

[Tiffany J McLay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, the book is definitely a nail bitter.
I thought I had it all figured out, but boy, was I wrong.

I was horrifically disgusted, which is exactly what I want in psychological horror.

I look forward to reading more from Daniel Lorne!

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read Daniel Lorn's very promising debut story, ‘Obsession,’ I went into 'Pact' blind, though prepared for some interesting twists. I was not disappointed: the story has great prose, amazing pacing, and a nice premise that lured me in. The escalation to the reveal is well-done and the ending made me think the world around me a little differently (presumably something always good.)

[Kevin Skirrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars all the way!

This is the second book I've read by this author and it's so good! It's dark ,haunting, heart breaking and a great ending. It's very much a one-sitting read but be warned, it will live in your head long after you put it down.

[Kristina Gallo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful horror story about a man who lost his wife. Drowning in sorrow and alcohol, he remembers a promise they made. As the time goes by, he will not understand what is real and what is illusion. The story that make your heart rates faster. Enjoyed.

[Louise Conway · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely one of the cleverest horror stories I've ever read. Despite its short length Pact packs a hell of a punch; its unpredictable plot kept me guessing right up until the dark, macabre final pages. A superb blend of ghostly and psychological horror which no fan of either genre should miss

[bianca 𝜗𝜚⋆₊˚🕷️]

What an insanely wild ride this was, it’s like descending into madness along with the main character.
Great fast pace read, but for those who can’t take psychological horror, as well as some disgusting stuff 🤢, maybe this read is not for you, but I enjoyed it!

[Ray W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pact-full of scares and twists

Pact is the haunting and thrilling story of Will, an older gentleman who is trying to come to terms with the death of his wife. He can't remember much about her death, and something is banging on the wall, but he can drown both of these out with cheap booze. That is, until a chance meeting in a supermarket inspires him to find some answers.

Pact is wonderfully concise and sharp, and easily consumed in one sitting, so it feels like I would be doing potential readers a disservice by explaining the plot any further. What you should know is that this masterpiece combines the gut-wrenching, too-scared-to-look-ahead vibe of a ghost house with the suspenseful builds and dramatic descents of a rollercoaster. Like both of these rides, it is quick, but the only thing you'll want to do after the big ending is get back on the ride again.

Lorn has given us a horror classic for the YouTube shorts generation. Not a word is wasted in this wild, mysterious, paranoid ride through one man's mental illness. The twists come thick and fast, biting chunks out of your expectations until you're nothing but nerves. Never mind not seeing the ending coming - I struggled to see the next paragraph coming.

I cannot rate Pact highly enough.

[Horror Fan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had this on my kindle for ages but finally decided to jump in last night after seeing so many recent glowing reviews, and knowing that it would no doubt be another one sitting read.
Pact did not disappoint!!!
This story had me furiously turning through the pages to see where this creepy little tale would go.
I feel like I have a hangover after reading this book, so guess what, I am off to find some more horror from Daniel Lorn.

[Sophie Ingley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short story is horror perfection.
Seriously, it is very bloody good.

Pact is beautifully written, terrifying, and deviously twisted.
I loved every damn word of it.

One of my fave reads of 2023, no doubt.

[Eric WIlder · Rating 5 out of 5]

See my RV at Our Connected Madness.

[Dr. Hopeless Romantic · Rating 1 out of 5]

1,5 ⭐️

[Stuart Knott · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Pact” is a short, sharp psychological horror that’s told primarily from the perspective of elderly widower William, a man driven to alcohol and squalor after the death of his unnamed wife. The loss of his wife is devastating to William and sees his physical and mental health deteriorate dramatically, to say nothing of leaving him wracked with nightmares, visions, and a persistent banging from his cellar. Yet, all is not quite right in William’s head, house, or life; people question his wife’s death, almost as if it didn’t happen, he sees tormented visions of her, and his house reeks from more than just his dirty laundry and discarded takeaway boxes.

The story really delves into the disturbing psychology behind our main character, who’s hardly the most reliable narrator; at one point, he’s said to be suffering from dementia and flashbacks show him lashing out in violent, unstable mood swings, and his perception of reality is tainted by grief and a strange promise he and his wife made to each other to return to the other in the event of their deaths. However, as “Pact” continues on and William unlocks some of his suppressed memories, we see that the reality, and the memory, of his wife’s death are far more gruesome and unsettling than what was first presented.

The story makes really good use of its short length; it’s surprising how fleshed out William is, with his thoughts of suicide, anger at himself and the world, and dependency on alcohol and other substances to numb his pain. As the story delves deeper into the abuse both he and his wife suffered, the perception of him changes considerably; he’s both a sympathetic and reprehensible character, cast as both victim and villain, and the same is ultimately true of his wife. Author Daniel Lorn does a commendable job exploring these psychological aspects, but doesn’t relent on creepy atmospherics like supernatural banging and wailing or gruesome visuals, including depictions of gore, mangled bodies, and even cannibalism. I’d definitely recommend “Pact” to those that are looking for a quick palette cleanser between books and fans of extreme gore and psychological horror; it was a satisfying a engaging read with some horrific visuals with a fun twist by the end.

[Michael Shotter · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this tightly-wound and twisted tale, a man awakens in a drunken haze, all but consumed by grief in the squalid ruins of his home, which has fallen into a state of neglect and disarray after the death of his wife. He is a mental and physical wreck himself, nearly suicidal and barely functional, but while making a desperate journey to obtain more alcohol in an attempt to re-drown his sorrows, he begins to become aware that things may not be as they seem.

This novelette packs a lot into a small number of pages and chapters, managing to deliver a punchy and fully-realized story despite its brevity. Most notably, Lorn cleverly uses perspective changes to reveal additional information to the reader, making it unclear whether the main character, William, is someone who should be pitied, rooted for, or reviled right up to the story's conclusion. There's also a solid supernatural element that adds a satisfying and thought-provoking speculative wrinkle to what would have already been an effective tale of gory psychological horror.

If you like stories that are quick, dark, and brutal, with a touch of variety and sophistication to keep things interesting, I'd say this is definitely a pact worth making.

[Mark Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this short novelette in one sitting.

Not come across Lorn before but this meditation on love, loss, aging, bewilderment and death was well written and moving.

The Pact is a nice idea - agree a sign to leave your spouse once either passes over so one can haunt the other. It’s kinda romantic. Provided you’re both still in love!

And the cover! Nicely complimented the story within.

[lucky 13 · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 big stars. Dark and so well written With only 40 pages to this book. it felt so much more