Kill For Me

by David Washburn

Bugs! Bugs! Bugs!

Lily hates them! So much so that it’s a little irrational. It’s a silly fear she has developed only in recent years, but it’s beginning to cause tension with her husband, Travis, as he makes light of her fear when he is expected to kill the creepy crawlies that make Lily’s skin crawl.

With their one-year-old daughter, Zoe, the married couple navigate what to do about the centipede problem in their home.

A thousand legs become a thousand screams as this loving home becomes a house of horrors.

62 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 4, 2025

Reviews

[Lia's Haunted Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the worst story I’ve ever read. READ IT NOW.

Now, let’s get something straight: I hate cockroaches. And I know, you’re probably thinking, “Lia, everyone hates cockroaches”. No. I HATE them on a deep, personal, borderline irrational level. I’m a scientist. I understand their role in the ecosystem. I don’t care. They need to be wiped off the face of the Earth. They bring nothing but fear, chaos, and emotional damage. I would risk my life for you, but if there’s a cockroach in the room? You’re on your own.

This book makes you ask yourself a very important question—how much do you really love your child?

The story follows a woman with an extreme phobia of bugs/ centipedes. She seeks therapy, but the horror she experiences is no laughing matter. And honestly? I get it. I understand her struggle.

There’s one scene in particular that describes a traumatic encounter with cockroaches , and I swear, if that ever happened to me, I would simply cease to exist.

Final thoughts? Screw roaches. And read this story

[Jason A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been a fan of David Washburn for quite some time, and he knows how to write an effective story that tingles the spine. Kill For Me was no exception. Creepy crawley fun that gets under your skin and settles there, moving and undulating like the best creature feature movie! I absolutely loved it! Thank you, David for allowing me to beta read for you on this story 😃

[Milt Theo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was hilariously creepy, though I sympathize more with the wife than the husband: show me a roach and I literally freeze. The story, as I understand it, comes in two parts: before the pivotal moment of the baby girl and the pest, and after. Each part is written wonderfully, and taken on its own, makes a rich tale of a family in trouble. But the first part goes a little bit too long, so that when the fast-paced second part comes on the scene, I felt a huge disconnect, and was pretty sure it was a nightmare and the poor mum would at some point wake up. It was written like a nightmare, with all the little absurd details convincing me it was one; well, it wasn't, so I confess I found the ending rushed, ambiguous, and totally abrupt.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I'm not like most girls...bugs of the creepy crawly variety don't really bother me, and in fact, I let spiders roam free. Any bug deemed a hazard to the household, and ✨ I'm ✨ the one called upon to squish, swat, or vacuum it up. So in that sense, I could identify with long suffering Travis, who feels his wife Lily's only fault is her crippling fear of bugs. Although the idea of skittering bugs doesn't bother me, I DO have an irrational fear of butterflies, to the point where if I was trapped in a bathroom with one, much like Lily and the centipede, I would surely go into cardiac arrest and traumatize my children in the process. When Lily lets her fear get the best of her and doesn't give her toddler Zoe the attention she should, it has disastrous consequences. As a mother with a debilitating fear, I often wonder how I would react when confronted with a horrifying situation and if I would be able to hold it together for the sake of my children, but I'm not winning any mother of the year awards any time soon, and know my limitations, so this story tapped into that introspective fear of inadequacy and that you'll screw your kids up no matter what you do. As a husband, Travis was a bit of a tool, making light of his wife's fears, but the moral here is don't belittle your wife's fears or it may come back to...bite you. This was a short chap-book so it was a very quick read, but had that hovering over the scenes looking down kind of quality to it, more like a screenplay. While I found the relationship dynamic aspects of the story relatable just because it's a lived truth for most couples, and felt a personal connection having a fear of a different type of insect, I didn't feel particularly connected to the characters or what was happening. I did enjoy the ending, which in a sick way, felt almost happy to me, but that definitely says more about my marriage and family dynamic than we need to unpack here.

[Danielle Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ending of this book is literally my husband’s worst nightmare—and it was brilliant in the creepiest and crawliest way.

I didn’t know what to expect when I dove headfirst into David Washburn’s newest short story, but my goodness he did not disappoint.

As one of the rare ladies out there who has a strange fascination with bugs of all shapes and sizes, this one truly creeped me out, but in the best way. The way Washburn describes this little terrorist centipede as it scurries across the floors had the hair in the back of my neck raised and my whole body on edge. He weaves together a story filled with fear, terror, and paranoia while still showcasing the raw, natural human emotions and reactions that this poor family goes through in its pages really showcases his natural talent as writer.

Please give me all the bug stories, David, because the world needs more bug trauma & I most definitely need a spider book written by you one day!

[Mo Medusa · Rating 5 out of 5]

He should’ve just killed the damn bug …

Travis and Lily have a perfect life. A great marriage, their beautiful daughter, Zoe, and a home to share it all.

Only problem? The mere existence of bugs.

Ever since a traumatic encounter with cockroaches early in the couple’s relationship, Lily has a deep fear of creepy crawlies. Even years later, she can’t stand ‘em.

And when her fear is tested by a sneaky centipede slithering through her bathroom, she’s frozen in fear, unable to do anything but scream for her husband.

Travis thinks she’s being silly, until something happens that’s so grotesque, so unimaginable, that his own fears are put to the test.

Oh, how the tables have turned …

A short chapbook filled with all the legs (get it?) of a full-blown nightmare, Washburn gives us his creepy, his crawly, and his most absurdly body-horror fever-dream story yet.

[Candi Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short sweet and creepy crawles

We meet Travis, Lily and their daughter Zoe. You would believe they are just a normal family but Lily have quiet a huge.... Fear. Bugs, which is understandable from her history of the critters being in the wrong place at the wrong time. When Travis suggest she go to therapy for the latest incident.

This families world turns upside down when Lily spots a bug she cannot find again.

This was a short but sweet body horror from David Washburn. Definitely worth checking out! I enjoyed every second of it! Even with the talk about certain bugs that even give me the creeps!

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get Ready to Squirm

After the thrills of David's slasher 'Devils That Prey, the chills of 'The Tickle Monster' and the darkly disturbing emotion of 'DIY Exorcism', I eagerly awaited what he would do next. True to his blooming brand, this short read provided something terrifyingly new from the stories that came before them.
David Washburn is quickly building a back catalog exploring different types of horror and each one he carries out expertly.
'Kill For Me', while only short, carries a heavy dose of sickening dread, and plenty of gross, creepy crawly action to make you squirm even if you're not afraid of bugs.

[Becki 🤎 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A unique way to conquer your fears!

Kill the bugs for me by David Washburn

I got this in the stuff your kindle event, the cover jumped out at me and I thought yep il probs like this & at 62 pages I jumped straight to it 😌

Lily is petrified of bugs, after another irrational outburst, Travis insists she has to see a therapist and get help. They decide to try a new technic with hypnotising in hope to cure her. But things don’t quite go to plan when their baby suddenly turns into a giant centipede 👀

This was a fun short read, I really had no idea what direction it was going to go in so was pleasantly surprised by the crazy ending…that’s a unique way to get over your fears 🤣

3 ⭐️ from me

[Risshan Adele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kill it!

What if you became what you feared the most?
This was such a fun quick read! I wasn’t expecting anything that happened at the end, but it was amazing! Actually I don’t think I could have asked for a better one.
I recommend just going to blind here for the most bugtastic experience.

[Jaime Kaler · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I still hate bugs!

[Annais Jupiter · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun short story

I am definitely one that is terrified of certain bugs but I honestly enjoyed this story. It reminded me of the banter between my husband and I while it grossed me out.

[Sarah [ Page.Turning.Thrills ] · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Kill For Me" by David Washburn follows Travis, the husband of Lily and father to Zoe, as he helps his wife navigate her deep fear of bugs, which seems to be disrupting their daily life. But what happens when the bug in question becomes more of a nuisance than the typical house bug?

This was a phenomenal short story! The reader gets to experience the true terrors that come alive for someone who has a fear of bugs and the daily disruptions that affect someone with a legitimate fear of them.

But then Washburn goes off script with his imagination, and holy cow! It takes a turn for the worse, and if you have a fear of bugs, this might not be the book for you. It gets seriously dark, and I loved every second of it.

This is a horror short story that I would absolutely recommend. Washburn removed the fluff but left us with a completely terrifying narrative. It's a little, terror-packed short book just for your pleasure.

[thebonebreaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read, that brings forth vivid pictures in your mind, which abruptly takes a nightmarish turn.
(Be sure to also read the "post credit scene".)

[Richie Cheese · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that this idea was fun, but it wasn't in a writing style that really spoke to me. The writing felt like a screenplay, but it limited the characters emotions because of the "tell don't show" style the author used. That being said, I do think that a lot of other people might like it. It's a quick read with some fun buggy body horror, and there's definitely an audience for that. I just feel like I would've liked this more if it was a short film rather than a book.

[Ren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creepy buggy story!! I hate bugs and enjoyed this one a lot.

[Honey Dy · Rating 5 out of 5]

🐛🪲🐞🐛🪲🐞🐛🪲🐞🐛🪲🐞🐛🪲🐞🐛🪲🐞

I thought I knew what to expect from David Washburn after DIY Exorcism—horror with a wicked sense of humour. But Kill for Me? Oh, I was not prepared. This novella is a masterclass in balancing terror and comedy, and I haven’t had this much fun being utterly creeped out in a long time.

David took a simple, everyday fear—bugs—and cranked it up to pure nightmare fuel. One second, I was shuddering, checking my floors for any unexpected multi-legged visitors. The next, I was laughing so hard I nearly dropped the book. And when I say this novella bites, I mean it.

Lily’s fear of centipedes (and all things that skitter in the dark) starts at a simmer before boiling over into full-blown chaos. And Travis? Oh, his casual, laid-back attitude? Yeah, well, that doesn’t last long. By the time things went absolutely off the rails, I was completely hooked. The pacing? Immaculate. The tension? Perfection. The ending? Chef’s kiss. 🤌🏼

If you love horror that makes you laugh and squirm at the same time, grab this book now. But fair warning—your fear of bugs, spiders, and centipedes? Yeah, it’s about to get so much worse.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be inspecting every dark corner of my house… just in case.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kill For Me is an interesting book,the writing style and characters are giving!

[Jayda]

Good typical popcorn horror with a weird ending. I just wish there was more weirdness early on and more to that strange therapy session.

[Matthew House · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.25