Tethered

by C.M. Saunders

Craig, a journalism graduate trying desperately to get a foothold in a fading industry, is going nowhere fast. While searching for a project that might help prove himself, he stumbles across a blog written by a Japanese girl called Kami about internet rituals – bizarre challenges sometimes undertaken by those seeking to make contact with ghosts or other supernatural entities.

Craig becomes obsessed, and when Kami suddenly disappears while searching for her missing twin, he goes in search of the lost girls. From there he is powerless to prevent his life spiralling out of control as he is drawn deeper and deeper into a dark, dangerous world where nothing is quite what it seems. A world populated not just by urban myths and hearsay, but by real-life killers.

He thinks he is in control, but nothing can be further from the truth.

146 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 27, 2025

About the author

Christian Saunders, a constant reader who writes fiction as C.M. Saunders, is a freelance journalist and editor from south Wales. His work has appeared in almost 100 magazines, ezines and anthologies worldwide including Fortean Times, the Literary Hatchet, ParABnormal, Fantastic Horror, Haunted MTL, Feverish Fiction and Crimson Streets, and he has held staff positions at several leading UK magazines ranging from Staff Writer to Associate Editor. His books have been both traditionally and independently published, the latest release being Tethered on Terror Tract Publishing.

Reviews

[Bruce Blanchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Internet rituals are a curious sort of thing, heck, the internet is curious anyway. Tales and suppositions which might be true or merely entertaining. You don't know what's false or somebody's imaginings. You know a few details and fill in the gaps which may be total nonsense. Craig our hero is in journalism or trying to be. The Elevator Game sounds like hookum but maybe not. A blog run by Kami (in Japanese that's a god) is looking into it. Then...she disappears. Is it truth or lies or something much worse. Pragmatists might not like this book. Curiosity is who we are. We are told it killed the feline. Writing wise we get to know the people involved. Going into the truth of the matter is a need to know the truth. Craig is determined to find it and find Kami. Anyone who has ever delved into internet stories (and I've got my own) will find this book intriguing and worth your time reading it. Give it a shot and see if you like it.