Little Red Devils: A Dystopian Thriller Short

by Keeley Webb

The year is 2065. Thirty years ago, civilisation as we know it came to an the stock market crashed globally, and farmers, trains, buses, and planes went on strike, leading mankind to turn on each other. A group of men formed an alliance called 'Bring Back Mankind.' Their ideology is that women's rights brought about an imbalance. Social media became their platform at the start, but as their numbers grew, word of mouth became all that was needed; women were afraid to leave their homes.

Now all women must be married; single, unmarried women are kept as maids and cooks until they find a suitable husband. Girls are not allowed to be academically educated beyond the age of ten. Every Halloween, three girls from each street between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one, referred to as 'little red devils,' are selected for the hunt. If caught, they will be publicly sacrificed to keep all women in line.

48 pages, Paperback

Published November 25, 2025

Reviews

[Billie Wiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love dystopian thrillers with a dose of psychological horror as unapologetic as The Purge and as gripping as The Thinning this one needs to be read!

Set in a futuristic world of male domination the rules are set for the females from birth. This intense and unforgiving setting brings out the sinister reality every Halloween night. Now it’s time for the Little Red Devils to do everything in their power to survive the hunting game.

Keeley connects you to each character and you feel their anger, pain, sorrow, strength and determination. You will be gripping your seat, running with the little girls in red cloaks, screaming at the pages and holding your breath until the end.

But don’t take my word for it, grab this short story today and see for yourself-then let me know what you think.

[VDKeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y’all… Little Red Devils by Keeley Webb may be small, but it hits like a steel-toed boot to the ribcage.🔥

Set in a terrifying 2065 where society implodes—crashed markets, grounded planes, men forming the creepy “Bring Back Mankind” alliance—Webb drops us into a world where women are controlled, girls stop school at ten, and every Halloween three “little red devils” are hunted for sacrifice. The sensory detail? Chef’s kiss. I could feel the cold October air on my neck and hear those empty streets echo.

Her characters pop with fear, grit, and that little spark of rebellion you just KNOW is going to get someone in trouble. Webb’s writing is razor-sharp, snappy, and wastes zero breath—every sentence lands like a punch.

Short story? Sure. But it slaps, it stings, and it absolutely refuses to leave your brain. 👀🔥

[Rachel Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Little Red Devils” by Keeley Webb is a great short horror story set in a chilling dystopian future. Webb creates a terrifying world where society has collapsed and women are stripped of their rights, living under the brutal rule of the “Bring Back Mankind” movement. The Halloween hunt for the so-called “little red devils” is haunting, intense, and disturbingly believable. The scariest part is how real it all feels. This dark, gripping story is a quick read that lingers long after you finish.

[Hayley Bernard-Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a dystopian thriller that is beautifully written, haunting and completely unforgettable. For a short story, it certainly packs a punch. It’s eerie how real the characters and events of this story are. I was enthralled. I can’t wait to read more from Keeley!

[Holly S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Red Devils ~ Keeley Webb
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Keeley Webb’s first attempt at a dystopian story and she knocked it out of the park! Think The Handmaid’s Tale meets The Purge. Across dual timelines, Little Red Devils weaves a tale of an abusive and oppressive male dominated society, and the unrivaled power that arises when women come together to start a revolution. If Keeley ever decides to dabble in more dystopian tales, I will be first in line to purchase them.

[Gail Clouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Women and girls are not educated past 7 years old, they learn the basics. Then they stay home and help take care of the house. Obedience is a must or you'll be beaten. At 16, some girls are sent out as little red devils on Halloween, then the men hunt them down and execute them. If you survive the night, you're taken for cleansing and married off. But little do the men know, this year is going to be different. I enjoyed this story and recommend it!

[Jaime Tragesser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Red Devils explores a world where fragile masculinity arises in a male dominated world and what that world would look like.

[C.A. Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! Little Red Devils is short, sharp, and wickedly dark—the kind of dystopian bite that grabs you fast and doesn’t let go. Keeley Webb drags you straight into chaos, no fluff, just pure tension, and leaves you deliciously rattled. It’s a quick read with a big punch, thought‑provoking and disturbingly real, the kind of story that lingers long after the last line.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The year is 2065 and civilization collapsed over 30 years ago. The "Bring Back Mankind" movement has spread like wildfire and burned with it all women's rights. It was women's rights after all that brought the imbalance that took down society. Women must either be married or work as cooks or servants. They cannot travel alone. They cannot be educated past age 10. They cannot even speak unless permitted by a man. A particularly brutal event happens every All Hallows' Eve when unmarried women over 16 are clothed in red and hunted down like wild animals. The "Little Red Devils" must survive the horrific night and live to see the sunrise. However, surviving the event is just the beginning.

Do you like your dystopian drama with a heavy dose of thriller? Are you ready to brave the hunt? If so, put on your "Little Red Devil" makeup, grab your red velvet basque, and join the hunt. The only rule: survival at any cost. Just be sure you are ready for what the night has in store. It will change you.

I've read several of Keeley's books and she never fails to draw the read right into the thick of the story, and this one is no exception. You will be grabbing the sides of the chair and gasping along with all the "Little Red Devils." Find your hiding spot and pray you make it to the morning!

[Iwan Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dark, unsettling dystopian thriller that grabs you immediately and doesn’t loosen its grip.

Keeley Webb imagines a brutal future where girls aged sixteen to twenty-one — the “Little Red Devils” — are hunted every Halloween to keep women controlled and terrified. The world-building is sharp and chilling, and despite the short length, the emotional weight hits hard.

You feel every moment of fear, anger, and determination as these girls fight to survive a society built against them. The pacing is fast, the atmosphere is tense, and the horror is disturbingly believable.

A gripping, atmospheric read for fans of The Purge, The Handmaid’s Tale, and dark dystopian fiction.
Keeley Webb is one to watch.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Read my full revi

[Kayla Wiklanski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Step into the future where women's rights are stripped. Male chauvinists rule the town. Women have their roles of nothing more than taking care of their man, family, and home. Any defiance is punished. A tradition every Halloween is to dress 16 year old girls in red cloaks releasing them into the woods to be hunted. It's gut wrenching, heartbreaking, and down right sadistic.

Keeley knows just how to play with your heart strings. She crafted this so you go through the emotions right along with the women and girls. The heartache they suffer rips at your insides. It's beautifully written and I highly recommend.

[Liz Fully Booked · Rating 5 out of 5]

This dystopian thriller novella certainly packs a punch. The author has managed to convey the story of how men completely subjugate the female species and hunt them to keep them under control.

This is a common theme among dystopian books, but that doesn’t make it any less horrifying. Probably because you can totally see it happening. However, some women refuse to be controlled. And there begins the excitement of this short story.

This novella will sink its teeth into you and not let go. For being so short, it sure does leave you reeling.

[Jolene · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sharp, unsettling short story that will absolutely rage-bait women in the best, most gripping way. The story drops you into a dystopian 2065 where women’s rights have been stripped away and the annual Halloween “hunt” keeps everyone terrified and obedient. It’s fast, furious, and scary believable. A must read if you like your dystopian fiction dark,and guaranteed to spike your blood pressure.

[Mandy Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cross between A Handmaids Tail and The Grace Year. Violent and emotional. Women with their rights being stripped away and their existence is nothing more than serving the men. A sick hunt to keep the women in line. How much are they willing to take? Will they rise up and shut down the inequality? If so.... how much blood will have to be shed?

[Amy Reads Along (Amanda Harris) · Rating 5 out of 5]

this short story is packed with Enough heat you will feel fire for days! i could not stop thinking about it and i wanted even more when i was done! If Handmaid Tale is your kinda vibes, than this is definitely the one for you!

[Kym · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow

This is a short story, but so much happens! I did not expect for it to be so, idk. The idea could be a novel, but this hits all the necessary points, so you're shocked how quickly it is over. Will be recommending to others.

[Jenny Coyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this short story written in the vein of The Handmaid's Tale. As the chapters go back and forth between time periods, I would love more backstory and see this fleshed out into a full novel.

[Amanda Elizabeth Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was short but it was impactful. It really makes you sit back and think about our future and the way that some people would like females to be obedient and meek and to not question things.