Just Below: A Deadly Silence Story

Deadly Silence

by John Michael Alaia

Welcome to Deadly Silence , a multi-author collection of chilling short stories where every pause hides a threat. Crafted to make your pulse quicken and your nerves tighten, these thrillers and light horror tales uncover the terror that lurks in the quiet, waiting to be noticed—or ignored.

This

Just Below

A Psychological Horror Novelette

He wakes in darkness. Bound. Mutilated. Trapped in a basement beneath his own home.
Above him, life continues. His family moves through their day, unaware of what lurks just below their feet. But as he listens, something becomes terrifyingly clear—life continues without him.
In the void of light, grief and rage take hold. The boundaries between reality and nightmare blur. Can he find himself in the darkness?

A haunting exploration of emotion and the internal violence we allow to consume ourselves.

For fans of psychological horror.

Don't forget to come back to check out all the other Deadly Silence stories in the collection!

63 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 31, 2026

About the author

John Michael Alaia is a writer of thrillers and horror fiction whose work explores the darker edges of human nature, where fear, suspense, and moral ambiguity collide. Drawn to stories that linger long after the final page, he blends psychological tension with unsettling characters to create narratives that challenges readers to keep turning the pages late into the night.

These first few stories mark the beginning of a body of work shaped by a lifelong fascination with suspenseful storytelling, classic horror, and modern thrillers. When he’s not writing, he enjoys studying existing works, dissecting films and novels for what makes them frightening, while searching for the quiet, internal moments where the most terrifying ideas are born.

He lives on Long Island, NY and is currently at work on his next two novels.

Reviews

[Anthony Kaplan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am honored to have been given this ARC of John Michael Alaia’s soon-to-be-published novelette. Thank you for this opportunity. We’ve all got basements. Some are pretty scary. I’ve got a basement. Most of the time, it takes some time and some navigation to find a basement. Walking through front door, maybe a hallway, a few steps down. JMA skips all of this and drops you right into the narrator’s basement and it is absolutely scary. Scary because it’s dark, it’s gruesome but most of all, because it’s familiar? In less than an hour of your time, JMA will launch you into a pit of despair and, for some, six inches from the mirror.

[Michelle Bowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping psychological horror that stays with you!

From the very first page this novelette pulls you in with strong Black Phone vibes—raw grief, unreliable narration, and a creeping sense of something wrong beneath the surface. The present-tense style takes a tiny second to settle into, but once it does, it keeps the tension tight and immediate. The author’s prose is atmospheric and deeply felt; the way he describes light, emotion, and the small everyday details of family life feels authentic and lived-in. You genuinely connect with the narrator and his fractured family.

The story builds beautifully through Part 2 and lands on a chilling cliffhanger in Part 3 that left me staring at the page. I also want to give a special shout-out to the author’s note at the very end—it’s powerful, thoughtful, and ties perfectly into the themes. Take the extra minute to read it; it’s worth it.

A couple of very small polish items (punctuation and one tiny consistency question) are the only reasons this isn’t flawless, but they’re easy fixes and didn’t pull me out of the story. Overall this is a solid, emotional, and haunting little horror piece that punches well above its length. I’ll be watching for whatever this author writes next.

Highly recommended—especially if you like psychological thrillers that make you think about grief, guilt, and what we bury inside ourselves.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short, but meaningful story. A man wakes up locked in his basement. He is confused and angry about being there. As he is down there for a while, he observes his family continuing on with their lives. They seem much happier. This causes him to reflect on the type of person that he was. He didn’t give his wife or children enough attention and instead dissociated from all of it. But by the third part, when he is back with the family, his perspective changes. He sees how his children are not eager to chat with him or confide in him. They learned to not expect anything from him. The family members do whatever they need to do and they don’t worry about what he is up to. By his actions and behaviors, he isolated himself from the family.

[Kristan Ramey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella pulls you in from the very first page - there is no slow burn or building up. The story’s tension is immediate and unrelenting. The authors prose is sharp and precise, perfectly balancing psychological horror with emotional depth.
What makes this novella truly stand out is the author’s note at the end—it’s raw, heartfelt, and deeply emotional, leaving a lasting impression long after the story concludes. Short but very powerful.

[Jaime Tragesser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Going in to this short story I wasn't sure what to expect. But in true John Alaia form, what little but I did think that I knew was going on was completely wrong. This story gives you a little bit of everything from body horror to psychological thriller to thought provoking words. Definitely make sure to check this one out!

[Rachel Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Just Below- A Deadly Silence Story” by John Michael Alaia is a haunting, hard hitting short story that delivers far more impact than its length suggests. Blending fear, grief, desperation, gore, and raw rage, it follows a man forced to watch his life continue without him, powerless and unraveling. Dark, unsettling, and deeply psychological, this one lingers long after the final page.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense, haunting, and disturbingly intimate, Just Below traps you in a dark, twisted space where fear and grief collide. Every moment pulses with dread, making it impossible to look away. A chilling, unforgettable psychological descent.

[Katlin Stokes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Inside story and the author for a copy of this book! Wow. This one really got to me. That feeling like you are stuck in a rut. The meaning behind this one really stuck with me.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A man wakes up, trapped in his basement. Tied up, mutilated, bleeding. His family carry on with their lives above him - he can see and hear them. Sadness and rage ensue, and the lines between reality and imagination blur. The ending will have you staring at the wall!!!!

This novella grabs you from the first page. It's gripping, terrifying, and profoundly uncomfortable. We all live in 'basements' at some point in our lives. How you get out of them is up to you. A very thought-provoking story. John's narrative is intense and confrontational and lands exactly where it should - deep in your core.

I loved the after thoughts John, and that last sentence said everything. "You are worth the effort." Thank you for sharing 🥰

[Annie Pruitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freaking outstanding novella that is put together so well, intricate details that pull you in and have you wondering if it’s gonna pull your heart down or is this just a twist 🤔 An ending that like no other 🤯 This book pulled me all the way in and had me wondering why things were happening as they were and then it made sense…only at the end did it make sense!

But in all truth; never hold in your emotions ever! Always speak to someone and never feel less than a man/woman because you do have emotions and you should be heard 🫶🏼 YOU MATTER!

[EJ Thorpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done John Michael Alaia

Just Below is a beautifully written and deeply meaningful book. Told through a horror framework, it reaches into the hard-to-reach places of grief, identity, and human pain.
The story is intriguing and increasingly riveting. Its darker elements carry a deeper purpose, giving the book emotional weight without weakening the tension.
The author, has written a thoughtful and original story with a strong message beneath the horror. I found it moving, absorbing, and easy to recommend.

[Besh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This made me feel weird! I don’t know how to describe it really tbh. It started as one thing & ended as another, straight in with the physical horror, blood, pain, fear, then it quickly but seamlessly flowed into a real psychological horror. I really really liked it. It’s a very quick read & well worth it.

[Ray Stern · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not for the light-hearted. It is a powerful piece written to stick with you long after you’ve read it. John takes you on a wild ride where you question everything that’s happening, leaving you wanting to read it again to truly absorb the genius that he’s put into this story.

[Catisha Scavairello · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short story that should be read twice. At first, I thought it was like a trippy episode of The Twilight Zone. Once I read the final notes, I thought it was brilliant.

[Heather Chauvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

It takes one brilliant mind to come up with a premise like this short story. Brilliant! I was engrossed by this concept, although I won’t say anything and spoil it: I thought I knew where it was going, and I love it when I’m wrong!!! This was well written and such a pleasurable read!

[Tanya Kolb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one! This was a deep dive into the mind of us all. It's what we lock away; what we hide in the dark places. This gave me chills. There was so much agony in these pages.

[Jenny Coyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rounding up from 4.5 stars

This short psychological horror story contains so much more than torture (both mental and physical.) It is also philosophical and makes you think.

[Cheyenne Joy Mijdam · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ARC review: release: March 31, 2026
Just Below by John Michael Alaia – A Deadly Silence Story

First of all: thank you for this ARC.
Second of all: thanks for dragging me back into my own basement. A place I actively avoid. For very good reasons. So. That was rude. Respectfully.

This story doesn’t knock. It doesn’t warm up. It grabs you by the collar and says, we’re doing this now. My brain immediately went feral—What’s happening? Who did this? Why is he here? I lined up theories like a nervous tic. Not a single one survived.

And yes, before you say it—I know. I always say things hit close to home. But this one didn’t just hit. It moved in, rearranged the furniture, and sat quietly in the corner waiting for me to notice it.

Then I read this line and had to stop breathing for a second:
“Forever present but invisible. Existing but not truly living.”
Cool. Casual. Absolutely devastating.

At that point, I still had no idea where this story was going. I just knew it had already left fingerprints on me. So I did the only sensible thing: accepted my fate and kept reading.

Page by page, the space tightens. The dark creeps closer. The air thins. You don’t read this story—you’re slowly sealed inside it. And then comes:
“I close my eyes and listen to the silence and try to remember what it felt like to be whole.”
Which, frankly, felt like a personal attack. I think about that more often than I’d like to admit.

By then, my internal GPS had fully lost signal. No map. No exit. Just silence and the weight of it.

I’m not going to say more. Not because I’m being mysterious—but because this story doesn’t want to be explained. It wants to be experienced. If you’re capable of facing something that feels uncomfortably familiar, something that doesn’t let you look away or dissociate your way out of it… this one’s for you. And I refuse to rob anyone of that impact.

Five dark, locked-in-the-basement stars.
When a short story knows exactly how to pry your eyes open and tear your heart into quiet, jagged pieces—yeah. It earns them.

Personal note from me to you:
Don’t read this unless you’re ready to look at what you’ve been avoiding.
The silence is already there. This story just turns the lights off so you can hear it better.

[Lee Stackhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Just Below is the kind of psychological horror that doesn’t ask for your attention. It takes it, binds it, and leaves it in the dark. Alaia opens with pure disorientation: a man wakes mutilated and restrained in a basement beneath his own home, listening as his family moves on without him. From that moment on, the story becomes less about escape and more about the unbearable realization of being erased while still alive.

What makes this novelette so effective isn’t just the physical horror, though it’s visceral and unflinching, but the emotional excavation happening alongside it. Alaia weaponizes silence, proximity, and familiarity. The basement isn’t some remote, gothic dungeon; it’s domestic, intimate, and terrifying precisely because it’s recognizable. We all understand that space. We all understand the feeling of being just below the surface of our own lives.

The prose is sharp and quietly devastating, often beautiful in ways that feel almost cruel. Lines linger long after you’ve read them, not because they’re flashy, but because they articulate thoughts most people try very hard not to name. As the darkness deepens, grief and rage blur together, and the story becomes a meditation on invisibility, stagnation, and the internal violence we allow to fester when we believe we no longer matter.

This is a short read, but it’s claustrophobic in the best way. Every page tightens the walls a little more. By the time the ending arrives, it doesn’t just shock; it reframes everything that came before it, leaving you unsettled and reflective in equal measure.

Just Below doesn’t want to be explained or dissected. It wants to be experienced. For fans of psychological horror that crawls under the skin and stays there. This is an easy five stars, and a story you won’t shake off anytime soon.

[M. Majeris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just Below by starts off like your run-off-the-mill basement body horror, but then promptly morphs into something entirely else. What? I hear it’s different for everyone. You might get enthralled with the gruesome details, or caught up in an escape-roomesque action, or switch to untangling the story’s metaphorical meaning. The narrative is so well written — not that I would expect anything else from John — that it will cater to a wide range of readers, or even change the meaning on a second read through.

Flexibility aside, I’m sure one thing will stand out for everyone: the further you will go into the story, the more personal it will seem. Especially, when you factor in the after word.

And this is the point I want to stress: make sure you read the after word. It’s not a regular thank-you-blah-blah-blah, but rather a very organic and essential extension to the story, and the ballsiest one I ever read, hands down.

As I mentioned to John once, I would’ve not had the guts to admit the shit in there about myself.

In any case, grab this one-sitting-worth of novelette, that will seem smooth, but will leave you with thoughts when you’re done with it.

[Maxwell Vagus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just Below , a novella by horror writer John Alaia, tells the story of one man’s ‘symphony of pain’ played out under the floorboards of his very own life. While the story’s body horror grinned at me through a ‘tapestry of shredded lips’, Alaia deftly built a crescendo of psychological thrills that not only kept me unraveling the clues to his protagonist’s plight but also had me glancing inward at that ‘vast, oceanic sadness’ upon which we all float. Alaia’s ability to portray graphic immediacy while incorporating strategic symbolism and striking descriptive phrases adds layers of depth to this novella, enabling it to transcend simple genre labels. If you’re looking for a quick read that makes you squirm and think and reflect, Just Below by John Alaia is the perfect choice.

[Chapters_with_VDKeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y’ALL! If you think a short story under 50 pages can’t completely mess with your head… think again. 😳 Just Below is a quick read with a seriously chilling punch.

A man wakes up bound, mutilated, and trapped in the basement of his own home while life upstairs goes on like nothing happened. His family moves through their day… completely unaware he’s just below them. The realization that the world keeps going without him? Absolutely haunting.

Part of the Deadly Silence collection, this psychological horror story pulls you deep into fear, grief, and the terrifying way the mind can spiral in the dark. The writing is sharp, the pacing is tight, and the tension builds fast.

Short, creepy, and impossible to ignore—this one will get under your skin. 🖤📚

[Nicolasa DeSantiago · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Just. Wow.
John has such a way with words that had me hooked from the first set of lines.
This is a story that is deeply emotional, it feels personal and it hits home in some (many) levels.

I am officially a forever fan! (Yes, I ran to Amazon to get John's other book called "The Confession: Justice in Blood")

Another line that I absolutely love is:
"I'm there in body only. My mind was always elsewhere, hanging onto the day's work or overdue bills. I was present but absent. Speaking but not connecting. Not really caring" (Alaia 35).

The ending was absolutely genius! I read this book days ago and I am still thinking about it, this is one of those books!

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

What would you do if you woke up one day and you were tied to a chair and unable to make a sound? What if your family was just above living their lives like nothing was wrong? To one man, this is is his reality. He must come to terms with his situation and try to get free. But will it be too late?

This was my first story by this author, but it won’t be my last. The ending dropped and it made me wonder what I would do in that situation. The tension had me gripping the sides of my kindle for dear life!

I really enjoyed this story and highly recommend it!

[Bookdragon_Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

The way this begins, puts you right into a scene that leaves you saying wtf. As the story continues, and the scenes change, it becomes clear what is going on. But how you expect it to end is NOT the ending you get. As it is a short story, it is a quick read, but don't let the size fool ya. This one has some thought-provoking moments, as well as some anxiety-filled moments at the beginning and end. Definitely recommend.

[Uilleam Whitedale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent body horror, confined with the psychological horror of liminal space. A stunning exploration into repression. The prose are immaculate, allowing just enough to peek through to keep the reader glued to the narrative without giving it all away. There are only hints as to why, but the need to escape is pervasive. Whether taken metaphorically or metaphysically, the emotions conjured are brutal and inescapable.

[Kay Elem · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy five stars. The imagery, the pain, the ending, Just Below works on every level. Alaia’s prose is stunning in the most unsettling way, managing to be beautiful and nauseating at the same time. The contrast between horror and reality is razor sharp, and that ending. . . unforgettable. I won’t spoil a thing, but this is a must-read for any fan of psychological horror.

[Country · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a great short read that brings a importance to not feeling alone and that everyone has their inside demons that they fight inside. This was a thought provoking read and and truly well represented. I did not see at first what was happening but as the storyline continued you piece it together. I think the ending was unexpected but good.

[Lucy Brighton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alaia’s strength lies in turning the familiar into something deeply unsettling. The domestic setting makes the horror feel intimate and real, while the sharp, quietly devastating prose explores the complexities of the human condition. Beneath the tension, it explores themes of invisibility, grief, and emotional decay with unsettling clarity.

[Carly Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was short, but definitely not sweet. It was chilling in the very best way. Gory while still having beautiful prose. You can see the scene so clearly and feel everything the character is going through. Horror fans will devour this!