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Schism, 4: Deepest Fears
What are you most scared of?
In the fourth volume of Schism, Dave Musson and T M Lunn team up to reveal some of their deepest fears.
First, T M Lunn brings you Inside Voice, a dread-filled tale that sits on your chest and presses down for the entirety of its word count..
Then, Dave Musson offers Cold White Fear, a story rooted in one of his own darkest fears...snowmen.
Two minds, one theme and a duo of chilling stories. This is Schism.
In the fourth volume of Schism, Dave Musson and T M Lunn team up to reveal some of their deepest fears.
First, T M Lunn brings you Inside Voice, a dread-filled tale that sits on your chest and presses down for the entirety of its word count..
Then, Dave Musson offers Cold White Fear, a story rooted in one of his own darkest fears...snowmen.
Two minds, one theme and a duo of chilling stories. This is Schism.
- GenresHorrorShort Stories
59 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 3, 2026
About the author
Dave Musson
24 books157 followersThe Bookstagram Awards Author of the Year for 2024, Dave is a glasses-wearing, bearded human being from the middle of England who likes heavy music with loud guitars, watching movies, and reading and writing creepy stories. He has more hobbies than he should really have time for; playing in a band, hosting a bunch of podcasts, writing, and running a Stephen King-themed YouTube channel. Oh, and he also wrote and published The Ultimate Stephen King Quiz Book in 2022.
Dave lives at home with his wife, sons, and annoying dog. He made his debut as a published fiction writer in 2021's Welcome to the Funhouse, from Blood Rites. He was also a finalist in the Bellingham Review’s 2022 Tobias Wolff Prize for Fiction, and has been published in Psychotoxin Press, The Reach, and on The Horror Tree.
His first full collection of short stories, Once More Round the Sun, was published on his own Always Darkest imprint in August 2024, and won the Best Collection and Best Horror categories of the 2024 Bookstagram Awards.
Dave lives at home with his wife, sons, and annoying dog. He made his debut as a published fiction writer in 2021's Welcome to the Funhouse, from Blood Rites. He was also a finalist in the Bellingham Review’s 2022 Tobias Wolff Prize for Fiction, and has been published in Psychotoxin Press, The Reach, and on The Horror Tree.
His first full collection of short stories, Once More Round the Sun, was published on his own Always Darkest imprint in August 2024, and won the Best Collection and Best Horror categories of the 2024 Bookstagram Awards.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 16, 2026
First, in Darkest Fears, we have my favourite of the bunch by TM Lunn! Even if you can't relate to the severity of this character's fears, you'll relate at least a little! Everyone has had a spiral of obsessive thoughts about something, or everything, I am sure! This short story really highlights the mental torture.
And then Dave's! Snowmen!! Completey different and completely wild. I loved it, though. Very old school Stephen King style. I wanted more, but I also love short and spooky so this was ideal.
And then Dave's! Snowmen!! Completey different and completely wild. I loved it, though. Very old school Stephen King style. I wanted more, but I also love short and spooky so this was ideal.
July 28, 2026
Both excellent short stories. However, I think TM Lunn’s short story was exceptional. I can’t believe that her depth of insight into mental health is entirely fictional!?
July 18, 2026
Another great couple of stories. The first one hooked me quickly and the second spooked me quickly.
July 14, 2026
Another month, another brilliant Schism for you to enjoy!
My story is a genuine fear of mine...snowmen - yes really! Read it and see why :-)
T M Lunn's tale is so, so good - it got right under my skin and kept layering dread upon dread upon dread all the way through...I hope you love it as much as I do!
Available for free right now!
My story is a genuine fear of mine...snowmen - yes really! Read it and see why :-)
T M Lunn's tale is so, so good - it got right under my skin and kept layering dread upon dread upon dread all the way through...I hope you love it as much as I do!
Available for free right now!
July 25, 2026
Dave Musson is back with SCHISM IV: Deepest Fears. This time he's collaborated with the awesome TM Lunn. I'm a big fan of both authors, so I was super excited for this one.
Lunn's story (Inside Voice) is absolutely terrifying. I've really struggled to write a review for this story because it hit close to home for me. When you're in the throes of a mental health crisis, trusting your own thoughts feels impossible. Lunn managed to capture that feeling so beautifully, and so viscerally-a testament to her talent because that is a *difficult* thing to do right!
Musson's story (Cold White Fear) is-and I mean this as a compliment-very 'Dave Musson'. He takes a topic that should be cringe, and twists it in a way that is anything but... This is a super dark story, read at your own risk... And maybe don't make snowmen this year?
Lunn's story (Inside Voice) is absolutely terrifying. I've really struggled to write a review for this story because it hit close to home for me. When you're in the throes of a mental health crisis, trusting your own thoughts feels impossible. Lunn managed to capture that feeling so beautifully, and so viscerally-a testament to her talent because that is a *difficult* thing to do right!
Musson's story (Cold White Fear) is-and I mean this as a compliment-very 'Dave Musson'. He takes a topic that should be cringe, and twists it in a way that is anything but... This is a super dark story, read at your own risk... And maybe don't make snowmen this year?
September 1, 2026
Five stars for Musson's fantastic story AND being kind enough to let me participate in this fantastic project!
Cold White Fear starts out as something you could easily laugh off, one of those fears we all develop as kids and question later in life. Unless it continues to haunt you - and then destroy you. Total classic horror with enough emotional dread to have your teeth chattering.
My story, Inside Voice, explores the fear of fear itself. It gets inside your head, controls your every thought. You can try and fight it, but can you ever truly silence fear?
Cold White Fear starts out as something you could easily laugh off, one of those fears we all develop as kids and question later in life. Unless it continues to haunt you - and then destroy you. Total classic horror with enough emotional dread to have your teeth chattering.
My story, Inside Voice, explores the fear of fear itself. It gets inside your head, controls your every thought. You can try and fight it, but can you ever truly silence fear?
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews