The Waning

by Christina Bergling

Beatrix woke up in a small metal cage.
A persistent dripping sound her only company.
Lost in the darkness.
Reeling to remember.

Two meals and a lesson. Three graces a day.

She had been leaving work to celebrate her promotion, a promotion that was the culmination of her entire ruthless, driven career, a promotion that would cement her status with her marketing firm enough for her to take her relationship with her girlfriend out of the lesbian closet.

Beatrix had finally made it. And then she was here, disoriented and petrified in a black she could not define.

“Fear and panic are just words. They in no way capture how I felt in those first hours in my cage. I could say them, scream them, carve them in my … arm a million times, and never fully express how the terror absolutely radiated from my bones.”

Yet the reality of her Master may be even more terrifying than the crushing darkness and enveloping isolation. He appears as an ominous shadow in the doorway of her cell, and he never speaks to her. Instead, he teaches her the language of pain and torture, of submission and obedience, of domination and possession.

“I didn’t have to understand to obey. All I had to do was read the commands and follow. Submit.”

With each passing day, the fight and hope in Beatrix begins to shrivel and wane. With each savage beating, her survivalist instincts rise up to overwhelm the person she was. With each dehumanizing condition, she begins to forget who she was and the life from which she was ripped.

“You were breaking me down. More brilliantly than I could realize, lost in my strife. You were leaving me alone to turn on myself, break myself down to something more pliable for You. I wish I could have appreciated the beauty of it in my misery.”

Can Beatrix ward off the psychological breakdown of her Master? Can she resist the temptation to survive and thrive through submission? Either Beatrix will succeed at surviving and escaping the torments of her Master or her Master will succeed at breaking her completely and reforming her into his design for a human possession.
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About LGBT Horror Author Christina Bergling
Colorado-bred writer, Christina Bergling, sold her soul early into the writing game. By fourth grade, she knew she wanted to be an author, and in college, she actively pursued it and stared publishing small scale. However, with the realities of eating and paying bills, the survivalist in her hocked her passion for horror to profession and worked as a technical writer and document manager, even traveling to Iraq as a contractor. Bergling is a mother of two young children and lives with her family in Colorado Springs.

Genres: Horror, Dark, Psychological Thriller, LGBT, Fiction

204 pages, Paperback

First published May 31, 2015

About the author

Drawn to the monstrous and macabre, Christina Bergling has been weaving nightmares since childhood. Her horror tales slither from post-apocalyptic (Savages, Screechers) to monster (Red Walls) psychological (The Waning) to comedy (The Rest Will Come) to mystery (Followers) and anything in between (various anthologies and zines including The Horror Collection series, 96th of October, Graveyard Girls, Demonic Wildlife).

Bergling is a member of the Horror Writers Association, Denver Horror Collective, and Midnight Monster Club and a dedicated voice in the horror genre. She has been featured on panels at Colorado Festival of Horror. She devours horror in all its forms—movies, books, festivals, conventions, stores, haunted attractions.

By day, she navigates the shadows of the IT world. By night, she turns trauma into art. When she’s not writing, she hikes rugged Colorado trails, dances wildly, and sucks out all the marrow of life with her family.

Reviews

[Maxine (Booklover Catlady) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well where do I start? This is not light fiction, nope - it's as dark as you expect it to be. A woman is abducted and kept in a cage about the same size as for a large dog, that's not going to really end well. So, if you like your fiction dark, edgy, thought-provoking and a touch shocking, you will enjoy this one as much as I did.

This book explores the relationship between captor and captive at intimate level.

But before we get to that part we get an insight into the life of woman unfortunate enough to end up in a cage. We taste her working persona, her relationship with her girlfriend and glimpses into her inner psyche. Then the good bit starts, abducted to find her whole world now consists of a dark room with concrete walls and floor, the cage she is cramped in, unable to stretch her limbs at all and the steady drip-drip of water somewhere in this living hell.

The book is really clever in it's exploration of the gradual changes in relationship with her captor, what does a human being do under such conditions? The lessons her captor teaches her are brutal and violent, graphic and disturbing but necessary to his purposes. I can't really share too much more on this fascinating aspect of the book as it would be a massive spoiler but this is very much about residing in the mind of this captured woman and how she copes with such an unimaginable situation. If she copes at all. It's psychology and horror combined to keep the reader mesmerised at the events unfolding. Some may indeed even miss the importance of why the book is written in the format that it is. It was like watching a car crash, you want to look away but you can't. I had to find out the end outcome. It was not predictable or what I expected, kudos to the author for that.

I found this quite unique and enjoyed reading it very much and am now keen to read more of Christina's writing. This is not traditional horror really, it's the very dark side of human beings with a massive slant on the psychology of the victim and the dance of their relationship which is in itself both interesting and disturbing.

4 paw prints from me for this book. I would recommend it even to readers who enjoy books in the crime or psychological thriller genres as well as dark fiction/horror fans. A book that had me thinking long past finishing it including wondering what I would do in the same horrible situation. Best not to ponder too much.

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I requested a copy of this book to read and review in exchange for my honest opinion from the author, many thanks!

[Jamie ♡♡ submits to books ♡♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

☆☆☆ 2 Captive Stars ☆☆☆

This book has left me absolutely FRUSTRATED!! The premise of this story was fascinating to start, but after repetitive dog training of the captor to the captive, this story ends with no answers or closure.



Beatrix has been working her ass off to finally make partner in her marketing firm. Along the way she has stepped on people to get ahead and left the love of her life, Lei, dangling with promises of a wonderful life.

When Beatrix finally gets her day of payoff glory, she is abducted and held in a dog cage.

Trying to keep her sanity she tries to figure out why this is happening. Her captive NEVER says a word. He is training her to be his pet....literally a damn dog. He beats her like a dog for any disobedience never uttering a single word to her.



Beatrix must play his game to avoid punishment. Never knowing what he really wants she assumes her captivity like a good girl.

Lesson after lesson, she finally realizes he just wants her dog like obedience and she accepts this. This is her life now.



Finally we get a "Stay with me. " 203 damn pages and HE finally speaks!!!

THE END!!!

This book is a HUGE character reflection for Beatrix. She knows she is paying for her ruthlessness with her captivity but we learn very little about HIM, her captor. She knows him from a previous hospital stay but that is all we get.

I am sorry, but I need answers at the end of a book. NOTHING......WE GET NOTHING!! UGH!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nev Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A copy of The Waning was sent to Confessions of a Reviewer by the author Christina Bergling in exchange for an honest review. This is said review. This book is published by Bad Day Books / Assent Publishing.

I was super impressed with Christina Bergling’s first book, Savages. When she asked me if I would be interested in a copy of her new book The Waning for Confessions of a Reviewer I could not refuse. Repeat reviews for an author are a perk of running this type of blog. When you get writing as good as this, it turns out to be one of the best perks in the world.

Beatrix is a workaholic. At least until she gets her big break and earns her right to be a partner in the company. It looks like it could be on the cards if she lands this latest account. Her partner Lei is dreaming of the day it all falls in to place so they can finally stop hiding their romance and announce to the world they are a couple. Beatrix seems to think that “coming out” would be a mistake before she gets her big break.

When the results of the negotiations come in, Beatrix could not be happier. All her dreams are coming true. She just cannot wait to get home and tell Lei.

As she is reaching her car in the car park, someone grabs her from behind. The next thing she knows, she is inside a metal cage in a dark, damp concrete cell.

This is the beginning of a horrific journey of self-discovery, self-preservation and the quest for simple answers such as who has taken her hostage and why?

So – stories where the main character has been kidnapped and is being kept against their will in a cell with seemingly no way of escaping the torture and hell that they find themselves in. You have probably all read one right? There are quite a few books I have read with a similar plot. I guarantee you have never read one like this. Christina Bergling has written his story in such a unique way that for me, after just finishing the story, I feel dirty, I feel evil and I feel ashamed.

When I read Christina’s first book, Savages, one of the things I mentioned in my review that enthralled me so much with it was the fact the characters had no names until about 70% into the story. This just made it totally different for me. Unique. Normally by that stage of a story we know the names, family history, medical history, number of pets and how many times a day they take a shit. It was just so different to be reading a story that had two people battling for survival when you knew so little about them. She has added the unique twist again in The Waning.

The story is told in the first person. It is told through the eyes of Beatrix. She has no idea who her kidnapper is. She has no idea of their name or anything about them so therefore no idea at all why she is there in the first place and what the outcome of the whole thing might be. Because she has no idea of the kidnappers name she needs to call them something to tell the story doesn’t she?

She calls them “You”. For example:

“You opened the door and entered the cell”

“You unlocked my cage and led me out”

“You lifted the scalpel”

Now the above are not actual quotes from the story. I’m not going to give anything away from it but do you get my drift? By using the word “You” over and over throughout the story, you, as in the reader, slowly start to believe that you are in fact the kidnapper. It is very unnerving. It totally immerses you in the story to the point you actually believe you have this girl locked away in a cell somewhere in your house for whatever purposes Ms Bergling might have mind. This is another very unsettling fact when you read the story. You believe the “you” is yourself but you have absolutely no control over what is happening because you can only do what is written for you to do. You are not in control of anything you are doing. It’s scary. You don’t want to do the things that are happening in the story because you may not be that type of person but you can’t help it because you are not the one writing it.

This aspect of the story is absolutely, stunningly, fantastic. I have never read a book before so powerful that you feel totally out of control.

In terms of characters, there are really only two. Beatrix and you. You will get what I mean about “you” when you read it. Beatrix on the other hand goes through the most intense mental and physical torture I have ever seen anyone go through. I think this is also made worse by the fact that it is “you” doing it to her. She has to adopt from being a very strong, directed individual who knows exactly what she wants and exactly how she is going to get it (and doesn’t mind who she steps on to reach her goal) to a subservient, meek woman giving in totally to a new master and his every whim. She has no idea of why she is there and what the outcome will be and can only go with the flow and follow the direction her mind wants her to go at any particular time. This is headfeck of the ultimate kind.

In many respects there isn’t much to this story. No big elaborate scenes and no huge amount of characters. Also I felt it could have done with a little bit more on the scary side but that is a personal choice.

The power and emotion and the skill in the writing more than make up for that with me though. This book is superb. This is a book that I will remember probably forever as being the one book that was truly interactive for me. It grabbed me and sucked me into the story in such a way that not only did I believe it but I felt like I was responsible for it. That is some mighty fine, powerful writing to be able to do that to a reader.

To summarise: An old plot that has been done many times before. I have never, however, read something done in this style that makes you feel as if it’s all your fault. This book will bring emotions to the surface in you that you never knew you had. This is must read exercise in psychological headfeck that will be very very hard to beat in my humble opinion.


General rating:

★★★★★ Perfect.

Horror rating:

★★★ Could have been some more scares in it for me.

[Luke Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This tale of abduction, imprisonment and torture (mental as well as physical) won't be for everyone but for people who like to look into the dark, I can highly recommend it. Great writing and characterisation, punchy and a proper page-turner.

[cynne★ · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I hated this book. I wanted to put it down and internally regret having started it, but out of nowhere, I kept reading and reading until I was completely captivated. The story is sick, and afterward, you'll probably only be able to take a break or read a children's book. Would I recommend this book to anyone? Probably not (unless you want to feel possessed and die inside).

['Q' aka CoCo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this one in the beginning. I knew from the blurb not to expect erotica but, instead, a light horror read. Beatrix's story gripped me from the start. Ms. Bergling truly has a way with words...

" I knew it was time; I knew You were near. My body always tells me. My biological clock has been set to Your rhythm. My bones know how many quiet seconds must tick away forgotten before You appear. Two meals and a lesson. Three graces a day. Every part of my routine is carefully orchestrated, has been skillfully imbedded into my very cells. My torture is an investment; Your brutal attention is a gift.

But after a while, I grew bored. Nothing was happening. She cycles through thoughts of Lei, her dog, her mom, work, and when He'll come next. Repeat. Repeat again. Ad nauseam. It's all her thoughts because He never speaks.

At 56%, he cuts her, and it's the first "lesson" we hear about since her initial whipping when she first arrived. I can't help it; I'm excited despite the horror because things are finally happening, right? Wrong. She's left to heal, and nothing else happens until 70%. I won't spoil that scene, but it's not scary or heart pounding in any way. I was let down.

I found the ending somewhat anticlimactic. I understand what the author was trying to do here. The slow breakdown of Beatrix's mind and rebuilding her into what He wanted. I just feel like it was a little lost in all her internal dialogue. Not having any of his perspective was a problem as well. There were just some scenes that made no sense without it bringing in the lover for her to hear--still don't understand the point of that .

[881 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gosh, how do I even review this?
I was hoping that all that build up in the book would lead to something. Anything. But no questions were answered nor anything meaningful conveyed. And such a horrible ending....

I don't see the purpose of this story, I honestly really felt bad for the main character. The captor was shit. He's a piece of shit and the story makes his abuse and sadistic action seem justified in the eyes of the character, but I don't buy any of it. I wish there was more depth to his character and actions but there really wasn't!

The writing style was alright and the fact that the main character is gay is really cool. I liked that she talks to the reader as if we are the captor, that was interesting. But other than that, this story is just pitiful and pointless.

[Kit · Rating 2 out of 5]

Writing: ★★
Story: ★
Characters: ★★

Overall rating: 1.6

Ummm.. okay. What in the hell did I just spend 3 hours of my time reading?

I should have stopped after the first few chapters. The purple prose in this book is so over the top, and annoying, not to mention distracting.

So, instead of writing one of my normal reviews, stating how much I loved, or didn't love, a book, I'm going to simply move on to the next one.

[Alia]

No rating, it wasn't for me.
I just couldn't buy it, not the idea behind the story, but this one in particular.

[Cyrene Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uncaged Book Reviews:

This is a powerful read, Beatrix was a successful business woman who had a great job, a loving girlfriend and a cute dog. One day she is walking to her car to drive home just like every other day when out of nowhere she is abducted only to awaken inside a steel cage. Just big enough to fit a dog. I couldn’t believe the book I was reading - imagine being Beatrix, imagine being in that cell. This is a great book takes the whole abducted storyline to new extremes. This would make an awesome film. I highly recommend this book. Just wow. Reviewed by Jennifer

[Valkyrie Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as I saw the cover and blurb for this book I knew that the content would attract me. This is a gruesomely dark and deep exploration of the relationship between captive and captor. Horror at its best! The Waning examines the psychological dynamics of Master and enforced submissive and the changing nature of their rapport. Horror, as a genre, traditionally portrayed a heroine tempted by her darkest desires. The Waning takes the genre and builds on it, cleverly transcending expectations by crossing boundaries. As a lover of the darkly erotic and traditional horror genre this book is as close to perfect as possible. I highly, highly recommend this to horror fans!

[Kathryn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Everything you need to know about this story is in the synopsis. There is nothing more to it really. You could literally jump to the last 5 pages and not miss anything, unless you want to read about her former relationship with her girlfriend or her crappy former co-workers. The man cages her like a dog. Tortures her for months. Strips her of her sense of self and does such a total mind fuck on her that she has no will to leave when offered an open door. The only thing I liked about this book was that I didn't notice any typos. This book is getting put in the cyberspace cornfield.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

hmmmm

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. Fuck, this book really kept me on my toes. I was on edge from the moment Beatrix was taken and placed in that cage but then the story just went off in ways that I absolutely did not see coming. It left me so anxious but I couldn't stop reading until I got to the ending. Speaking of that ending HOLY SHIT WHAT THE FUCK?! Again, Bergling just took everything in ways that I didn't expect. This was intense, well written, well paced, and a mind fuck. I loved it.

[Kami · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is seriously messed up. This is the third book that I've read by Christina Bergling. I've also read Red Walls. And Savages. This one is a man who kidnaps a woman, locks her in a cage in a closet and systematically destroys her. It is very well written and completely deranged. I loved it.

[QA Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book!! You want to stop and go watch some disney because it gets under your skin so much bit you also can't put it down. Great horror!!! Keep an eye on this author. She is killing it!!!