Undercurrents

by Roberta Trahan

Deidre Morneau can’t remember the last time she didn’t have a headache. Chronic migraines have crippled her life and destroyed her dreams, and years of failed therapies have brought her to the brink of despair. But then, the effects of a last-ditch experimental treatment begin to take hold, and Deidre’s symptoms get even worse.

Beyond desperate, Deidre agrees to see the research scientist at Extragen Labs who developed the medication she has been taking. But when she arrives at the cold, creepy clinic, Deidre has second thoughts. Just as she decides to opt out, the biggest migraine of her life overwhelms her and Deidre passes out on the waiting room floor.

Deidre suddenly awakens to a bizarre and terrifying new reality. Somehow, she has become the subject of a secret research project, and her body is undergoing a radical transformation. Deidre is smarter and stronger than everyone around her. She is also isolated, restrained, and at the mercy of madmen. Whatever it is that is happening to her, Deidre isn’t waiting around to find out.

25 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 31, 2016

About the author

Best-selling author of "The Dream Stewards" quasi-historical epic fantasy series and other speculative fiction - including the post-apocalyptic sci-fi novella "Aftershock". Myth maker, dragon seeker, coffeechocoholic and antique jewelry hoarder.

Reviews

[Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent sci-fi short story about a young woman who is an 'emergent'. Very suspenseful. Very well written. I highly recommend reading this.

[Visionary Impart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Undercurrents is a tense and unsettling short story that pulls you in from the very first page. Roberta Trahan masterfully blends psychological horror with sci-fi suspense, using Deirdre’s struggle with chronic pain to create a deeply relatable and emotional foundation. The pacing is sharp, the atmosphere is chilling, and the transformation at the heart of the story keeps you turning pages. It’s a gripping, thought-provoking read that proves powerful storytelling doesn’t need a long format to leave a lasting impact.