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The Thing in the Ward: A Novelette
Gavin has cancer, which sucks. He's run out of options and must try a trial drug in order to fight it off. He's wheeled into a ward and starts his treatment of Donozine, but what Gavin doesn't know is there is something else in the ward with him, and the thing is hungry!
- GenresHorror
37 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 16, 2020
26 people want to read
About the author
Nicholas E. Gray
8 books50 followersNicholas Gray is an aspiring horror author that resides in Rochester Hills, Michigan. He got his start writing creepypastas for narrators on YouTube and has had his work featured on the official creepypasta website.
He was overcome so many obstacles in his life. Born with a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) he was told he wouldn't read, write, talk, or be able to tie his shoes. Everyday he's proving them wrong, for he has learned how to do bunny ears and currently has his shoes tied! Gray is also a Cancer survivor, suffering from stage 3B Hodgkin's Lymphoma back in 2012. He has since been "cured," and is living a good life with his family in his home state of Michigan.
He was overcome so many obstacles in his life. Born with a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) he was told he wouldn't read, write, talk, or be able to tie his shoes. Everyday he's proving them wrong, for he has learned how to do bunny ears and currently has his shoes tied! Gray is also a Cancer survivor, suffering from stage 3B Hodgkin's Lymphoma back in 2012. He has since been "cured," and is living a good life with his family in his home state of Michigan.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 24, 2021
Gavin is in the fourth stage of Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and has tried all the normal medical treatments to help him get better. When he begins an experimental treatment, all signs point to danger. While this novella is a thriller, it also provides a very introspective and thought-provoking look at the life of a terminal cancer patient. As a cancer survivor himself, the author adds a personal touch that encourages the reader to root for Gavin. We want our main character to be the hero, in more ways than one.
May 11, 2021
A very promising start! The story is good and Gavin is a good character. It just needs a little more polishing but I think that will come with time & more writing. I would read more by this author. I was provided a copy of the audio book by the author in exchange for a honest review. The audio version is read by Ryan Haugen. He does a great job narrating.
Thank you Nicholas E. Gray for this opportunity.
Thank you Nicholas E. Gray for this opportunity.
January 24, 2021
Amazing short story from one of the staples of the HorrorTube community. After reading this I can say that I'm honored to call this man a friend.
This book takes a deep dive into the psyche of someone dealing with terminal illness and this author pours out everything he has as he goes into dark and uncomfortable places that most wouldn't want to revisit after having gone through it themselves. Parts of this book made me tear up and certain parts were hard to get through, but Im happy I read this novella and I cant wait to read more from Nicholas Gray.
4/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book takes a deep dive into the psyche of someone dealing with terminal illness and this author pours out everything he has as he goes into dark and uncomfortable places that most wouldn't want to revisit after having gone through it themselves. Parts of this book made me tear up and certain parts were hard to get through, but Im happy I read this novella and I cant wait to read more from Nicholas Gray.
4/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
September 17, 2020
Nick put everything into this story and it shows.
Although Nick and I are friends I must take my Reviews serious. The author deserves me to be objective when rating his story. That being said Nick knocked this one out of the park.
The plot and premise I give 4.5 stars
Nick tackled deep feelings of fear and terror. He looked at the thought of death as a hole. He spoke about losing faith in religion due to his surroundings in a children's hospital ward. Nicks asks the Question where is God in this setting? As a Christian I disagreed with the characters sentiment, but respected the thought because I had felt the same way before. You follow a young man named Gavin during his stay at a hospital where he is given an experimental drug. I do not want to spoil anything in the story so I will be as vague as possible. I feel Nick created his character "The Thing" as a metaphor but I'd have to ask him or maybe that is the question he wants you to think 🤔. I also loved the fresh prince of bel-air moments Nick referenced.
Writing I give 3 stars it should be noted that this was quite possibly the best part of this story! Seeing the growth of Nick's writing as a whole. 💪 You could tell Nick spent some time making this story have as few errors as possible. The Editing was alot better than the previous story Collection in my opinion.
Horror 4 stars Nick has a wonderful imagination and in this story it truly shows. I am excited to read more from this author in the future. The scenes in the hospital were so well done. And I love the mystery surrounding The Thing. There was great tension build during this book.
Fun gets 4 stars from me. I read this bad boy in one sitting 🤯 I just kept wanting to see what happened next. Plus that ending was Great ! 👍
Overall I recommend you read this story first if you have never tried Nick's work before. He did a great job with this one.
Although Nick and I are friends I must take my Reviews serious. The author deserves me to be objective when rating his story. That being said Nick knocked this one out of the park.
The plot and premise I give 4.5 stars
Nick tackled deep feelings of fear and terror. He looked at the thought of death as a hole. He spoke about losing faith in religion due to his surroundings in a children's hospital ward. Nicks asks the Question where is God in this setting? As a Christian I disagreed with the characters sentiment, but respected the thought because I had felt the same way before. You follow a young man named Gavin during his stay at a hospital where he is given an experimental drug. I do not want to spoil anything in the story so I will be as vague as possible. I feel Nick created his character "The Thing" as a metaphor but I'd have to ask him or maybe that is the question he wants you to think 🤔. I also loved the fresh prince of bel-air moments Nick referenced.
Writing I give 3 stars it should be noted that this was quite possibly the best part of this story! Seeing the growth of Nick's writing as a whole. 💪 You could tell Nick spent some time making this story have as few errors as possible. The Editing was alot better than the previous story Collection in my opinion.
Horror 4 stars Nick has a wonderful imagination and in this story it truly shows. I am excited to read more from this author in the future. The scenes in the hospital were so well done. And I love the mystery surrounding The Thing. There was great tension build during this book.
Fun gets 4 stars from me. I read this bad boy in one sitting 🤯 I just kept wanting to see what happened next. Plus that ending was Great ! 👍
Overall I recommend you read this story first if you have never tried Nick's work before. He did a great job with this one.
January 24, 2021
This was a awesome read. The story is awesome. The character development was awesome as I got really attached to the main character and his feelings of dealing with cancer and his own mortality. Very well done Nicholas E Gray and I look forward to reading more from you.
May 4, 2021
Whats scarier than dying young? Cancer at a young age would be hard on anyone. Factor in experimental drugs and a creepy dude lurking in the hospital. Fun and short listen/ read
September 17, 2020
What a heart wrenching, courageous, and imaginative tale. I can’t even begin to think about the amount of fortitude it took Nicholas Gray to delve into subject matter this personal, harrowing, and morbid. While I am absolutely horrified that he went through the events detailed in this novelette, I’m equally grateful that he was kind and brave enough to share his experience with such candor. It should be known that although I am very good friends with the author, he reiterated that he didn’t want that to impact my overall rating. I can confidently say, that this is one of the best depictions of the sheer grief and suffering associated with a debilitating illness, that I’ve read in quite some time. It’s been a while since I’ve felt this sick to my stomach with sadness over a story. Gray doesn’t waste anytime in drawing you into the type of life that harboring cancer forces you to endure. While anyone with an soul will have to hold back tears within the first few pages, those who have seen the walls of a medical ward or operating room will be especially heartbroken. Without spoiling anything, there is a strong horror component to this tale as well. The sinister turn that Gray allowed the plot to take, was extremely well executed. The genre elements were blended seamlessly into the otherwise grounded and gritty plot. Nicholas Gray has a terrific imagination for the macabre, and it was firing on all cylinders in this novelette. The writing was barebones in nature, and flowed with a steady rhythm that really helped bolster the bleak tone which the author was going for. I am a huge fan of no frills prose when a story calls for it, and that style of writing really fit this plot like a glove. There were a few redundant phrases and off kilter sentences towards the beginning, but the prose becomes very solid shortly after that. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that Gray’s writing has the same vibe as Richard Laymon’s style, especially towards the second half. While used sparingly, there was also a pitch black sense of levity that was derived from the moments of hopelessness the main character faced at certain points. The darkness that the thoughts of those undergoing chemotherapy and treatment have the tendency to gravitate towards, is seen through several turns of phrase. Gray is a fan of dark humor, and he used it tactfully with a sense of taste. While I do not want to drag religion into this, I related quite effortlessly with the author’s sentiments about a divine entity and his whereabouts when people need him the most. I’ll leave that topic right there, but I appreciated that the passages detailing the patient’s thoughts about a higher power, were written with attitude and confidence. Overall, I was surprised with just how much heart, detail, and character development Nicholas Gray managed to pack into a short work of fiction. Not only was this his best creative effort so far, but it’s now in my top 15 short stories and novelettes of all time. I mean that with 100 percent sincerity. This story needs to be read by horror fans, cancer survivors, and anyone who wants to see an author lay out his darkest life experiences in a very frank manner. I give this an extremely strong 4.5 out of 5, rounded up to a 5 on Goodreads.
July 22, 2021
very short horror story.
i can't say i really liked it or was even the least bit scared by it but i'm glad that i contributed to an author.
i can't say i really liked it or was even the least bit scared by it but i'm glad that i contributed to an author.
October 6, 2020
Full review coming soon!!!! Wow!
June 8, 2025
This novelette was definitely a ride to say the least. The story and themes were great in that it deals with the turmoil of cancer, and the effects it has on an individual’s mental and physical state. The true horror in this story comes from a place of the unknown, not in the traditional sense of an eldritch horror, but instead not knowing when the reaper will come for you. Nicholas Grey writes these sections of the story with passion and heart, and a lot of it comes from a personal place which makes these sections even more powerful. However, The Thing In The Ward does suffer from some structural issues at times that made it a little disorienting to read at times.
As far as I could tell there are no chapters or scene break indicators aside from a few spaces with every new paragraph. This made reading it a little difficult at times because I couldn’t tell if a scene was shifting, or if it was simply moving onto a new paragraph that continued the scene. I feel this really dragged down the experience of reading this novelette. But the story overall was enjoyable and the ending scene was one I absolutely loved. The main character becoming a monster too, and then leaving the nurse at the mercy of becoming one as well was a great way to end this story.
With all this in mind The Thing In The Ward does have its problems, but what it lacks in structure it makes up for with heart and a great description of an honestly cool looking monster. Also loved the opening quote from the legendary Clark Ashton Smith.
As far as I could tell there are no chapters or scene break indicators aside from a few spaces with every new paragraph. This made reading it a little difficult at times because I couldn’t tell if a scene was shifting, or if it was simply moving onto a new paragraph that continued the scene. I feel this really dragged down the experience of reading this novelette. But the story overall was enjoyable and the ending scene was one I absolutely loved. The main character becoming a monster too, and then leaving the nurse at the mercy of becoming one as well was a great way to end this story.
With all this in mind The Thing In The Ward does have its problems, but what it lacks in structure it makes up for with heart and a great description of an honestly cool looking monster. Also loved the opening quote from the legendary Clark Ashton Smith.
August 18, 2021
Sad and Chilling Tale
The Thing in the Ward by Nicholas E. Gray is a bleak tale that can resonate with any reader who loves horror, and has experienced the real life horror of cancer or watching a loved one with it. How Nick pens the story it is apparent there are some personal experiences tied to the novelette. Even if it may be embellished for horror.
I had heard mixed reactions to Nick’s writing, and as he is attempting to throw his hat in the ring as an author in my humble opinion he is succeeding. I understand many will try to tear you down, talk badly pertaining your work, and even speak ill of a person themselves. I feel these people have their own hang ups, and should be taken with a grain of salt. Personally, I listened to the audiobook version of The Thing in the Ward, and I felt that it was written well.
The story deals with a young man with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He is in pain, dying, and overall scared. However, when a small ray of sunshine in the form of a nurse happens to be his aid during a shift he is a little more upbeat. Not for very long though. As things progressively get more strange, death permeates the hospital floor, and something more sinister is afoot. What is the larger evil? Who is to blame? And what is The Thing in the Ward?
I felt for a short story Nick did a fantastic job of getting to the point, relaying a message, and delivering a horror story that has an awesome ending! I felt that the narrator did a decent job, and it was a lot of fun to listen to. Not to mention it was short and sweet. I personally felt that Gray’s style and flow of writing were nicely done. There really isn’t much I have to complain about. Sure, I would have liked a little more, and there were some instances where the tense of the story felt as though it switched. Nonetheless, this is a work of a young, talented, and independent author. The indie author world is vast with much to offer. It is also filled with those learning the ropes, growing, and improving. In fact, the world of writing is an area of constant learning, and no one is a master of all. Not even New York Times Best Sellers.
All in all, I give The Thing in the Ward by Nicholas E. Gray 3.5 chemo treatments out of 5 blood stained hospital gowns (rounding up to a 4 star). I felt that other than a few minor errors, as I mentioned, and wanting a bit more the story was great. I felt like the time spent with the characters was a little too short, and I did care for them but I felt like I needed more bonding time. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this novelette, and I see great things on the horizon for Nick Gray! Until next time, my friends.
The Thing in the Ward by Nicholas E. Gray is a bleak tale that can resonate with any reader who loves horror, and has experienced the real life horror of cancer or watching a loved one with it. How Nick pens the story it is apparent there are some personal experiences tied to the novelette. Even if it may be embellished for horror.
I had heard mixed reactions to Nick’s writing, and as he is attempting to throw his hat in the ring as an author in my humble opinion he is succeeding. I understand many will try to tear you down, talk badly pertaining your work, and even speak ill of a person themselves. I feel these people have their own hang ups, and should be taken with a grain of salt. Personally, I listened to the audiobook version of The Thing in the Ward, and I felt that it was written well.
The story deals with a young man with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He is in pain, dying, and overall scared. However, when a small ray of sunshine in the form of a nurse happens to be his aid during a shift he is a little more upbeat. Not for very long though. As things progressively get more strange, death permeates the hospital floor, and something more sinister is afoot. What is the larger evil? Who is to blame? And what is The Thing in the Ward?
I felt for a short story Nick did a fantastic job of getting to the point, relaying a message, and delivering a horror story that has an awesome ending! I felt that the narrator did a decent job, and it was a lot of fun to listen to. Not to mention it was short and sweet. I personally felt that Gray’s style and flow of writing were nicely done. There really isn’t much I have to complain about. Sure, I would have liked a little more, and there were some instances where the tense of the story felt as though it switched. Nonetheless, this is a work of a young, talented, and independent author. The indie author world is vast with much to offer. It is also filled with those learning the ropes, growing, and improving. In fact, the world of writing is an area of constant learning, and no one is a master of all. Not even New York Times Best Sellers.
All in all, I give The Thing in the Ward by Nicholas E. Gray 3.5 chemo treatments out of 5 blood stained hospital gowns (rounding up to a 4 star). I felt that other than a few minor errors, as I mentioned, and wanting a bit more the story was great. I felt like the time spent with the characters was a little too short, and I did care for them but I felt like I needed more bonding time. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this novelette, and I see great things on the horizon for Nick Gray! Until next time, my friends.
January 18, 2022
This novelette drew me in from the start, and held my attention throughout. A well written tale, with a relatable and likeable main character. Great storyline which hits close to home. I was so impressed with Nicholas Grays ability to tell an engaging story, that I have already purchased his other two books, Field of Fiends and The Woman Shrouded in Flies.
May 20, 2024
The scariest part of Nicholas Gray's story, The Thing in the Ward, is the very real horror of cancer. Gray himself is a survivor, so the parts where he describes the pain, physical and emotional, are very realistic, and very heart wrenching.
That's not to say the monster here isn't creepy. Gray has actually crafted a unique and disturbing villain here, and there's some good gore for the blood hounds as well. Gray's a fairly new writer, but I honestly look forward to seeing what he comes up with next and look forward to reading any books he may write in the future.
That's not to say the monster here isn't creepy. Gray has actually crafted a unique and disturbing villain here, and there's some good gore for the blood hounds as well. Gray's a fairly new writer, but I honestly look forward to seeing what he comes up with next and look forward to reading any books he may write in the future.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews