Behind: A Creepy Little Bedtime Story

by William F. Aicher

Wherever you go, it follows. At the heels of your feet. Lurking in your shadow. Watching. Always watching. ----- The seventh entry in William F. Aicher's popular "Creepy Little Bedtime Story" series finds single mother, Vanessa, at home making dinner for her child, Asa. Only Vanessa's not the only one in the house. Or is she?

14 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 10, 2020

About the author

William F. Aicher is the author of The Trouble With Being God, A Confession, The Unfortunate Expiration of Mr. David S. Sparks., Calibration 74, and the Phoenix Bones: International Monster Hunter series, as well as a series of short horror and suspense pieces collectively referred to as “Creepy Little Bedtime Stories.” Tending to lean toward the creepy and fantastical, his work has appeared alongside such well-known writers as Stephen King, Richard Chizmar, and Neil Gaiman.

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, he holds degrees in journalism and philosophy. He currently lives outside Milwaukee with his wife, three sons, and a pair of lazy cats.

Reviews

[William Aicher]

Marked as read, as again, as the writer, I have read this many times.

[Lilian C Vale · Rating 5 out of 5]

One creepy story.

If you're looking for a short, creepy, story, this is a good one to read. At only about 30 minutes, the author delivers a tale that immerses you from the first page. Only at the end do you find what troubles the main character and that truly is the best part.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another thoroughly creepy short from Mr. Aicher. Just long enough to give you a chill without overstaying its welcome. Very enjoyable!

[M.N. Seeley · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Creepy" seems like a commodity in short supply these days as "Boo Scares" and "Disturbing Violence" have come to define a lot of horror. Too bad, because "Creepy" is where it's at. As Aicher's story title states, this is indeed a creepy little bedtime story.

We've all been there. We know what it's like when our imagination runs wild. Noises too soft to be accurately identified. Shadowy movements in the peripheral of sight. The feeling of being watched. Sensing something inches away from you in the dark; something of evil intent considering your weaknesses.

Creepy stuff. Give it a read and then sit quietly in a dark room with your back exposed to ... whatever.

[Alanna Rusnak · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know how people say they want to take peek inside an author's head to see where their ideas come from? Well. I can't say that about William F. Aicher. Frankly, if given the chance to look, I might run the other way for fear of the nightmares that would forever chase me. If you're looking for a story that will make you uneasy, have you glancing over your shoulder, and constantly double-taking when you walk past a window or mirror, look no further! Aicher is a master of the unsettling and this latest addition to his Creepy Bedtime Story collection is no exception.

[Renee Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kids, man

Little kids can be creepier than the creepiest creepy crawly without without even trying. The worst part is that unknown element, that question that stems from the fear that we're constantly failing them in some way. Are we projecting our fears onto them, or are they seeing something that we're missing?

[L.T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A definite creepy little bedtime story. 'Behind' is one of those tales where you're unsure if the character is losing her mind or if something really is behind her. Well told and a quick, enjoyable read, 'Behind' is a perfect short horror story to end your day with.

[Iseult Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really creepy!

A great short story about a single mother who feels a presence. I particularly liked that the author’s son drew the cover art for this tale.

[WickedQuixotic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as its title implies, "Behind" is a creepy story, just long enough to read before bed.

This story hits on the relatable, sometimes sinister feeling of being watched - that feeling that causes the hairs on the back of your neck to stand up and, upon finding nothing there, makes you question your own senses.

Quick, attention-grabbing, and creepy enough to make you do a double-take when turning out the lights, "Behind" is definitely worth a read.

I look forward to checking out the other entries in the "Creepy Little Bedtime Stories" series!

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, creepy little story. Without distractions, one can read this in less than twenty minutes.