This story's idea was actually based on a real bootleg VHS tape of The Hunchback of Notre Dame that we saw as children. Just like in the story, someone had filmed it in a theatre, the sound was slightly off, and we could see sporadic silhouettes across the bottom. And just like in the story, right after Quasimodo's dramatic "sanctuary" bit, the movie zoomed out, leaving a tiny screen in the center of our TV.
Unlike my story, though, whoever was operating the camera realized their mistake and zoomed in right away. It may seem like a forgettable error, but as children, those few seconds transported us to that movie theater.
I generally veer towards writing stories with dialogue, dilemmas, or plots that are too complex for my own good, but when this memory popped into my head, I thought I'd try my hand at pure horror. It was a fun exercise to come up with my own creepy creature, and although Bootleg Meg didn't break any molds, a few of my beta readers did find her description revolting, so I think she did her job. I also had fun sketching her out (see related image).
If you've read the story, let me know what you think. I'm always open to feedback, suggestions, and critique!
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Revealing Glances: Unsettling Short Stories & Their Making
Horror[Ongoing] A collection of unsettling or unusual short stories. Some have monsters, some have humor, some draw tears, some make you think, and some have artwork. Each is a revealing glance of someone's life. Every writer has their own methods of comi...
