Existential Box

by Ann Mayburn

Trapped in a sensory deprivation tank, a man who thought he was just signing up for an afternoon of relaxing self-exploration instead finds himself battling a dark madness that threatens to tear his soul apart.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Short Stories

18 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 9, 2012

About the author

Ann is Queen of the Castle to her wonderful husband and three sons in the mountains of West Virginia. In her past lives she's been an Import Broker, a Communications Specialist, a US Navy Civilian Contractor, a Bartender/Waitress, and an actor at the Michigan Renaissance Festival. She also spent a summer touring with the Grateful Dead(though she will deny to her children that it ever happened).

From a young age she's been fascinated by myths and fairytales, and the romance that often was the center of the story. As Ann grew older and her hormones kicked in, she discovered trashy romance novels. Great at first, but she soon grew tired of the endless stories with a big wonderful emotional buildup to really short and crappy sex. Never a big fan of purple prose, throbbing spears of fleshy pleasure and wet honey pots make her giggle, she sought out books that gave the sex scenes in the story just as much detail and plot as everything else-without using cringe worthy euphemisms. This led her to the wonderful world of Erotic Romance, and she's never looked back.

Now Ann spends her days trying to tune out cartoons playing in the background to get into her 'sexy space' and has learned to type one handed while soothing a cranky baby.

Reviews

[Sea Caummisar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though it says 18 pages, it seems much longer because so much detail is put inside such a short story. It's very unique. Some famous dude pays an outrageous sum to float in a water coffin spa for twelve hours. Maybe something like that exists in real life, I'm not really sure. Not only is his mind playing tricks on him ( who can blame him,floating in a dark coffin for hours?) He's in there much longer than planned. It's isn't the actual story that makes it 5 stars, which the story itself is great. It's the combination of words and the flow from the author that easily makes this a 5 star story. Also, it's a free download today. Not sure if it's perma free or not, but today it is. It's definitely worth a download and good thirty minutes of reading

[Anne (w/ an E) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Different in a good way

I did not know what to expect with this story but I enjoyed reading it. It was different in a good way and not like anything else I have read. That is what I look for - 4.5 stars.

[Fayma Shedelbower · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe this man suffered more than anyone could take. Who would ever think of putting someone in a situation that I thought he would never get out of. Great read and if you are not able to take what happens in this book do not open it.

[William · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started off well enough but WTF was that ending? I hate it when stories and books just don't seem to make sense.

[Hyacinth · Rating 3 out of 5]

What did I just read? I read it but, what did I read?

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horrifying story of a person's experience in an isolation tank that turns surreal

[John Michael Stroh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story

I do not believe in the Rapture but did enjoy this short story. I would be interested in reading more by this author.