Still Born: A Short Horror Story

by The Behrg

A grieving couple coping with the unimaginable loss of their child being stillborn discover a disturbing anomaly. They can hear their deceased daughter through a baby monitor.But is it really their daughter they are listening to?And if so, who are the other voices coming through on the monitor?As this couple is about to discover, not all second chances are meant to be taken.A psychological horror short story in the vein of Blake Crouch or Stephen King, StillBorn will leave you wondering what is real and what is not. Grief, despair, and tragedy are brought together into a short tale poetically horrific.   ** For three additional free ebooks, including the highly acclaimed dark literary story, "The Lines", visit Behrg's website thebehrg.com **  

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Fiction, Psychological Horror

38 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 13, 2014

About the author

My writing career began in the third grade when tasked with an assignment to write about rain. I opted to tell the story of a raindrop who decided life wasn't worth living and leapt to his death only to discover that really he was being reborn. (You know that whole life-cycle thing).

Yeah, I was a little twisted even back then. Thankfully my teacher encouraged my writing rather than send me for a psych evaluation... (that came later). Let's see...

I was a child actor and starred in recurring roles in Dynasty and Highway to Heaven, and was even in an episode of The Twilight Zone.
I dropped out of college to join a rockband.
I was kicked out of the Peter Pan ride at Disneyland for lobbing rocks onto toy houses.
I have a grave in my backya ...
Oh wait, this is a BIO not a CONFESSIONAL.

Bottom line: I love to write. Thankfully, my family puts up with it. The very act of creating something that might be slightly askew keeps me going. I'm drawn to dark fiction where I find an appreciation for the light. Horror, thrillers, suspense. Things that make you question your own reality or open your mind to look at the world a little differently than you might have before.

I'm grateful to all those who give an independent author like myself a chance.
Seriously. Thank you.

For more about me, my works, (my rants), and upcoming projects, please stop by: my website. I promise I don't bite.

(See, there's a reason they keep me muzzled).

Reviews

[Shelby *trains flying monkeys* · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've lost my every loving mind with picking this book up.


But I'm a total lemming and when I saw Charlene's review...I just took my wandering fingers over to Amazon for that one click experience.

A couple is happily awaiting the birth of their child. The room is ready, all is in place. The baby hasn't been moving as much but the doctors and everyone assures them that all is fine.

The baby is born stillborn.
They completely sink in their grief (I just can't still believe I read this one because of that)

Then they had opened that baby monitor that they got at a shower and suddenly they hear the baby crying.


Booksource: this book is free on Amazon if you completely lose your mind and want to read it.

[Char · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grief is always a solid basis for a horror story, and what's more grief inducing than a stillbirth?

This was a super creepy short tale which caused me to look at baby monitors in an entirely new way. Recommended!

Also, it's free on Amazon EVERY day, so go get yourself a copy. Just don't blame me if the baby's crying keeps you awake.

[Maxine (Booklover Catlady) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good short story. This was one of them. Cleverly balanced throughout the story grabs you from the start, keeps you rolling nicely and gives you an ending to be satisfied with.

This slightly creepy story focuses around a couple who have sadly just buried their still born baby. Some very strange and unexplainable things start to happen and for even the reader like you and me the line between reality and imagination, madness even becomes blurry.

With momentum building up, the plot is enjoyable and suitably slightly on the dark side for this happy reader. Highly readable, well written with a twist that tops it off.

Don't ignore the power of the short story, I love them between books to cleanse the palate so to speak and find them a good introduction to novels written by the same author. Not only do I recommend this little treasure but also Housebroken, a novel by the same author, that was one I could not put down!

4 stars from Booklover Catlady for this one. Very enjoyable and a quick burst read. For more of my reviews, book talk and more go to:

https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...

[Zoeytron · Rating 4 out of 5]

A baby shower, with the little bundle of joy expected to arrive within days. All those wonderful presents to open, but what of the lone gift that has no card or name tag to indicate the giver? Without further ado, cue the creepy music. And alas, the child is stillborn. The would-be parents are nearly inconsolable, their very grief threatens to split them in twain.

Look for an episode of The Price is Right that takes cruel to a whole new level. 'Now, let's see that showcase!'

Good short story that hits the right notes.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ummm...whoa! A perfectly creepy tale for this time of year. This was very good and it's free on Amazon. Give it a read...but not if you have babies and definitely not if you are expecting. Creeeeeeeeeepy!

[11811 (Eleven) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first read from The Behrg and it's dark and disturbing so if that's your cup of tea, please drink responsibly.

I think this clinched my reading challenge for the year so GR owes me a blue ribbon or a sheet cake or something.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super dark.......Super creepy.......A horror story beyond disturbing.......and OMG, you won't forget the imaginary PRICE IS RIGHT episode.......

A very short read, but a downright mind-bender! (and it's free!)

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I've loved every story I've read by this author....

[Cindy Newton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short but very effective horror story. As a parent, just the words "still born" are horrific enough, without the ghastly events that this couple faces after enduring that heartbreak. The plot and pacing are all excellently crafted, and the Behrg manages to create believable, real people from his characters in this short space of time. Highly recommended, and I will definitely be reading more from this author!

[The Behrg]

Still Born is now a perma-free read!

Pick it up at absolutely no cost on Amazon, iBooks or Kobo and the download fairies will magically deliver it to your device. (You don't even have to sing "oh, oh, oh, it's magic" while they do it, though I hear it helps).

Enjoy! :)

[Vicki Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A creepy and disturbing short story. I liked the alternative perspective about a sad life event. First read by this author, will definitely check out more by him.

[Kaisersoze · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very harsh and poignant exploration of grief after a couple's baby does not make it to term, Still Born cleverly contrasts the reality of a newborn baby and what parents go through (but often don't talk about) with what the alternative would be had things not worked out "so well".

This early story from The Behrg packs a considerable punch and for the low, low price of $0.00 on Amazon, is an absolute steal.

4 Mysterious Baby Monitors for Still Born.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was SO CRAZY AWESOME!!!!!! I want more!!! Give me more!

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cross between the Twilight Zone and the tv show Servant. This was creepy and weird all the way through. Perfect, I should say.

[Anne (w/ an E) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although there were a few things that didn't make sense to me, I did like this story.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dark, disturbing and creepy short from The Behrg. Nicely done, sir.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

All my reviews can be found at http://jessicasreadingroom.com
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This review will post on my site on November 24, 2019.
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I must first say anyone who has had a miscarriage, still birth, or lost an infant child should not read this short story.

This short story is true psychological horror as it would be every parent’s worst nightmare. Sam and Joel’s heartache over their loss feels 100% real. Then they start hearing things through the baby monitor they don’t need anymore. This includes a crying baby. Thus begins a descent into despair, confusion, and more.

This one is free on Amazon if you wish to pick it up!

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost perfect short story

I know that I am loving a book or tv show when I stop to check how much is left. I didn't want this to end.
A couple, close to the delivery of their first child receive a gift of a baby monitor from an anonymous guest at their baby shower. After the heartbreaking loss of their baby, stillborn, they begin hearing their baby through the monitor.
Tense, creepy, heartbreaking and delicious.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this really short story one night when I just couldn't sleep. It was pitch black in my living room, except for my Kindle light, ( didn't want to wake anyone else), and this book had me looking around corners, and worrying about shadows. Well worth the read!

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't generally like short stories but I LOVED this one. Why oh why did it have to be a short story? It ended way too soon.

p.s. Go to Amazon and download it. It's free. An excellent short story free of charge. Well? Go on then!

[Reanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little freebie I picked up (cuz I'm poorer than poor atm), and I rather enjoyed it. It's a decent little short story. I'd definitely check out some more work by The Behrg! =P

[Mommacat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written short horror story about every parents worst fear.

Recommended.

[Sophie Bristow Harris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Took less than 20 minutes to read. Not much content and didn't seem to be much horror to it. It doesn't entice me to read others by this author, sorry.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this book up from Amazon when it was listed for free, but would have been happy to pay for it. Not too scary, but satisfyingly disturbing - it had me wondering if I was reading about some supernatural phenomenon, or about two people who have just lost their minds with grief.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creepy little gem

What could be more horrifying than having your baby be stillborn? The Behrg shows us in this tightly written little short story.

Creepy - and thought provoking!

[Justin Fraxi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This actually upset me, so I guess that means it was a successful horror story.

[Jeanine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well that was completely bizarre, in a good horror story kind of way.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved this short story. Heartbreaking and emotionally frightening. You could feel the characters pain.

[Satara · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Icy_Space_Cobwebs Join the Penguin Resistance!🐧🐧&#x1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horrific--and horrifying. As always this author yanks the reins away and follows his own lead (or that of his characters). The tragic grief is penetrating; but what I am left with is the persistent fear of the veil between probabilities weakening...

Not at all a good tale to read at night while home all alone.