Prom Screams

Dark Celebrations #10

by Calvin Demmer

William Carlson has been dumped just before prom. But he has a master plan not only to impress his friends, but also to make his ex jealous. Things take an unexpected turn as soon as he meets Fay, a stripper known for her dance routine that incorporates fire. William has to adjust to a night that continues leading him down a dangerous path, despite his best efforts to correct course. Making prom becomes the least of his problems.

A short story.
(Collected in Dark Celebrations)

Genres: Horror, Short Stories

17 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 10, 2017

About the author

Calvin Demmer is a South African author of horror, dark fantasy, science fiction, and crime. His books include the flash fiction collection The Sea Was a Fair Master and the short story collections Dark Celebrations, Her Heart Beats for Ancient Beasts, Through the Ravenous Night We Ride, Duel the Darkness for Nightmare Rule, and The Town That Feared Dusk. When not writing, he is intrigued by that which goes bump in the night and the sciences of our universe.

You can find him online at calvindemmer.com or sign up for his newsletter to stay up to date with his latest projects.

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

William is in desperate need for a girl for his prom night. His girlfriend left him some days ago and now he pays a lot of money for a decent escort girl. Fay, is a bit strange. When he learns that she works as a stripper under the name of Inferno and a former customer of her turns up, things get complicated. Maybe buying this girl wasn't the best solution he ever took... intriguing, eerie, fast paced, I absolutely enjoyed this little horror gem. Be careful who to choose for prom night! Highly recommended!

[Sydney’s Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

The description says “dangerous path”, that’s perfect to describe this short story. He should have just went to prom alone but if that happened there would be no story.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, peer pressure is a high school nightmare come true as William searches for the best way to make his ex-girlfriend jealous, only to spend a fortune on a “hot” paid escort that ends up costing him all he had to give…and he didn’t even get to go to prom.

PROM SCREAMS by Calvin Demmer turns the horrors of being a teen into a lesson in being your own person and not falling to the pressures of one’s peers, or else. Follow one typical insecure teen prove how devastating popular opinion can be, because if you follow the pressures of the crowd, you are bound to be burned.

Calvin Demmer tosses in the worst case scenario he could come up with and added some awkward moments that just adds to the entertainment factor. Short enough for a quick escape, long enough to bring back a nightmare or two from those glory days.

Gotta love this author's style. I received this copy from Calvin Demmer in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

Publication Date: May 10, 2017
Publisher: Calvin Demmer
Genre: Dark Fiction
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

William Carlson is a rich kid who gets dumped just before prom. Instead of trying to find a date among his peers, he goes the rent a girlfriend root. With that choice, he lets himself in for a night that he would never see coming.

This was an interesting little story though not one of my favorites. Even after everything that happens I am still kind of in the dark as to what was going on. I also did not have any affinity for the characters because they were all kind of annoying on one level or another.

[Siobhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prom Screams was another wonderful read from Calvin Demmer, one that gave me something completely different to what I expected.

I had plenty of ideas of what kind of story this would be – in my mind, I was imagining a Carrie kind of tale – but I was quickly shown to be wrong. Prom Screams surprised me in the best of ways, giving me a story that consumed me.

Without a doubt, this is one of my favourites from the author.

[Sunshine Somerville · Rating 5 out of 5]

I assumed I wasn't going to like the main guy based on what little we know of him at the beginning. However, by the end, you really do feel for this rich, unfortunate kid. And the girl isn't exactly as she appears at first either. Once again, this author's creativity impressed me in just a few short pages.

[Sarah Budd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prom Screams is the latest tale in Calvin Demmer's extraordinary Dark Celebrations series; She Will Rise, Hungry Ghosts, Labor Day Hunt, Thanks Sinning, Trick or Death, Three Dead Men Happy Dark Year and Spring Outbreak. They are all available on Amazon for less than a pound or dollar!

In Prom Screams we follow the tale of William Carson who has recently been dumped and heartbroken by his girlfriend just days before the biggest night of his life - Prom Night. He wants to prove to his ex love and all his best friends that he's not the loser they all think him to be and what better way than to hire a beautiful girl to hang on his arms and he waves good-bye to adolescence and hello to the rest of his life.

Except that the beautiful girl he's hired isn't available, he starts to panic he's paid a lot of money and has so much to prove not just to his peers but to himself. Instead he is given Fay a girl so unimaginably beautiful and enchanting.

A dark tale that screams with the desperation of heartbreak and youth. I really enjoyed this little tale, it kept me guessing til the end and I'll never look at redheads in the same way again!

But he must treat her well in the manner she is accustomed to and she must be returned by midnight. Will this be a night to remember and cherish forever? Will he be able to get her back in time?
www.sjbudd.co.uk

[Theresa Braun · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cautionary tale about what happens when we care too much what other people think. In this case, William Carlson represents the teenage boy whose heart has been broken right before prom by his now ex-girlfriend. In order to make her jealous and to show his friends he's not a loser, he hires a stripper to be his date. To carry out his plan, he spares no expense and has to tolerate a few wrenches thrown at him along the way. Although the circumstances and dialogue are often comical, there's also a thread of dread and doom bleeding from these pages. The end will definitely come as a surprise, and you might appreciate how you survived your teenage years, finally able to disregard what the rest of the world thinks of you. Because, sadly, to be mired in insecurity is playing with fire. Well done, Demmer. Well done...

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 round up to 4 stars

I thought the overall idea was interesting, yet cliché - a boy gets dumped right before prom and opts to hire a date from a questionable source in order to save face with his friends...

There are a number of holes in the plot, but without nitpicking too much, I will say that I enjoyed it, particularly the twist with this funky girl with her odd manners and reactions without a certain medication.

The obsessed fan at the strip club was a nice touch that added just enough depth to the plot, although the ending became rather predictable.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

in “Prom Screams,” William is dumped by his girlfriend just before prom.  To salvage his pride and to make his ex-girlfriend jealous, he decides to hire a hot girl from the seedy side of town to be his date for the night.  The girl he gets paired up with has a strange supernatural ability. 

The details of the girl's ability are pretty good. I could feel myself sympathising with the poor girl. While this one had a slow start to it, and William's character got on my nerves, it was very interesting to see all of Fay’s special abilities. It would definately be interesting to have such an ability!

Thanks to Calvin for sending me this story in exchange for an honest review :)

[Sheilah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rather liked this tale and wanted to keep reading. I didn't love the protagonist, but I seem to have a dislike for most of the male characters Demmer portrays. They all seem like jerks and I often find taking pleasure in their discomfort. This tale was rather compelling and mysterious. I wanted to know more. My only sadness is the abruptness of the ending. I felt like the whole character development of the female companion could have just kept going. Who is she? What is this syndrome? What is her tragedy? Give me a book all about her!

[Zoë Damacela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Justice for Fay!!

[S.E. Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prom Screams, another entry in Demmer's Dark Celebrations oeuvre, dives into the price and pitfalls inherent in social identity and status. The story is reminiscent of those high school years and the struggle to reconcile our inner and outer selves. Unfortunately for William Carlson, his chosen date turns out to be far more than a social prop, who, like him, is struggling to figure out her own inner instabilities. Will William realize the fire he is playing with before its too late?

[M.R. Tapia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calvin Demmer takes us on a wild teenage ride with Prom Screams. From the beginning, Demmer takes us on a dark, literary journey, reminding us of a time when all we wanted to do was impress our friends and be accepted, only for William it all takes an unexpected turn for the worst. Prom Screams is a must read.

[Michael P. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a less than satisfying short story following the tribulations of a young man who hires a stripper to go with him to the prom. It's ostensibly a horror story, but the horror element feels distinctly tacked on and doesn't really impact the plot. It's main saving grace is that it's an extremely quick read.

[DecayingPumpkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

95

[Aryanna Tunstall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had no idea which direction this story was going but it was really good. Every sentence kept you questioning and on your toes.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I seriously need a back story on Faye! This was good. Like so many of Calvin’s book you are left wanting more!
4 stars - kindle unlimited.

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read for Halloween!

This is a great short story with several surprises and bits of horror. I enjoyed it very much.

Read via Kindle Unlimited

[Tasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

uggggg

This story started out with promise. Halfway through was still good. The end was blah. But truthfully this should be longer. I want to know more about Fey.