Hydra Read online

  PRAISE FOR MATT WESOLOWSKI

  ‘Bold, clever and genuinely chilling with a terrific twist that provides an explosive final punch’ Deidre O’Brien, Sunday Mirror

  ‘A genuine genre-bending debut’ Carla McKay, Daily Mail

  ‘Weolowski evokes the ominous landscape and eerie atmosphere of the area with sharp, direct prose …There is more than a whiff of modern horror here, and The Blair Witch Project feels like a touchstone, but the meat of the story is the typically fractious and fraught relationships between the teenagers struggling to find their place in the world and their role within society. Impeccably crafted and gripping from start to finish’ Doug Johnstone, Big Issue

  ‘With a unique structure, an ingenious plot and so much suspense you can’t put it down, this is the very epitome of a must-read’ Heat

  ‘Wonderfully horrifying … the suspense crackles’ James Oswald

  ‘Six Stories is a stunning literary thriller with a killer ending. This is going to be in my top ten books of the year, for sure’ Liz Loves Books

  ‘Wonderfully atmospheric. Matt Wesolowski is a skilled storyteller with a unique voice. Definitely one to watch’ Mari Hannah

  ‘Dark, mysterious and definitely not without elements of horror, I was more than a little unsettled while I read it. A genre-bending book, with some hauntingly threatening prose … I could not put it down. Highly recommended!’ Bibliophile Book Club

  ‘A stunning piece of writing – chock full of atmosphere, human insight and beautiful writing. Take a note of this guy’s name. He’s going to be huge!’ Michael J. Malone

  ‘A complex and subtle mystery, unfolding like dark origami to reveal the black heart inside’ Michael Marshall Smith

  ‘Original, inventive and brilliantly clever’ Fiona Cummins

  ‘For fans of thrills, chills and an up-to-date take on the darker side of society’ J.S. Collyer

  ‘A tight, claustrophobic mystery’ David F. Ross

  ‘A remarkable debut from a fine new fictional voice’ Shelley Day

  ‘Sharp as a butcher’s knife, cutting straight through to the nerve of its reader. A read-in-one-sitting experience that will surely inspire many authors to explore new methods of narration’ Bleach House Library

  ‘Pulsating with life, with characters who are so incredibly realistic and a plot that is both haunting and terrifying, Six Stories is bang up to the minute, relevant and fresh. This is a book that knocks the breath out of the reader … An absolute triumph and highly recommended’ Random Things through My Letterbox

  ‘Current, fresh and skillfully delivered … Matt Wesolowski has built up a dark, atmospheric setting with his vivid, descriptive prose. The voices were so distinctive that I felt like I was listening to a podcast rather than simply reading the transcript’ Off-the-Shelf Books

  ‘A quirky, but extremely well-written thriller … Six Stories scores extremely well in the dialogue and authenticity of the interviews … a very clever concept’ Trip Fiction

  ‘The literary equivalent of dark metal – gritty, dark, often shocking, and always exciting. A masterful debut’ Kati Hiekkapelto

  ‘Chilling, beautiful, addictive, dark, haunting and utterly magical. There’s a constant thread of menace and chill’ Louise Beech

  ‘This is one of the best novels I’ve read this year, perhaps in memory’ Nudge Books

  ‘Its plotting, pacing and unique content make it one of the most impressive books I’ve read recently. Wesolowski is a major new talent in crime fiction, and I cannot wait to see what he does next’ Crime by the Book

  ‘A new style of mystery, one that encapsulates the twenty-first century, the internet, and social media … a dazzling fictional mystery’ Foreword Reviews

  ‘A slim volume rich in nuance and filled with deep passion for folklore and myths. In this spooky and eerie debut Matt Wesolowski introduces a very interesting contemporary concept of narrative structure which keeps the readers on their toes’ Crime Review

  ‘This gripping and slightly intense tale is one of the most unique and original plot-driven stories I have ever read’ Postcard Reviews

  ‘Wesolowski has taken a unique structure and used it to create a brilliantly written, enigmatic novel that draws the reader into the mystery of this story’ Segnalibro

  ‘The ending … well I didn’t see THAT coming…’ It’s Book Talk

  ‘Matt Wesolowski has shown that there are still new ways to excavate mystery within the crime-fiction genre’ Bolo Books

  ‘Outstanding. Five stars from me’ Mrs Bloggs’ Books

  ‘What a creepily fantastic book! And man, that curve-ball thrown at the very end, WOW!’ The Pages in Between

  ‘Fantastic storytelling in a unique style’ Steph’s Book Blog

  ‘It crosses multiple genres with Matt Wesolowski’s background in writing horror seeping through the pages, with unexpected twists and truths unveiled’ Swirl & Thread

  ‘The most original book I have read in a long, long time’ Reflections of a Reader

  ‘A very creeping, slow-building and tantalisingly surprising read’ Jen Meds Book Reviews

  ‘Highly original and superbly executed, and makes for an absorbing and thrilling read’ The Book Review Café

  ‘A perfect choice for a Book Group’ Never Imitate

  ‘A great book: original, engaging and written by an author that is one to watch’ The Book Whisperer

  ‘The frightening descriptions make the setting of the crime absolutely creepy and turns a beautiful but dangerous place into an eerie and living location’ Chocolate N Waffles

  ‘Once the last interview is over, the book just ends and then the cogs in your brain start turning…’ Keeper of Pages

  ‘Atmospheric, chilling and compellingly written’ From First Page to Last

  ‘Unique, original, compelling’ Girl vs Books

  ‘Blowing between past and present, legends and reality twirl a deadly dance with one another in this haunting tale of ethereal darkness and mystery. I urge you to read this incredible book!’ Ronnie Turner

  ‘Fantastically plotted … with depth and fear!’ Have Books Will Read

  ‘Perfect, original and so unexpected’ Varietats

  ‘Brings past and present colliding together to reveal secrets that I could never have guessed’ By the Letter Book Reviews

  ‘Dark, creepily atmospheric and horrifically intense’ My Chestnut Reading Tree

  ‘Six Stories will be one of my books of 2017’ Espresso Coco

  ‘You want to get lost in a book? Wesolowski makes it easy’ Clues & Reviews

  ‘A creepy tale that keeps you guessing!’ Crime Book Junkie

  ‘Once started you will not put this book down. It is impossible’ Last Word Book Reviews

  ‘Brilliantly, cleverly executed and a highly immersive read’ Novel Gossip

  ‘I am keen to see what Wesolowski releases next. There is always a high expectation to release something as compelling as the debut, but I have a suspicion that I don’t need to worry with Wesolowski’ The P Turners Book Blog

  ‘A clever, original and captivating debut from a gifted storyteller’ The Curious Ginger Cat

  ‘Compelling, atmospheric and spine-tingling, it’s the unseen terrors that cause us the most fear – think The Blair Witch Project with bells on it! Read it and weep!’ Chapter in my Life

  ‘Beautifully written’ A Lover of Books

  ‘A tense, dark tale of destruction, delivered with innovative style and a devastating ending’ Claire Thinking

  ‘At times it did not feel like I was reading a book – more akin to listening to an old storyteller spinning a yarn for the crowd in a smoky tavern. If you want a richly rewarding reading experience then Six Stories is it’ Grab This Book

  ‘This no
vel just packs a punch and is such an original and refreshing read’ Chillers, Killers & Thrillers

  ‘One of those books you so wish you’d thought of first…’ Crime Worm

  ‘I’m not sure what else to say, other than READ THE BOOK!’ The Suspense Is Thrilling Me

  ‘Brilliantly modern and gripping take on the classic thriller’ Misti Moo Book Review

  ‘Ultimately this is an author who knows exactly how to create a chilling atmosphere and who is able to tell a chilling story in a most imaginative and yes, chilling, way!’ Bibliomaniac

  ‘It’s definitely a unique read – for a debut book it’s altogether something else. Podcasts wrapped up in intrigue, a web of lies and some of the most complex characters you’ll ever meet. Tell you something, those Northumberland woods will never look the same again…’ The Book Trail

  ‘The novel is essentially a crime thriller but it’s Wesolowski’s unique narrative structure that sets Six Stories apart’ Words Shortlist

  ‘A haunting and unsettling debut from an exciting new voice’ The Owl on the Bookshelf

  ‘The tension is on the verge of overwhelming … a truly unmissable read’ Book Drunk

  ‘This is a fantastic debut, incredibly assured’ The Crime Novel Reader

  ‘Seriously, seriously, SERIOUSLY good!’ Page Turner’s Nook

  ‘A terrific mystery story, well written and full of suspense’ Portobello Book Blog

  ‘Utterly compelling and despite being entirely engrossed, I defy you not to be shocked by the ending. An original concept with skilled execution – totally unputdownable!’ Elementary V Watson

  ‘There was an addictive quality to the writing, tinged with just enough horror and unexplained phenomena to make you shudder and read on, peeking through your fingers’ Finding Time To Write

  ‘It flows so beautifully and sucks the reader in completely!’ Lisa’s Book Reviews

  ‘Skillful writing that blindsides you with a twist you never see coming … masterful’ Jena Brown Writes

  ‘One of my top reads of this year, in great company with Hanya Yanhingara’s A Little Life and Ali Land’s Good Me Bad Me’ I Loved Reading This

  ‘Wesolowski has managed to combine literary brilliance with modern technology – what a fu*king achievement! Absolutely mind blowing!’ Emma the Little Bookworm

  ‘One of those stories that you know will get picked up by a TV production company and when they film it on location, it will be gritty, dark and down right grim – but some of the best television you will ever witness’ The P Turners Book Blog

  ‘If this was made into a radio drama it would be one of the best and darkest programmes out there…’ The Library Door

  ‘The haunting, chilling narrative draws to a clever and shocking conclusion that will leave your mind racing and have you questioning every detail you’ve read’ Earl Grey and Cupcakes

  ‘Unique, interesting, modern and unpredictable’ Always Trust in Books

  Hydra

  MATT WESOLOWSKI

  ‘Everyone lives in two worlds.’

  Joe Hill, NOS4R2

  ‘All life is only a set of pictures in the brain, among which there is no difference betwixt those born of real things and those born of inward dreamings, and no cause to value the one above the other.’

  HP Lovecraft, ‘The Silver Key’ in Weird Tales

  Contents

  Title Page

  Epigraph

  Episode 1: Black-Eyed Boy

  Episode 2: Embrace Your Emptiness

  Episode 3: The Ghost That Follows

  Episode 4: Brown-Eyed Girl

  Episode 5: Empty

  Episode 6: Troll Hunter

  Six Stories: An Update

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  Copyright

  TorrentWraith – Audio (Music & Sounds)

  Type Name

  Audio Arla Macleod Rec001 [320KBPS]

  Uploaded 6 weeks ago, Size 45.4 MiB. ULed by JBazzzzz666

  I heard them at lunchtime, over the sound of the radio.

  They followed me here.

  After everything that’s happened, they followed me…

  I don’t know what they want.

  So, anyway, hi, hello, this is me. As you can see, I’m recording this in my room. Look, there’s the window; it’s sunny out today. If I zoom in – hang on … There; it’s blurry cos of the window, but look, you can see how the sun falls on the fields, on those hills up in the distance, like a slice of yellow. Beautiful isn’t it? I wonder if you stood up there and looked back here, would you see this place, in the shade? I wonder what it would look like from up there.

  You told me I had to record myself as soon as I saw one – or heard one – it’s hard to remember which it is sometimes, everything’s all … fuzzy … like I’m walking through treacle. I get distracted by smells: the smell of the floors in the corridor first thing – lemony. I breathe it in, take great gulps; I can almost taste it. That’s what I imagine when I see the sun on the fields, that yellow, lemony smell.

  Sorry, yeah, so I heard one just before, at lunch. I’m recording this after lunch.

  I listen to the radio when I’m having my lunch: Radio 1, the lunchtime show. It’s funny and I like the music – hum along while I’m eating. Imagine telling fifteen-year-old me that I’d be humming along to the radio. Fifteen-year-old me would’ve snorted and called bullshit. Fifteen-year-old me would have flashed the band names scrawled in Tipp-Ex on her schoolbag and called present-day me a fat, brainwashed sellout.

  Food, though. You can smell cooking everywhere here; it’s like the whole place is breathing the smell of food. It’s not that nasty, canteen smell either, like old, brown fat. You can smell potatoes roasting; you can smell meat cooking, pastry baking. It drives me crazy, makes my tummy rumble constantly. When I was a kid, my mam used to make soda bread. I used to help her, stirring it all together in a bowl – buttermilk and flour. Mam used to let me do the salt. I’ll never forget the taste when it first came out of the oven. And the texture: hard and crispy on top, fluffy in the middle, like biting into a storm cloud.

  At lunch we were having toad-in-the-hole, and I just sat staring down into it. They do it in a circle; it looks like a moon. Each portion’s a circle of Yorkshire pudding with the two ends of the sausage sticking out like a sea monster. A sea monster in a muddy gravy puddle. My mouth was watering, like, so much, I was having to swallow it back or else it would have gone all over the table, joining that puddle of gravy. That would have been embarrassing. But luckily there wasn’t anyone else here. I have my lunch in my room.

  Sometimes we have cake for pudding. Fridays, usually. They’re the best days. We have fish and chips in batter, the flesh so soft and fluffy it glides into sections on your tongue before you’ve even bitten down; the batter crispy, melt-in-the-mouth. Vinegar. I always ask for vinegar, loads of it, so my chips are soaking.

  Denise always shakes her head but she doesn’t really mind. ‘What are Fridays for?’ she always says, and that makes me smile. She levers the fish onto my plate, on top of the chips, and you can see the vinegar pooling around the pile of mushy peas.

  Fish and chips; cake and custard for afters.

  I need to stop talking about food. Really.

  I used to have a thirty-inch waist, you know? You wouldn’t believe it, would you? Look at that. Ugh. That’s called flab. I reckon I’m forty inches now, at least.

  Oh well…

  But yeah, anyway. I’m going to talk about what I’m supposed to be talking about. Rather than food.

  I heard it above the noise of all that – the knives and forks and eating, and the smells, and Radio 1.

  I’d been doing so well, too.

  It were crying. That’s what the sound were: crying.

  It were coming from outside. Through the window at first, like it were far away. Not as far as the fields. Just … away…

  I didn’t mind it at first, not until it started sounding l
ike it were in the room. Right beside me, then behind me, then in front – you know how sounds do if you think about them for too long?

  Crying.

  Just this awful crying.

  Mams and dads, they’re programmed to react to stuff like that. Like, if they hear it, they can’t help doing something about it. I think it’s instinct.

  Well, it must be like that for me too. Some instinct was pulling at me to react. I wonder what that instinct was? That’s what you’ll ask me in our next session.

  Every part of me – every cell, every molecule of that cell – was telling me to go out there, to just push back my chair, climb over the table, smash the window and get out. I can’t remember if the urge was to go towards the crying or get away from it. I can’t remember.

  I didn’t though. I didn’t. Not this time.

  Well done me.

  It started just as I sat down. My table faces the window and that’s why I kept my head down. It were horrible. I very nearly looked up. That would have been bad. I could have called for someone; that would have been worse.

  There were a load of options, a load of possibilities laid out in front of me, and I had the choice of what to do.

  What I did was keep staring into that plate of toad-in-the-hole, proper staring at it like it was the most interesting thing I’d ever seen. After a little while the toad-in-the-hole became a face, the two ends of the sausage became the eyes, a crease in the batter became a mouth.

  The crying kept on, louder and louder. It was like someone was tightening a screw in the side of my head, its tip pressing onto my brain, then bursting the side and going right in. Over and over, I could feel it in my veins, my nerves, my organs. Crying, crying.

  I put my fork down gently, really gently, no slamming or crashing, and reached up for the little ticket thing you use to pull the blind down.

  There was a moment then – a moment when I could have looked; I could have looked out. I know that view by heart: the lawn is stripy like a football pitch, the polytunnel like a big white caterpillar, the borders and two little circles of soil like eyes. We planted up the borders with bulbs last year, watched them sprout shoots – little green spears like there was an army of elves under the ground. Beyond that are the trees, which clump into a brown fuzz if I’ve not got my glasses on, and just disappear into the horizon with the hills all rising up … misty mountains.