The Tablet

An original horror story about The Suff

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Lots of fascinating lore has unfolded on Substack concerning the Suff over the past few days. What is this primordial force of nature that inspires such fear across time and space with many people in many places?

This new flash fiction story, The Tablet, offers a new glimpse into a monstrous being with ancient roots.

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Deciding where vines ended and stones began proved almost impossible.

Hugh and his team took a crack at uncovering an entrance anyway. Finding an undisturbed ancient temple in the depths of the Amazon rainforest didn't happen every day. The artifacts hidden away in a place like this would be priceless. What stories would they tell? How would these discoveries change what they knew concerning the history of this region?

Extensive surveys and foliage removal finally uncovered a set of stairs leading to a gate. Hugh took the lead in opening the gate and journeying into an ante chamber. Smothering darkness permeated the chamber from ceiling to floor, only broken by pale flashlight beams. One beam fell on a sand-colored stone tablet. Black lettering was etched on its surface.

“I wonder what language this is.” a breathless voice called out behind his shoulder.

Hugh snapped his head at Kayla and shrugged. It didn't resemble any of the written languages from known ancient civilizations in Latin America. He crouched down and snatched the tablet off the damp stone floor to get a closer look.

Hieroglyphic symbols coalesced before his eyes into English words. Hugh drew a sharp breath and nearly let the tablet tumble out of his hands.

“What is it?” Kayla asked. “What's wrong?”

“I can read the … words.” Hesitation marked Hugh's voice. “They changed … to English.”

“That's not possible,” she replied. Kayla's flashlight beam bounced away from him. “We need to leave this chamber. There might be a toxic gas or something like that in here.”

Hugh shook his head. Maybe it was only his imagination, or a gas-induced hallucination, as his colleague suggested. He rose to as much of a standing position as the chamber would allow again. His back was partially stooped because of the low ceiling. Hugh turned and followed Kayla back out of the chamber.

Now exposed to sunlight, the lettering remained unchanged. It contained a peculiar and ominous message.

Chaos has chosen a form
Pure darkness
fills an ethereal frame.
One haunting name
embodies endless terror.

The Suff.

Hide your face.
Flee for your life.
The Suff embraces
with all-ecompassing arms.

His piercing black eyes
swallow your soul
He burrows into your mind
like an ant or worm.

The Suff.

Once inside his grasp,
you become one mind.
Your will bends
Your identity ends.
Only one remains.

The Suff.

Hugh furrowed his brow and shot a puzzled frown at Kayla after reading the words aloud. Tangible fear filled her widening eyes.

“You shouldn't have read that,” she said.

A breeze-like chill brushed against the inside of Hugh's skin. Four words pierced his ears like a quartet of blades with a scratchy whisper.

“You are now mine.”

Despair gripped Hugh. Kayla was right. He shouldn't have read the tablet.

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Did you enjoy my latest terrifying tale? Check out my other short stories in the Strange New Worlds archives. You can also order your copy of, Snow Dragon, my new horror novella that’s now available in eBook and paperback editions at major booksellers worldwide.

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