PETRIFIED

A Gut-Wrenching Post-Apocalyptic Short Story

By: Matt James

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

This is a SHORT STORY set within the ongoing THE UNSEEN franchise.

Potential spoilers ahead!

This short story stars the youngest character in the intense THE UNSEEN franchise, Hope Diaz. Her survival is one of heartache, terror, and perseverance, an event that occurs during book two of the main series, DESOLATION.

Wow! I Want More in This Series!

What did I like most about this book…? That’s hard to pinpoint to specifics, but I really appreciated the sci-fi feel in this novel besides the horror aspects. Honestly, after reading so many horror fiction novels, I felt my mind venture into a darkness I didn’t like, so the sci-fi vibes in this novel brought me out of that mental state of depressing horridness. I liked how this was a change, sci-fi amid an end-of-the-world plot. More specifically, I heartbreakingly appreciated the sacrifice Hope’s parents gave to ensure her safety, drawing the monsters’ attention away from Hope hiding in the Winnebago and thus ensuring she remains alive. Other than that, I loved the kindness of Hope, how she let the kind couple inside and ran into the woman’s arms for comfort. That was heartfelt, and it gave me hope that Hope finds peace within herself as she grows throughout the series.

I didn’t know a favorite character by name, but I liked the lady Hope described as the kind woman at the end of the novel. When Hope let the couple into her hiding spot, she hid, but the kind woman spotted her and held out her arms to hug Hope. I found myself somewhat emotional, because I don’t believe in the inherent goodness of most humans, but the kind woman is one of the few who could possibly be one of those exceptions, and I liked that.

I didn’t have a favorite part in this novel, but I felt the characters were relatable and kind to the core in the best ways possible. It’s a rarity, but the cast of characters in this novel give me my own sort of hope for literary mankind, disturbing as the monsters are—and really, what on earth are they?!

The only thing I disliked about this page-turner of a novel was that I couldn’t find it anywhere on GoodReads! If anyone has a link, please share it in the comments section, OK? Also, this book ends with Hope having hope again, if only in a child’s viewpoint, but it was beautiful that she’s still quite innocent of the world despite the horrific losses she’s endured so far.

If I could recommend this novel to anyone, I’d tell my friends who’re huge fans of The Walking Dead to read this novel, if not the whole series. It’s intriguing, and I want to know so much more about the monsters, how they came to be, and what they’ll do to mankind. I’m not sure what happens in the future of this series, but I’m definitely going to read all of it soon!