In this collection of haunting tales, loneliness weaves through every page, casting shadows across worlds both familiar and strange. From the vast expanse of alternate universes to the chilling presence of a fiend that lurks in the color red, these stories pull you into realms where the boundaries of time and space bend and break. Encounter a serial killer whose solitude echoes in his memoir, and meet the ancient monster from the Philippines that preys on pregnant people. Each story offers a glimpse into the isolation that shapes us, distorts us, and, in the end, defines us. Step into a world where the extraordinary and the terrifying are but a heartbeat away.
In this collection of haunting tales, loneliness weaves through every page, casting shadows across worlds both familiar and strange. From the vast expanse of alternate universes to the chilling presence of a fiend that lurks in the color red, these stories pull you into realms where the boundaries of time and space bend and break. Encounter a serial killer whose solitude echoes in his memoir, and meet the ancient monster from the Philippines that preys on pregnant people. Each story offers a glimpse into the isolation that shapes us, distorts us, and, in the end, defines us. Step into a world where the extraordinary and the terrifying are but a heartbeat away.
Part 1 - The Roommate
Katerina grasped her purse, making herself the least comfortable, and the readiest to leave the car. From the corner of her eye, the Acropolis of Athens beamed brighter than the moon. The temple felt strange lately, eerie, but she couldnât pinpoint why. She kept her gaze away from it.
âHow long have you been living here?â Oliver asked, seeking a spot to park the car.
âTwo years.â Katerinaâs eyes wandered until they fell upon her apartment window. A woman stood there, pulling the curtains aside.
Oliver parked over the corner from where Katerina could still see her apartment window.
âDo you live alone?â
She looked away from the window. âYes,â she said, arms crossed, unsure of her honesty.
She lived in a serene neighborhood. Her apartment had a spectacular view of the Acropolis. Carefully selecting a picturesque area, she planned to live as a proud architect-to-be. Nothing in Athens is more charming and scenic than the houses near the Acropolis. She stared at her escort, a tall, okay-looking man of twenty-seven years, with a crooked nose, short black hair, and blue eyes. She beamed as he pecked her on the cheek and whispered in her ear.
âCan I come inside?â
Katerina opened the door and glided into the dark alley. The streetlight flickered. âWell, ÎâÎâm tired, actually. Iâd like to go to bed early, sorry. Maybe next time.â
âFine. Iâll call you tomorrow.â
Katerina recognized the defeat in his voice. Before he could suggest anything else, she turned her back and hurried away. She left the car door open and wandered into the old apartment building. Guilt spiraled inside her chest as she headed to the elevator. She must have made a bad impression. Quite a shame, though. She liked this one a lot.
Upon entering the elevator, she pressed the small black button marked â3â which instantly turned red. âHe wonât call,â she convinced herself.
She pushed guys away for no substantial reason. Thatâs what she did. They claimed she never allowed them in her home or her heart, which justified letting her go. She must be hiding something. But what if they met her roommate, Katerina always wondered. She exited the elevator, her footsteps echoing in the corridor.
Anne Athena Dura, the author of 13 Months of Seclusion, began writing it in March 2020, during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, that forced people worldwide into isolation. During that period, she apparently wrote one story each month. By the time the pressures of COVID began to subside in March 2021, she had completed these thirteen thriller/suspense stories!
Nine of these stories are macabre (involving one or more killings, suicide, or suicidal contemplation), three are sci-fi, and the final one is a sad but harmless reflection on life. Some stories are narrated in the first person by the storyâs main character. Of these, most are girls or women, with boys or men taking up the rest. The bookâs cover hints at what you can expect inside and, quite naturally, starts you off with a tinge of excitement and fear. Knowing in advance what youâre about to read builds a sense of keen anticipation, keeping you nervously on edge as you wait for the moment when danger strikes. This tension creates an electrifying atmosphere in your mind and lasts throughout the book.
There's little doubt about the authorâs potential as a storyteller. She writes compellingly, giving free rein to her imagination. Her characters are lonely and often deeply troubledâunhappy, jealous, delusional, troubled by evil spirits, remorseful about their sordid pasts, suicidal, guilt-stricken and emotionally torn. Others are participants in science fiction tales involving time contraction/dilation or multiverse. Her writing style is unrestrained, zesty, and bubbling with lively expression, making the stories thoroughly enjoyable to read.
The only problem I had with this book is the treatment it accords to suicide. In one story that centers on a young schoolgirlâs suicide, the book gives suicide little respect, giving the impression itâs an acceptable response to lifeâs serious challenges. Had the character sought help from her mother, a counselor, or even a friend and earnestly tried suitable solutions before resorting to suicide, the story might have sent a different, more constructive message. As it is, it appears to condone suicide.
One might argue that itâs âjust a story,â suitable for a book of thrillers, and thus shouldnât be taken too seriously, but I strongly disagree. In these highly troubled times, and based on my personal experiences, I believe even a story like this gives sufficient sanction to rash young minds to end their lives in trying circumstances. Given the impact, the author may want to change or modify it to reduce the potential for danger.
Except for the one negative point on suicide (above), I found most other aspects positive. The book is well-styled and formatted and the text is generously spaced, so readability is good. However, there are occasional errors. Summing up the positive and negative points, I assign it 4 stars.
If you enjoy thriller and suspense stories, this book will surely not disappoint. Youâre sure to get your moneyâs worth back, so I recommend it to all readers of this genre. Additionally, it has cinematic potential, prompting me to recommend it to playwrights and makers of TV serials and movies who may be able to adapt it (or parts of it) into a thrilling drama, film, or TV series!