Amongst Giants

Title: Amongst Giants
Author: spacejunkie
Type: Original Fiction
Genre: Mystery
Rating: R

This chilling story, excellently written by the talented Mibbian, spacejunkie, will keep you on the edge of your seat as you read. Amongst Giants is a short story told in the view of a man named James telling another man, his lover Eliot, his mysterious -and shocking- past. When the story starts, James tells Eliot that he is 'related to a monster' and that he can no longer be associated with him. He starts by telling his lover about the crimes of a man named Maxwell Silverstien. Maxwell had abducted 14 gay men and 13 of them had been brutally murdered- and that a man named James, one in the same, had been involved.

James then goes on to tell Eliot about his past, around the time he was in high school. He explains to the younger male how he knew Maxwell. James had been in high school and Maxwell had been a few years older but had never left the small town they lived in. He tells the other man that Maxwell had been known as the weird kid and had been outcast by others. The story truly starts on James's morning run and Maxwell's car had been coming toward him. Maxwell offered him a ride and while James had been reluctant, he finally agrees. Maxwell and him talk and he tells James that he will be studying with a chemist soon and even offers to show him some of his experiments. After a bit of more conversation, James does agree.

The two boys go back to Maxwell's house and he leads James to his shed so they can see the experiments, and it something James finds utterly shocking. Lining the shelves of the shed are jars filled with dead things. It is revealed that Maxwell had brought James there to kill him but he just couldn't bring himself to do it. He explains to the other his need, his desire, to see dead things. He only killed animals but it was troubling nonetheless.

The story progresses to show that our narrator had felt sorry for the other boy and that pity lead to their friendship. The two found ground between themselves and told secrets that they felt no one else would ever understand. For years this went on, and the two seemed to be pleased. However, one day James discovers his friend's disturbing secret- he had been murdering men and keeping them in the basement. As soon as he finds this out, he escapes, and never goes back.

This short story is expertly written. The way this story is told, as someone telling another a story, is a terrific literary device and peaks an interest within readers. The story itself is full of secrets and all of which are revealed over time through beautifully described scenes of a haunted past. As James is telling his story, you grow to understand his feelings and his thoughts. You find yourself growing attached and relating these characters to the real world. Amongst Giants will keep your eyes on the screen and your butt on the edge of your seat as it takes you through twists and turns, secrets and revelations, and finally an epic twist at the end that you will have never seen coming.

Spacejunkie has done an excellent job conveying a horrifying mystery story, what with great description and beautiful paragraphs that flow into the next. This story is suggested for any who love a good mystery and are willing to get addicted. Spacejunkie's work is both haunting and intriguing and will leave his readers begging for more.