Congeal is a post-apocalyptic horror story of the Scaeth Mythos. Set in a near future, it’s one possible progression of another tale of darkness and dread, the Bledbrooke Works. How the world ends may not be how you expect. Nuclear Armageddon or a zombie apocalypse could get beaten to the punch. Our apocalypse may come from below.

“Recommended to all who like their reading on the darker side

As always with Leonard, the writing is a joy to read, each turn of phrase or descriptive passage a delight and I highly recommend this to all who like their reading to be on the dark side.”

Congeal · A Post-Apocalyptic Horror Story

It starts with reports on the news of an inland lake turning semi-solid. Surely, a media joke, some lame April Fool’s prank? The before and after pictures are vaguely ludicrous and oddly disturbing, the contrast stark and strange.

First, darkly rippling water that hints at hidden depth. Slightly spooky and perfectly normal. Next, a putrid blotch of clotted sludge which bears little resemblance to anything aquatic.

Those news reports aren’t any sort of joke, seasonal or otherwise. They’re true.

And pretty soon, that greasy, sickening substance isn’t confined to an inland lake. It’s spreading. Flowing over fields and filling streets. Exhibiting characteristics and capabilities that are beyond bizarre. They’re absolutely horrifying.

Each morning brings a new revelation. Countryside denuded of life and towns empty and echoing.

The progress is largely subterranean and nocturnal. The night is when it changes, becomes something that consumes. Something infinitely worse than a congealed impossibility.

Congeal is a novella, that lovely mid-point between short story and novel. A tale of apocalyptic horror, our normal world fallen to an ancient, cosmic entity bubbling up to the surface in search of food.

It’s also the story of one individual and her fight to stay afloat in a sea of despair.

Writing Congeal

The idea for Congeal was bubbling away under the surface when I wrote The Bledbrooke Works. The latter is different in style and subject, but the two are intimately linked. Congeal is one possible outcome of the events in Bledbrooke. Not exactly a sequel, I’m somewhat averse to obvious sequels, just somewhere the first story might end up.

Both sit within the Scaeth Mythos. The terrible creatures in each book come from the same place. They share a home world in and originate in the same incomprehensible dimension.

Once completed, I wasn’t sure about publishing. The main reason being that it felt a closure on the Bledbrooke world. In the end, I went ahead and pushed the publish button.

After all, the Scaeth is an inter-dimensional concept. In order to even imagine that, you’ve already embraced the idea of multiverse. To deny myself the opportunity to publish what I felt was a really good story was ridiculous on those grounds.

There’s every chance that I’m over-thinking here. It’s most likely I was simply indulging that habitual bad habit – writer indecision : )