Chapter 1

I’ve thought about entering the ONC more times than I can count over my years on Wattpad (coming up to fourteen, I think). For some reason, I’ve always resisted. There was always a book to finish, a workshop to prepare, a horror idea whispering in my ear, or life simply getting in the way.

Then, I saw the amazing Nyhterides had entered, and saw how she’d started her book. Wow, what an opener?! That was enough to convince me I needed to take part myself. She sparked a little fire, fanned by a couple of the excellent prompts.

So, I thought, ‘Okey dokey (yes, a Fallout reference). Let’s see where this goes.’

I chose the following two, related, prompts. When I read them, none of the others seemed to come close to inspiring me.

16: And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.
104. While wandering int he woods, you dismiss the rustling behind you as nothing more than wind through the trees until you turn around and realise it isn’t the wind at all.

The resultant story (though still in progress, of course) is part psychological, part folk horror, part exploration of grief, and entirely the sort of quiet, creeping tale I love to write -and, hopefully, you love to read.

If you enjoy atmospheric dread, slow-burning unease, and forests that don’t behave quite the way forests should… welcome.

It’s time to enter Black Thickett.