Ben Hargrove has been trapped for so long, he's lost count of the days. In a cell with no windows and only a small slot in the door, he doesn't even know when it's day and when it's night. All Ben knows is the hand that brings him food and medicine. All Ben knows is the cycle from one sleep to the next.
But this cycle, something is different. Someone has left Ben a note:
There is no freedom.
There are no walls.
The boy is real.
Ben will have to figure out what the cryptic note means, and fast—or he may not make it out of this cell alive.
Featuring a first look at Heather Brewer's upcoming novel, The Cemetery Boys, this mysterious and frightening short story will keep you guessing until the very last page—and it will keep you awake long after.
Epic Reads Impulse is a digital imprint with new releases each month.
Z Brewer is the New York Times bestselling author of several books, including the Chronicles of Vladimir Tod series, and more short stories than they can recall. Their pronouns are they/them. Z is also an outspoken mental health and antibullying advocate. Plus, they have awesome hair. Z lives in Saint Louis, Missouri, with a husband person, one child person, and three furry overlords that some people refer to as “cats.” Visit Z online at zbrewerbooks.com.