Introduction
..................... WELCOME .....................
Below is an introduction to my project, Dark Prism (which I do plan to publish, so please be aware of that). This story idea is over 15 years old. I found a ratty spiral of it written in its entirety, but it needed some major work. So here we are. Lol! Your support is always appreciated and please remember not to STEAL my story. Inspiration is one thing, theft is another. Thank you!
((I'll always leave an introductory page like this on my stories for readers to come back and reference if needed. Information will be updated when necessary.))
Working Title: Dark Prism
Timeline: 1980s/connected to my larger universe
Location: Tabeguache, Colorado (Pronounced: TAB-uh-wahch)
Rating: M (Mature to NA Leaning)
Main Character(s): Tala “Christy” Rivers (Protagonist) & Aleksi Drugov (Ghost Boy)
Tags: Mystery, Suspense, Supernatural Horror, Psychological Thriller, Ghost Story, Love Story, Coming-of-Age, New-Adult, Family, Betrayal, Grief, 1980s Nostalgia, etc.
Warnings: Violence, Graphic Death/Murder, Emotional Trauma, Self Harm, Attempted Suicide, Psychological Horror, Child Endangerment, Mild to Moderate Gore, Betrayal, etc.
Inspiration: Old Resident Evil Games (Environments and Building Decor), Silent Hill Games (Psychological Horror), Stephen King's IT, etc.
Core Themes🔦🏚️🗝️
Coming-of-Age in Crisis: Christy’s teen struggles morph into a stand against darkness and a suicide mission to protect all she loves.
Grief and Resilience: Christy’s loss of her mother drives her to fight for her remaining family.
Trust vs. Betrayal: Christy will be tested, finding her trust put in the wrong people. Her illusion of what she believed the world to be will shatter.
Family and Sacrifice: Christy’s desire to protect Clover becomes blurred with the deeper revelations of the town.
Good vs. Evil in a Haunted Town: A person will do anything for love, and Christy will find herself torn apart by the truth.
Story Elements & Aesthetics🔦🏚️🗝️
1980s Horror Aesthetic: Misty Colorado mountains, neon lights, town fairs, cassette static, and fog-choked nights.
Retro Grit meets Supernatural: Mixtapes, mullets, and clock tower tunnels blend with ghostly warnings.
Mountain Town to Tunnels: From Tabeguache's Rockies to claustrophobic underground lairs.
Small-Town Secrets & Decay: Is the town cursed, or is it something else?
Psychological Dread & Nostalgia: Foggy isolation and 80s vibes lead to a chilling ritual.
Native American Ancestry/Culture: Tala Christine "Christy" Rivers is of Miwok descent, along with her mother's Eastern European roots. Her father, Kono, will be the primary keeper of the culture in the story.
Russian Ancestry/Culture: Aleksi Drugov, along with his parents, was a Russian immigrant who fled the Bolshevik revolution in the early 1900s. He was a boy at the time, but much of the culture still lives with him.
Music Inspiration: The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Tangerine Dream, Depeche Mode, Kate Bush, Sisters of Mercy, Silent Hill Game Tracks, Resident Evil Save Music, etc.
Overview🔦🏚️🗝️
Dark Prism is a chilling 1980s YA-to-NA mystery where teen Christy Rivers, haunted by her mother’s death, moves with her family to Tabeguache, Colorado. One day, a local tells Christy of a terrifying legend involving "the murder boy” who supposedly haunts the forest behind her family's new home. Christy, driven by skepticism and a morbid curiosity, investigates the forest and finds a sprawling, dilapidated mansion near the lake. To her horror, she also discovers "the murder boy," a ghost by the name of Aleksi Drugov. But is the legend true, or is something more sinister going on? From grief-fueled terror to a desperate fight, Aleksi reveals the deadly secrets poisoning the town, but can Christy save her family and herself from what's coming?
Important Notes🔦🏚️🗝️
My intentions are to enter the Shadows & Secrets Mystery/Suspense 2025 contest with this project! Let's hope I reach the 20k wordcount required!
Chapter Navigation: Unlike my other projects, this story will be told solely through Christy River's POV. 3rd Person Limited Past Tense.
Posting/Update Schedule: This story is in-progress, and I have a lot going on, so expect some delays! However, due to the contest, I'll be focusing hard on this project and hopefully exceed a 20k wordcount by September 15, 2025.
Story Dedication: This story is dedicated to my mother, who taught me the value of hard work. But it's also okay to let loose once in a while, Mom. Love you. Always.
