Hanson Oak
@hansonoak.bsky.social
Creator of "The Recalling" horror podcast.
Writer of this and that.
Traveler from here to there.
#Horror feels like home.
Www.HansonOak.com
Writer of this and that.
Traveler from here to there.
#Horror feels like home.
Www.HansonOak.com
We outran our breath, left to gasp, beg for its return. We'd escaped, if only for the moment.
Then the squeal of its teeth grinding stilled our hearts. She sat down and cried.
"Don't give up!" I begged.
"Mr. Oak, bravery goes out the back door," she said. "When death knocks at the front."
#vss365
Then the squeal of its teeth grinding stilled our hearts. She sat down and cried.
"Don't give up!" I begged.
"Mr. Oak, bravery goes out the back door," she said. "When death knocks at the front."
#vss365
January 3, 2025 at 8:56 PM
We outran our breath, left to gasp, beg for its return. We'd escaped, if only for the moment.
Then the squeal of its teeth grinding stilled our hearts. She sat down and cried.
"Don't give up!" I begged.
"Mr. Oak, bravery goes out the back door," she said. "When death knocks at the front."
#vss365
Then the squeal of its teeth grinding stilled our hearts. She sat down and cried.
"Don't give up!" I begged.
"Mr. Oak, bravery goes out the back door," she said. "When death knocks at the front."
#vss365
I look at the graveyard, rolling hills, the lush lawns had gorged itself on rain, and Jacob, who had recently gorged himself on the corpses buried about - that he was still chewing through. "Idyllic, isn't it, Mr. Oak?"
"We have different.. taste," I say. "But I'm glad you've found home."
#vss365
"We have different.. taste," I say. "But I'm glad you've found home."
#vss365
December 28, 2024 at 12:06 AM
I look at the graveyard, rolling hills, the lush lawns had gorged itself on rain, and Jacob, who had recently gorged himself on the corpses buried about - that he was still chewing through. "Idyllic, isn't it, Mr. Oak?"
"We have different.. taste," I say. "But I'm glad you've found home."
#vss365
"We have different.. taste," I say. "But I'm glad you've found home."
#vss365
I want to move through the world as a ghost - rarely noticed or felt.
I want my existence to cause no more damage than a drop of dew on a spider web, yet be as consequential as an earthquake.
I take a breath to consume the wind. I close my eyes to see myself.
#vss365
I want my existence to cause no more damage than a drop of dew on a spider web, yet be as consequential as an earthquake.
I take a breath to consume the wind. I close my eyes to see myself.
#vss365
December 22, 2024 at 2:08 AM
I want to move through the world as a ghost - rarely noticed or felt.
I want my existence to cause no more damage than a drop of dew on a spider web, yet be as consequential as an earthquake.
I take a breath to consume the wind. I close my eyes to see myself.
#vss365
I want my existence to cause no more damage than a drop of dew on a spider web, yet be as consequential as an earthquake.
I take a breath to consume the wind. I close my eyes to see myself.
#vss365
We live our lives in the threshold, Mr. Oak," Pasley said. "Most think we must move forward, to death, the next room of our existence as it were."
"Time moves forward," I say.
"But we don't have to! We can stand still or go back even!"
"Back to what?"
He smiled. "Would you like to see?"
#vss365
"Time moves forward," I say.
"But we don't have to! We can stand still or go back even!"
"Back to what?"
He smiled. "Would you like to see?"
#vss365
December 15, 2024 at 9:58 PM
We live our lives in the threshold, Mr. Oak," Pasley said. "Most think we must move forward, to death, the next room of our existence as it were."
"Time moves forward," I say.
"But we don't have to! We can stand still or go back even!"
"Back to what?"
He smiled. "Would you like to see?"
#vss365
"Time moves forward," I say.
"But we don't have to! We can stand still or go back even!"
"Back to what?"
He smiled. "Would you like to see?"
#vss365
In one fluttering gasp of the second hand's struggle to stay in the present, she is beside me.
She moves with the grace of the taipan, but her words hold twice the venom of the snake's fangs. "A kiss, Mr. Oak. Then you may go. A modest toll."
"As modest as a noose at the gallows." I say.
#Vss365
She moves with the grace of the taipan, but her words hold twice the venom of the snake's fangs. "A kiss, Mr. Oak. Then you may go. A modest toll."
"As modest as a noose at the gallows." I say.
#Vss365
December 12, 2024 at 2:22 AM
In one fluttering gasp of the second hand's struggle to stay in the present, she is beside me.
She moves with the grace of the taipan, but her words hold twice the venom of the snake's fangs. "A kiss, Mr. Oak. Then you may go. A modest toll."
"As modest as a noose at the gallows." I say.
#Vss365
She moves with the grace of the taipan, but her words hold twice the venom of the snake's fangs. "A kiss, Mr. Oak. Then you may go. A modest toll."
"As modest as a noose at the gallows." I say.
#Vss365
"Like the planaria," he took a sip of his tea. "I leave a bit of myself wherever I go."
"Figuratively, of course," I clarify.
"Not at all," he pulls his pant up, his leg shaved to the bone like a holiday ham.
"But the planaria regenerate."
"And sadly, that is where we differ, Mr. Oak."
#vss365
"Figuratively, of course," I clarify.
"Not at all," he pulls his pant up, his leg shaved to the bone like a holiday ham.
"But the planaria regenerate."
"And sadly, that is where we differ, Mr. Oak."
#vss365
December 8, 2024 at 1:24 PM
"Like the planaria," he took a sip of his tea. "I leave a bit of myself wherever I go."
"Figuratively, of course," I clarify.
"Not at all," he pulls his pant up, his leg shaved to the bone like a holiday ham.
"But the planaria regenerate."
"And sadly, that is where we differ, Mr. Oak."
#vss365
"Figuratively, of course," I clarify.
"Not at all," he pulls his pant up, his leg shaved to the bone like a holiday ham.
"But the planaria regenerate."
"And sadly, that is where we differ, Mr. Oak."
#vss365
BOOM!
I pushed my back to the door, heels pressed hard against the stone floor. I held my breath, anticipating the next-
BOOM!
"Hanson?" My wife looked out the window. "I can't just leave-."
BOOM!
"I don't doubt your devotion, but the kids are down there-"
BOOM!
"And you're up here."
#vss365
I pushed my back to the door, heels pressed hard against the stone floor. I held my breath, anticipating the next-
BOOM!
"Hanson?" My wife looked out the window. "I can't just leave-."
BOOM!
"I don't doubt your devotion, but the kids are down there-"
BOOM!
"And you're up here."
#vss365
December 7, 2024 at 12:59 AM
BOOM!
I pushed my back to the door, heels pressed hard against the stone floor. I held my breath, anticipating the next-
BOOM!
"Hanson?" My wife looked out the window. "I can't just leave-."
BOOM!
"I don't doubt your devotion, but the kids are down there-"
BOOM!
"And you're up here."
#vss365
I pushed my back to the door, heels pressed hard against the stone floor. I held my breath, anticipating the next-
BOOM!
"Hanson?" My wife looked out the window. "I can't just leave-."
BOOM!
"I don't doubt your devotion, but the kids are down there-"
BOOM!
"And you're up here."
#vss365
"She died as she lived, Mr. Oak." He held a hat over his heart as we looked in the ravine.
"In various pieces?"
"At odds with herself. What do you 'spose done this?"
I look at the severed head, eyes looking in the distance. I follow the gaze to a ribbon on a branch. "Let's go find out."
#vss365
"In various pieces?"
"At odds with herself. What do you 'spose done this?"
I look at the severed head, eyes looking in the distance. I follow the gaze to a ribbon on a branch. "Let's go find out."
#vss365
December 5, 2024 at 3:14 PM
"She died as she lived, Mr. Oak." He held a hat over his heart as we looked in the ravine.
"In various pieces?"
"At odds with herself. What do you 'spose done this?"
I look at the severed head, eyes looking in the distance. I follow the gaze to a ribbon on a branch. "Let's go find out."
#vss365
"In various pieces?"
"At odds with herself. What do you 'spose done this?"
I look at the severed head, eyes looking in the distance. I follow the gaze to a ribbon on a branch. "Let's go find out."
#vss365
"It's so idiotic, Mr. Oak," it said from the shadow. "You claim to be citizens of here or there when, in reality, you're the same cattle divided by fences you erected yourselves, unaware you're just food wandering the same field."
"Food for what?" I ask.
A pause. "See you in the morning."
#vss365
"Food for what?" I ask.
A pause. "See you in the morning."
#vss365
December 3, 2024 at 1:35 PM
"It's so idiotic, Mr. Oak," it said from the shadow. "You claim to be citizens of here or there when, in reality, you're the same cattle divided by fences you erected yourselves, unaware you're just food wandering the same field."
"Food for what?" I ask.
A pause. "See you in the morning."
#vss365
"Food for what?" I ask.
A pause. "See you in the morning."
#vss365
"When the flame ceased, we coated the corpse with sterno gel. You can imagine the stench, Mr. Oak."
"Vividly," I said.
"By morning, it was beyond charred, just ash."
"But not dead." I noted.
"She must have inhaled a flake. It started again. It's a demonic tardigrade."
#vssghostship #vss365
"Vividly," I said.
"By morning, it was beyond charred, just ash."
"But not dead." I noted.
"She must have inhaled a flake. It started again. It's a demonic tardigrade."
#vssghostship #vss365
December 2, 2024 at 8:41 PM
"When the flame ceased, we coated the corpse with sterno gel. You can imagine the stench, Mr. Oak."
"Vividly," I said.
"By morning, it was beyond charred, just ash."
"But not dead." I noted.
"She must have inhaled a flake. It started again. It's a demonic tardigrade."
#vssghostship #vss365
"Vividly," I said.
"By morning, it was beyond charred, just ash."
"But not dead." I noted.
"She must have inhaled a flake. It started again. It's a demonic tardigrade."
#vssghostship #vss365
"Say yes, Mr. Oak." The voice crackled over the intercom. I stood by the speaker in the kitchen.
"If I invite you in, you'll devour us." I say.
"You can pick ONE to live."
"No."
A sigh. "Must we do this every week?"
"Forgive my resistance to being ground to paste between your teeth."
#vss365
"If I invite you in, you'll devour us." I say.
"You can pick ONE to live."
"No."
A sigh. "Must we do this every week?"
"Forgive my resistance to being ground to paste between your teeth."
#vss365
December 1, 2024 at 12:59 PM
"Say yes, Mr. Oak." The voice crackled over the intercom. I stood by the speaker in the kitchen.
"If I invite you in, you'll devour us." I say.
"You can pick ONE to live."
"No."
A sigh. "Must we do this every week?"
"Forgive my resistance to being ground to paste between your teeth."
#vss365
"If I invite you in, you'll devour us." I say.
"You can pick ONE to live."
"No."
A sigh. "Must we do this every week?"
"Forgive my resistance to being ground to paste between your teeth."
#vss365
"You are fascinated by death, Mr. Oak," she said, "Because yours is inevitable. My own death is improbable."
"But not impossible," I offer.
"So there is hope."
"Where shall I put you if only your corpse greets me at my next visit?"
"I don't care. But please take my eyes as a souvenir."
#vss365
"But not impossible," I offer.
"So there is hope."
"Where shall I put you if only your corpse greets me at my next visit?"
"I don't care. But please take my eyes as a souvenir."
#vss365
November 30, 2024 at 4:37 PM
"You are fascinated by death, Mr. Oak," she said, "Because yours is inevitable. My own death is improbable."
"But not impossible," I offer.
"So there is hope."
"Where shall I put you if only your corpse greets me at my next visit?"
"I don't care. But please take my eyes as a souvenir."
#vss365
"But not impossible," I offer.
"So there is hope."
"Where shall I put you if only your corpse greets me at my next visit?"
"I don't care. But please take my eyes as a souvenir."
#vss365
Whatever was under her skin wanted out.
I locked a tourniquet around her thigh, the lump moving against her flesh couldn't have been angrier that I'd shrunk the range of its home.
"What is it, Mr Oak!" She screamed.
"Hold on to me." I lifted a scalpel. "We're about to find out together."
#vss365
I locked a tourniquet around her thigh, the lump moving against her flesh couldn't have been angrier that I'd shrunk the range of its home.
"What is it, Mr Oak!" She screamed.
"Hold on to me." I lifted a scalpel. "We're about to find out together."
#vss365
November 29, 2024 at 1:38 PM
Whatever was under her skin wanted out.
I locked a tourniquet around her thigh, the lump moving against her flesh couldn't have been angrier that I'd shrunk the range of its home.
"What is it, Mr Oak!" She screamed.
"Hold on to me." I lifted a scalpel. "We're about to find out together."
#vss365
I locked a tourniquet around her thigh, the lump moving against her flesh couldn't have been angrier that I'd shrunk the range of its home.
"What is it, Mr Oak!" She screamed.
"Hold on to me." I lifted a scalpel. "We're about to find out together."
#vss365
The crumpled steel was eaten away by time and exposure, the train car I sat in was unrecognizable so long after its derailment.
Things like the cast-iron wheels would take centuries to depart.
Things like the ghost of the boy I sat with never would.
"I lost my ticket, Mr. Oak," he said.
#vss365
Things like the cast-iron wheels would take centuries to depart.
Things like the ghost of the boy I sat with never would.
"I lost my ticket, Mr. Oak," he said.
#vss365
November 28, 2024 at 1:03 PM
The crumpled steel was eaten away by time and exposure, the train car I sat in was unrecognizable so long after its derailment.
Things like the cast-iron wheels would take centuries to depart.
Things like the ghost of the boy I sat with never would.
"I lost my ticket, Mr. Oak," he said.
#vss365
Things like the cast-iron wheels would take centuries to depart.
Things like the ghost of the boy I sat with never would.
"I lost my ticket, Mr. Oak," he said.
#vss365
"I don't mean to complain, Mr. Oak." Her fingers ran over the braille, her blind gaze distant, her mind painting the scene she touched. "But something has changed."
"The writing?" I ask.
"Yes, someone rewrote all the books. I'd be less offended if they ban them outright."
"Give it time."
#vss365
"The writing?" I ask.
"Yes, someone rewrote all the books. I'd be less offended if they ban them outright."
"Give it time."
#vss365
November 27, 2024 at 3:54 PM
"I don't mean to complain, Mr. Oak." Her fingers ran over the braille, her blind gaze distant, her mind painting the scene she touched. "But something has changed."
"The writing?" I ask.
"Yes, someone rewrote all the books. I'd be less offended if they ban them outright."
"Give it time."
#vss365
"The writing?" I ask.
"Yes, someone rewrote all the books. I'd be less offended if they ban them outright."
"Give it time."
#vss365
I place the ends of the stethoscope in my ears, and he puts his hand on shoulder. "Mr. Oak, I should warm you. My heartbeat has a bit of a delay."
"How much of a delay?" I ask.
He looks away. "About twenty years so far."
I pat his leg. "Being dead is nothing to be ashamed of, my friend."
#vss365
"How much of a delay?" I ask.
He looks away. "About twenty years so far."
I pat his leg. "Being dead is nothing to be ashamed of, my friend."
#vss365
November 26, 2024 at 1:09 PM
I place the ends of the stethoscope in my ears, and he puts his hand on shoulder. "Mr. Oak, I should warm you. My heartbeat has a bit of a delay."
"How much of a delay?" I ask.
He looks away. "About twenty years so far."
I pat his leg. "Being dead is nothing to be ashamed of, my friend."
#vss365
"How much of a delay?" I ask.
He looks away. "About twenty years so far."
I pat his leg. "Being dead is nothing to be ashamed of, my friend."
#vss365
"It's a skerry, Mr. Oak," Amic said as the boat rose and fell. "Not built by men or god - but the others. I'd drift a thousand miles before coming ashore one."
"We've drifted a thousand miles," I say from the floor. "It can't be worse."
"You don't understand. They're bait on a toothy hook."
#vss365
"We've drifted a thousand miles," I say from the floor. "It can't be worse."
"You don't understand. They're bait on a toothy hook."
#vss365
November 25, 2024 at 12:43 PM
"It's a skerry, Mr. Oak," Amic said as the boat rose and fell. "Not built by men or god - but the others. I'd drift a thousand miles before coming ashore one."
"We've drifted a thousand miles," I say from the floor. "It can't be worse."
"You don't understand. They're bait on a toothy hook."
#vss365
"We've drifted a thousand miles," I say from the floor. "It can't be worse."
"You don't understand. They're bait on a toothy hook."
#vss365
I looked through the binoculars. They bring the horizon to me, feet safely planted on the shore. At first, just the dark line marking forever, then-"I see them!"
"At the horizon?" He asks.
"Yes, just!"
"That's where they stay, drawing you out. I've seen many chase their own death, Mr. Oak."
#vss365
"At the horizon?" He asks.
"Yes, just!"
"That's where they stay, drawing you out. I've seen many chase their own death, Mr. Oak."
#vss365
November 25, 2024 at 2:15 AM
I looked through the binoculars. They bring the horizon to me, feet safely planted on the shore. At first, just the dark line marking forever, then-"I see them!"
"At the horizon?" He asks.
"Yes, just!"
"That's where they stay, drawing you out. I've seen many chase their own death, Mr. Oak."
#vss365
"At the horizon?" He asks.
"Yes, just!"
"That's where they stay, drawing you out. I've seen many chase their own death, Mr. Oak."
#vss365
"I'll be right with you, Mr. Oak." She struggles to speak.
The rain is steady now. Her roots are thirsty, eager, dreadfully dry. The face she wears over a skull of twigs hydrates and smiles.
"I feared the fire found you." I say.
"Fire is fleeting. It's the people that worry me."
#vss365 #nature
The rain is steady now. Her roots are thirsty, eager, dreadfully dry. The face she wears over a skull of twigs hydrates and smiles.
"I feared the fire found you." I say.
"Fire is fleeting. It's the people that worry me."
#vss365 #nature
November 24, 2024 at 1:04 PM
If anyone has an interest, I will be sharing my artwork on #Instagram (@Hanson_Oak)
It is inspired by many things, all dark and brooding, but building to something all is own.
I hope to see you there.
#horrorart #aiart #writingcommunity #vss365 #saturday
It is inspired by many things, all dark and brooding, but building to something all is own.
I hope to see you there.
#horrorart #aiart #writingcommunity #vss365 #saturday
November 23, 2024 at 3:47 PM
If anyone has an interest, I will be sharing my artwork on #Instagram (@Hanson_Oak)
It is inspired by many things, all dark and brooding, but building to something all is own.
I hope to see you there.
#horrorart #aiart #writingcommunity #vss365 #saturday
It is inspired by many things, all dark and brooding, but building to something all is own.
I hope to see you there.
#horrorart #aiart #writingcommunity #vss365 #saturday
"It's not convenient, Mr Oak." Milvern hopped on his good leg, that is, his remaining leg. He used the severed one as a crutch - a bendy, bloody, broken crutch.
I walked beside him. "I agree."
"But the stump will grow a new leg, and the leg will grow a new me, then we'll try this again."
#vss365
I walked beside him. "I agree."
"But the stump will grow a new leg, and the leg will grow a new me, then we'll try this again."
#vss365
November 23, 2024 at 3:18 PM
"It's not convenient, Mr Oak." Milvern hopped on his good leg, that is, his remaining leg. He used the severed one as a crutch - a bendy, bloody, broken crutch.
I walked beside him. "I agree."
"But the stump will grow a new leg, and the leg will grow a new me, then we'll try this again."
#vss365
I walked beside him. "I agree."
"But the stump will grow a new leg, and the leg will grow a new me, then we'll try this again."
#vss365
