She Waits Where Shadows Gather

Parents should pass down stories, not spirits…Avery and Carlos Tam have built their lives on logic, not legends. Carlos, the host of a hit reality show that exposes paranormal hoaxes, has made a name disproving the supernatural.But when they travel to his ancestral home in the Philippines, darkness clings to every corner. The mirrors are shrouded. The housekeeper won’t stay in the house alone. And no one will speak of the tragedies the family has seen.Then a brutal car crash leaves Carlos trapped in his own body—silent, helpless, and utterly vulnerable. As Avery tends to him, the house begins to stir. It watches. It listens. And it speaks—in a voice only Carlos can hear—offering a twisted kind of comfort.And as the lies buried by Carlos and his family begin to surface, Avery must confront the truth: if the past won’t rest, their future may never begin.Some inherit memories. Others inherit monsters.

Michelle Tang writes speculative fiction from Canada, where she immigrated as a child. Her short stories have been published by Cemetery Gates, Escape Pod, and Flame Tree Publishing, among others, and her debut novella, DuMort, was released in 2025 by Ghost Orchid Press. When Michelle isn’t writing, you can find her playing video games, napping, or lurking on social media. She can be found at MichelleTangWrites.wixsite.com/author.