A Nostalgic Return to 80s Horror Fiction
There’s something magnetic about 80s horror fiction. The neon glow, the pop culture touchstones, and the everyday settings turned sinister make it endlessly re-readable. With my new novelette, Under Cover of the Night, I wanted to bring readers back to that world: a place where teenage rebellion meets supernatural terror under the fluorescent buzz of the mall.
The Story: Friendship, Rebellion, and Midnight Terror
For Jody, Andy, and Brenda, the local shopping mall in 1980s London, Ontario is the heart of their teenage lives. It’s where friendships deepen, crushes blossom, and the weight of school slips away. But one impulsive act—a stolen silk scarf—leads the girls into the mall after hours. What they find waiting in the shadows is far more dangerous than a scolding security guard.
The empty corridors hold something ancient and hungry, something that moves to the rhythm of the music and feeds on more than fear. Their friendship, their courage, and their very lives will be tested before the night is through.
Why This Novelette?
At just under 10,000 words, Under Cover of the Night is a fast, atmospheric read—perfect for Spooky Season or anyone who loves a hit of supernatural horror without the commitment of a full novel. If you’re a fan of Stranger Things, Stephen King’s short fiction, or dark coming-of-age tales, this story delivers the mix of nostalgia and terror you’ve been looking for.
Available Now
Under Cover of the Night is available now on Amazon, free to read with Kindle Unlimited. Step back into the heyday of 80s malls, but beware: once the lights go out, you might not walk back out again.
What Else To Read?
Be sure to peruse some other works if you like this one! Below are some other works by Trevor James Zaple
Lost Ghosts: Stories 2012-2014
Seven quiet horror stories of collapse, paranoia, and the slow decay of the modern world.
A #1 Amazon download in Literary Short Stories and Fiction Anthologies. Read what thousands of horror fans have already discovered.
Lost Ghosts is a collection of seven dark, twisted horror short stories set in a world quietly falling apart.
From decaying towns to cursed technology to the slow death of civilization itself, these stories bring horror out of the future and into the everyday.
For fans of Black Mirror, the Twilight Zone, and the Outer Limits.
Disappearance
In the wake of the Great Disappearance the people have vanished but jealousy, obsession, and madness remain.
One moment Mark is choosing between brands of potato chips. The next, he is hurtling into an apocalyptic nightmare.
After the Disappearance causes most of the world to vanish Mark, his pregnant ex-girlfriend Olivia, and their new friends try to find a place to stand and rebuild.
When the snow settles in and they find themselves caught between two powerful figures of the old world, they find that it’s not easy to leave the problems of that old world behind.
Will they find their way to survive, or will the coming winter storms bury them for good?
Be sure to browse the FICTION section of the site to see more!
