I'm testing the waters with this one. If y'all like it, it will likely be a longish story that'll take me a while to finish. Warning: It's going to get pretty graphic soon, so don't read if you're squeamish. Thanks for taking a look.

Most monsters don't have claws or fangs or scales and they don't hide in the dark. Most monsters seem just like you and me. You'd never know what they are to look at them – the evil hidden in the recesses of their minds, where nobody can touch it. Nobody can touch it. But it can touch anybody.

Kevin Pratchet had been alone for a long time. He had many good qualities that he reminded himself of constantly: he was smart (very smart), he made good pancakes, he was less than ugly, and he was an unassuming sleeper – only taking as much bed space as was required to keep a person of his size comfortable. And yet, he was always alone. He couldn't figure it. No friends, no girlfriends, or even close acquaintances. As much as it didn't make sense to him, he was resigned to accepting it. He stopped trying to change his fate and he stopped going out. I'm just different he told himself. After all, different is a good thing and it rationalized his seclusion without making it his fault.

Kevin was so successful at persuading himself of the exceptional uniqueness that prevented him from socializing that his isolation became a matter of obscene pride to him – more than that, an obsession. Despite that, he was grateful when the voices started.

It might be a couple of chapters before we see our trio. I don't know yet.