World ends in ‘Sparrow Rock’ horror
The hatch — a vital protection after a group of teens finds themselves trapped in a bomb shelter during the end of the world. The shelter seemed like the perfect place for a night of partying, little did they know it would shield them from nuclear Armageddon and eventually become a cage.
Though the shelter protects them from radiation, there are worse things lurking about. The bombs don’t destroy all life on Earth. A new form survives the fallout, infecting whatever and whoever it can. As the days pass with no contact from the outside world, cabin fever begins to set in. Not only that, but the teens hear a strange scratching coming from outside the shelter. Quietly exploring an outside hallway, the survivors make a grisly discovery.
He lay on his stomach. He wore a black T-shirt and jeans, and they were soaked with the liquid of decay. The body had swelled up like a purple balloon. One arm was stretched out toward us, as if reaching out for help, the hand puffy and nails broken in several places. His face was missing. That was my first reaction, looking at him. I could see white bone and gristle where his nose and eyes should be. It looked like something had been chewing at him, and had gotten a good bellyful before losing interest and moving on to something else.
The gravity of their situation now clear, the teens wonder what, if anything, they can do. Something on the inside is hungry and hunting, but if they go outside they risk radiation and unknown monstrosities.
Nate Kenyon’s “Sparrow Rock” is much more than an apocalyptic tale. Through Pete, the main character, Kenyon explores the many emotions the survivors experience as they wonder what has become of their loved ones and how long they can last underground. Kenyon keeps the action moving and plot twists lead to some big surprises in the end.
Though the end-of-the-world story has been done before, Kenyon’s “Sparrow Rock” is an exciting addition that explores the psychological as well as physical horrors of survival.
