Lurk (Novella)

"Resi"
By Kieran Marsh

The man stares with hollow eyes, set impossibly deep amongst pale, wrinkled features. Both his hands sit atop a stick, which he leans on despite being sat down, straining forward to hear the man half a century his junior. He looks small in the high-backed chair, frail bones shrink-wrapped in paper skin. 
“So as I said, Mr. Johnson, what you’re experiencing isn’t paranormal. It’s a data error.”
Lucas searches his eyes for understanding before, having found none, he begins again.
“All our homes collect huge amounts of data, which is all handled via AI, or a very advanced computer—ResiAssist. Everything from the hinges in the cupboard doors to the lights in the ceiling analyse and augment for each individual resident. It’s how the left-handed cupboards are easier to open, to accommodate the slight weakness after your stroke. ResiAssist activates small motors in order to help you.”
Finally, a slow nod. 
“This data is also anonymised and used to track trends and inform how we design our spaces. For example, a resident with a prostate problem may go to the toilet far more—we then fit more durable hinges and amend our maintenance programme for future residents with the same condition. We test this by placing a virtual version of a resident in a computer model of our facility. We call this a data ghost.”
Mr. Johnson nods again, barely perceptible over his constant shake. Lucas swallows. He has never been comfortable navigating other people’s grief.
“Certain conditions present in a similar way between residents, such as your late wife’s dementia. It appears that a glitch has led to a data ghost being attached to your apartment. Rather than being contained in a computer model, this data collected from a previous resident has been active in your apartment. This explains the doors opening, the lights changing, the thermostat adjustments, even the music played on your sound system.”
Tears well in the old man’s eyes, but he does not speak.
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Johnson, but what you’ve been experiencing isn’t your wife. It’s a computer error. We’ve already assigned our technical team to rectify the issue and I can only apologise for any fear or distress this may have caused you.” 
Mr. Johnson now shakes his head, the light glinting in the rivulets which spill down his cheeks.
“Please, Mr….”
“Lucas, please, call me Lucas.”
“Please, Lucas. I don’t understand all this, but I’ve lived with my Betty since we married in ’61. We ‘ad 66 years as ‘usband and wife and now, a year after ‘er death, she’s found me again. Please, Lucas, don’t take my Betty away a second time.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - "Probably the best of the six books! Lurk (AI Apprations_The 2020s)" is the 6th book in the Sinister Century anthology series, and it's probably the best of the six books, at least for me. It touches directly on matters of AI, and the four horror stories it contains are embedded in a science-fictional setting. The first story, "Resi" by Kieran Marsh, was an absolute nightmarish take on AI homes, when they are glitching (a heartbreaking vignette of this type opens the story) or when they are employed as hosts of refugee homes. The tale is gutsy, challenging, original, totally aware of the world we live in! The second story, "Excommunicated" by F. Malanoche, was another story about AIs invading our life, this time the religious life - essentially with an AI as a cult leader, though one who can actually answer prayers and give you more followers, more likes, better mortgage terms, and so on. A brilliant story. "Inactive" by Kassidy VanGundy goes for the AI models of actual people, in this case a teenager who died. His sister finds herself getting calls from him, and the tale goes crazy when she answers! A very entertaining and thoughful story. Finally, "Autocorrect" by Mark Robinson is a great ghost story about a haunted building. Despite its apparent distance from the anthology's theme, I enjoyed it immensely. I'm a bit at a loss about the story's title, I have my suspicions, but never mind.

A terrific anthology about the potential impact of AI!" -Milt Theo (Goodreads Review)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - "Thrilling, original horror anthology
An enjoyable, diverse collection of short horror stories. Each author's style and outlook offers something new and exciting. I particularly enjoyed 'Resi' with it's Black Mirror-esque story of a disturbing but not too distant future. Would highly recommend this wonderfully curated anthology." -Mark S24 (Amazon Review)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - "Societal fears around AI. Lurk, the final volume in the Sinister Century series, skillfully explores the thin line between innovation and horror. Each story taps into our fears, presenting unsettling scenarios where technology shifts from helpful to haunting.

In homage to one of the stories—a fair warning: don’t wait twenty years to read these tales. You’ve been warned." -Skyrock (Amazon Review)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - "The stories in Lurk are clever and make me want to throw away my computer. I didn't like AI before, and I certainly detest it after reading these stories. Give it a read!" -Fernando Buendia (Goodreads Review)