"Attics" by Stephen Barnard

Attics

by Stephen Barnard

Police Evidence: transcript from the “Let’s Split Up” podcast, slated for broadcast 31st October 2025.

Leo Nelson: Hello, and welcome to our Halloween edition! Fellow horror geek Brad Forrest is with me to chat about our favourite tropes, along with a special guest! Who’ve we got with us tonight, Brad?

Brad Forrest: Hey, Leo! Tonight we have a special treat because our guest is – I hope you don’t mind me saying – something of a recluse, and rarely makes public appearances or even social media posts. We are fortunate to be joined by cult author of the dark and disturbing, Julian Puck! How are you doing, Julian?

Julian Puck: Fine. Thank you.

Nelson: Looking forward to the show?

Puck: Vaguely.

Nelson: Ah! (laughs) Alright! Brad, why don’t you get us rolling?

Forrest: Okay! Last week we had great fun talking about taking a literal trip in the woods – those pesky tree roots, huh? But tonight we are going to be discussing one of my personal favourites: Exploring the Attic!

Nelson: That’s right! People do that constantly in horror literature and film. They climb the stairs or rickety ladder and head into that dark and dingy place, not suspecting the lingering horrors.

Forrest: And even if they do suspect, they go up anyway, when they’re alone in the house! Dumb! What are your thoughts on attics, Julian?

Puck: They are useful places in which to store items that you still wish to keep but no longer want to have on display.

Forrest: No, I mean in the realm of horror fiction, dude. You ever write about one?

Puck: Don’t call me dude. Puck or Julian will suffice. Have you read my works, Bradley?

Forrest: Well, I’ve… I’ve read some of them. You’re quite prolific, you know! I couldn’t possibly-

Puck: Which ones?

Nelson: Let’s not get sidetracked here, guys! Brad’s more of a film buff, Julian, but I’ve read a lot of your work. I particularly enjoyed ‘Nightflesh’! I don’t recall you employing the attic move, so what do you think about this trope? That foolhardy resident exploring the attic when there’s no one else around?

Puck: I think tropes exist because of two reasons. Firstly, because people like to point out the flawed behaviour of others to give themselves a sense of superiority. Just now you described the resident as foolhardy, reckless even, subconsciously informing me that you would not be so stupid. Secondly, tropes exist because as a species we wish to push away our better natures and surface instincts, and do what’s wrong rather than right. Just to see what happens. We can’t help it. Positive outcomes, unless spectacular, are majoritively dull. Whereas negative outcomes, even the little ones, can creep into our psyche and stir our core. We might not realise it, but this is what we crave.

Forrest: So you’re saying the characters go into the attic because they want to be freaked out?

Puck: They don’t know it, but the simple answer is yes.

Nelson: And those places, they never have a good working light! And if they do, it’s never in a convenient place, like maybe outside the door or hatch! It’s always-

Puck: I have a proposition for you both.

Nelson: -far into… what? Oh okay. What’s on your mind, Julian?

Puck: I have brought a pair of items with me that I want to give you.

Forrest: In the holdall there? I did wonder.

Puck: Yes, let me show you.

Nelson: Okay, for the listeners’ benefit, Julian is reaching down into his bag and getting us something – oh wow, that’s cool! There’s one each? Right, so what he’s just put on the table is essentially a wooden pyramid about a foot tall – I guess some kind of box because there’s a little hatch at the base. That one’s for Brad and here comes mine!

Puck: These are your own personal attics, gentlemen. You will see there is a doorway. The question is whether or not you will enter.

Nelson: It’s just big enough for a hand.

Puck: Quite. On the far side of your attic is a switch, which will open up the box proper, allowing you to see everything inside. However, to get there you need to put your hand all the way in. I’m now going to tell you why you shouldn’t. Within there is a complex mechanism of blades and saws which will cut into your flesh, should you put it inside. I cannot be any clearer. Do not go into the attic.

Forrest: You serious?

Puck: Always.

Nelson: Okay, listeners: I’m opening up my door and taking a peek inside. I can’t see anything, Julian.

Puck: It’s designed that way. Built into the walls. You’d only see it if you broke it open. Shining a light inside will not help either. Also, if you decided to poke around in there with a stick, nothing would happen, but neither would you be able to activate the switch. It will only respond to a fingertip. Likewise, the mechanism can tell the difference between living and dead tissue. It’ll only work with your hand, or any other body part you wish to stick in there. So the question is, having told you of the horrors in your attic, are you going to take the right option or the wrong one? 

Nelson: Are we willing to become the trope?

Puck: Yes. I strongly recommend you leave them alone and let me take them back once we have finished here. But then you’ll never know.

Forrest: I’m going in!

Nelson: Brad, are you sure?

Forrest: Of course I am! He wouldn’t bring a knife to a podcast fight! Alright, listeners, my door is open and if I reach in here… nothing yet… I can feel the back wall – ah, shit! Ah, stop!

(Sounds of ruckus and screaming)

Nelson: Jesus! Is that blood? Is it really-

Forrest: Get it off me!

Nelson: Oh gross! Oh hell!

Forrest: Ugghh…

Nelson: Julian, help him!

(Recording disconnects)