Nicholas Binge’s highly anticipated horror novella, Abyss, set to launch with Nightfire on May 12th, offers a chilling glimpse into the unsettling corporate world through an exclusive excerpt. The narrative plunges readers into the unnerving experience of Joe, a new administrative assistant at the enigmatic company Ponos, who quickly discovers that his perceived lack of expectation is precisely what his new employer seeks.
The excerpt opens with Joe on his first day, a mixture of apprehension and hope coloring his thoughts. A brief, almost mundane exchange with his mother via WhatsApp underscores his desire for normalcy and connection, a stark contrast to the professional environment he is about to enter. His carefully crafted message, wishing to visit on the weekend, is progressively edited down to a simple "Thanks, Mum," a subtle foreshadowing of the emotional detachment and isolation that will soon define his experience. This internal struggle between personal connection and professional assimilation sets a disquieting tone from the outset.
The narrative then shifts to Joe’s arrival at the Ponos building. At precisely 8:58 AM, two minutes before his scheduled start time, he finds himself at the imposing front doors. His initial attempts to enter are met with an unyielding barrier, forcing him to consult his keycard. The subsequent swipe and the satisfying beep of access grant him entry, but the true disquiet begins as he steps into the lobby.
The Eerie Emptiness of Ponos
The corporate lobby of Ponos is described as a vast, architecturally minimalist space. Contemporary tables and chairs are sparsely arranged, suggesting areas for informal collaboration, while strategically placed potted ferns and palm-like plants attempt to inject life into an otherwise sterile environment. The color palette is overwhelmingly pastel, a choice that, in the absence of human activity, amplifies the sense of unnatural calm. Signage for departments like "IT Support" and "Operational Management" hints at a functioning business, yet the overwhelming impression is one of profound emptiness.
The lighting is on, and a low, ambient hum emanates from the building’s infrastructure, indicating that the technological systems are operational. However, not a single person is visible. Joe’s initial tentative "Hello?" echoes unanswered, highlighting the disquieting silence. He approaches the reception desk, where computers are powered on but not logged into, further deepening the mystery. His movements, the rustle of his bag and clothes, feel amplified in the stillness, creating an almost sacrilegious intrusion upon what feels like a "perfect sanctuary of quiet." This profound silence, punctuated only by the building’s mechanical pulse, cultivates a palpable sense of unease and isolation for Joe, and by extension, for the reader.
A Cry for Help and a Cold Response
Overwhelmed by the unsettling atmosphere, Joe resorts to his induction materials, finding a name and phone number for Virgil Stanforth. His call is met with a curt "Yes?" followed by a prolonged pause when Joe identifies himself and states his predicament – being the only person in the deserted lobby on his first day. Stanforth’s repeated, almost dismissive "Yes?" escalates Joe’s anxiety. The conversation culminates in Stanforth’s exasperated "Jesus Christ," before the call is abruptly terminated. This interaction, characterized by its brevity and lack of reassurance, offers no solace and instead intensifies Joe’s isolation and confusion.
The abrupt ending of the call leaves Joe contemplating an immediate departure. The thought of returning home, ordering food, and watching a film offers a tempting escape from the unnerving reality of Ponos. This brief moment of consideration underscores the psychological impact of the bizarre environment. However, before he can fully commit to leaving, his phone buzzes with an incoming call, a jarring interruption to the silence.
A Disembodied Welcome and a Cryptic Promise
The call is not from Virgil Stanforth, but from a woman with a "soft and comforting" voice. She welcomes Joe to Ponos, apologizes for the absence of staff, citing extreme busyness, and provides instructions to proceed to Room 412 on the fourth floor via the lift. She assures him his keycard will grant access and that his login details were provided in his induction packet. When Joe attempts to ask a follow-up question, the woman cuts him off with a chillingly delivered statement: "At Ponos, we are family." The call ends as abruptly as it began, leaving Joe with more questions than answers and a profound sense of unease.
This exchange, particularly the woman’s interruption and the final pronouncement, introduces a sinister undertone. The idea of a corporate entity claiming to be "family" in such an impersonal and isolating context is deeply unsettling. It suggests a manufactured sense of belonging that masks a potentially darker reality, a common trope in horror narratives that preys on anxieties surrounding corporate culture and the loss of individual identity.
The Unfolding Mystery of Ponos
The excerpt from Abyss skillfully builds suspense by juxtaposing the mundane reality of a first day at work with an atmosphere of profound mystery and subtle dread. The initial description of the lobby, with its sterile aesthetic and deliberate emptiness, immediately signals that this is no ordinary office environment. The lack of any human presence, despite the building being fully operational, is the central enigma that Joe must confront.
The fragmented communication Joe receives – the clipped responses from Stanforth and the overly comforting yet dismissive tone of the woman – serves to isolate him further and prevent him from obtaining any concrete information. This deliberate withholding of details amplifies the reader’s curiosity and their own sense of apprehension.
Background and Context
The novella’s setting within a corporate environment taps into contemporary anxieties surrounding the dehumanizing aspects of modern work. Companies often strive for a culture of belonging, yet the reality can sometimes be one of alienation and pressure. Abyss appears to take this to an extreme, suggesting a company culture that is not merely demanding but fundamentally disquieting.
The name "Ponos" itself, while seemingly innocuous, can be linguistically linked to concepts of labor, toil, and difficulty in various languages, hinting at the nature of the work or the company’s ethos. The novella’s publication with Nightfire, a renowned imprint for horror fiction, further signals the genre’s intent and promises a narrative that will likely explore themes of existential dread, corporate control, and the uncanny.
Timeline of Events in the Excerpt
- 8:58 AM: Joe arrives at the Ponos building and attempts to enter.
- Post-8:58 AM: Joe gains entry via his keycard and surveys the empty lobby.
- Following Joe’s Entry: Joe calls Virgil Stanforth to report the absence of staff.
- After Stanforth Call: Joe receives a call from an unknown woman providing instructions.
- End of Excerpt: Joe is left in the empty lobby, awaiting further instructions from an unseen authority.
Potential Implications and Broader Impact
The excerpt raises several questions about the nature of Ponos and its recruitment practices. What does it truly mean for a company to "want potential" in the way described? Is this a commentary on corporate exploitation, or does it hint at something more supernatural or existential at play? The "family" rhetoric, delivered in the context of extreme isolation, is particularly disturbing, suggesting a coercive or cult-like element.
The novella’s exploration of an empty corporate space could also be interpreted as a metaphor for the hollowness that can pervade modern professional life, where genuine connection is sacrificed for productivity and outward appearances. The increasing prevalence of remote work and the blurring lines between professional and personal lives also add a layer of contemporary relevance to these themes.
The success of Abyss will likely depend on how effectively Nicholas Binge can sustain the atmosphere of dread and unravel the mystery of Ponos. Readers drawn to psychological horror and unsettling narratives are poised to be captivated by Joe’s descent into this peculiar corporate abyss. The limited information provided in the excerpt, while frustrating for Joe, is a masterful tool for building anticipation and drawing readers into the heart of the unknown. The excerpt serves as a potent invitation to explore the deeper, darker implications of a company that seemingly thrives on absence and the untapped, perhaps terrifying, potential of its employees.
Excerpted from Abyss, copyright © 2026 by Nicholas Binge.
