Dreams of the Dread Void

Nell, a fifteen-year-old girl marked by the cosmic Dread Void, drifts through recurring dreams of the Void's silver corridors, haunted by memories of her mother's asylum and the horrors she's survived. These dreams are both a comfort and a warning, foreshadowing the dangers to come. Nell's longing for connection with her mother and her desire to understand her own origins are palpable, as is her growing numbness to terror. The Void is both a place of awe and a harbinger of nightmares, setting the stage for the story's blend of cosmic horror and personal struggle. Nell's awakening from these dreams signals the beginning of a new ordeal, as she clings to a ribbon—a gift from Hux, her protector—reminding her of the fragile bonds that tether her to hope.

Hux Imprisoned

Hux, the stoic and enigmatic Void traveler, finds himself imprisoned in a dark, electric-lit dungeon alongside other Void slaves—some human, some not. Their powers are nullified by a sinister machine, and Hux's thirty years of servitude have never felt so futile. The machine's operators, Francis and Anne-Marie, are orchestrating a plan that threatens the very fabric of reality. Hux's attempts to communicate with his fellow prisoners are met with blank stares, underscoring his isolation. The dungeon's oppressive atmosphere, punctuated by the machine's heartbeat and flashes of blue lightning, mirrors Hux's internal struggle: a man caught between duty, despair, and a faint hope that the Void itself might intervene.

Tessie's Powers Return

Tessie, once broken by trauma and loss, is suddenly revitalized as her supernatural abilities return. Her exuberance unsettles Lisa and Nell, who sense something off beneath her cheerful facade. A routine errand is interrupted by a tense encounter with the police, highlighting the ever-present threat of exposure and the community's suspicion toward Tessie's unconventional household. Tessie's golden aura, a manifestation of her regained power, is both beautiful and dangerous—a reminder of the violence she's capable of. The return of her abilities marks a turning point, but also foreshadows the instability and recklessness that will soon endanger everyone she loves.

The Machine's Heartbeat

In the dungeon, Francis and Anne-Marie oversee the machine that manipulates the Void, collecting Void travelers like specimens. Their dynamic is fraught: Francis is anxious, Anne-Marie coldly confident. They believe they are on the brink of reshaping reality, exploiting Nell's unique connection to the Void. The machine's rhythm accelerates, its power growing, as they prepare to use Nell as a catalyst. Hux, ever the observer, senses the stakes rising but remains powerless. The chapter's tension is electric, both literally and figuratively, as the antagonists' ambitions threaten to unleash cosmic chaos.

Nighttime Intrusions

Nell's attempt at a normal night is shattered when her father, Francis, emerges from a Void portal and tries to abduct her. The intrusion is swift and violent, forcing Nell to flee for her life. Tessie's protective instincts flare, her Astral Flame burning with the promise of retribution. The household's fragile sense of security is obliterated, and the lines between dream and nightmare blur. The attack is a stark reminder that the dangers they face are both supernatural and deeply personal, rooted in family betrayal and the legacy of the Void.

Tessie's Astral Flame

Tessie's newfound power, the Astral Flame, is both a blessing and a curse. It surges within her, fueled by adrenaline and rage, but threatens to consume her from within. As she confronts the aftermath of Francis's attack, Tessie grapples with the limits of her strength and the cost of wielding such destructive energy. Her sense of responsibility for Nell and Lisa is overwhelming, and her inability to keep them safe gnaws at her. The chapter explores the double-edged nature of power, the temptation of vengeance, and the fear of becoming the very monster one seeks to destroy.

Kidnapped Through the Void

In a harrowing sequence, Nell is kidnapped through a Void portal by Francis and Anne-Marie's agents, leaving Lisa helpless and traumatized. The abduction is swift, surreal, and deeply violating, underscoring the story's central theme of powerlessness in the face of cosmic forces. Lisa's desperate attempts to alert Tessie are met with frustration and fear, as the household unravels. The emotional fallout is immediate: guilt, anger, and a renewed determination to fight back. The chapter captures the terror of being hunted and the agony of losing a loved one to forces beyond comprehension.

Dungeon of Lightning

Nell awakens in the dungeon, restrained and surrounded by the machine's crackling energy. She is forced to witness the systematic destruction of the Void travelers, including Hux, whose stoic acceptance of death devastates her. The machine weaponizes Nell's connection to the Void, turning her into an instrument of annihilation. The scene is a crescendo of horror and helplessness, as bodies explode into silver mist and hope is extinguished. Nell's grief is raw and consuming, her sense of agency shattered. The chapter is a meditation on loss, sacrifice, and the monstrous consequences of unchecked ambition.

Tessie's Desperate Search

Tessie, driven by guilt and desperation, uses her powers to track Nell across dimensions. Her journey is fraught with danger, as she confronts the limits of her abilities and the toll the Astral Flame takes on her body and mind. Encounters with Anne-Marie's henchmen turn violent, revealing Tessie's capacity for brutality when those she loves are threatened. The search is both physical and spiritual, as Tessie grapples with her own trauma and the fear of losing herself to the very darkness she fights. The chapter explores the cost of heroism and the fragility of hope.

The Void Travelers' Fate

The machine's activation results in the obliteration of the Void travelers, severing the cosmos' immune system. Hux's death is a pivotal moment, witnessed by Nell in agony. The loss is not just personal but cosmic, as the balance between worlds is upended. Francis and Anne-Marie's victory is pyrrhic, as the consequences of their actions ripple outward. The chapter is a requiem for the fallen, a lament for the loss of guardianship, and a warning of the chaos to come. Nell's grief crystallizes into a resolve to fight back, even as she is cast adrift.

Nell's Awakening

Fleeing her captors, Nell's latent Void powers erupt uncontrollably, hurling her across alien worlds filled with monstrous dangers. Each new realm is a test of survival, from moon-spiders to sentient trees and grotesque creatures. Nell's journey is both a physical odyssey and a psychological crucible, as she confronts her own trauma, guilt, and the burden of being the Void's "missing piece." The chaos of her travels mirrors her inner turmoil, but also hints at untapped potential. The chapter is a kaleidoscope of horror, wonder, and self-discovery.

The Aftermath of Loss

Back in the real world, Tessie and Lisa are left to deal with the fallout: dead bodies, police investigations, and the collapse of their sanctuary. Tessie is wounded, physically and emotionally, her powers waning. Lisa, traumatized and fearing the system, is arrested and interrogated, her past wounds reopened. The household's dissolution is both literal and symbolic, as the fragile family they built is torn apart by external and internal forces. The chapter is a meditation on the cost of survival, the weight of guilt, and the longing for redemption.

Tessie's Pursuit

Tessie's pursuit of Anne-Marie leads her into a surreal, nightmarish dimension—a manifestation of Anne-Marie's childhood trauma. Here, Tessie is hunted by the Black Darglyth, a shape-shifting horror that feeds on fear and pain. The encounter is both a battle of wills and a confrontation with the past, as Tessie is forced to relive her own losses and failures. The struggle is brutal, pushing Tessie to the brink of self-destruction. The chapter explores the inescapability of trauma, the dangers of vengeance, and the possibility of transformation through suffering.

Worlds of Peril

Both Nell and Tessie are cast into alien landscapes, each facing monstrous threats and existential challenges. Nell's journey through the Void becomes a metaphor for grief and resilience, as she learns to harness her powers and confront the True Void itself. Tessie's escape from the Black Darglyth is a triumph of will, but leaves her physically and spiritually scarred. Their parallel ordeals underscore the story's central themes: the search for belonging, the cost of power, and the hope of reunion. The chapter is a testament to endurance in the face of cosmic indifference.

Anne-Marie's Pursuit

Anne-Marie, undeterred by setbacks, returns to Francis with a new plan: to use Nell's mother as leverage. Their partnership is both intimate and toxic, fueled by shared trauma and ambition. The aftermath of Tessie's rampage leaves their operation in disarray, but their resolve is unbroken. The chapter sets the stage for the next confrontation, as the antagonists regroup and prepare to exploit Nell's vulnerabilities. The cycle of abuse and revenge continues, threatening to engulf everyone in its path.

The True Void

In a moment of clarity, Nell enters the True Void—the primordial darkness behind the silver corridor. Here, she communes with the Void itself, seeking answers and aid. The Void is both alien and strangely affectionate, recognizing Nell as its missing piece. Their dialogue is cryptic, revealing the cosmic stakes: the severing of the Void's "fingers" (its guardians) has left reality vulnerable. Nell's plea for help is met with uncertainty, but also the possibility of resurrection. The encounter is both awe-inspiring and terrifying, a confrontation with the ultimate unknown.

Bargains with the Bright Ones

Tessie, on the brink of death, is visited by the Bright Ones—the enigmatic beings who granted her the Astral Flame. Their voices are dismissive, cryptic, and manipulative, reminding Tessie of her bargain and the price yet to be paid. Tessie's sense of agency is eroded, her destiny seemingly out of her hands. The chapter is a meditation on the dangers of seeking power from inscrutable forces, the illusion of control, and the inevitability of sacrifice. Tessie's exhaustion and despair are palpable, but so is a flicker of defiance.

Resurrection and Reunion

Nell, having mastered her Void powers, rescues Lisa from police custody in a dramatic escape. Together, they seek out Hux's son, Nathan, believing that a connection to his past can resurrect Hux from the "stars of sentience" within the Void. The reunion is bittersweet, as the cost of survival is measured in loss and trauma. Yet, the possibility of redemption and restoration remains. The chapter ends on a note of cautious hope, as Nell and Lisa prepare to confront the next phase of their journey, armed with new understanding and unbreakable bonds.

Characters

Nell Parrish

Nell is a fifteen-year-old girl marked by the Dread Void, whose life has been shaped by trauma, abandonment, and cosmic forces beyond her control. Her relationship with her mother is a source of longing and pain, while her connection to Hux provides a surrogate sense of family. Nell's psychological journey is one of numbness giving way to resilience; she is both a victim and a catalyst, weaponized by others but ultimately seizing agency through her awakening Void powers. Her empathy, guilt, and fierce loyalty drive her actions, and her ability to confront the True Void itself marks her as both a bridge and a battleground between worlds.

Hux

Hux is a seasoned Void traveler, burdened by decades of servitude and the loss of his own family. His relationship with Nell is paternal, though he struggles to express emotion, offering her strength and stability in a world of chaos. Hux's imprisonment and eventual destruction are both a personal tragedy and a cosmic catastrophe, as he represents the last line of defense against the Void's enemies. His acceptance of death is both heroic and heartbreaking, and his possible resurrection hinges on the power of memory, connection, and the beating of his own heart.

Tessie Harrington

Tessie is a complex figure: a survivor of profound loss, a reluctant guardian, and a vessel for the Astral Flame. Her return to power is both exhilarating and dangerous, as it amplifies her protective instincts but also her capacity for violence and self-destruction. Tessie's psychological arc is defined by guilt, exhaustion, and the fear of becoming monstrous. Her bargains with the Bright Ones leave her fate uncertain, and her struggle to save Nell and Lisa is as much about redeeming herself as it is about defeating external threats. Tessie embodies the cost of heroism and the peril of wielding power without limits.

Lisa Carter

Lisa is Nell's closest companion, a girl scarred by abuse, neglect, and the failures of the foster system. Her distrust of authority and her longing for belonging make her both vulnerable and defiant. Lisa's psychological wounds are reopened by the events of the story, particularly her arrest and interrogation. Yet, her loyalty to Nell and Tessie is unwavering, and her survival instincts are sharp. Lisa's journey is one of reclaiming agency, refusing to be defined by her past, and finding hope in the bonds she forges.

Francis

Francis is Nell's biological father and a central antagonist, driven by a messianic vision of reshaping reality through the Void. His relationship with Nell is twisted by pride, scientific detachment, and a lack of genuine affection. Francis's partnership with Anne-Marie is fraught with anxiety and ambition, and his willingness to sacrifice others—including his own daughter—reveals a profound moral bankruptcy. Psychologically, Francis is a study in rationalized evil, convinced of his own righteousness even as he unleashes horror.

Anne-Marie

Anne-Marie is Francis's partner and a formidable antagonist, shaped by a childhood of abuse and institutionalization. Her emotional detachment masks deep wounds, and her pursuit of power is both a means of control and a form of revenge against a world that failed her. Anne-Marie's interactions with Nell are laced with both cruelty and a twisted empathy, as she recognizes a kindred spirit in suffering. Her relationship with Francis is intimate yet toxic, and her willingness to exploit anyone—including herself—underscores her nihilism.

The Void

The Void is both a setting and a character: an ancient, sentient force that views Nell as its missing piece. Its motivations are inscrutable, its power vast, and its understanding of humanity limited. The Void's interactions with Nell are marked by a strange affection, but also a profound alienness. Psychologically, the Void represents the ultimate unknown—the source of both terror and potential. Its severed "fingers" (the Void travelers) are a metaphor for lost guardianship, and its inability to provide easy answers highlights the limits of cosmic intervention.

The Bright Ones

The Bright Ones are the source of Tessie's Astral Flame, granting her power in exchange for an unspecified bargain. Their voices are many, their intentions opaque, and their interventions calculated. Psychologically, they embody the dangers of seeking power from forces beyond comprehension, offering salvation at a price. Their relationship with Tessie is transactional, and their promises of destiny are both alluring and threatening.

The Black Darglyth

The Black Darglyth is a manifestation of Anne-Marie's trauma and a literal monster that preys on fear and weakness. Its shifting form and predatory intelligence make it a formidable adversary, and its encounter with Tessie is a crucible of pain and defiance. Psychologically, the Darglyth represents the inescapability of the past and the dangers of bargaining with darkness.

Nathan

Nathan is a peripheral but crucial figure, representing Hux's lost humanity and the possibility of restoration. His connection to Hux is both emotional and symbolic, as the memory of family becomes the "stimulus" needed to awaken the sleeping star. Nathan's role underscores the story's central theme: that love and memory are the true sources of power and redemption.

Plot Devices

The Dread Void

The Dread Void is the story's central plot device, a silver corridor connecting infinite realities. It serves as both a literal means of travel and a metaphor for trauma, loss, and the search for belonging. The Void's portals are windows into other worlds and other selves, and its currents are both a source of awe and terror. The narrative structure is shaped by the Void's unpredictability, as characters are hurled across dimensions in moments of crisis. The Void's dual nature—as both a parent and a predator—mirrors the characters' own struggles with power and vulnerability.

The Machine and the Void Heart

The machine built by Francis and Anne-Marie is a device that manipulates the Void, weaponizing Nell and annihilating the Void travelers. Its heart—a literal, alien organ—serves as both a source of power and a symbol of corrupted ambition. The machine's activation is foreshadowed by the recurring motif of heartbeats, electricity, and the loss of agency. It is both a tool of oppression and a crucible for Nell's awakening, transforming her from victim to agent.

Astral Flame and the Bright Ones

Tessie's Astral Flame, granted by the Bright Ones, is a plot device that enables her to traverse worlds and confront cosmic threats. Its use is foreshadowed by physical pain and emotional turmoil, and its limitations are revealed through Tessie's exhaustion and near self-destruction. The Bright Ones' cryptic guidance and demands for obedience add layers of tension and uncertainty, as Tessie's fate is bound to forces she cannot fully understand or control.

Visions and Shared Memories

A recurring device is the involuntary sharing of memories and trauma through physical touch, particularly for Nell. These visions serve as both exposition and psychological insight, revealing the hidden wounds of characters like Anne-Marie and Tessie. The device blurs the boundaries between self and other, past and present, and underscores the story's themes of empathy, inheritance, and the inescapability of pain.

Resurrection Through Memory

The possibility of resurrecting Hux hinges on the idea that memory, love, and the beating of the heart can awaken the "sleeping stars" within the Void. This device ties together the personal and the cosmic, suggesting that the bonds we form are powerful enough to transcend even death. The narrative structure builds toward this revelation, foreshadowed by recurring motifs of heartbeats, keepsakes, and the longing for reunion.

Analysis

Across the Haunted Stars is a cosmic horror novel that weaves together themes of trauma, loss, and the search for agency in a universe indifferent to suffering. At its core, the story is about the struggle to reclaim power—over one's past, one's body, and one's destiny—when beset by forces both human and inhuman. The Dread Void serves as a metaphor for the inescapable pull of trauma, while the machine and the Astral Flame represent the double-edged nature of power: it can liberate, but it can also destroy. The characters' journeys are marked by cycles of victimization and resistance, with Nell's awakening as the Void's "missing piece" symbolizing the possibility of transformation through suffering. The novel interrogates the legacy of abuse—familial, institutional, and cosmic—and the ways in which memory, love, and connection can serve as both wounds and weapons. Ultimately, the story suggests that redemption is possible, but only through the willingness to confront the darkness within and without, to forge new bonds, and to believe that even in a haunted universe, hope can be resurrected.

Last updated: December 22, 2025