
I find it important, with a title like this, to begin by saying that I’m not talking about physical cats. I’m not particularly fond of cats, but neither do I loathe them, and I would find it just as hard to exert violence toward a cat as to a human being. That said, the title of this post wasn’t chosen for its suitability as click bait, although it serves that purpose well.
It is said that curiosity killed the cat. This is a fantastic proverb, for many reasons. One of which is the way people react when they hear it as a warning, or a threat. In both cases, one has to consider the worst case scenario that can rise from satisfying one’s curiosity, but even then it will be difficult to lay off.
This is probably why crime stories become so popular. The reader is presented with a mystery, and if it is compelling enough, the reader cannot get this mystery out of their head. What makes the story all the more compelling, is how likable the main character is, and how high he or she is willing to raise the stakes to understand the mystery. Because of this, one could say that all mystery stories really contain two mysteries, the second one being if curiosity really kills the cat.
I’m a huge fan of mystery stories myself. Sherlock Holmes is probably my favorite character of all time. Not because of his amazing set of skills, nor that he managed to function so well despite being a cocaine addict. The reason why Sherlock Holmes is such joy to read, lies in the bizarre and seemingly impossible cases he is hired to solve. There are, however, two things I don’t particularly like about the infamous detective. The perpetrator is always a mundane and boring human being, and you can always bet on the fact that Sherlock will make it through the mystery more or less unscathed. Put another way: curiosity never kills the cat.
While quenching your curiosity in Eldritch City might not always lead to death, doing so will always come at a high cost. I think this make stories interesting, especially if the main character is likable. In addition, there are things in Eldritch City which could exist anywhere else. This marks a potential for mysteries which will keep the reader guessing, while never really understanding the danger the main character is exposed to.
Until it’s too late.
About the story:
Nine years have passed since the tragic and mysterious deaths of Mr. Phillips and his daughter. A new clue surfaces, one which the lead investigator will follow to the brink of insanity.
Excerpt:
To whoever reads this: I feel that I must apologize if what you find on these pieces of paper appears to be nothing more than a collection of near-indecipherable words. I can assure you that I have tried everything I can think of, and yet I cannot keep my hands from trembling. This, however, is only a symptom of my much greater problems.
I cannot eat, or sleep, or even close my eyes for longer than the briefest of moments. I feel as if I’m about to lose my mind, but I’m clear enough to realize that I have to get this story off my chest, before it consumes whatever sanity I have left. Unfortunately, the only recipient I can trust with a story as bizarre and horrible as this are the same pieces of paper upon which these words are written.

Robin was born on a cold winter night in Oslo, Norway, 1989. Growing up, he was always fond of telling stories, leading people to wonder when, not if, he would move on to writing stories of his own. Inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft, he wrote his first short story, 'Beneath', in 2015.
For more about Robin and his works, check out his blog and Facebook page.