Cheshire Lurks Beyond the Light

By Dorian Aurelius Grimm

Some monsters wear masks. Others wear malls.

When struggling artist Mara Wren takes a night shift job at the Oakridge Galleria, she expects fluorescent lights, retail drudgery, and the quiet ache of grief. What she doesn't expect is the mall to come alive after hours-with whispers in the PA system, mannequins that move when no one's watching, and a smile reflected in the fountain that doesn't belong to any face.

As her coworkers vanish one by one and the mall transforms into a surreal labyrinth of shadows and memories, Mara is hunted by a monstrous entity known only as Mr. Grin-a spindly, six-eyed figure with a smile too wide and a hunger too old. But this is no ordinary haunting. The mall itself is a canvas, and Mr. Grin is its artist. And Mara? She's the masterpiece he's been waiting for.

To survive, Mara must confront not only the supernatural horrors stalking her through the darkened corridors, but also the grief, guilt, and loneliness that have haunted her since her brother's death. Armed with nothing but a flashlight, a charcoal pencil, and the power of her own creativity, she must rewrite the story before she becomes just another sketch in the gallery of the damned.

MR. GRIN IS WATCHING: Cheshire Lurks Beyond the Light is a genre-bending psychological horror novel that blends cosmic dread, emotional depth, and metafictional brilliance. It's a chilling meditation on grief, the power of art, and the monsters we make when we're left alone in the dark.

Perfect for fans of:

House of Leaves by Mark Z. DanielewskiThe Haunting of Hill House by Shirley JacksonSilent Hill and ControlNeil Gaiman's Coraline-if it grew up, got angry, and started drawing in blood

Dare to enter the gallery. But remember: Mr. Grin is always watching.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FFHGHYWL
• ISBN13: 9798289548627
• Release Date: June 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 100 Pages
• Weight: 0.32 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 6.0" x 9.0"