Hexed

Teri Hughes presents a chilling narrative in Hexed, published by Trellis Publishing. The story follows a young female teacher who accepts a live-in position to tutor a woman's son. She quickly discovers that the boy is actually dead. The mother struggles to accept this reality and demands the teacher participate in her strange delusion. The educator plays along because she needs the money, escorting the invisible ghost boy for lessons. The plot shifts from psychological tension to supernatural horror as the teacher realizes the mother is not merely suffering from mental illness. Something more sinister and supernatural is at play within the household. Hughes, the author, crafts a tale that blurs the line between grief-induced delusion and genuine paranormal activity. The narrative structure relies on the teacher's perspective, forcing readers to question what is real as the situation grows increasingly dangerous. This book suits readers who enjoy gothic fiction with a focus on haunted domestic spaces and psychological dread. It appeals to those interested in stories where supernatural elements are revealed through personal tragedy. Readers seeking lighthearted horror or clear-cut ghost stories without emotional complexity may find the tone too heavy. The work draws on traditions of haunted house narratives where grief manifests as a tangible threat. Hughes uses the trope of the invisible child to explore the persistence of loss and the dangers of denial.