I See You: A Holiday Horror Novella

John Harker’s novella I See You presents a holiday horror narrative centered on influencer Sophia Caldwell. Her life relies on curated perfection for social media engagement. The plot shifts when her family acquires a vintage elf doll named Button from a local bazaar. This figure observes the household with judgmental intent. As the doll moves independently, it exposes buried family secrets and distorts their home environment into a terrifying space. Sophia and her relatives must confront the harsh reality of their true identities. Button demands not merely goodness, but eternal perfection. The story draws on gothic traditions where inanimate objects gain malevolent agency. It critiques modern obsessions with digital validation and image curation. The novella is structured as a compact narrative suitable for readers who enjoy psychological dread over gore. Fans of Black Mirror and The Twilight Zone will find resonance in its themes of surveillance and judgment. Those seeking lighthearted seasonal cheer or traditional ghost stories may find the tone too sharp. Harker, known for his work with Shadow Hills Publishing, crafts a tale where the camera lens becomes a weapon. The elf’s unblinking gaze forces characters to face their flaws without the filter of social approval.