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In the landscape of contemporary horror, few authors manage to capture the specific, suffocating dread of the modern workplace quite like Nicholas Binge. Known for his atmospheric tension and psychological acuity, Binge returns this May with his latest novella, Abyss, published under the Nightfire imprint. The work promises to be a masterclass in existential unease, centering on the opaque and enigmatic corporation known only as "Ponos."
As readers prepare for the May 12th release, a gripping excerpt from the opening chapter has been unveiled, offering a window into a narrative that blends corporate satire with the creeping, visceral dread of the unknown.
The Chronology of a First Day Gone Wrong
The narrative begins with Joseph "Joe" Rice, an unassuming administrative assistant who arrives at the offices of Ponos with modest expectations. For Joe, this is merely a job—a way to fill his days and perhaps secure a foothold in a career he hasn’t fully committed to. However, as the excerpt reveals, the reality of the morning is far more disorienting than a typical first day.
At 8:58 a.m., Joe stands before the building’s entrance. His internal monologue reveals a man clinging to the mundane—exchanging brief, polite texts with his mother, carefully editing his sentiments to maintain a facade of normalcy. Upon entering the building using his provided keycard, Joe is greeted by a pristine, minimalist lobby. The aesthetic is jarringly bright: pastel walls, potted ferns, and carefully curated seating areas intended for collaborative synergy.
Yet, the most striking feature of the Ponos lobby is its absolute, haunting emptiness. Despite the lights being fully operational and the hum of sophisticated technology echoing through the atrium, there is not a single soul to be found.
The chronology of his arrival is marked by a growing sense of isolation:
- 09:00: Joe arrives and successfully enters the building.
- 09:05: After navigating the silent lobby, Joe attempts to contact his point of contact, Virgil Stanforth.
- 09:07: The phone call with Stanforth concludes abruptly after a surreal, repetitive exchange, leaving Joe questioning his own sanity and the validity of his employment.
- 09:10: A mysterious, disembodied voice provides him with instructions to proceed to Room 412, effectively overriding his concerns with corporate platitudes.
The Anatomy of Institutional Erasure
The excerpt serves as a microcosm for the themes Binge explores throughout Abyss. The silence of the lobby is not merely an absence of people; it is an active, heavy presence. Joe’s reaction—a desire to tiptoe so as not to "defile" the quiet—suggests an environment that demands submission before a single task has even been assigned.
The interaction with Virgil Stanforth serves as a turning point. When confronted with the reality that a new employee has arrived at an empty office, Stanforth’s response—a confused, clipped, "Jesus Christ"—before severing the line, indicates that Joe’s presence may be an anomaly, or perhaps an intrusion into a space that functions on a logic entirely foreign to standard human interaction.
Official Responses and Corporate Gaslighting
Perhaps the most chilling moment of the excerpt occurs when a woman’s voice—soft, comforting, and utterly dismissive—replaces the confused Stanforth. She ignores Joe’s legitimate questions regarding the lack of staff, instead reciting the company line with robotic precision.
"We value all our staff," she insists. "At Ponos, we are family."
This juxtaposition—the "family" atmosphere contrasted with the cold, sterile, and abandoned reality of the office—is a hallmark of Binge’s critique of corporate culture. The entity known as Ponos does not appear to be interested in administrative support in the traditional sense; it is interested in "potential," a word that carries an ominous weight in the context of the genre.
Implications: The Horror of the Unseen
What does Ponos want with Joe? The novella’s title, Abyss, suggests a descent into something far deeper than a standard corporate thriller. By isolating the protagonist in a space that feels like a liminal zone—a place between the world we know and something else—Binge forces the reader to confront the vulnerability of the individual when faced with an institution that holds all the power and provides none of the transparency.
The implications for Joe are severe. He is an administrative assistant, a role designed to organize and facilitate the work of others. By placing him in an empty building, Ponos is stripping him of his utility and, by extension, his purpose. The "potential" they seek from him may not be clerical; it may be something far more sacrificial.
About the Author and Publication Details
Nicholas Binge has long been lauded for his ability to weave high-concept science fiction with grounded, human-centric horror. His previous works have explored the limitations of human perception and the terrifying vastness of the universe. With Abyss, he seems poised to explore the terrifying vastness of the modern organization.
Publication Information:
- Abyss
- Author: Nicholas Binge
- Publisher: Nightfire
- Release Date: May 12th
- Format: Novella
As Joe prepares to head to the fourth floor, into the heart of a building that seems to have no heartbeat of its own, the reader is left with a singular, lingering question: Does Joe have the potential to survive, or is he simply the latest in a long line of components being fed into the machine?
For those interested in exploring the depths of Abyss, the novella is available for pre-order through major retailers and independent bookstores. If the opening pages are any indication, the experience will be one that lingers long after the final page is turned—much like the unnatural silence of the Ponos lobby itself.
Copyright © 2026 by Nicholas Binge. All rights reserved. For more information on the author and upcoming events, visit the publisher’s official website.
Rifan Muazin
Lina Hope
