Eli Walsh was once a rising star in Shadecross’s Artistic Quarter—until the muse abandoned him. Desperate to create again, he accepts a strange gift from an old friend: a mysterious rune said to unlock new depths of inspiration. But in a city where art breathes, bleeds, and remembers, some visions can’t be painted over.
Set against the surreal backdrop of Shadecross City, Oil on Water is a psychological descent into madness, obsession, and the seductive nature of creation itself. Part supernatural noir, part intimate horror, this standalone short story weaves into the larger tapestry of The Shadecross Chronicles—where the shadows are always watching, and every soul has a price.
I’ve been building worlds in my head for as long as I can remember. I wrote poetry as a kid, and I’ve spent a lifetime binge-watching TV shows, which I think has all morphed into… this. A strange little hobby I finally decided to share with the world.
I’m still learning as a writer. Still experimenting. Still figuring out how far I can push it. I know not everything will land with everyone, and that’s okay. What matters is that it’s honest—and mine.View all by RJ Molloy
