EXCORIATE

"It was the perfect texture. Soft, wet. Invasive."

In the not-too-distant future, the melting of glaciers introduces a new threat into the world: xenopillars, carnivorous terrestrial worms the size of horses, armed with slime and hallucinogenic acid.

Harrowing? Not nearly as harrowing as high school.

It may be the apocalypse, but eighteen-year-old Hal Nieffer has bigger things to worry about—like bumping up his rank in Valorant and securing a date to prom. It’s only when a freak encounter with a xenopillar at an abandoned convenience store leaves him disfigured that Hal discovers a dangerous method of self-soothing.

And finds eroticism somewhere he really shouldn't.

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CWs (not spoiler-free): Here.

Proofreading by Mel C. | Interior art by Friisky

First published in Don's Dead Market 2026. 

Physical copies can be purchased HERE, with professional formatting done by Subvertebra. Size: 5.5" x 8.5", 74 pages. Example photos. If you are interested in a signed copy and/or merch, feel free to email me at piamo@tuta.com.