Visitor - By Daniel Stapelberg

Written By: Daniel Stapelberg

Category: Essay / Fiction

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Daniel Stapelberg, writing under the pseudonym "Visitor," presents a haunting piece titled "Visitor" in the Essay / Fiction category for the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. This competition gathers voices from around the world to explore the depths of creativity and storytelling. Stapelberg's work delves into the eerie and the unknown, drawing readers into a world where myth and reality intertwine in unsettling ways.

About the Work

"Visitor" by Daniel Stapelberg is a chilling exploration of fear and the unknown. With vivid imagery and a tense atmosphere, the narrative examines the protagonist's descent into a world where whispers and myths become tangible threats. The story's style evokes a sense of dread, leaving readers questioning the boundary between reality and legend. Stapelberg skillfully uses language to create an immersive and unsettling experience.

Visitor

Original Submission by Daniel Stapelberg

Visitor

Something unnatural lurks in the desolate woodland encircling my homestead. I cannot discern a time before the endless restlessness enveloped me, before the whispers began to dance on the glass panes observing without. Such inexorable noises cannot be mundane … I refuse the notion!

It is the seventh day. Research of my experience has brought a most terrifying discovery, and I believe I have found it … a source, bearing possible explanation. Though undocumented in modern biology, it is not unfounded. My intuition, the hair saluting in fear of execution, and reports supported by fellow witnesses bestow a name, a legend, a devil made manifest … Yee Naaldlooshi.

It is the fourteenth day. Further accounts dampen my spirits due to their inconceivability. Speak of lanky limbs arrayed with skewering fingernails against a snow-pale visage of consumption fill the studies. I struggle to comprehend, much less believe such slander, such obvious myth muddled with reality’s lesser-known creatures.

Day twenty-one. I no longer know what is true. Moreover, each night it comes. Unnoticed at first, in hindsight a realisation that the supposed noises of my broken air-conditioning were not so, and in the morns the panes of my windows are adorned by lacerations and I dream evermore of the encroaching forest beyond the logs of my cabin.

Day thirty … six. I acknowledge a presence, one that has imbued itself deep within the elements of my recurring existence. But … I have lost something … something I cannot recall but know deep within I no longer possess … and now I doubt I ever possessed it at all.

There are no more days, no sun since I last ventured beyond on the sixty-sixth. My nerves are no longer shot, despite the gazes of the lanks that graze on their tar throughways. And the stench that I once smelled no longer permeates my surroundings, and in my dreams I am coddled and laid in soft moss as they seek food.

I find myself within my territory, with my brethren, holding onto memories that, if I recall them, may allow me to rest not on moss, but on the soft bedding of a cot, though that is not my destiny, he says, and I do not hold it, only he, the visitor that becomes me.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious event that celebrates diverse voices and creative expressions from around the globe. Participants engage in various categories, showcasing their talents in poetry, fiction, and essays. The competition is a platform for writers to share their unique perspectives and connect with a wider audience, fostering a global community of literary enthusiasts.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Daniel Stapelberg for his contribution to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 with his piece "Visitor." His ability to weave a narrative that blurs the lines between myth and reality is truly captivating. We appreciate his participation and look forward to seeing more of his creative endeavors in the future.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.