Chrysalis

By Malcolm Schmitz

On the internet, no one knows you're a bug... unless you tell them. But when Gregor undergoes a painful transformation, he needs his friends' help to keep his sanity. Can he deal with his new form without tearing his family apart?

A love story to the internet, the weird and wonderful people who inhabit it, and the ways it helps us survive.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Malcolm Schmitz
• Release date: Dec 7, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370869817

Malcolm Schmitz

Author, autistic, apostate. I write SFF about disabled people, trans people, eldritch angels, disappointing unicorns, and lace-making orcs.

Book preview

[group chat: there goes john cena blasting off again]

cyclicmisfortune: Guys. I think I just turned into a bug.

thesaddestpanda: so then i tell him, you're never getting any of this, and he's like-

thesaddestpanda: waitwhat

vinylscratch: u ok, bro?

weedbong69: lol

weedbong69: good one gregor

weedbong69: but srsly dont you have knives to sell or something

cyclicmisfortune: Well, either this is the world's most messed-up dream, or I just turned into a ducking bug.

weedbong69: u can say fuck

weedbong69: #letgregorsayfuck2k16

cyclicmisfortune: It's hard to type with roach legs, okay. I'm doing my best.

thesaddestpanda: i think he's serious.

thesaddestpanda: should we call the cops or something?

thesaddestpanda: psych shit is weird and i don't understand it.

cyclicmisfortune: Pretty sure I'm not crazy.

vinylscratch: i'm coming to check on you, okay? don't do anything stupid.

cyclicmisfortune: GG, don't.

cyclicmisfortune: I locked the door, okay, just don't.

cyclicmisfortune: You know how Dad gets.

vinylscratch: c'mon. you're probably half asleep. and not a bug.

vinylscratch: let me in, okay?

weedbong69: ive seen enough hentai to know where this is going

thesaddestpanda: stop being a dick, cory. this is serious.

thesaddestpanda: gregor's gone crazy.

thesaddestpanda: you two okay?

thesaddestpanda: hellooooooooooo, anyone here?

vinylscratch: hE WASN't KIDDING, I'M

cyclicmisfortune: Told you. >:P

weedbong69: pics or it didnt happen

thesaddestpanda: holy shit what

thesaddestpanda: youre kidding, right???

cyclicmisfortune: I'd take a selfie, but it's kind of hard to without hands.

thesaddestpanda: how do you guys believe any of this are you all insane

[ - vinylscratch has sent GREGOR.PNG - ]

thesaddestpanda: how are you even typing dude omg

thesaddestpanda: how are you even alive right now

vinylscratch: he's. got the phone on the floor. and he's hunt-and-pecking at it.

cyclicmisfortune: I can