Bring the Thunder

"Bring the Thunder" is a Lovecraftian black comedy short story by U.K.-based author Chris Lynch, first published in his linked horror collection Welcome to Neverbury in June 2023.
==Synopsis==
When paramedic Danielle arrives at the scene of a suspected heart attack, she attempts to use a defibrillator on the dying man. As she activates the paddles, time halts and an all-but-forgotten thunder god named Taranis appears to her. Taranis informs Danielle that the victim is in fact a disloyal high priest of his who is being punished for his crimes. Furthermore, he informs the medic that, should she wish to save the man, she must become his new high priest as payment.
Danielle, by now somewhat annoyed with Taranis, requests that her own god give her an audience. To Taranis' horror, the sky opens up and something tentacled - and far older than the petty thunder god - descends from the heavens to consume him.
==Behind the Mythos==
"Bring the Thunder" was written as part of an online writing challenge which gave story prompts from H. P. Lovecraft's Commonplace Book. This, combined with Danielle's description of her god - who is never named - as being "rather well-known, in a sense, although most people think it’s just a story … my god has really become quite popular. Books, films, t-shirts. even stuffed toys" may suggest Lynch's intent that this entity be taken by the reader to be Cthulhu.
Category:Chris Lynch works
Category:Mythos-Inspired Works