A young woman is driven to madness by the recurring appearance of a hospital gown that first traumatized her as a child.

“The Gown” is a chilling example of how a seemingly innocuous event can tragically erode the psyche of a sensitive child.

This disturbing short story follows a nameless girl as she attempts to make a normal life for herself while struggling to escape the debilitating fear that preys upon her in her most vulnerable moments. But is this fear borne of the rational awareness of a sentient evil, or merely the terrifying echo of a misperceived experience? Is the titular gown the source of madness, or the manifestation of it?

“The Gown” continues Emilie Autumn’s exploration of the nature of reality, the disintegration of identity, and the horrific effects of misplaced shame.

• The main character goes home after a long day and turns on "Dead is the New Alive."

• "The next morning, to take my mind off the outfit, and Charlotte's upcoming party, I went for a furious swim at the local pool, powered by my underwater headphones, playing Emilie Autumn on repeat..." 

• Emilie is the main character's favorite violinist.

• “The tapping of an unseen conductor’s baton echoed from the speakers, catching the attention of those patrons who had learned to ignore Kitty’s posturing in favor of sucking down cocktails while they waited for the floorshow to begin. Then Emilie Autumn’s “I Know Where You Sleep” blasted out, and we started to dance.”

• Mentioned as a reference to how modern-day people view leeches. See mention quoted here.