Break the Cycle. Break the Chains!

In the shadow of World War II, fear and prejudice grips at the heart of America. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, a wave of suspicion washes over the nation, and in 1942, Eric Rossi, alongside a group of island men—deemed threats due to their ancestry—are forcibly relocated to a desolate base in West Texas. Stripped of their homes and freedom, they arrive at Fort Bliss, set with the grueling task of building their own prison.

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Chained together at the ankle, Eric and four other men referred to as “columnists,” struggle against the harsh desert heat, savage working conditions, and the ruthless realities of an unknowing future. As they strive to maintain their sanity, they develop a camaraderie through shared pasts, and a whimsicle melody whistled day in and day out.

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When an unfortunate accident displaces the chained gang, they soon realize their shackled existence isn’t the only horror dwelling in the vast desert before them. Another predator stalks the camp, and survival may require more than their combined strength and wits. These so-called columnists will need a warrior’s song of their own to face what death has in store for them.

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The 5th Columnist shares the struggle of Italian, German, and Japanese Americans caught in a dark part of American history. Though this story is work of fiction, the truth is equally as disturbing.

Q&A

Q) What drew you to set a horror story within the real historical context of a WWII internment camp, particularly at Fort Bliss?

A) For one, I'm from the El Paso, Texas area, so the idea of playing in my own backyard sounded amazing! Originally, I wanted the story to take place in Texas, though my sights were set on other possible locations, as the concept of the "chain gang" was an important piece. The more I researched, the more I learned about the POW encampment built on Fort Bliss, the traumatic experience this must've been, and how actual American citizens were kept there out of this "columnist" fear spreading throughout the country.

Q) How important was it for you to weave a supernatural horror element into a setting that already carries such profound historical weight and real-world suffering?

A) The truth is this story could've been equally horrifying without the use of fictional evil. There was plenty of "Real" evil happening, and the underlying theme of history repeating itself, is still present today. The story I wanted to tell involved an evil, and in doing so, created a villain to rally against, when in truth, they're nothing more than fictional creation of our reflection. The real demons are the fear we let control ourselves, and others... but in the end, we're all one people. I hope this story reminds us of that.

Q) The "whistle" and "Japanese folklore" play a crucial role. Can you discuss how you integrated these elements to create a distinct and terrifying supernatural threat?

A) This entire story started from an urge to create a concept around the ability to "whistle." I'm not joking when I say that I clocked in a healthy amount of steps on my watch, walking back and forth, trying to find a way to use whistling as the main component in an idea. The lightbulb moment happened when I thought of the ways people using whistling or whistles, and the pitches they can produce. I thought about dog whistles, with a pitch so high we can't hear it, but drives dogs wild. That's when I asked, "What if there was pitch inaudible to humans, but drives something darker crazy..." That's when I researched whistling used over generations, and discovered Japanese folklore in reference to it, and this sparked the connection to WWII and how I could weave it altogether with columnist propoganda.

Q) Eric, Ren, Randall, and Frank form a compelling core group. Which character's journey was most challenging or rewarding to write, and why?

A) Originally I planned to write in the perspective of Ren, as he is the budding hero with the generational skills. But the theme here is about being conscious about our past and learning from our transgressions to become better people, so I realized this needed to come from another source. That's when Eric took shape and I found his voice a joy to speak through. He would be the one to witness and grow alongside his mates, and tell the tale that is both a warning and a hopeful note. I must admit, I loved writing the protagonist’s POV too.