I've never come across a good Lovecraft pastiche, either.
I asked ChatGPT-4, as one does, to write a story in the style of Lovecraft. This is the result:
The Thing in the Cellar
I had always been fascinated by the old house on the hill, the one that belonged to my great-uncle Arthur. He was a reclusive scholar who had devoted his life to studying ancient and occult lore, and he had amassed a vast collection of books and artifacts in his basement. He had died mysteriously a few years ago, leaving the house to me in his will. I had never met him, but I felt a strange connection to him, as if we shared a secret bond.
I decided to visit the house one day, hoping to explore its secrets and perhaps learn more about my ancestor. I drove up the winding road that led to the house, feeling a chill in the air as I approached the imposing structure. The house was old and decrepit, with boarded-up windows and a sagging roof. It looked like it had not been inhabited for decades, and I wondered what horrors lurked within its walls.
I parked my car in front of the house and got out, carrying a flashlight and a crowbar. I walked up to the front door and tried to open it, but it was locked. I used the crowbar to pry it open, and entered the dark and dusty foyer. I felt a wave of uneasiness wash over me, as if I was trespassing on forbidden ground. I shook off the feeling and proceeded to explore the house, looking for the entrance to the basement.
I found it in the kitchen, behind a wooden door that had a large padlock on it. I smashed the lock with the crowbar and opened the door, revealing a narrow staircase that descended into the darkness. I turned on my flashlight and began to descend, feeling a growing sense of dread as I went deeper into the house. I reached the bottom of the stairs and saw a large metal door that had a sign on it that read: "Do not enter. Danger."
I ignored the warning and opened the door, curious to see what my great-uncle had hidden in his cellar. I stepped into a large room that was filled with shelves and cabinets that contained books, scrolls, manuscripts, and various objects of unknown origin and purpose. I was amazed by the sight, and felt a surge of excitement as I realized that I had stumbled upon a treasure trove of arcane knowledge. I walked around the room, examining the items with awe and wonder.
I came across a book that caught my eye. It was bound in black leather and had a title that read: "Necronomicon." I had heard of this book before, as it was reputed to be the most evil and powerful book ever written, containing the secrets of the cosmos and the ancient gods that dwelled beyond the stars. I felt a strange attraction to the book, and decided to open it and read a few pages.
I opened the book and saw that it was written in a strange and incomprehensible language, full of symbols and diagrams that made no sense to me. I tried to decipher the meaning of the text, but it only gave me a headache. I was about to close the book and put it back, when I noticed a bookmark that marked a page near the end of the book. I turned to the page and saw that it had a title that read: "The Ritual of the Gate."
I read the page and saw that it described a ritual that could open a portal to another dimension, where the ancient gods awaited. It said that the ritual required a human sacrifice, and that the blood of the victim would activate the gate. It also said that the ritual had to be performed at a certain time and place, and that the stars had to be aligned in a certain way. It said that the next opportunity to perform the ritual would be tonight, at midnight, in the cellar of this house.
I felt a chill run down my spine as I realized that my great-uncle had planned to perform this ritual, and that he had probably killed himself as the sacrifice. I wondered what he had hoped to achieve by doing this, and what he had seen beyond the gate. I also wondered if the gate was still open, and if something had come through.
I looked around the room and saw that there was a large circle drawn on the floor, with candles and symbols around it. I realized that this was the gate, and that it was still active. I felt a sudden urge to step into the circle and see what lay beyond, but I also felt a primal fear that warned me not to do it. I was torn between curiosity and terror, and I did not know what to do.
I decided to leave the room and get out of the house, before I did something I would regret. I turned to the door and walked towards it, but as I did, I heard a sound that made me freeze in horror. It was a low and guttural growl, coming from behind me. I turned around and saw a thing that defied description. It was a mass of tentacles, eyes, mouths, and claws, that writhed and twisted in the air. It was the thing that had come through the gate, and it was hungry.
I screamed and ran to the door, but it was too late. The thing lunged at me and grabbed me with its tentacles, pulling me towards its mouths. I felt its teeth and fangs tear into my flesh, and its eyes bore into my soul. I felt a pain that was beyond anything I had ever experienced, and a terror that was beyond anything I had ever imagined. I knew that I was going to die, and that I would be devoured by this abomination.
As I felt my life slip away, I had one last thought. I wished that I had never come to this house, and that I had never opened that book. I wished that I had never learned the truth about my great-uncle, and the thing in the cellar.