Monday, October 5, 2015

OF BLOOD & SORROW

MY SECOND VICTIM THIS HALLOWEEN is


And it's her birthday!

Happy Birthday, Christine!



Thanks for agreeing to be part of the fun.

Without further ado here is Christine's


Halloween Interview & Flash Fiction Challenge

1.      You're born on Halloween and have the ghostly evil super powers of one of the following: The Ghost from Poltergeist, The Frankenstein Monster, The Mummy, The most Evil of Witches, The Devil himself, Freddy Kruger, Pumpkin Head, Michael from Halloween, or Jason from Friday the 13th. Alternatively, if you prefer, pick one of your own. Otherwise, tell us which one you would choose and why? No friendly ghosts allowed! You're to wreak havoc in this scenario!

I would have the powers of the most evil of witches. I have the bump in my nose and the mole. I should get the powers to go along with it! Witches look just like the every day person. I'd blend in and none would suspect a timid woman of such awesomely wicked deeds!


2.    The Zombie Apocalypse is going to occur this Halloween and for 48 hours, the world is thrown into chaos. Live through it and consider yourself lucky, you've been warned. What is your first step, especially as no one else knows or believes you? Do you leave family behind and seek shelter to ride it out, or do you try to save your family? How and why?

I would save my family, of course. I must have a child to pass on my awesome witchy powers to! Real zombies are slow and I have a strong stomach. Chop, chop, chop! I'd find us a secure place with lots of food stuff to hold up like a school cafeteria. The most frightening part of this question is that I have thought about it before and made a plan!

3.    Because of the time of your birth, (see the 1st question) the angels have decided to forgive your sins and are offering to remedy one evil that now exists in the world, but only one! Which would you choose and why?

I don't know if this counts as one, but I'm making it one because the angels won't argue with me about it: crimes against children. No person may ever commit any horrible act upon a child ever again. How much better would our world be if our children were truly cared for and safe? Then imagine those children growing up and what wonderful things they would do without the weight of childhood horrors upon them.

4.    Why is Halloween your favorite holiday, or not your favorite, and if it isn't why did you participate in this query? Come on; tell us your biggest most secret Halloween fantasy!

Halloween is absolutely my favorite holiday. I love dressing up, and even more so, I love seeing other people in costume. The one day of the year where we can haunt our neighbors and run alongside our supernatural friends in the dark. My biggest Halloween fantasy is to have my whole family wear themed costumes. But too bad my husband has no interest. He's the Scrooge of Halloween! Can I zap him with my witchy powers?

  Now the fun part: Finish the story. I've given you the first 100 words. Provide us with the rest, but please hold the number to 750 words or less. The winner will receive a $10 Amazon gift card. The contest will be judged by author, Nancy Lynn Jarvis. The winner will be posted on Halloween!


DESPERATION HOLLER

Jerry sauntered along Desperation Holler Road that earlier echoed with the excited shouts of ghosts and ghouls as the children scrambled from house to house in colorful and frightening costumes.
Dusk dissolved into the blackest of nights as the little monsters disappeared into the shelter of the brightly lit houses with their chocolate goodies.
Jerry smiled, even suppressed laughter, because he knew there was no refuge, not in Desperation Holler on this most evil of Halloweens.
Concealed by the dark limbs of deformed trees and invasive ivy, the innocuous little cabin looked abandoned, but Jerry knew better. 
The witches' abode . . . never changing. The roof sagged as if a giant had sat upon it and fetid fungus grew between the poorly stacked logs. Home.
Jerry pushed open the front door and strode in. “Hello Mom! I'm back.”
A tiny flame flickered in the darkness followed by a dozen more. A squat woman with tangled red hair and a long dress made of skins rushed forward. She hugged him around the middle. “My boy! So happy you came. So happy... What happened? You looked wretched. Too clean.”
Chuckling, Jerry gave his mother a squeeze and gestured to his clothes. “What these? Clothes of the mundanes. Thought I'd dress up as one of them tonight.”
His mother cackled and a raspier laugh joined in. A second woman shuffled out of the shadows to embrace Jerry. “You always make me laugh, darling. We miss you.”
“Nana.” Jerry hugged her and swung her around like a child. Her frizzy white hair tickled his chin. “I miss you too. But there is so much misery to make in the world. This town is too small for me.”
“Not tonight, though, eh?” Nana coughed and flicked her hand to the great stone fireplace. A roaring fire ignited, heating the contents of the cauldron. The witches hurried to gather ingredients from a nearby table.
“I couldn't miss tonight. Not this Halloween.” Jerry rubbed his hands together and knelt before the fire. All those children thinking the monsters were just make-believe. Tonight they would learn otherwise.
“We counted on it.” His mother raised a cast iron pan and smashed it down upon Jerry's head. A sickening crunch was followed by a meaty thud as he toppled over to the floor. She nudged him with her toe to make certain he was dead. “He's too clean.”
“Don't matter. Rub some grave soil and spider venom on him if you want. It'll be all the same when we cut him up and put him in the pot.” Nana handed her daughter a butcher knife. “Our desperate soul.”
“So desperate to wreak evil, to please us, and yet never quite making it. I blame his father. He tasted too much like chicken.” Jerry's mother sighed. “At least he's good for something. Tonight his soul will release the fiends that will bring living nightmares to Desperation Holler.”
“Stop yakking and start cutting.”  
*****
CHECK OUT CHRISTINE'S LATEST!

Blurb:
Erin Driscol works the perfect job consoling fellow demons by feeding off their grief at Putzkammer & Sons Funeral Home.

When fledgling vampire Nicolas Reese comes to Erin for help, she learns the truth behind the legends and hides him from his sire and the vampire hunters who seek him. But when the Putzkammers begin to die one by one, Erin is caught between her act of kindness and the need to save her adopted family. Only by facing her own personal demons can she stop the slaughter and still rescue Nicolas from his dark fate. 
*****
Christine is a writer, geek mom, and ghost hunter wannabe. She grew up in a tiny, creaky house beside a cemetery. She spent her days playing amongst the gravestones and battling the closet monster at night. When her little monster is in school, she hides in her cave writing. She's a proud member of Untethered Realms and S.C.I.F.I. She has one novel and several novellas and short stories published. Find out more about Christine at http://christinerains.net/


THANKS, CHRISTINE!
Excellent answers and what a
great flash - Poor Jerry!

Help Christine celebrate her birthday, 
leave a birthday comment
and you could win a copy of 
Of Blood & Sorrow!

*****

Just curious, have you signed up for the 
Youthful Frights vs Adult Fears
Why not - you'll miss all fun!







CONGRATULATIONS!
SHANNON LAWRENCE
YOU'VE WON A COPY
OF BLOOD & SORROW!


32 comments:

The Happy Whisk said...

Happy Birthday to the Geek Mom and ghost hunter wannabe.

PS: Until just now, I never knew that wannabe was one word. Cool beaners.

Shannon Lawrence said...

Happy Birthday! Great finish to the story. It's going to be fun reading all the different ways everyone finishes!

Pat Hatt said...

Are you sure you'd want the food in a school cafeteria? May die from eating that lol Happy Birthday!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Happy birthday, Christine!!
You have planned out your zombie apocalypse survival well.

dolorah said...

That story was awesome Christine. Exactly my kind of terror. I'm sure I'd love the book too. Happy Birthday. I think being a full blown evil witch would be awesome. I love zombies, but wouldn't want to be one. Might have one as a pet, a sort of guard dog, eh?

klahanie said...

Hey Yolanda and Christine,

Firstly, a happy birthday to the lovely Christine. I shall duly take the usual liberty of sharing your post, Yolanda. Such a great read here.

"I would have the powers of the most evil of witches." Ahem, you'd have some competition with my ex wife! Did I really type that? :)

I'm going now....

Gary

Stephen Tremp said...

And I saw on Facebook it's Christie's birthday. Happy birthday Christine.

Jo said...

Mommy Dearest perhaps?

L. Diane Wolfe said...

He shouldn't have gone home.

Happy belated birthday, Christine.

Christine Rains said...

Thanks so much for having me here, Yolanda! This was so much fun. :) And thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes.

cleemckenzie said...

All of those powers AND a wart? My goodness. Hope you had a splendid birthday celebration.

Chrys Fey said...

Happy Birthday, Christine!!!!! So far there's been quite a few blogger birthdays this month. :)

Halloween is my favorite time of the year too. I'm going my first Halloween this year. No theme, but next year I will have a theme and everyone had to dress up as the theme. I can't wait! :D

Heather R. Holden said...

Fun interview! Loving all your answers, Christine. (Especially the one about crimes against children. If only it were that easy to eradicate!) Halloween has always been my favorite holiday, too. Such a shame your husband is such a scrooge about it!

Michelle Wallace said...

I know that I'm rather late to this party...
What a fun interview!
I'd never be able to suspect a timid woman like Christine, capable of such awesomely wicked deeds - that's SO true! LOL

Cathrina Constantine said...

Eeeek...what a scary story Christine!!!! Great Interview Ladies!

Christine Rains said...

Thank you! I was surprised when I learned that too. Hehehe!

Christine Rains said...

Thanks, Shannon, and congratulations! :) I can't wait to read everyone's stories too.

Christine Rains said...

Thanks, Pat! Yes, I know I'm taking a risk, but I know no one else would dare it!

Christine Rains said...

Thank you, Alex. Yup, just as long as they're slow zombies. I'm not a runner!

Christine Rains said...

Thank you! That's an excellent idea to have a zombie guard dog. :)

Christine Rains said...

Thank you, Gary! And yes, you typed that. Hehehe!

Christine Rains said...

Thanks, Stephen!

Christine Rains said...

Most definitely! :)

Christine Rains said...

Not at all! :) Thanks, Diane.

Christine Rains said...

Thanks so much, Lee! :)

Christine Rains said...

Thank you, Chrys! I love the pictures you posted on FB.

Christine Rains said...

Thanks, Heather! If only, I know. Maybe I should get my husband to dress as Scrooge... nope, he wouldn't go for it. =P

Christine Rains said...

BWUHAHAHAHA!! All part of my plan. :)

Christine Rains said...

Thank you, Cathrina!

Yolanda Renée said...

This was truly a blast! Thank you for participating and answering comments! So lovely and kind! Glad you had a great birthday week! And yes, next year we'll do this again!

Nicola said...

Super scary story, Christine. Thanks for that - luckily I am reading it on a Monday morning so my mind won't play 'dark' tricks :) Belated Happy Birthday!! Hope you had a lovely day.

Christine Rains said...

Thanks so much, Nicola! :)