THE BLUE MIST

MY NEXT VICTIM THIS HALLOWEEN!

IS SHANNON LAWRENCE

Thanks, Shannon, for agreeing to be part of the fun.

Without further delay presenting Shannon'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 13^th. 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’d go with Freddy. What could be more powerful than invading someone’s dreams? You can’t fight sleep forever. 1, 2, Freddy’s coming for you…

      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?

Let’s see. My family doesn’t believe me? They should know better by now. ;) I’d encourage them to come up to the mountains with me “for vacation.” I’d have to pack, of course. They wouldn’t understand why there were weapons, wood, nails, and hand tools in addition to the food, water, and first aid items. We’d need to be able to defend ourselves and cover up those doors and windows.

     3. Because of the time of your birth, (see the 1^st 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?

Harm against the defenseless. The young, the elderly, the disabled. I hate harm coming to anyone (except the Big Bads, of course), but especially those who are least able to protect themselves.

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

I’ve always loved Halloween. Part of it is my love of the fall. The crisp, cool air, fall leaves, pumpkins. Plus, I love the night. I’m an insomniac, and this is the one time of year where people wait until night time to go out and celebrate something. That means, just for that one day, everyone’s on my schedule instead of expecting me to be on theirs. It’s also not a holiday that demands you go out and buy gifts for someone, and it’s far less stressful than the hoopla around Christmas. Halloween is all about fun, and the energy that surrounds it is infectious.

Then you have the extras. Horror programming on TV, movie releases. It’s the only time of year everyone enjoys the dark and scary alongside me.

Also, chocolate…

     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 another lover of the horror genre, the person to be announced later. The winner will be posted no later than a week after 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 . . .

The witch’s abode smelled of rot, with a hint of wild onion and mint. Jerry stepped carefully over the ivy on the steps, one cool, slick tendril gripping his ankle before pulling free. He pushed open the sagging door, surprised at the lack of a rusty creak.

“Izabetta?” he called.

“Enter.”

Shaking his head at the dramatic voice, he shut the door behind him and walked down the hallway, taking in the polished wood and immaculate condition of the inside of the house. No one trying to peer through the intentionally filthy glass panes out front would ever guess the inside looked so nice.

He found her standing at the stove, her honey blond hair curling down her back. She wore jeans and a black t-shirt, hips swaying to the sounds of jazz drifting out of a small radio on the counter.

“Have you begun the spell?” he asked.

“Doing it right now.”

He looked around. “I don’t see a cauldron.”

She whirled to look at him. “Are you kidding me?”

“No. I don’t know witch rules. I’m a fantasy geek.” He pointed to his Lord of the Rings shirt. “Aren’t all spells done in a cauldron?”

She turned back to the stove and stirred something in a pot for a moment before asking, “How long have we known each other?”

“I imagine you’re going to say ‘long enough’.”

“Right. I’m not some wicked witch out of a movie. There are no cauldrons. I’ve got an orange tom cat with a torn ear, not a touch of black on him.” The microwave beeped, and she went over to it, removing a blue plastic container with steam rising from it. “Oh, and I don’t have any warts.”

Jerry wrinkled his nose at the stench coming from the container. “What’s in that?”

“Oh, you know, a little eye of newt, toe of wolf, yadda, yadda.” She waltzed to the stove, pouring the contents of the microwaved container into the pot. A puff of smoke wafted up then sucked back down into it.

“I can tell you’re kidding.”

She shot him a look over her shoulder, wiggled her hips one more time, and reached into her pocket, pulling out a tiny plastic packet. He watched as she tilted it over her hand and dumped something into it. He couldn’t see anything, but she held it up to her nose, took a deep breath, then opened her hand over the pot.

Instantly, the viscous liquid in the pot began to bubble. Steam filled the room. Jerry coughed as the thickened air crawled into his throat and tickled his lungs. When it cleared, the pot was empty.

“What now?” he asked.

“Now? We wait for them to rise. This is a Halloween this town will never forget.”

Outside, a rumbling began. The house shook. A loud crack sounded, and Jerry nearly lost his footing.

A fat orange tom cat entered the room, strode over to Izabetta, and wrapped itself through her legs. She reached down to pick him up. Straightening, she looked at Jerry.

“You’re first,” she said with a smile.

“I’m wha--?”

Something grabbed him from behind with an icy cold grip. He could feel his skin tearing where it held. Pain filled his head, as if his insides were being sucked through his ears. Tunnel vision narrowed his sight.

Izabetta sauntered up to him, watching as he tried to fight back. 

“One soul to lead them all,” she said. “I figure you of all people can appreciate that.”

Nothing like dying to a bad pun, he thought, as everything went black.

*****
So cool, Shannon!

Poor Jerry's had another bad day! :)

Thank you so much for participating!

Now to introduce

THE BLUE MIST!

Comment and win a copy of Shannon's book!
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Shannon has a story The Blue Mist
in THE DEEP DARK WOODS anthology
to be released this October.

In the Deep Dark Woods...fear abounds. It may be creatures that only you can see, or the fevered imagination of your nightmares. Perhaps these monsters are the ones that bite and claw, or the ones that come out of the grave.  No matter what, when you go walking in the woods at night...

You may not make it back out. 

I have a short story in the collection: The Blue Mist

Website for The Deep, Dark Woods: 

                http://www.christinaescamilla.com/

Shannon's is a fan of all things fantastical and frightening, Shannon Lawrence writes in her dungeon when her minions allow, often accompanied by her familiar, Cleo. She writes primarily horror and fantasy. Her stories can be found in several anthologies and magazines, including Under the Bed,Sanitarium, and the upcoming anthology, The Deep Dark Woods. 

When she's not writing, she's hiking through the wilds of Colorado and photographing her magnificent surroundings. Though she often misses the ocean, the majestic and rugged Rockies are a sight she could never part with. Besides, in Colorado there's always a place to hide a body or birth a monster. What more could she ask for?

Find Shannon at www.thewarriormuse.com.

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Have you signed up for the WEP Flash Fiction Challenge

Sign-ups are open!

Youthful Frights vs. Adult Fears

What's your scary story?

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CONGRATULATIONS

ALEX J CAVANAUGH

YOU'VE WON A COPY OF

THE DEEP DARK WOODS!