MY NEXT VICTIM THIS HALLOWEEN
IS CATHRINA CONSTANTINE!
Thanks, Cathrina, for agreeing to be part of
the fun.
Presenting Cathrina'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!
Call me
Crista, a cute name for a wicked witch. I like being in control of those around
me, and my potent incantations radiate from the pits of hell. I demand to be
pampered and seduced by those of my choosing. It’s fun to watch as boys and
even girls bend to my every desire. But once, Dredal tried to take what was
mine. Poor Dredal.
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?
Even though
me family doesn’t believe me, I love them and can’t leave them behind. They
argue, but I convince them it’s only for two days. Think of it as a mini
vacation, hahahaa. And to pacify my insanity, they agree and we pack up the SUV
with life saving supplies, food, water, guns, and ammo to last for 48 hours.
Then we hightail it up to the remote section of the Adirondack Mountains.
Hopefully away from deadly seeking Zombies. We barricade ourselves into a safe
house for the long haul. We make a pact. If one of use is turned, we know what
we must do. Will we live through the Apocalypse? Who knows for sure. But we’ll
live and die together.
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?
Hatred.
Being the most evil of witches, and seeking repentance, the angels have allowed
me to cast a Unity Spell of Love and Peace. If hatred is banished from the
world, I believe people may actually live in somewhat harmony.
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 love
Halloween and all its scariness. Not precisely the bloody knife in my gut kind
of gore, but suspense and spooky tales. I’d be awesome to witness a paranormal
event, as long as I didn’t have a heart attack in the process.
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 oozed ghastly spells. Seeping through the cracks and crevices of the
weathered planks and windows. Jerry walked through the mist and breathed in
evil like a tantalizing spice.
His every nerve ending fed on the despicable incantations,
filling him with power. Jerry turned to look at the innocent road where
families struggled to get their sugar-high monsters into bed. Again, his mouth
tweaked in an untoward grin. Little did they fathom what was coming to devour
them. Although, not their souls. Souls
must be freely given.
Jerry inhaled the mists fragrance to determine what was
expected of him. His body shuddered in
anticipation, for the night had just begun. He mutely chuckled deciphering the
intricate spells. Estelle, Crista, and Bettina planned on binding Desperation
Holler: To pluck out naive children’s spirits to keep them young and immortal.
“Knock, knock. I’m here.” Jerry stood outside the door. He
heard shuffling and gasps. “My lovely ladies. Please invite me in.”
“We don’t need your help this year. Go away.” He recognized
Estelle’s voice.
“Estelle, dearest. It’s been centuries. I miss are little
scuffles.”
Silence.
The door whipped open and Jerry was immediately speared in the
chest. His hands wrapped around the lance as the witches dragged him inside.
“We were expecting you.” Cackled Estelle. “Don’t fight the
potion that just entered your blood stream. Soon you’ll be all mine.”
“Not fair, Estelle,” said Bettina with disdain. “He’ll be all ours.”
“Very clever.” He gritted his teeth trying to pull out the
cumbersome lance. On the floor laid skeletal remains, withered and grizzled.
The clothes clearly made them teenager. “I see you’ve already started. And
without me.”
“Be a good boy, Jerry, and we’ll leave you a little treat,”
Crista said. The provocative witch with flowing red hair drew new. She latched
onto his blood spewed lips. “Mmmm…you taste divine.” Her tongue lapped over his
mouth, rinsing the blood.
“These teenagers came knocking, looking for a trick or treat.
We gave them both.” Estelle chortled. “But it’s not enough to keep us in the
lifestyle we’re accustomed to. You’ve been stingy, Jerry. Not letting us stay
and play. This Hallows Eve, we’re prepared.”
Jerry’s knees buckled to the floor.
“Soon the children on Desperation Holler will be walking
through that door and we’ll have a feast,” Estelle said over her shoulder as
she scuttled to a bubbling cauldron. “One final ingredient is needed. Jerry’s
head.” The witches each stirred the boiling pot while chanting. “Who wants to
do the honor?”
“Me, me!” Crista jumped up and down like an exited child.
“I’m the oldest,” Bettina said. “Besides, it’s my turn.”
Crista’s bottom lip turned down into a pout.
“Why don’t you both indulge,” Estelle said, a nefarious smile
carved into her face.
Bettina and Crista walked to the back of the cabin and grabbed
a sickle, used for harvesting wheat in days gone by.
“Isn’t it ironic,” Estelle said, “the grim reaper will get
beheaded by his own sickle.” They snickered.
“Thank you girls. I’ve been looking for that,” he said,
dripping with sarcasm.
“Such a waste of man flesh,” Crista said, hauling the heavy
blade. “This weighs a ton.”
“It will take the three of you to swing it.” Jerry looked up
to where Estelle seemed intent to watch the furling charms flow out the
windows. Blood laced his hands and again painted his lips. He didn’t know how
much longer he could stay in this human condition.
The three witches toted his sickle and hewed it towards his
head. The blade spliced through his neck in one ugly stroke.
But his head remained intact.
“What kind of farce is this?” Crista spat.
Suddenly the lance melted from Jerry’s chest, he straightened
with a shit-eating grin. “Ladies, it’s always a pleasure. Thank you for letting
me feed off your wickedness. See you in hell.”
He raised his arms and the cabin exploded to smithereens.
*****
Thank you for your participation, Cathrina!
Thank you for your participation, Cathrina!
Love your answers and your flash was amazing.
Once again, Jerry had the last word.
Readers one comment could win YOU a copy of
DON'T FORGET TO BREATHE!
Blurb:
Sixteen-year-old Leocadia arrives home from school to find
her mom's body. Unaware that the killer still lingers, she rushes to her
mother's side, only to be grabbed from behind and then everything fades to
black.
After a year of retrograde amnesia and battling personal
demons, Leo's dreams are getting worse--she's starting to remember. More bodies
are discovered and they seem to be oddly linked to her mom's unsolved homicide.
When Leo allows her friend, Henry to drag her into the
haunted Lucien Mansion, misty ghosts appear, ghosts that just might lead to her
mother's murderer.
Will
Leo let her memories threaten her into a relapse or, will she fight to find her
mother's killer - only to become his next victim?
*****
Cathrina
Constantine resides in Western New York with her husband, five children, two
Labrador Retrievers and two cats. When not with her family, reading, or
stationed at the computer, you will find her walking in the backwoods with her
dogs, conjuring up a new tale.
You
can find Constantine here:
Amazon Authors Page: http://www.amazon.com/Cathrina-Constantine/e/B00EPENYGE/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1415978225&sr=8-1
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cathconstantine
*****
CONGRATULATIONS!
MADILYN QUINN
YOU'VE JUST WON A COPY OF
DON'T FORGET TO BREATHE!
CONGRATULATIONS!
MADILYN QUINN
YOU'VE JUST WON A COPY OF
DON'T FORGET TO BREATHE!
*****
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