Showing posts with label Halloween Challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Halloween Challenge. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

WEP - The Scream

 

Lucky 13

The day I turned thirteen

I discovered a witch's abode

hidden deep in the woods

abandoned under the overgrowth,

a little hut, just an old shack

but finding a door

a warm fire and more

it was a blessing for a young girl

needing rescue

I found an old book

and gave it a look

opened the page and

read the oddest verse,

I laughed at the absurdity

but read with intent

"simply voice these words

and see your wish true"

the years passed

memories faded

until one night

his love turned cruel

his abuse grew

I didn't know what to do

on Halloween night,

it came to a head

he laughed himself silly

as he threatened to kill me

I fell to my knees

and said with hands folded,

those silly words,

I'd once read

in that magic book

forgive me, dear, 

no menace intended

I only wish

that you are blessed

with your own intent,

he laughed again

and raised the knife

the walls shook, 

and the floors clattered

then with a torrent

came hundreds of creatures abhorrent,

a foot in length, 

with multiple legs

they moved with intent

toward the threat

he screamed bloody murder

and tried to fight

but they covered him fully

then in a wisp of white vapor,

he and they 

were all gone

and to this day

I've heard not a word

my bruises have healed

and my heart too

that shack in the woods

is now my home

            The Magic Den

is where I cast spells,

and grant wishes

 my new stock in trade

so if you need aid,

 don't be afraid

just open the book

    the right spell will appear

       for the dark arts know

          the one you fear!

***

Tagline: 13 can be a very lucky number.

Yolanda Renée (C) 2021

****

Photo's by

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

Photo by Jessica Fadel on Unsplash

Photo by Jonathan Kemper on Unsplash



Thursday, September 30, 2021

A Zombie Dance

 

Photo by Alonso Reyes on Unsplash

Zombie Dance

The dead walk the Earth

Halloween night

ghouls and zombies,

all corpses,

invited to delight

for nothing frightens

more than a

dead dance party

dangling skin

open wounds,

empty eye sockets,

blood and gore

come on

must we say more

dance, they all do

but only after

making a meal of you!

Yolanda Renée  (C) 2021

***

Are you ready for WEP's

October

Challenge Flash?


HAPPY HALLOWEEN!





Monday, August 31, 2020

Romance & Death - A Halloween Challenge


It's Time!

This year there will be a Blue Moon on
 October 31, 2020, at 12:49 AM.
How cool is that?
Halloween night will be even more special because of it!
Are you ready for all the flash fiction challenges?
To help inspire you, 
I’ve written a short called Blood Moon.
This is the first installment titled
Romance & Death

Enjoy!
Photo by Altınay Dinç on Unsplash


Romance & Death

I loved a full moon, but it always felt as though I were in the wrong place to get the best picture. No matter what I tried, they all lacked the wow factor. So I traveled to the mountains—a place where there would be no inference from the city lights. Just an open sky, hopefully, filled with that lovely, mysterious moon.
        Do you see that picture? It’s mine. I took it that night. Too bad it’s the only thing that my family has to remember me by. An award-winning photograph found in the camera I left behind when he took my life.
        Heed my warning friends. Don’t trust a stranger. Especially one you’ve only dated a few times. A sweet talker who promises you the moon but only delivers death. He told me his cabin in the woods had the perfect view of the sky. What he forgot to inform me of was that it was also a place for torture and death.
          Romance and death, good bedfellows? Nothing of the kind. Date night in the mountains was where I met my end a walk on the side of evil.
        Believe me, the perfect picture isn’t worth your life.

To be continued…


Join me next Monday when


I’ll publish the second installment of 
Blood Moon!

Have I enticed you?
Is your writing muse tingling?
Then join the WEP in October for
the Halloween Challenge!


A Grave Mistake, you ask?
Well, what in the hell is that?
Well, dear friend
It’s the next WEP task.
And believe me
there’s many away
Where errors take sway
Where ghosts and ghoulies will play
and many unorthodox ideas
 rue the day.
So, get out your pens and pads.
We’ve given you
A dare for your best scare
Because Halloween is for all
And who knows?
You may take
first prize for your Grave Mistake!

Write...Edit...Publish




It's too early you say?
I don't agree, not today.
We all need a distraction.
And when it's time to take action.
for this special challenge.
You begin early.
Because if you lose out
you'll surely be surly.



Wednesday, October 28, 2015

DEAD GIRL RUNNING

MY LAST VICTIM THIS HALLOWEEN!
author of
the DEAD GIRL SERIES

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


Presenting Ann'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!

To have the most fun, I'd have to choose Michael Jackson from his Thriller video. It's the only way I'll ever dance like a pro.

 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'd save my family, because I'm a mom and there's no way I'd leave them behind. I'd rather die trying. If they didn't believe me, I'd sedate them and haul their doubting a$$es out of town.

 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?

Suffering. The reasons should be obvious. And by choosing this "one," I'd really be choosing so many evils to remedy.

 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!

One year, I dressed up as Gene Simmons from Kiss. The costume was epic, which was unusual for me. Typically I had lame costumes, but this one rocked (pun intended). I used black garbage bags, a black sports bra, black netted leggings, silver duct tape (which became painful later, but I'll get to that), a black wig that was so huge I had to hand over the keys to my car because I had no peripheral vision while wearing it, and face paint. Lots and lots of face paint (which also became painful later).

The veterinary school party was held at a bowling alley and it was great fun.

Undressing afterwards was NOT fun. Hear me now and obey me later: NEVER, I do mean NEVER put duct tape on any part of your body you intend to keep. Ouch.

As for the face paint—and I bought the "good stuff" according to the store—what a gooey mess. Instead of washing off the white and black paint, my face remained coated with a grey, thick cream. And I had to work the next day. I scrubbed and scrubbed until my face was grey with red, irritated skin underneath.

So face paint is out for my Halloween fantasy. Instead, I've always wanted to be Phoebe from Friends—not only the long, blond wig, I want to talk like her, sing "Smelly Cat" like her—the whole deal.

Maybe someday, long after when dressing like her would be "cool."


      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 unless the restriction is just impossible then no more than 1000 words. 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 . . .

His sister would still be there, working her nasty trade.
He had to put an end to it. Right now. She couldn't be allowed to remain part of the family—not after she'd become one with the moon.
Her fall from grace had to be erased. But he wouldn't stop there. All the witches had to go. Every last one of them.
In the darkness, he circled the cabin, muttering to himself. The gas can grew heavy in his hand. Earlier in the day, He'd stuffed old papers and blocks of dried wood in every crack and cranny around the base of the old cabin. He knew those stupid witches wouldn't notice.
A childish giggle escaped his lips as he tipped the gas can, soaking the base of the cabin, his nose filling with vapors.
He took out a match.
"I told you I'd win big at bingo tonight," crowed a little old lady, hobbling out the front door of the cabin.
The match fell from Jerry's hands, unlit. How could this be? The old ladies from church shuffled out, one after the other.
These weren't witches. These were the same ladies who slipped him cookies, patting his head while clucking their tongues over how it was "too bad about the accident."
He stumbled under the shadow of the trees, breathing hard.
But the white haired ladies didn't see to see him. They simply prattled on about their bingo game.
"You always win, Bertha," laughed one. "You must have a lucky rabbit's foot in your purse."
Jerry gasped. He'd given Bertha that rabbit's foot. And then he'd almost burned her alive. Bile flooded into the back of his throat. He leaned over, gagging.
He had to get out of here. He stood, arms flailing as he crashed through the bushes, fallen leaves crunching under his feet as he scrambled away.
The old ladies turned to watch him leave.
One by one, they started to shimmer, their flowered blouses fluttering then replaced by black robes, their short white hair lengthening into flowing curls.
"What are you going to do about the boy?" the tallest asked, pointing at the discarded gas can.
"Yes, something must be done." Another nodded. "He's getting dangerous. He must be stopped. If you can't do it, we will."
Susan hung her head. Ever since the head injury, Jerry had changed. He used to think her tricks were wonderful, but now he hated the fact she was a witch. He hated everything about her. "No, he's my brother. I'll do it."
"Then do it soon, and be done with it," the taller one urged before melting into the night.
The rest disappeared into the darkness, except for Susan and her closest friend, Belinda.
Belinda shuddered. "What are you going to do?"
"Fight fire with fire, I suppose," Susan blinked hard as tears escaped.
She encircled the cabin, hands outstretched.
"Crawl. Devour. Consume.
Creep along these wooden rooms.
Lick the floors. Lick the walls.
Flames assemble and grow tall.
The heat will rise—a light in the dark.
Life begins and ends with a little spark."
Some distance away, Jerry smelled the smoke and turned back in disbelief.
The match. He must've forgotten about the match.
No. This couldn't happen. He rushed back the way he came, branches breaking in his wake.
He reached the cabin, engulfed in flames. He paused for only a moment before rushing inside.
His screams filled the air.
"No pain. No breath. No sensation." Susan waved her arms once more.
The screaming stopped.
Susan moved the gas can with her family's name on it to the edge of the clearing, near a tree.

"It is done," she said, walking away.
*****
Blurb:

Eight years ago, SILVIA WOOD's father died in an industrial accident. After suffering through years of Psychotherapy Services and Mandated Medications for depression and multiple suicide attempts, she longs to work in Botanical Sciences. When the Occupation Exam determines she must work in Mortuary Sciences instead, she wonders if the New Order assigned her to the morgue to push her over the edge.

To appease her disappointed mother, Silvia enters the Race for Citizen Glory, in an attempt to stand out in the crowd of Equals. After she begins training with "golden boy" LIAM HARMAN, she discovers he also lost his father in the same accident that ruined her childhood. Then Silvia meets and falls for Liam's older cousin, whose paranoid intensity makes her question what really happened to her father. As the race nears, Silvia realizes that she's not only running for glory, she's running for her life.

Author Bio:


Growing up an only child, I learned to entertain myself.  During summer vacations, my greatest form of exercise consisted of turning the pages of a book.  Now I’m all grown up, and full of stories half-written in my head.  I have to write them down so I can find out what happens next.






Where to find Ann:
Blog:  http://www.annmnoser.com
Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/AnnMNoser
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/AnnMNoser
Goodreads page:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8124757.Ann_M_Noser

*****


 WEP-Flash Fiction Challenge 

 Halloween Tales for your reading pleasure!
Today we're announcing the winners!
Congratulations!

Youthful Frights vs Adult Fears


Friday, October 23, 2015

THE WIDOW'S WALK LEAGUE

MY NEXT VICTIM THIS HALLOWEEN!



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

Drum roll for Nancy'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 use the ghost of the drunken seventeen year old who fell into the frigid Pacific when he tried to pee off a cliff near Davenport. He died on Halloween, the day the first Regan McHenry Real estate mystery was published. He lurks under the waves and drags surfers who are foolish enough to surf alone off their boards to a watery death deep in the ocean.

       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?

 Id try to save not only my family, but a group of friends. Id invite them to a Halloween party at an abandoned factory which has been carefully sealed with concrete in the windows. Once inside, Id close a massive metal door and secure it with many bolts and beams. Wed party through the whole apocalypse.\

     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?

Id put the Middle East back together because its such a cruel place at the moment.

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!

Opening from “The Widow’s Walk League” which explains why Halloween is so appealing not only in Santa Cruz, but everywhere. “Halloween in Santa Cruz coupled unbridled creativity with people freed from their normal inhibitions. The night was festive and exhilarating, but with so many people anonymous behind masks, there was always the potential for trouble.”

 I’ve seen my Halloween fantasy done. The reactions of the people who were given a piece of paper with their death date on it by a person in a black shroud was so spectacular, I used it in the book. I may do that again this Halloween.

 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 unless the restriction is just impossible then no more than 1000 words. 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 was anything but abandoned. Jerry used the secret knock—three rapid strikes followed by silence for a count of three, and then three more rapid knocks—and waited for the door to open.

He was greeted by the quintessential grandmother: an old woman short and round, her gray-haired pulled into a neat bun and her pink coat sweater buttoned at her neck to better display a large smiling jack-o-lantern pin attached to it near her shoulder. She reached into the basket slung over her arm and produced a Snickers Bar, not the fun size but a full-sized dollar bar, and extended it toward Jerry.

After a quick look left and right to make certain no one was spying, she morphed into a hunchbacked witch with a long curved nose complete with a prominent mole. Her lips turned up into a cruel smile. “Come in, my darling,” she cooed. 

“You have done well this evening. I have four children-pies backing in the oven and only need one more pie for my coven’s midnight party. “He’s another bunch of stuffed animals for you; use them to bring me two more children and then all my candy will be wrapped in hundred dollar bills and be just for you.

“Here’s a special toy,” she said as she placed a large stuffed spider around his shoulders, “a treat for you, my darling.” The witch pointed a bony finger in his direction. As she did so, the spider tightening its legs around Jerry’s neck as it sunk its fangs into his jugular vein. Stuffed animals flew from his arms as he twisted and struggled to pull the spider off.

His anguish only lasted a few seconds before he collapsed. “Thank you, my pet,” she cackled at the spider. “He’s a big one. I’ll have enough of him for my famous mincemeat pie and may be able to make some head cheese out of him as well. What’s that? Yes, of course, all his blood belongs to you.”

~The End~


 Santa Cruz husbands are being murdered. The local news media is buzzing because a dark-clad figure witnesses describe as Death has been seen lurking nearby each time a murder is committed.

 When new widows start hiring real estate agent Regan McHenry to sell their houses, she discovers all the murdered men have something in common: their wives belong to a walking group called The Widow’s Walk League.

No wonder Regan is worried when the group’s leader starts paying special attention to her husband, Tom.

Regan invites you to attend Woodies on the Wharf and go to a séance with her as adventures unfold and she tries to keep her husband safe in the fourth book in the Regan McHenry Real Estate Mystery Series.
Regan’s best friend, Dave Everett, Santa Cruz Police Community Relations Ombudsman, is back to lead a new cast of quirky characters and struggle with Regan’s amateur detecting.

Nancy Lynn Jarvis was a Santa Cruz, California, Realtor for twenty-five years but was having so much fun writing that she let her license lapse in May of 2013.
After earning a BA in behavioral science from San Jose State University, she worked in the advertising department of the San Jose Mercury News. A move to Santa Cruz meant a new job as a librarian and later a stint as the business manager of Shakespeare/Santa Cruz. Nancy's work history reflects her philosophy: people should try something radically different every few years. Writing is her newest adventure. 


Thanks Nancy!

I hate spiders but love your ending!

Come on folks a comment may win you a copy of

The Widow's Walk League!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

*****
CONGRATULATIONS!
DENISE COVEY
YOU'VE WON AN EBOOK
COPY OF
THE WIDOW'S WALK LEAGUE