OCTOBER

 

Photo by Bernd 📷 Dittrich on Unsplash

“They’re coming to get you, Barbara.” 

—Johnny, Night of the Living Dead

It's one of the scariest movies ever made. No other Zombie movie has come close, at least in my opinion. It didn't help that I grew up in the area where it was filmed, so I may be a bit prejudiced. 😊

But folks...

It’s that time…

For frights slights

and epic delights

Devils and angels

Bats and werewolves

Witches and demons

Monsters and ghouls

It’s Halloween

And I’m the Queen!

😉 

“Welcome to my Nightmare”

Don't you just love fall and Halloween? I know I do. So, for October, I've posted flash fiction stories, one each Friday, and another on Tuesday, some new but all rewritten from earlier posts. I tried to keep them to 500 words or less. Most were originally close to 1000 words, so I didn't get there every time. A few were updates, what happened next, or just a slight change, but for most all of them I tried to up the horror. 😱

The final story on October 31st is new, just for this Halloween.

I hope you enjoy this year's Halloween Celebration!

And to wet your appetite here's an oldie but goodie...

BRAISED HEART

Donna admired the gleaming counters and spotless floor. The scent of bread and braised heart erased the smell of blood and bleach.

“Dinner is served,” she sang, lifting Clive’s unfaithful heart from the oven.

Dusty wound around her ankles, purring approval.

“Really—who imagines two-timing Hannibal’s daughter comes without a price?”

Dusty meowed.

She chuckled. “If Clive had guessed the truth…”

The cat sprang onto the counter, eyes bright with something almost human.

Donna’s grin sharpened. She tapped the blade against the roasted heart.

“You’re right,” she whispered. “Daddy always said—cannibalism isn’t a crime. It’s a family recipe.”

~100 words~

Yolanda Renee Stout © 2015

~~***~~

And here is a list of the stories I'm providing this Month along with a teaser tagline!

********************

Friday, October 3^rd     INSOMNIA

Tagline: "Insomnia is no longer your curse…it’s your invitation."

Tuesday, October 7^th     GODDESS

         Tagline: Some encounters are too beautiful to be real

Friday, October 10^th     SACRIFICE

Tagline: Sacrifice isn’t just an ancient practice.

Tuesday, October 14^th     REVISITED

Tagline: One Halloween, the mist came for her… and it’s returned

Friday, October 17^th     OBSESSION

Tagline: Death cannot sever the ties of obsession

Tuesday, October 21^st     THE BEASTS BENEATH

Tagline: A husband’s anger turns into a deadly game of survival.

Friday, October 24^th     HUNTERS

Tagline: Beware the allure of beauty… it may eat your mind and your soul.

Tuesday, October 28^th     JACK

Tagline: Some killers never die—they just wait in the fog. 

Friday, October 31^st     RITUAL

Tagline: The past can be a deadly place to visit.

FYI:

I've used ChatGPT, Copilot, and Grammarly to edit my work. I found the results interesting and, at times, disappointing, especially when AI changed my word choice or completely misunderstood the whole point of the story, to downright word selection errors that even I, a dyslexic grammar failure, could recognize.

I learned that perfection cannot be guaranteed no matter what editor you use. Still, I hope you enjoy the Halloween stories—they are all meant to entertain!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Photo by Daniel Lincoln on Unsplash

 

SUPPORT THE "ECONOMIC BLACKOUT!"

Friday's No-Shopping 'Economic Blackout' Is Everywhere Online — And Experts Have Thoughts

A Feb. 28 grassroots campaign is calling for a no-shopping boycott on all major retailers. 

AI-enhanced summary:

A nationwide economic blackout is set for February 28, 2025, to protest corporate practices.

Key takeaways

• A grassroots campaign is organizing a no-shopping boycott on February 28, 2025, to protest corporate influence and economic inequality

  huffpost.com+2
  .

• The initiative, led by The People’s Union USA, aims to raise awareness about the rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives by major corporations

  apnews.com+2
  .

• Support for the boycott has gained traction among celebrities, highlighting a growing movement against perceived corporate greed and social injustice

  huffpost.com+2
  .

All items in this post were copied from other areas of the internet; just follow the links to learn more!

I totally support this! 

I hope you will too!

 

BE MINE, VALENTINE

 

Photo by Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash

BE MINE, VALENTINE

In shadows where dreams decay,

I wander through night’s dismay,

Only solitude’s cold, empty grace.

No tender whispers, no sweet embrace.

Mocked by the constellations above,

With tales of sacrifice and endless love,

Their humor, scorns, and doubts abound.

No love or warmth to be found.

Not for the obdurate ice queen.

With thoughts and acts so byzantine.

So here I stand, a heart of stone,

No prince or king upon the throne.

They’ve all gone, their promises cheap.

In the darkness, all alone, I weep.

Recalling passion and hope

 doing my best to cope,

while dreams fade like the morning mist.

In a world where love does not exist,

I’ve built my walls, so high, so steep,

To guard a heart scarred so deep.

For love, is but a dream,

A fleeting wisp, a heartless scheme,

I walk the path alone,

A hardened heart, all hope flown.

Is the fault all mine?

Or just the time?

All I wanted was a Valentine.

YRS ©2025

I'VE ALWAYS LOVED TREES

Photo by Wesley Tingey on Unsplash

 I’VE ALWAYS LOVED TREES

So beautiful as they sway in the breeze

like skeleton hands

using the language of the deaf

reminds me of Jeff

the man hung until his death

it wasn’t quick

but mr slick

got what he deserved

outmaneuvered by women

his skin, now thin like linen

those he denigrated in life

he couldn’t fight in death

on Halloween night

at 12:01 AM

the souls he stole

made quick work of that fool.

Muhahahaha!

YRS © 2024

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Photo by freestocks on Unsplash

O YE OF LITTLE FAITH

 

Photo by Abdu Rahman on Unsplash

O Ye of Little Faith

You call us cute

but we stay mute

we’re more than you imagine

spells we cast with abandon

don’t cross our path

or ill will you’ll have

all your days through

she might be the witch

but we’re the true bitch

so don’t dimiss

for I’ll get my wish

death won’t be sweet

as daily you’ll repeat

the disaster we fashion

for Halloween is our passion!

Muhahahahaha!

YRS © 2024

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Photo by Sašo Tušar on Unsplash

UNBURIED

 

Photo by Jon Butterworth on Unsplash

UNBURIED

The nights are chill

the days, hotter than hell

my bones ache

all due to a pesky snake

and the soil is never dry

at least there are no more flies

but the comfort of a grave

it’s all so depraved

to be unburied

but it’s definitely better than being married!

Muhahahahaha!

YRS © 2024

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Photo by Ksenia Yakovleva on Unsplash

XX

 

SWIPE RIGHT

 

Photo by Joshuer on Unsplash

SWIPE RIGHT

It was a Halloween dating site

when handsome, despite the mask

caught my attention

foregoing all inhibition

he was the one

our first night would be nothing but fun

I was right

it was a Halloween to remember

Mr. Handsome, so easy to dismember

and dinner for all my guests

just so delicious

and oh-so-nutritious.

Muahahaha!

YRS © 2024

Tagline: It's Halloween. Make sure you aren't dinner.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Photo by Steven Aguilar on Unsplash

XX

Runner Up

 

My interview with Anne Greenawalt of WOW regarding my story

Conundrum

https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/2024/04/interview-with-yolanda-renee-fall-2023.html

AN ANGEL

 

Photo by Nico Frey on Unsplash

AN ANGEL

I know an angel

of earthly fame

many seek her confidence

 

life is tough

living can become rough

this angel understands

 

many lose hope

but her light's bright

her words pure

 

this angel

with a heart so true

offers love and advice

 

recognized truth

means sorrow

disappears

 

promise returns

her magic works

happy folks

 

all recognize

her blessing

God's messenger of love

 

the restorer

of damaged souls

this holy vessel of perfection

 

but she knows sorrow

and immense pain

more profound than most

 

suffering despite

her heavenly calling

her beauty shines from within

 

and still

she gives all

despite her grief

 

this spiritual being

a guardian angel

of hope.

***

Yolanda Renée Stout © 2024

In honor of Elephant's Child!

 

Pink City

NOIR

She was a beauty

tall and blonde

with curves in all the right places

she claimed to have loved him

couldn’t live without him

but now was forced to

she hired me to find his killer

the trail had gone cold

the police had given up

could I do what they couldn’t

I gave it my best

just to stay in her presence

shock of shock

I became the top suspect

had she set me up

I couldn’t believe she would

those lips, that kiss

her tears, those eyes

I’m no fool

but the bars of my cage say differently.

YRS © 2024

 

WEP - Over To You

 

Photo by Merch HÜSEY on Unsplash

Hope on the Silver Screen

The projector's hum resonated through the small, dimly lit room, its echo mingling with the flickering light that painted dancing shadows on the walls—a cinematic ballet mirroring the emotions unraveling within her.

It was another Friday night at the vintage movie theater, but tonight held a distinct air. She found herself alone, having spun another tale of work to escape the confines of home. Lies had become her refuge, a desperate means to avoid his anger and her own tears.

The end had come for them. It was a truth acknowledged by both, yet he clung to denial. His obsession had become a paralyzing force, and her attempts to break free in the past only led to her surrender and transformation into someone unrecognizable.

However, her true self couldn't remain imprisoned indefinitely. The question loomed: how could she escape without shattering him and herself? The credits rolled, and she sat in the afterglow of a film that had woven itself into the fabric of her soul. Characters lingered, and plotlines carved permanent residence in her thoughts.

It was an escape, if only momentary, but each happy ending kindled hope for her own. Her dream felt within reach. Why else would God permit such unhappiness if not for a reward at the end?

As the theater emptied, she lingered in her seat, suspended between the reel and reality. The story had seeped into her heart, leaving an indelible mark. It wasn't just a movie; it was an awakening. Could she sustain this belief?

Outside, city lights twinkled like distant stars. She took a breath, feeling the cool night air on her face. The protagonist's journey mirrored her struggles, and the resolution became a roadmap for her uncertainties.

The movie had whispered truths she hadn't dared to acknowledge, sparking a fire, a catalyst for change. Stepping into the night, she carried the film's essence like a talisman.

In the following days, she navigated life with a fresh perspective. The movie's lessons guided her decisions, its soundtrack the melody of her daily rhythm. She chased dreams with the same fervor the characters pursued their destinies.

Change would only occur if she willed it. She was determined to make it happen!

As time passed, the movie became a silent companion. In moments of doubt, she replayed scenes in her mind, drawing strength from fictional triumphs. The cinema transformed from a mere escape to a wellspring of inspiration.

Under the city lights, she embraced the serendipity of that cinematic night. The silver screen birthed a metamorphosis, and as the credits rolled on her own life, she whispered gratitude to the universe for the movie that changed everything.

***

TAGLINE: Hope comes in many formats even on the silver screen

443 Words

Yolanda Renee © 2023

TO READ MORE GREAT STORIES

PLEASE FOLLOW THE LINKS

WEP - December Challenge

 

 XXX

UPCOMING WEP - WHAT MOVIE INSPIRED YOU?

 

For this

WEP Challenge?

Wondering how to go about

preparing,

writing,

& submitting?

Photo by Jonathan Kemper on Unsplash

Then Go HERE!

For all the details!

https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/p/challenges-2023.html 

PLEASE JOIN US IN DECEMBER

FOR

OVER TO YOU!

the movie that inspires...

Photo by Fidel Fernando on Unsplash

IT'S ALL UP TO YOU!

this challenge is new

and it's all for you

you get to decide

what movie

most inspired

so simple

so true

what made an impact

give us the facts

the skinny

the tale

holiday special or not

romance

mystery

sci-fi

or horror

what movie found your heart

gave you a start

influenced your muse

or gave you the blues

just remember

share it with us

this December

despite all the fuss.

***

YRS © 2023

***

IT'S AS EASY AS THAT!

See you there!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Photo by Preslie Hirsch on Unsplash

DAY OF THE DEAD

 

Photo by 🇻🇪 Jose G. Ortega Castro 🇲🇽 on Unsplash

November 1st

October was a month of terror

for all who enjoy being scared

a month prepared

just for you

a plethora of poetry

31 days of

drabbles

and shorts

to prove I could

a goal I set

and achieved

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

to you from me!

But

now it's time to write

for NATIONAL NOVEL WRITING MONTH

I've a novel to finish

the 7^th in a series

Murder on Mount Fairweather

wish me luck

it's due to be published

next month

so I'll leave you alone

give you a break

from my endless spate

of words that rhyme

I know

you're thinking…

IT'S ABOUT TIME!

😂

~*~

Yolanda Renée © 2023

HAPPY  NOVEL WRITING MONTH! (NANO)