DEFENDING THE PEN It’s all about murder . . . romance – writing it! I post flash fiction, book announcements, interviews, and the things I love. Careful . . . you may end up the victim . . . of fun!
Vampire
A vampire's hunger
is gnawing and
deep
are you ready
to grasp
a life undead
immortal you'd
be
not of this
coil
but dead and
cold
decaying
inside
as you hunger and crave,
the warmth of life's blood
from an
innocent babe
someone you
love,
take all you
want
get death in
return
your life
you've forfeit,
for the mantle of doom.
So which would you choose?
This trick or this treat
on this most
dark and deadly
Halloween fête?
Yolanda Renée (C) 2021
Photo by Bellava G on Unsplash
Witch's
Their cackles will raise your hackles
called laughter
but isn't funny
goosebumps and chills
such a haunting sound
reminds all that
the devil's evil abounds
and her appearance
is so out of sorts
her green skin and brown warts
an ugly sight
scraggly hair, missing teeth,
red bulging eyes,
doesn't lend confidence
not this Halloween night
don't point or draw attention
for her cruse may be real
if you catch her watching
she's sizing you up
it might seem like fun
but it's masquerade night
and those in costume
are the ones hiding
but the witch
is locked onto you
and only morning will tell
for it's dawn when you'll know
if her curse worked well
for you'll be alive
and not floating face down in the
well.
Yolanda Renée (C) 2021
Photo by Jackson Simmer on Unsplash
A Date on Halloween
A walk in the woods
my date insists
to a dilapidated home
why not roam.
Once inside,
the temperature changes
a cold spot
to warn of the dangers
Upstairs a silvery-white apparition
with no definition
my date laughs
and I join in.
A door slams
I jump in shock
then a chair rocks
and I grab his hand.
Ice dances
up my spine
but his
touch gives me hope.
Can they hurt us?
No, we'll be fine, he blurts.
Then a blood-curdling scream
roots me to the scene.
Too scared to move
what does it mean?
I ask my date.
but he's nowhere in sight.
I shiver in sheer fright
too scared to turn
beyond frightened to learn
who it is
that's holding my hand
this Halloween fright.
Yolanda Renée (C) 2021
****
Dancing Bones
See that beautiful girl
at one time,
she was all mine
but I held on too tight
we got in a fight
now my bones
are all that's left of me
while my girl sings,
and dances, she laughs
and buys pretty things
for my bones hang
high from a tree
I meant to kill her
and bury her deep
but she made a deal with the devil
and now I'm the one to dance and weep
she got a new life
and a new love
and each October
when the clock tolls midnight
I dance to her laughter
and the devils
sheer delight
for with the murderer
turned victim
the beast now has
two new souls
added to his account
this Halloween night.
Yolanda Renée (C) 2021
Ghouls and goblins
ghosts and haunted inns,
vampires and werewolves,
Frankenstein or Clementine
take your pick
it's trick or treats time
a chance to pretend
to dress up
a chance to come out
and be who you really are
eat candy or Candy
your choice
your predilection
in October,
we're all on a mission
so, enjoy your haunt
masquerade party
or kill
Octobers the month
for many a thrill.
Yolanda Renée (C) 2021
Screams heard
on Halloween
an expression
spontaneous
insidious
ridiculous
immediate fear
do you take
quick action
ignore the warning
just close
your ears
or go to the
aid
maybe sit, too
afraid
that danger
will take you
as its toll, if
you
answer the
call
or ignore it
all
act at your
own risk
it's Halloween
and that's the
twist!
Yolanda Renée (C) 2021
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
***
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
There's
plenty of ghouls
on land and
sea
some
drowned
others just
tried to flee
from a life
long and
hard
or a crime
they didn't foresee
watery
deaths
or bones
those
murderers
buried deep
terra Earth
will always
be discreet
but on
Halloween
those spirits
will arise
to remind
the living
that evil thrives
and is
always close by.
Yolanda Renée (C) 2021
*****
It's almost time for the "WEP"
Photo by Filip Zrnzević on Unsplash
The Woods
The woods are dark
but the moon is high
come and visit
when the moon is nigh
we won't bite
or frighten you away
we want your company
at least for the night
we're here to please you
eat and be merry
dance with delight
our haunting will end
at the stroke of midnight.
Yolanda Renée (C) 2021
What do you like about
Halloween night
is it the dancing, the prancing
or the disguise you adore.
Does it go deeper
to your very core
the call of the weird and unknown
or the cry of the new victim
all your own.
Do you flaunt your evil
or hide your lust
until that moment
desire takes hold.
Do you pounce like an animal
or seduce with finesse
do you kill with passion
or a snap of your finger.
blood flows
is it just as you imagined
death the ultimate
Halloween trick or treat.
Yolanda Renée (C) 2021
*****
It's automatic
when danger is near
Scream
help will come
all will be well
Scream
at the injustice
scream at the liars
and anti-vaxxers who
spread the fear
Scream
when all else fails
release those pent-up emotions
scream when alone
no one will hear
Scream
until hoarse
at the source
a nightmare
or fright
Scream
as a captive unheard
or when
the hero is near
Scream
for sheer joy, good news
or to amuse
Scream
for fun and good cheer
that's our theme!
Yolanda Renee © 2021
***
Please
join us for Scream
The Scream by
Edvard Munch was a shoo-in for October - this challenge is devoted to the
horror genre in honour of the Halloween/Samhain/observances of the other world
spirits. Go as creepy as you like. But other genres are welcome too, there’s no
genre police here, except that non-negotiable no to erotica.
This is a
world renowned artwork symbolising the horror and angst of the human condition.
It has since its creation in 1893, become an iconic representation of modern
life. Read about The
Scream here.
Edvard Munch was a
Norwegian born artist who split much of his working life between Berlin and
Paris. Mental health issues ran in the family, so Munch had occasion so observe
its effects from close proximity. He was much influenced by Impressionists and
post-Impressionists such as van Gogh.
The prompt is
wide open to interpretations - who will it be that screams? And why – in pain,
terror or exultation?
Will it be a
human scream that rends the air? Or an animal one? Or a scream from another
world altogether? Or will it be a cosmic scream of the planet?
A silent
scream in colours, like the one Munch felt in a sunset sky above a fjord? Or an
articulated one in sound and words? Just a gasp or piercingly loud? That’s up
to you. We’ve got our ears cocked and ready listening for it.
Just follow the link to read.
https://masoncanyon.blogspot.com/2021/09/a-passion-for-murder.html
A Passion for Murder
Excerpt:
PTSD
Several times in the two weeks after he'd
reported for work, Steven was discovered asleep in Tiama’s room. A baby monitor
and camera kept everyone informed of Tiama's needs, but for the third time this
week, Steven ended up sleeping there too. No matter what time he came in from
work, the nursery was the first place Steven would visit. It held a comfortable
chair where he'd relax, often with his son in his arms. Since starting work,
it's where he found respite. Without disturbing Steven, Sarah fed, then changed
Tiama and rocked him back to sleep.
After she had her son taken care of, she tried
to wake her husband. Sarah shook him gently. "Steven. Come to bed with me.
You'll be more comfortable. I promise."
Startled, Steven jerked awake, grabbed her by
the throat, his chair slamming shut with a loud thud as he stood. Forcing Sarah
backward, he banged her head against the wall. The harsh growl from his throat
sounded animalistic. His face contorted with the resolve to destroy his enemy.
Frightened and caught off guard, Sarah tried to
scream. Instead, she could barely croak his name. "Steven." Failing,
she made a fist and struck him. "Get off me." She tried to yell.
Her wallop caught his attention. He loosened
his grip as it took him a second to realize what he was doing. The newly hired
Nanny rushed into the room. She stopped cold, unsure of what was happening.
"Oh, God. Sarah, I’m so sorry." He
held her close. "I’m so sorry. Are you okay?" He held her away from
him to check the damage. She was clutching her neck and trying to get her
breath. He moved her hand and saw the bruises already forming. "Oh my God,
what have I done?"
"Nila, it's all right," Sarah told
the frightened girl. "Tiama is sleeping," she rasped. "Go back
to bed."
*****
Post-traumatic stress
disorder is an anxiety disorder that develops following frightening, stressful,
or distressing life events.
The symptoms may include:
·
Reliving–flashbacks, hallucinations, nightmares of the
incident
· Excessive arousal–increased alertness, anger, fits of rage, irritability, or hatred, difficulty sleeping or concentrating·
Data from Focus Medica. Reviewed by a panel of doctors.Learn more
Consult a medical professional for advice
Steven and Sarah went through a horrendous year after The Snowman escaped prison. Steven knows Sarah suffers from PTSD, but he isn't willing to label his own stress the same.
Denial is typical, but help is
key to fighting your way through it. Something many of us have a tough time
asking for and accepting.
