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!
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Lincoln on Unsplash
Masquerade
Mawhahahahha
Bet you thought
I forgot
my countdown to dawn
silly you
it's only day two
soon the monsters arise
October 31st
will
soon be upon us
don't
hide your eyes
or
forget my promise
a
fright
a death
that
final end
is
upon us
shall
we have fun
before all horror
befalls
how
about a ball
a place all monsters crawl
a dance
a drink
before you fall.
MUAHAHAHAHA!
***
Yolanda
Renée © 2023
JOIN
US ON OCTOBER 18 – 20
FOR
ALL YOUR
HALLOWEEN
FUN
LOOK AT WHAT'S COMING
Photo by Annie
Spratt on Unsplash
ITS HALLOWEEN
It's that time of the year
the day I hold most dear
only thirty days until
monsters can fulfill
their delicious wishes
ghosts, goblins, and witches
all terrors of the night
will delight in taking flight
a haunting is due
and all just for you
this special day
when evil makes hay
it's Halloween, of course
and I'm your primary source
the mask won't hide you.
not when I'm about
evil has its way
of bringing the bane about
our blight is everywhere
and misery always follows
you can't hide from
the devil
he will always find you!!
MUAHAHAHAHA!
***
Yolanda Renée © 2023
JOIN
US ON OCTOBER 18 – 20
FOR
ALL YOUR
HALLOWEEN
FUN
Photo by ActionVance on Unsplash
ALMOST
HALLOWEEN
It's
nearly time
For
those tricks
or
treats
a
chocolate
or
blood feast
it's
yours to choose
on
my blog
you'll
never lose
when
you celebrate
the
evil within
remember,
it's all in fun
a
hilarious pun
a
poem to scare
the
effort is there
but
truly, dear heart
my
goal is to amuse
make
you think
inspire
your muse
Halloween
is about fun
a
great celebration
to
ease the stress
as
life itself
is
sometimes
a
pure horror fest!
***
Yolanda
Renee © 2023
JOIN
US ON OCTOBER 18 – 20
FOR
ALL YOUR
HALLOWEEN
FUN
for another
Wondering how to go about
preparing,
writing,
& submitting?
Then Go HERE!
For all the details!
https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/p/challenges-2023.html
PLEASE JOIN US IN OCTOBER
FOR
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
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THE
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
The phantom is not a proper specter
but also not Hannibal Lector
a small deformity
he refuses conformity
and wears a mask
determined in his task
haunting like a ghost
the opera hosts
with horrific taunts
but love is his desire
a beautiful singer
he wants to acquire
but a debonair man
who isn't a fan
has other plans
and the phantom
is headed for a fall
his chosen paramour
is frightened but brave
eventually, she wins the day
the phantom though
he has to go!
***
Yolanda Renée © 2023
***
IT'S AS EASY AS THAT!
JOIN
US ON OCTOBER 18 – 20
FOR
THE LATEST
WEP CHALLENGE
&
STAY TUNED RIGHT HERE
FOR NOTHING BUT
HALLOWEEN
FUN!
And that's a promise!
CHOCOLATE
Sarah sighed heavily and drew an X across the small box showing March 31st in her calendar. Twenty-four days since the plane crash. Twenty-four days of cold and bitter winds. Even with clean water and the fish caught in the lake, her appetite was lacking, and Chet's insistence that he had to return to the plane left her fearful and sleepless. Add erratic hormones, fear, dwindling supplies, and a woman searching for but failing to find hope, and you have an emotional catastrophe waiting to happen.
Recognizing
the signs of a self-indulgent pity party, she closed the calendar. She said a
prayer of thanksgiving for the miracle of survival and closed with her favorite
chant. "Oh God, My God, thy Name is my healing." Trying to be
grateful but anxious and scared, she did her best to meditate but couldn't find
the peace she desired.
The sketchbook beside her caught her attention, and she
gazed at the drawing she'd completed upon waking. The picture was of a hungry
wolf pack. Angry, howling, salivating mouths dripping with the blood of their
latest kill. Sarah shut the book and shivered. The nightmare had awakened her,
and she'd drawn it, but now it was an hour till dawn, and Chet would rise soon.
He slept peacefully a few feet away from her. Her dreams had been about him and
his alarming plans. She cuddled in her sleeping bag and waited for him to
awaken.
An hour later, he did.
Sarah pretended to be asleep as Chet rolled up his sleeping
bag and moved about the cave getting things ready for his trip. Realizing she
was being foolish, she greeted him. "Want breakfast?"
"Good morning Sarah, no. I'll wait for
lunchtime," he said as he dressed for his trip. "Rescue will be any
day now, you'll see," he said, doubling his socks and putting his boots
on. "I just want to clear the snow off the main cabin so they can see the
plane from the sky. Then I'll light a signal fire using the plane's tires.
Black smoke is sure to get someone's attention. I'll use the metal and other
debris to create an arrow to show them we're well and waiting. I promise the
rescuers will be here before you even have time to miss me," he said
without a break.
She watched him closely. Was he trying to convince her or
himself?
Sarah tried to smile but was unsuccessful. "Just
please, please be careful. I'm worried."
"I know, and I will. I promise. I have to do this. The
weather is clearing, and they're looking for the plane. We've been socked in down
here but heard them above us, so the top of the mountain must be clear. I have
to go to make finding us an easier task." Chet assured her.
"I understand," Sarah said as she stood. "I
just wish I were going with you." She wrapped her woolen scarf around his
neck.
"Thanks." Chet buried his nose in it and breathed
deeply. "It has your perfume on it. It'll be my inspiration," Chet
said with a smile. "And I have a special surprise for you." He pulled
a package from his pack. "I've been saving it for just this
occasion." He handed a small parcel to her.
"Really," she said as she tore the brown paper
bag wrapping. Inside was a dark chocolate Hershey bar. Sarah smiled in delight.
"Chocolate! My word, how wonderful. Thank you," she said as she
hugged him and kissed his cheek.
"I held it back just for that reaction," Chet
said. His smile was just as bright as Sarah's. "Fish is getting
monotonous, but this should add a bit of delight to your day."
"Oh, it will. Thank you. I'll save some for your
return meal. We'll celebrate together."
Chet laughed. "Enjoy all of it. Besides, I'll have the
rescuers with me. There won't be time for a meal. Enjoy it while you wait. Once
off this blasted mountain, we'll celebrate with champagne and chocolate
eclairs. How's that sound?"
"Wonderful," she said and hugged him again.
Except she felt like crying instead of laughing. But for him, she held her
tears in check. Despite all his assurances, she was beyond worried.
Unsure she was being ridiculous or an overly emotional
pregnant lady, she kept her fear to herself. He'd heard the wolf's cry, just as
she had, but since he had the shotgun, his mind was made up. Rescue depended on
letting the rescuers know where they were, he said repeatedly, and she knew he
was right. But fear is the thief of hope, and she had a bad case. Still, she
shook it off. She didn't want him to leave with worry for her on his mind.
Chet grabbed his backpack and snowshoes. He surveyed the
cavern. "I hate to take the tent," he said, hesitating as if rethinking
his decision. The tent had been her private room. A space for her to be alone
and feel safe.
"Don't. I'm fine in here without it. You'll need it
more than I will. Did you take enough dried fish?" She asked, even though
she'd packed it the night before.
Chet smiled. "I did. You just be careful outside,
okay?"
Sarah nodded. "You too."
All words spoken. Chet turned to the cave entrance.
Sarah grabbed her crutch, which Chet had carved for her on
their first night in the cave. She followed him to the mouth of the cavern and
watched as he walked to the rope hanging from the rocks above. He hesitated,
turned for one last look at the frozen waterfall, then he waved, and she
returned the gesture. Chet deftly climbed the cliff to the path that led to the
plane. In a flash, he was gone, and she was alone.
Shivering uncontrollably, she looked at the bar of dark
chocolate in her hand and sobbed like a child.
~ ***~
988 words
Yolanda Renée © 2023
Tagline: Solace is found in the simplest gesture.
This is another excerpt from the 7th book of my Alaskan Series, Murder on Mount Fairweather, coming out December 2023.
I must
credit the WEP prompts for inspiring my writing this year. I've failed most of
my writing goals for 2023, but because of the WEP, I keep plugging away.
PLEASE JOIN US
ADD YOUR CHOCOLAT STORY BELOW!
XXX
Yolanda Renée Stout © 2023
