Debbie Christiana
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Dark Short Fiction
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HORROR BITES CHALLENGE #20

8/14/2015

14 Comments

 
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Thanks to Laura Jamez, horror author, for The Horror Bites challenge #20. The rule is to write a 200-350 word flash fiction horror story inspired by this picture.

Check out all the creepy stories from the Horror Bites Challenge #20 here.

Enjoy!
Enid hooked her arthritic finger around the edge of the curtain and pulled it an inch to her right. She shouldn’t worry about being seen in plain daylight, but God knows she lived on a street full of busy bodies. She peered through the small slit at the house across the street. What a disgrace. Those horrid scarecrows were still scattered all over the Wallace’s lawn. The calendar said November fifteenth for goodness sake. Two doors down, Christmas lights flickered and Santa waved merrily to everyone who passed by.

She stepped back and the curtain drifted shut. “Sid,” she called to her husband. “Come here. The Wallace’s must be out of town. The house has been dark for days. Have you seen them? I haven’t.” She raised the volume of her voice.  “Sid, did you hear me? At least they could have asked me to get their mail and watch the house. And taken down those damn scarecrows before they left.”

This time when she pushed the curtain further open for a better view, a gasp lodged in her throat. It couldn’t be. One. Two. Three. There were six effigies, she was sure of it. She squeezed her eyes closed and calmed her frantic breathing.

Feeling better, she inspected the neighbors yard. “Oh, God, no.” One scarecrow lingered, twisting on its stick toward her house. Its arm reached out in her direction as blood dripped from the crudely slashed mouth in its paper head. Enid’s knees collapsed and she tumbled into her husband’s favorite chair.

“Sid!” A frantic yell escaped her. “Please, where are you?”

A loud thump echoed from the porch. Silence. Thump. Silence. The noise doubled and the pace quickened. The one-legged monsters danced outside her door.

Get up! Lock the door. Run! 

Terror paralyzed her.

Enid wanted to scream but the sound was stuck in an empty crypt in her head.

The door scraped open.

Were you still screaming if no one heard you?

327 words


14 Comments
Sharon Struth link
8/13/2015 11:35:06 pm

Hmm, I'll never watch my neighbors house from my window again! Great story!

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Terri link
8/14/2015 12:16:33 am

(Sorry if this is a duplicate. I thought I left this already but it didn't show.)

Remind me not to come to your house if scarecrows are part of the decor. ;)

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Maura Troy link
8/14/2015 01:03:10 am

Poor Enid! And now I guess I'll have to pay more attention whenever the dog growls at those things when we go for walks in October. Maybe he's not being so silly after all....

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Debbie Christiana link
8/14/2015 03:47:28 am

Thanks, ladies. I just got it yesterday so it was a quick write. I like it though and will tweak it and keep it in my 'special' folder and see what comes of it ;)

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Melissa Groeling link
8/14/2015 04:37:20 am

Oh my God! The one-legged monsters! Holy crap man this was awesome!!!

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Debbie Christiana link
8/14/2015 05:36:26 am

LOL, Thanks, Melissa. And thanks for the link, if it weren't for you, I'd have missed it and there would be no one-legged monsters ;)

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Laura link
8/14/2015 07:15:05 am

Well I'm so glad you found me, this is just fab, well creepy. Great job. X

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Debbie link
8/14/2015 08:32:42 am

I'm glad I found you, too! Love the challenges and can't wait for the next one! Glad you liked it!

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L.D. Rose link
8/15/2015 12:11:01 am

Scary scarecrows! I love it, Deb! <3

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Debbie link
8/15/2015 03:47:58 am

Thanks, Linda, it was fun to write. Can't wait for the next picture of inspiration.

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Nana Prah link
8/16/2015 12:15:59 am

When I saw the title of the post I thought I'd missed 1-19. Freaky story, Debbie. I may be crossing over to the horror side. One step at a time.

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Debbie link
8/16/2015 02:22:04 am

LOL, Nana- yes my evil plan is to lure to the dark side....

Thanks for stopping by!

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Miranda kate
8/21/2015 11:44:23 pm

This is truly wonderful! Perfect in this creepiness and pacing. I was frantically reading by the end. Great writing.

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Debbie link
8/26/2015 04:28:53 am

Wow, thank you so much, Miranda. It was fun to write!

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    Debbie Christiana
    Author of Paranormal Romance, Dark Romantic Fiction & Short Dark Fiction. Lover of Halloween, Horror, Yoga and Wine

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  • DEBBIE CHRISTIANA
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