WELCOME TO THE 2015 OCTOBER FRIGHTS BLOG HOP!

10/1/2015

A frightful Blog Hop
celebrating All Things that go Bump in the Night!
Enter to win two $5 Amazon gift cards
and a surprise giveaway on the last day!

A horror flash fiction I wrote for Halloween.

THE HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET...

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 knew 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 still stood, 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?

Now for the best part...THE GIVEAWAY!
For the first $5 Amazon Gift card:

Scarecrows seem to frighten poor Enid. What frightens you?
Clowns, Jack-o-lanterns, Demons?
Leave a comment and on OCT 5th, I'll enter everyone's name into Random.org

Then come back on OCT 6th for a new flash fiction and giveaway.
Good luck.

Everyone will be entered in the Grand Prize on Oct 10th!

And...don't forget to check out all the awesome horror/paranormal authors
participating in the hop.

If you're a fan of short dark fiction or horror flash fiction, you may be interested in my new release for Halloween, CURIOUSLY DARK TALES.

Supernatural beings and the evils of humanity come alive in these six, short grim tales with a twist. Some adult content, no gore.

Only 99 cents here at Amazon.

36 Comments

Archives

CURIOSITIES:
Guest authors tell their tales of true,
unexplained experiences.

#Wednesday
Wine:
My husband and
I review wines
we've bought
solely on the
uniqueness of
the label.

Ash Krafton link

10/1/2015 05:23:24 am

I hate mirrors in a dark room. I have to shut my eyes if I pass one and even then it's at a jog because I KNOW something is inside, waiting to grab me.

Gorgeous post, Debbie!

Debbie link

10/1/2015 06:55:43 am

HI Ash,

Mirrors can be creepy, especially in the dark. They may show us something we don't want to see :)

Glad you liked the post. Thanks for stopping by.

Jennifer Davis

10/1/2015 06:27:27 am

ouija boards...nope to the nope. Can't be near them. Don't like to talk about them.

10/1/2015 06:56:46 am

Hi Jenn - you're funny as I LOVE Ouija Boards. I'd love to collect them. I've found some really old one, but they are too expensive.

So glad you stopped by :)

KM Randall link

10/5/2015 04:18:03 pm

You'd hate my house at Halloween then. I repurposed an old one and it hangs on my wall. :)

10/6/2015 04:45:41 am

Very cool, KM - Is it an old Ouija Board?

Saph link

10/1/2015 08:00:47 am

I have to agree with Jennifer. Ouija Boards freak me out.

Thanks for chance :)

Saph

10/1/2015 09:42:54 am

Hi Saph,

It does seem many are weary of the Ouija Board. Maybe because I never had a bad experience with one is why they don't seem to bother me.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Anne Michaud link

10/1/2015 04:22:30 pm

Great flash, Debbie!!!

What scares me?? People.

Happy Halloween and blog hop:))

10/2/2015 04:44:26 am

Hi Anne - I'm with you. I've always said people are more frightening than anything supernatural.

Glad you liked my story and thanks for stopping by.

Nana Prah

10/2/2015 12:46:16 am

I love your flash fiction. Creepy.
I have a thing about statues. If they are outside I don't have a problem with them. But inside, like in churches, especially if I'm alone, get me out of there. And I won't go to a museum featuring busts by myself either.

10/2/2015 04:46:29 am

Hi Nana - Wow, you're the first person I've heard had a fear of statues. I agree, some of them are very gothic and disturbing, especially the very ancient ones.

I think there is a horror flash fiction story there, LOL -

Thanks for stopping by.

Cathrina

10/2/2015 07:10:30 am

I hate clowns!!!! IDK why. I just do!!! Good story Debbie!!!!

10/2/2015 07:17:03 am

Hi Cathy - A LOT of people hate clowns. My kids didn't like them when they were little, but they don't seem to mind them now. Great fodder for horror stories :)

Thanks for story by.

Dave Burnham link

10/2/2015 09:39:34 am

Great story Debbie. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

What scares me? Knives and being cut. I can use one no problem. I used to use sharp woodworking tools as part of my job many years ago. I can watch a movie and have no problem seeing someone stabbed. But the minute I see a blade being drawn slowly over skin I'm out. It gives me the creeps writing it.

10/2/2015 12:11:58 pm

Hi Dave - Glad you liked my story.

That's very interesting about knives. I'm glad I asked this question. There's been some really different answers out there.

Thanks for stopping by.

Heather link

10/3/2015 09:28:26 am

CLowns and Dolls..great story :)

10/3/2015 10:02:30 am

Hi Heather - oh, clowns instill fear in a lot of people. I had an old rag doll in my room, I don't remember who gave it to me, when I was little and it creeped me out at night. Not during the day, so I understand.

Glad you liked the story.

Thanks for stopping by.

E.J. Stevens link

10/3/2015 09:30:11 am

I am terrified of zombies and spiders. Worst fear? Zombie spiders!!!!

Thank you for a spooktacular stop on the October Frights Hop, and the chance to win. Hop on over to my October Frights Giveaway at <a href="http://www.fromtheshadows.info/" _blank">From the Shadows</a> for a chance to win urban fantasy audiobooks and more.

10/3/2015 10:03:54 am

Hi E.J. - LOL - Zombie spiders! The horror :)

I've been trying to make the rounds to everyone's blog. I do have a busy day today, but I'll be back on track tomorrow and I'll make sure I stop by.

Thanks!!

A. F. Stewart link

10/3/2015 10:53:38 am

Loved the story. Many things frighten me, but most especially snakes. I cannot stand them.

10/4/2015 08:41:19 am

Hi A.F. - you and my husband :) I can't say I want them crawling all over me, but in general, I don't mind them.

Thanks for stopping by.

Regina Kencono Putri

10/4/2015 07:14:18 am

I think even little sound could scare several persons,including me
I like this question,happy halloween :D

10/4/2015 08:43:27 am

I agree, Regina - my husband travels sometime for his job and with the kids off at college, when I'm alone, in the the middle of the night, the house decides to make some strange noises. Then the dog starts barking...

Thanks for stopping by.

Melissa

10/4/2015 10:13:38 am

Bugs freak me out!
I love Halloween!

10/4/2015 11:44:26 am

Hi Melissa - the little insects can be pesky and creep and crawly for sure :)

I love Halloween, too! It's like Christmas and my birthday in one!

Clarissa Johal link

10/5/2015 09:44:08 am

Excellent flash fiction! Okay, I'm probably going to be laughed at--but butterflies are the only thing that scare me. *sigh*

10/5/2015 11:56:40 am

Hi Clarissa - my daughter is scared to death of moths. She says it's the 'fluttering' that she doesn't like.

Glad you liked my story :)

Thanks for stopping by and organizing the hop! It's been great.

Juli D.Revezzo link

10/5/2015 11:54:05 am

Creepy story, Debbie!
I'm with Anne. Sometimes, people can be scary! I don't particularly care for hospitals, either. Empty halls in hospitals give me the creeps!

10/5/2015 11:58:14 am

Thanks for the compliment, Juli - it was fun to write.

Yes, I agree, hospitals can be creepy, especially at night, when they dim the lights and no one is really around.

Glad you stopped by.

Michelle Willms

10/5/2015 04:43:49 pm

I loved the flash fiction. Very creepy. I'm afraid of the dark.

10/6/2015 04:47:44 am

Hi Michele - Thanks, glad you liked it. I don't mind the dark if I know my surroundings. Lost in the woods, in the dark - scary :)

Thanks for stopping by.

Lexa Cain link

10/5/2015 05:03:40 pm

I loved the story! Poor Enid.... lol

10/6/2015 04:48:53 am

Thanks, Lexa - LOL, yes poor Enid - and Sid...Who know what happened to him. Bwahahahah!

Trix

10/6/2015 02:26:15 pm

Eye injuries wig me out!

10/7/2015 05:13:20 am

Hi Trix - yes, they creep me out, too!

Thanks for stopping by.