The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

Silent Vigil
by Julianne Snow

The loud crashing reverberated through the trees, bouncing off the granite statues who held silent vigil for those foolhardy enough to enter the deserted cemetery after dark. None of them knew the horror that lived within the rusting iron fences; the terror that could rob one of their lives in mere moments.

***

“I think it’s still out there,” she whispered against my ear, her cold breath snaking down my neck. I reached up to brush off the chill but discovered I couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that sat like a lump in my throat.

I held my fingers up to my lips, knowing she couldn’t see me in the darkening twilight, but not wanting to make a noise. It was my way of shushing her. It didn’t work,

“Why are they all covering their eyes? It’s so creepy…” Her breathe was damp across my skin, the feeling knotting my stomach even more.

I ushered a quiet “Shhhh” across my lips, but it was at that moment it passed by our poor attempt at a hiding spot. The roar deafened my senses, but I swear there was nothing to hear. I wanted to shout at her to run, knowing full well my legs would cave in upon themselves if I even tried to stand. It was too late.

***

The statues continued to stand watch in silent stoniness as the petrified souls who dared to invade its home were devoured. Sated for the moment, it turned to skulk back to the only corner they didn’t face, not wanting to feel their hard, unyielding eyes on him, silently judging him for the souls he must take to survive.

Fiction © Copyright Julianne Snow
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com 

More from Julianne Snow:

The Dead of Penderghast Manor

What would you do if you knew the Dead could talk?

For Chester Penderghast, it’s not the easiest of questions to answer…

Ensconced in the basement of his family’s mortuary business is the last place he wants to be, but when the conversation starts flowing, Chester’s the only living person who can hear it. What do the Dead want, and why is he the only one who can hear them?

This is not your average zombie tale—the Dead don’t want to eat your brains, but they will chew your ear off!

Available on Amazon!