The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!
Monica Cain burst through the skirmish and sprinted to the priceless sculpture. The museum piece, dubbed Griffin-X, had the head of a goblin, the wings of an eagle and the hind legs of a lion. Divots dotted the sphinx-like structure. Stone flakes and chunks circled the pedestal that held the medium sized artifact. The weapon, a dented baseball bat, sat amongst the debris.
Security personnel had immobilized the archivist, Keith Lemon. “It’s cursed,” he screamed. “Destroy it before it kills us all.”
“Take him away.” As the archivists screams faded, Monica caressed the greatest discovery of her life. “He’ll pay,” she cooed. “I promise.”
A month later, Monica invited Keith to her apartment.
“Danger has followed that rock for centuries.” Keith presented various papers. “It’s a cycle: Griffin-X is discovered and people disappear. The Griffin-X disappears for decades, is rediscovered and renews the cycle.”
Monica shrugged and gestured. “Love demands sacrifice.”
The Griffin-X perched on the wooden mantle above the fireplace. The lips carved into a snarl exposing serrated stone teeth.
Keith paled. “Why?”
“Love.” Monica stood beside the mantle. “Meet Adomi,” she said. “He’d like to eat you.”
The statue eyes glowed. Its wings spread and it leaped. A seven-foot naked man with golden eyes, a broad chest and thick thighs landed before Alec. Deep pockmarks lined the forehead of the giant.
“Bonjour,” said Adomi. He lifted Keith by the shoulders and smiled. His mouth opened wide… then wider.
Keith screamed. Adomi swallowed.
Monica cuddled against Adomi on the sofa and reviewed the paperwork Keith provided. “In a couple of days, I’ll report you missing and blame Alec. We’ll be together forever. How does that sound?”
Adomi licked her earlobe. “I’m hungry,” he whispered.
Fiction © Copyright Ella Rite
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com
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They’re shambling toward you, feet dragging on the broken roadway. Arms outstretched, faces slack, they move as if they’re tracking your scent on the wind. You want to run, but you know there’s nowhere to hide.
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A terrific story.