The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!
The Foot of Fate
by Stacey Turner
“Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.” Raelynn could hear the frantic prayers uttered by so many as they crowded the streets, eyes cast skyward at the large, looming presence blotting out the sun. She would have laughed if the situation hadn’t been so serious. Only she among them knew what was to come; for she had called it down upon this world.
She had grown steadily wearier as the news’ headlines continued to be full of hate, violence, and the greed of men. And women, the whole silly species—the morass of maliciousness and vanity created as a diversion—left discarded for eons. She’d questioned the old Gods when they’d allowed them to propagate and flourish on the surface of the Earth. That had been wrong of her; one didn’t question the choices of the Gods. Not the true Gods, for mercy was not in their nature. Her punishment had been to walk among mankind, the constant cacophony of their lies and atrocities committed against their brothers growing ever louder until her ears rang with their spite and venom. Until her soul broke with the burden of carrying their foul injustices within. Tears of blood rolled down her face, eyes swollen from weeping, as she begged the Gods to end this exile and either bring her home, or let her perish.
The Gods had heard her plea and answered. They turned their attention back to this tiny corner of the universe, examining what their playthings had become. Seeing firsthand how the many tribes had developed new religions— worshipping false deities and committing brutalities in their name. Mankind killed themselves and each other with no regard to the sanctity of life. They attached no value to the gift the Gods had given them. Raelynn could feel the anger of the Gods and knew punishment would be swift. She relished the destruction of the heathens, even if it meant the end of her own existence.
Now, she watched them cowering as the large, dark shape hovered over them; noticed the resemblance to a giant limb. She found it ironic they were using that specific shape to stamp out humanity’s existence. Gazing into the crowd, she saw their tear-stained, desperate faces and couldn’t stop herself. This absurd fate was no more than they deserved. Her laughter rang out as the foot of the Gods descended.
Fiction © Copyright Stacey Turner
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com
More from author Stacey Turner:
Morbid Metamorphosis: Terrifying Tales of Transformation
Metamorphosis occurs every day as caterpillars become sweet fluttering butterflies, tadpoles become gorgeous frog princes and chameleons become one with the beauty of nature – but you won’t find any of that here.
The transformations you’re about to witness are unnatural, sometimes gruesome and deeply psychological. They will make you question reality and take your mind places it was never meant to go.
Terrifying Tales of Transformation from Greg Chapman * Roy C. Booth & R. Thomas Riley * Terri DelCampo * Dave Gammon * Nancy Kilpatrick * Rod Marsden * Jo-Anne Russell * M.J. Preston * Stacey Turner * Tina Piney * Suzanne Robb * Franklin E. Wales * Donna Marie West * Suzie Lockhart * Cameron Trost * Daniel I. Russell * Simon Dewar * Amanda J. Spedding * Ken MacGregor * Erin Shaw * Gregory L. Norris * Nickolas Furr
Dark and delightful vengeance.