The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

Three Sisters Gruff
by Elaine Pascale

Once there were three sisters who wanted to travel from their sleepy valley to the neighboring town where many handsome men lived. To get there, they had to cross a rickety bridge that spanned a swampy stream. The bridge was also the home of an ugly troll who liked to play mind games with women before he ate them.

The first and smallest sister crossed the bridge, causing it to squeak.

“Who is crossing my bridge?” the troll asked. When he saw the girl, he became excited. “You won’t make it to the other side, my dear. See there, in the water, that is your body after I have killed you.”

The first sister peered over the bridge to see a headless and limbless torso in the water. Teeth marks lined the chest and minnows darted through small holes in the stomach.

“That is not my body,” the first sister explained calmly. “My wounds are decorative; I hang jewelry from them.” With that, she opened her shirt and flashed the troll so he could see her pierced nipples and navel.

The troll scowled; he hated pierced women. He was so disgusted by this sister that he let her cross the bridge unharmed.

Next, the second sister crossed the bridge, causing it to creak.

“Who is crossing my bridge” the troll asked. Happy for a second chance to torture a woman he exclaimed, “You won’t make it to the other side, my sweet. See there, in the water, that is your body after I have murdered you.”

The second sister turned her gaze over the bridge, considering the torso in the water. It was patterned with black and blue bruises.

“That is not my body,” she responded evenly, “The stains on my skin are artwork.” With that, she opened her shirt and flashed the troll so he could see the images tattooed on her skin.

The troll groaned; he hated women with ink. He was so disgusted by this sister that he let her cross the bridge unharmed.

Finally, the third and biggest sister crossed the bridge, causing it to groan in protest.

“Who is crossing my bridge?” the troll asked. Because this girl was large, he knew he could feed off her insecurities. “You won’t make it to the other side, my love. But before I show you your mutilated body, I wonder what you will be flashing me with?”

This sister flashed a self-assured smile, while lifting her shirt to show her concealed weapon. 

Fiction © Copyright Elaine Pascale
Image courtesy of  Pixabay.com

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