The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

Beyond the Fog
by Linda Lee Rice

The cobblestones are damp and cold on my bare feet. The fog creeps past me on cat’s paws, silently muting any sounds. In the distance, I see a figure, and I’m afraid. I wake up.

I’m here again, the leaves rustle in the night as I step quietly along the stone path—an owl hoots in the dark, a haunting mournful sound. The figure is closer now, and I can see it’s a woman. Her white nightgown obscured by the fog, gesturing frantically, and I’m afraid. I wake up.

The streetlights are dim, adding to the eeriness of the scene. The air has an oppressive feel as if something is wrong. The woman is closer now, I can see her mouth moving, but I can’t hear her words. She looks frightened, and I’m afraid. I wake up.

The rough bark of the tree scrapes against my hand, drawing blood. I approach the woman cautiously as I try to find the danger. I look onto her eyes as her eyes look into mine, we’re afraid! I can’t wake up!

***

I can see the woman in the distance in her white nightgown. The fog surrounds her as she disappears. I’m afraid.

The woman has appeared again. Her nightgown blows in the breeze as she walks along the path. An owl hoots in the distance as I gesture frantically, “go back!” She doesn’t heed my warning as she takes another step forward. She disappears. I’m afraid.

Within the dimness of the streetlight, I see her coming toward me. The air feels as though I can push through it. I shout to her, “No! Wake up!” She looks confused as she disappears, and I’m afraid.

Again she appears, hair trailing down her back a dark stain against the whiteness of her nightdress. She scrapes her hand against a tree, looking down, I see blood on my hand. “No! Stay back!” She approaches me. I look into her eyes as her eyes look into mine, and we’re afraid.

The cobblestones are damp and cold on our bare feet.

Fiction © Copyright Linda Lee Rice
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

More about Linda Lee Rice:

Linda Lee Rice aka Ruzicka has poetry published in Twilight Times, Dark Krypt, Fables, Descending Darkness, Writing Village, Spine, and Page, Muses Gallery, Bloodbond, Lycan Valley Press Publishers, Alban Lake, Highland Park Poetry, Rosette Maleficarum, The Siren’s Call, Edify Fiction

and the June Cotner anthology, “House Blessings” and “Garden Blessings

She has short stories published in The Grit, and Reminisce, Haunted Encounters: Friends and Family, FrostFire Worlds. Plus, a personal essay at Mamalode. She also has various articles and blogs published online as a freelance writer.