The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

Dennis
by Kathleen McCluskey

Dennis could feel himself waking, instant pain filled his head. He lifted his arm and felt a large gash in his forehead. He winced as he touched it. Using his arms as leverage he sat up, he tried to look around. One of his eyes had been sealed shut with blood. He wiped at it and winced again. When his vision came back to him he was taken aback at his surroundings. He was sitting in a sewer drainage tube; the black, musty water smelled of urine and dead animals. Dennis stood, staggered into the concrete on the opposite side and braced himself with his hands. He looked around a saw light coming from what he hoped was the end of the tunnel and freedom.

He walked through the putrid water for what seemed like hours. He would get close to the light and the tunnel would make a sharp turn casting him once again in darkness. Dennis was beginning to lose his patience when the end of the tunnel was in his sight. Covered in roots and vines, his exit was blocked. Using the remaining strength he had he pushed through the brush and out into the light.

This light was like nothing he had ever seen. Looking down at his feet he could see something swimming around his ankles. He tried to step away from it but it continued to circle. Panicking he stepped sideways and landed in some burned out, rough grass and into the mist surrounding the pipe entrance. The strong smell of Sulphur came to him; coming out of the mist was a shape that he had known from his childhood. A large figure began to approach him, the massive horns on the being’s head came into full view. Kneeling down beside him the being spoke, its rancid breath made him want to gag. “You have lived a life that only I could be proud of. You have managed to not only break every single commandment but you burned them in the wake of your life.” The being grabbed Dennis by the shirt and yanked him up. “Welcome to Hell…”

Fiction © Copyright Kathleen McCluskey
Image courtesy of Rie Sheridan Rose

More from Kathleen McCluskey:

The Long Fall: Book 1: The Inception of Horror

Lucifer always cunning and intelligent challenges father to a battle of wits. Being the angel of light he casts a judgemental eye upon mankind. He begins a war with his fellow archangels and God. Michael, along with his siblings defend their home and mankind from their deranged brother. Broad swords and hand to hand combat drench heaven in blood. The four apocalyptic steeds are released, each having their own destructive power. Betrayal and lust are at biblical levels. Understand the very creation of evil and the consequenses that transpire in the first of THE LONG FALL series.

Available on Amazon!