The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

A Small Token of Thanks
by Terrie Leigh Relf

Quite a few young women went missing that summer. Mostly college students on holiday with friends. During the day, they would gather at the beach. At night, there were trips to the pub, and afterwards, perhaps moonlit strolls with some young man they fancied or who fancied them. 

The usual media circus didn’t begin until summer’s end, though. By that time, nearly a dozen women had gone missing. Likely more. “It is difficult to say for sure,” the authorities said, “as they may have traveled elsewhere.” As if that possibility would console the families . . . 

It really had been a lovely summer. So as a small token of thanks, I set one of my favorite’s shoes along the water with a bouquet of flowers. Even though I preferred to keep each pair, it was the least that I could do to let go of one of my trophies. I took a photo, of course, as a memento mori. It’s not like anyone would question why, as I was the local photographer, after all.

Fiction © Copyright Terrie Leigh Relf
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com 

More from author Terrie Leigh Relf:

The Sisterhood of the Blood Moon

For thousands of Earth years, the Transgalactic Consortium has had a quiet interest in this planet and its inhabitants, the Haurans. While the Sisterhood of the Blood Moon works together with the Consortium and Haurans to maintain balance in the universe, the Blood Moon is fast approaching. The power of this moon reveals untold secrets . . . including a sacred covenant with the Mora Spiders. There is an ancient pact that needs to be honored—but at what cost and for whose purpose? The world may come to an end. But will there be a chance for a new beginning?

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