The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

“I was framed!” said the Kraken
by Alex Grehy

“I was framed!” said the Kraken.

We shook our heads, not believing a word. His arachnoid strangeness screamed guilt in our minds. We chose not to see the wisdom in his ocean deep eyes.

“I’m not a monster!” said the Kraken.

We shook our heads, recalling the skinless bodies of our townsfolk and tourists, left on the shore where salty wavelets caressed their agony.

“It wasn’t me!” said the Kraken.

We shook our heads, our elders had warned us not to trust the hideous beast, so unlike us, whose lies would lead us to death in his arms.

“Please listen” the Kraken implored.

We erected defences. Stout posts prevented the brute from reaching the beach; protecting the innocent from the flaying grasp of his tentacles.

“Do not trust the shells!” said the Kraken

The shells drew us in, their lovely iridescence awakened our sympathy. We knew, somehow, that they were refugees, driven from the sea by the Kraken.

“They are deadly!” the Kraken cried.

We knew he would come, the shells were the bait. Closer he swam calling his warnings. We pulled the net tight around his flailing limbs.

“Do not touch them!” cried the Kraken.

We did not heed him; our ears filled with sea whispers from the beautiful shells; the sting of their poison unnoticed. 

“Mercy!” begged the Kraken.

We made him suffer for each of the deaths that we believed he had caused. The monster who claimed to protect us. The sea turned purple with ink and blood.

“Give them mercy!” the Kraken’s last words.

We did not understand he was calling to them, to grant us compassion. There was none to be had. The sun set gold, the shells glowed as we fell, gleaming feral as they slithered over our beach naked skins. Their razor teeth rasped, stripped our skins, slowly. Anchored by toxins, immobile, aware, we suffered as he had, betrayed.

Fiction © Copyright Alex Grehy
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

More from author Alex Grehy:

After a lifetime of writing technical non-fiction, Alex Grey is fulfilling her dream of writing poems and stories that engage the reader’s emotions. Her work has been featured by a wide range of publications including Siren’s Call, Raconteur, Bookends Review, and Toasted Cheese. One of her comic poems is also available via a worldwide network of public fiction dispensers managed by French publisher, Short Edition. Her ingredients for contentment are narrow boating, greyhounds, singing and chocolate. It is a sweet life, yet Alex’ original view of the world has led to her best friend to say ‘For someone so lovely, you’re very twisted!

Please click here to discover more!