The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

Gold Dust Woman
by Sheri White 

Rhiannon wasn’t feeling it today. The model turned this way and that, lost in thought and not paying attention to the moment.

The photographer, Trent, stopped clicking the camera sitting on a tripod. “Honey—sweetheart. Can you show a little more enthusiasm? The client wants happy. I’m paying you for happy. Okay?”

He began photographing Rhiannon again. She twirled and swirled and spun to Gold Dust Woman playing in the background, tapping into her inner Steve Nicks. Rhiannon smiled, but the smile didn’t get up to her eyes.

You don’t usually see Stevie smiling, either. What’s the big deal? she thought.

Trent sighed and stood straight. “Listen, Rhia—”

“It’s Rhiannon—you know, after the Fleetwood Mac song?”

“I don’t give a shit what your name is, Princess. You are a face that should be smiling. So unfuck your resting bitch face and do your goddamn job!”

“Fine.” Rhiannon did smile this time, spreading her lips wide and showing her teeth.

“Oh, come on! You look like you’re baring your teeth. You’re not a predator, you’re just a woman.”

Just a woman?

Tears began to run down her cheeks.

“Please don’t be mad at me. My auntie died today, and I just found out before this job.”

Trent grimaced at the crying Rhiannon. Just what I need, a model with a sob story to get out of doing some actual work.

“Oh, sweetheart. I’m sorry.” He walked towards Rhiannon with his arms stretched in front of him, intending to hug her. Just as he got close enough, Rhiannon rammed her knee into his balls, dropping him like a rock.

He curled up into the fetal position, cupping his crotch. Rhiannon grabbed the back of his shirt and dragged him to a wall, forcing him into a sitting position against it.

“Look at me.” She snapped her fingers in his face. “Open your eyes and look at me, Trent!”

He looked at her through eyes only half-open.

“Good. Now smile.”

“Can’t…it hurts.”

“I don’t give a shit. Smile, Trent.”

“Please…just give me a minute.”

“You only get compassion when you give it. You sure didn’t give it to me today. Feels shitty, doesn’t it, Trent?”

He nodded slightly, still holding his balls and looking small and pitiful.

“Good. Maybe you learned something today.” She walked to the shelf and got her bag. “Okay, I’m leaving. You will pay me for my time today, yes?”

Trent nodded again, his eyes fully open now.

“One last thing. You give me a fucking smile right now or I’ll destroy your balls again.”

His eyes widened in alarm. He smiled, not a great one, but it was real this time.

“Good enough.” Rhiannon began to walk away.

“Rhiannon?” She turned to look at the pathetic mess on the floor. “I’m truly sorry you lost your auntie today.”

This time Rhiannon smiled, one of the most beautiful smiles Trent had ever seen.

“I don’t have an auntie.” She confidently strutted to the exit door, stilettos clicking briskly across the studio floor.

.

Fiction © Copyright Sheri White
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

More from Author Sheri White:

Don’t Turn Out the Lights: A Tribute to Alvin Schwartz’s Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

Featuring stories from R.L. Stine and Madeleine Roux, this middle grade horror anthology, curated by New York Times bestselling author and master of macabre Jonathan Maberry, is a chilling tribute to Alvin Schwartz’s Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.

Flesh-hungry ogres? Brains full of spiders? Haunted houses you can’t escape? This collection of 35 terrifying stories from the Horror Writers Association has it all, including ghastly illustrations from Iris Compiet that will absolutely chill readers to the bone.

So turn off your lamps, click on your flashlights, and prepare—if you dare—to be utterly spooked!

The complete list of writers: Linda D. Addison, Courtney Alameda, Jonathan Auxier, Gary A. Braunbeck, Z Brewer, Aric Cushing, John Dixon, Tananarive Due, Jamie Ford, Kami Garcia, Christopher Golden, Tonya Hurley, Catherine Jordan, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Alethea Kontis, N.R. Lambert, Laurent Linn, Amy Lukavics, Barry Lyga, D.J. MacHale, Josh Malerman, James A. Moore, Michael Northrop, Micol Ostow, Joanna Parypinksi, Brendan Reichs, Madeleine Roux, R.L. Stine, Margaret Stohl, Gaby Triana, Luis Alberto Urrea, Rosario Urrea, Kim Ventrella, Sheri White, T.J. Wooldridge, Brenna Yovanoff

Available on Amazon!