The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

Flowers  
by Kathleen McCluskey 

Rachel pedaled along the deserted country road; wildflowers lined the dusty gravel pathway. She smiled into the sunshine as her red hooded cape flapped playfully behind her. The basket on her bicycle was filled with the day’s finds. She had stopped several times along her route to acquire the beautiful posies. She could see bushes up on a hill with large, white bouquets. She wanted the puffy beauties for her collection. Her grandmother always loved when she brought her flowers. She stopped and pushed her bike up the hill.

As she selected the most abundant bunches she heard a rustling coming from within the shrub. She bolted upright and tilted her head to the side. She called out, “Hello?” She paused and glared into the greenery. “Hello?” She said again, louder this time. Still nothing but the slight summer breeze rustling the surrounding forest. Rachel shrugged her shoulders and began her selection again. Her large gardening sheers glinted off of the sunlight. She could hear someone or something approaching. She stood and turned around to see a woodsman coming out of the forest. His large ax was slung over his shoulder and he was smoking a cigarette. Rachel lifted a hand in salutation, he returned the greeting. She lifted the hood on her cloak as they began to walk towards each other.

Rachel put out her hand, “Hello, I’m Rachel. I’m on my way to my grandmother’s house.”

The woodsman’s hands were rough and hard working, “Hi, I know your grandmother. I am out here getting some firewood for her. I need to get back. Be safe out here, little one, there have been sightings of wolves in the area.”

Rachel nodded her head, “Thanks, I’ll be careful.”  She watched as he walked down the hill; the muscles in his arms, shiny with sweat, rippled as he moved his ax from one shoulder to the other. Rachel smiled.

She was cutting the last few treasures when she heard the rustling sound again. “I know you are there, just come out and make it easy for both of us.” She sniffed the air deeply and released a massive hiss in the direction of the bush. A deep, menacing growl answered her from within. Rachel’s fingers grew longer and bonier. Her fingernails became thick claws. She circled the bush with her hands out to her side. Her large fangs, now fully emerged, hung past her chin. Spittle dangled off the tip of one. The wolf vaulted himself out of the bramble and onto Rachel’s chest, knocking her to the ground. The beast lifted its head back and howled. She rammed her shears into the creature’s neck. It’s howl abruptly stopped and a high pitched whine came from the being. Rachel pushed the dying wolf off of her. “You fucking wolves think all of the Red family are easy prey. Not all of us are pureblood vampires, but I am. I have been systematically eradicating your pack from this area. You animals killed my sister and tried to take out my grandmother.” She spat on his corpse and transformed back into the demure Rachel Red on her way to her grandma’s house.

Fiction © Copyright Kathleen McCluskey
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com 

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!