The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

For the past few months I’ve been caught in an undertow of despair. My therapy sessions are going nowhere. I don’t like the numb sensation that comes with some antidepressants. I was beginning to lose hope when my natural path friend, Alice, suggested micro dosing. I was initially hesitant but figured why not?

She made this brown funky smelling tea. She noticed me cringe.

“‘C’mon it’s not as bad as it smells.”

I gave her a wicked side eye then asked, ‘What should I expect?’ All she told me was it would be a journey to the center of my woes.

I pinched my nose then gulped it down. I coughed up some green fungi. I hadn’t realized it was a part of the tea. It took affect almost immediately. We were sitting in her backyard near a small fire.

The sky turned purple and green hues that further disoriented me. The air swirled around me and pulsated like a heartbeat. I tried to shake it off but I sank further. I reached out for Alice but she looked distorted and gruesome. I fell back on my hands with my knees bent for stability. I crab walked my way back from her but the blades of grass pulled at me like quicksand pulling me underground.

I frantically tried to dig my way out. I was so close to getting out when distorted Alice kicked me back into my proxy grave. She crackled in an ear splitting manner. “Did you seriously think I’d help you after you betrayed me!?”

I had no idea what she was talking about. I didn’t have time to even ponder why. My stomach heaved and I projectile vomited out more of these fungi looking spores. They ate and gnawed me until I had no skin left. I looked up seeing Alice holding a shovel in her hands.

I heard the crack before feeling it. My body went numb then there was nothing but a black expanse as far as I could see. The next thing I know I was screaming, everything returned to normal.

“Bad trip, huh?”

“It was so real and not good at all.”

“That sometimes happens, sorry about that. Are you feeling any better.”

Something in my head snapped. I jumped on top of Alice pinning her to the ground with my knees. I wasn’t in control the spores were. I opened her mouth and fed her the spores mama Bird style. I watched them consume her then walked off. I don’t know where I’m going. I think the spores know.