The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

The Warehouse 
by Kathleen McCluskey 

The sun hung low in the afternoon sky, casting long shadows across the abandoned warehouse at the edge of town. Its weathered bricks and broken windows told tales of a bygone era when the factory buzzed with activity and life. Now it stood silent, a forgotten relic overshadowed by the passing of time. A group of adventurous kids seeking to break the monotony of their summer days gathered near the warehouse. Their laughter bounced off of the arcane walls as they tossed around an old worn-out baseball. Their energy reverberated through the ancient structure.

Jake, a daring 13-year old with a mop top haircut, wound up for a pitch. He aimed and with a powerful throw the baseball soared through the air. He aimed at the rusty window panes and allowed the baseball to gracefully fly from his hand. The sound of shattering glass echoed through the summer heat, momentarily drowning the kids’ laughter. A sudden hush fell over the group as they looked through the broken glass. The dusty air seemed to settle and an eerie silence fell over the group. The broken window  revealed a glimpse into the darkness that was inside the warehouse, a darkness that seemed to have a life of its own.

A chill ran down Jake’s back as he cautiously approached the busted window in search of his father’s baseball. The group of boys waited for Jake to get closer to the window. His friends gathered around, their curiosity mixed with a creeping feeling of unease. Shadows danced within the warehouse and an otherworldly presence seemed to pulse and move in the gloomy background. Just out of visual range the presence seemed to mock the boys.

Unbeknownst to the kids, their innocent play had awoken an ancient and forgotten creature. As they stared into the inky abyss a subtle whisper echoed, barely audible at first. The air thickened and an unseen force began to weave its way through the broken glass escaping into the fading evening sun.

As the blackness spilled out of the broken window, it coalesced into a shadowy figure with an indistinct form. Its presence was more felt than seen, a shifting silhouette that seemed to defy the laws of reality. Wisps of inky, black evil trailed behind it, giving the impression of a living, pulsating shadow.

The entity possessed an ancient aura, as if it had been imprisoned for eons in the lonely warehouse. Its eyes, deep pools of blackness, shone with an otherworldly malevolence. Sharp, elongated tendrils reached out of its form resembling claws that could reach out and contract at will. The air around vibrated with a low hum, the sound seemed to carry ancient whispers and long forgotten incantations. Those who gazed upon it felt a chilling sensation as if being scrutinized by the ghostly presence that had witnessed the rise and fall of mankind’s greatest civilizations.

As the children unwittingly released the ancient being, they found themselves in the sticky web of supernatural occurrences. Their once innocent game now de-evolved into a fight with an entity that sought to consume their souls. The boys sought refuge behind a rusted out car, all of them breathing heavily. They watched in horror as the being slithered closer and closer to them. Its long tendrils reached for them. One of the boys remembered an old talisman that his grandmother had given him. His venerable family member was from the motherland. Her knowledge of ancient spells and incantations ran deep. She gave this charm as a form of protection. The other boys watched in awe as he retrieved the charm from his pocket. He held it aloft and recited a family prayer that was handed down through the generations. The talisman glowed with a protective light, creating a barrier that allowed the boys to escape.

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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!