The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

The Perfect Selfie
by Kim Richards 

Mel chose this spot in the middle of the street because of the perfect angle. The street lamps and storefront lights illuminated other places with their dingy glow. The TV news reported no fog tonight. Excited, she smiled and sat down, ignoring the dirt and smell of decay around her.

A chilled numbness climbed over her skin, through her jean shorts and fishnets. At least she remembered her sweater this time. March nights were still cold. She learned her lesson last time she forgot it and had to give up. Now, she wore it tightly wrapped around her torso with the hood pulled up over her long hair.

Sitting cross legged, her phone lay on the road surface between her scuffed athletic shoes. The app she intended to use to activate the camera sat ready. She only needed to tap the button to start the timer then, 15 seconds later, the camera would take the pic.

She used the sleeve of her sweater to buff smudges off the camera lens. Satisfied, she spread out the legs of the tripod, adjusted the focus, and zoomed in just a little to where she last saw it.

After a few minutes, a thin wisp of ethereal smoke appeared among the roses Mel’s camera focused on. Her pulse quickened.

It’s early!

Her finger poised over the button as she drew a deep breath, then let it out slowly. Her breath floated up, visible in the crisp night air.

The wisp thickened and coalesced into a shape. Humanoid with two legs and two arms, a round head, and thick torso.

“Now!” Mel whispered. She pressed the timer button and leapt to her feet. Focused on her destination, she navigated around the rose bushes as she sprinted over to the apparition. She stopped beside it, breathing heavily.

The shadow turned its spectral head to face her. This close, its features solidified. Inky empty eyes stared deeply into Mel’s. Its mouth opened in a wide ‘O’, revealing a dark chasm within.

Time to face the camera.

Mesmerized, Mel’s body froze. She could only watch as blackened hands reached out and grasped her shoulders. Its chill touch burned her skin through her clothing.

“Help me!” her mind cried out.

The apparition leaned forward. Its face stopped an inch from Mel’s. From within its open mouth, it sucked in.

Pain pummeled Mel in the chest. It sucked her breath away, leaving an excruciating vacuum. Unable to open her mouth, her mind screamed hard.

Flash. Then the shadowy thing disappeared, clasping her soul to its chest.

.

Fiction © Copyright Kim Richards
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com