The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

Pretty Little Things 
by Alex Grehy

Mama said that pretty little things were

a girl’s best magic, casting a spell on the 

world to keep it sweet, no matter what.

.

White bed linen, a mug of hot chocolate,

a globe of twinkling lights, scented candle, 

grandpa’s camera, my favourite book, 

pretty, clean things.

.

I hear the dirty world swirling around,

a punch, a thump, a shout, a scream, then

silence pressing against my locked door.

.

White bed linen, a mug of hot chocolate,

a globe of twinkling lights, scented candle, 

grandpa’s camera, my favourite book, 

pretty, quiet things

.

I feel the pressure of wicked acts, the

missiles, the wars, the conflagrations,

the heat of conflict scorching my locked door.

.

White bed linen, a mug of hot chocolate,

a globe of twinkling lights, scented candle, 

grandpa’s camera, my favourite book, 

pretty, peaceful things

.

Mama told me to stay in the basement, I wanted 

her to stay, but said she had to fight with her 

grown-up spells, ones that might change the world.

.

I set out my pretty little things, reciting their names,

giving them power against the evil of the world.

The pungent scent of malice, sulphurous like hellfire,

seeps round the edges of my locked door. 

.

I hear, I feel, I smell. But all I see is 

white bed linen, a mug of hot chocolate,

a globe of twinkling lights, scented candle, 

grandpa’s camera, my favourite book, 

my pretty little things, 

just my pretty little things.

.

Fiction © Copyright Alex Grehy
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

More from author Alex Grehy:

Last Species Standing

Alex Grehy (she/her) enjoys writing quirky, thought-provoking horror and is a regular contributor to The Sirens Call and Ladies of Horror Flash Project. Her fiction and essays on being a lady of horror have featured in a range of publications, including Spread: Tales of Deadly Flora. Alex’s first poetry collection, Last Species Standing, which explores mankind’s relationship with nature and technology, is available on Amazon.

Available on Amazon!