Ladies of Horror Flash Project – #Horror #author Kathleen McCluskey @KathleenMcClus4 @Darc_Nina #LoH #fiction

Posted on December 20, 2020 by Nina D'Arcangela

The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

002_DEC_LOHGold
by Kathleen McCluskey

James could hear the wind howling as his tent rattled violently from the gusts. He sat back and listened intently, he tried to block out the sounds of the night and focus on a different vibration coming from the desolate, frozen wasteland. His captors, long gone, thought that the cold would be the beginning of his demise. Little did they know that his kind could survive in the most extreme climate, including here in this icy realm.
He twisted his wrists, trying in vain to remove the golden cuffs. His captors were smarter than he had anticipated and captured him with the only metal on the planet that could contain him: gold. His capture was quite pedestrian and he was disappointed in himself that he was so easily incarcerated. The moment that he knew that they were planning an arctic expulsion for him, he smiled inwardly. His kind would find him.
James closed his eyes and began to hum, a song that would only be heard by his kind. His purring became louder and louder until cutting through the howling wind a response was heard. James popped open his eyes and began to howl. A reassuring howl responded. His family was close, he threw his head back and inhaled deeply though his nose. He could smell his kind. He searched frantically for something, anything to release himself from the golden constraints.
James could hear soft sniffing as a large, white nose pushed through the door of the tent. It pushed a key, the key to his freedom, into the tent. Unlocking the handcuffs and exiting the tent James began to transform. He was elated to finally be free of this human form. His body convulsed as his true being began to emerge. Large talons emerged and long white fur replaced his vulnerable human skin. He was once again part of the abominable snowman tribe. Howling the song of the Yeti, he embraced his female and the troop fled back into their frozen domain.
Fiction © Copyright Kathleen McCluskey
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com
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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!

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The Ladies of Horror Flash Project – #Horror #author Naching T. Kassa @NachingKassa @Darc_Nina #LoH #fiction

Posted on December 20, 2020 by Nina D'Arcangela

The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

001_DEC_LOH

A Christmas Tale
by Naching T. Kassa

Lydia Cratchitt sat in the hospital cafeteria, her eyes on her table’s red top. Festive decorations surrounded her in hues of glittering green, red, and silver, but she paid them little mind. Darkness had reached into her life, taken hold of her heart, and squeezed the light from it. 
A heavy-set waitress approached Lydia’s table holding a white paper bag in one hand.
“Lydia!” she cried. “I haven’t seen you in a while.”
“Hello, Peg. How’s school?”
“Wonderful. My Bruce poo-pooed those cooking classes of mine, but he sure enjoys them now.”
“That’s great.”
Peg cocked her head to one side. “You ok, honey?”
A tear formed at the corner of Lydia’s eye and she quickly brushed it away. “No.”
“What’s wrong? Is it Tim?”
Lydia nodded. “I was up in his room a few minutes ago. The procedure on his back…it didn’t work. He still can’t walk.” 
“Oh, honey. I’m so sorry.”
“They’re keeping him in the hospital for observation until Friday. Tomorrow’s Christmas and I won’t see him.”
“Why not?
“I asked for the day off and my boss, Jackie, agreed. But this morning, she changed her mind. She says that if she has to work, I do too. I can’t believe it. She knows about Tim.”
“Call in sick.”
“She’ll fire me if I do. And with all the medical bills, I can’t afford that. I…” She trailed off and buried her face in her hands. Peg placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently. 
“That boss of yours is a real bitch.”
Lydia pulled a napkin from the dispenser on the table and dabbed at her eyes. “Well, it isn’t all bad. I won’t have to spend the whole day with Ms. Scrooge. At least I can see Tim when I get off.”
“Someone should get that woman an appointment with the three spirits,” Peg said. She paused. And tapped her upper lip with one finger. “You know, that gives me an idea. Wait here a minute.”
Peg hurried to the back. She returned a few minutes later with a Styrofoam cup.
“What’s this?” Lydia asked as the waitress set the cup down.
“Tea. A special kind I learned how to make it in one of my classes. It’s for your boss.”
“It’s not poison is it?”
“Of course not. It’s better if drunk from a glass cup, so you may want to use that. Tell her it’s a present from Peg in the Mt. Carmel Hospital cafeteria.”
“Will it hurt her?”
“It won’t kill her. Relax. All it’ll do is keep her from working for a bit.”
“I don’t think I should thank you for this.”
“You shouldn’t. Now, get to work or you’ll be late.”
“I just want to peek in on Tim one more time.”
“Don’t worry about Tim. I’ll check on him. And I’ll bring him a cup of tea while I’m at it.”
Lydia hurried out of the hospital and out to her car. She arrived at her workplace fifteen minutes later. Gordon’s Groceries hummed with activity.
Lydia took the cup from her cupholder and studied it.
She couldn’t give Jackie the tea. Not even for Tim’s sake. She carried it into the store, intending to toss it in the garbage.
“Thank God you’re back,” Tina, a red-headed girl said as Lydia walked through the door.
“What’s wrong?” 
“Ms. Scrooge is on the warpath. The new checker just asked for Christmas off. She blew up at her just outside her office. I think she’s going to fire her.”
“Katie? But she’s pregnant.”3jjjjkn 
“I don’t think Scrooge cares.”
Lydia hurried over to the manager’s office, the Styrofoam cup still in her hand. She found Jackie outside, shouting at a young woman with a tear-stained face.
“Jackie?” Lydia said.
“What?” the woman said, turning. She scowled at Lydia with crimson painted lips. The shade matched the color of her hair, the color of her coat, and the color of her nails. “What do you want, Lydia.”
“I’ll work Katie’s shift.”
“You want to work a double? I thought you had someplace to be.”
“It won’t be a problem,” Lydia said, clutching the cup Peg had given her.
“Alright.” She turned to Katie. “Get out of my sight.”
The pregnant woman hurried away. 
Lydia followed Jackie into her office. The woman stepped behind her desk, picked up a pair of fingerless gloves, and slipped them on. 
“Damn it’s cold,” Jackie muttered. She glanced up at Lydia. “Did you just get back from lunch?”
“Yes. I went to Mr. Carmel’s cafeteria. Peg heard you were having trouble with the cold and she sent this over. Do you have a glass cup? It may have cooled down a little.”
Jackie arched an eyebrow. “There’s one by the microwave. You can warm it up in there.”
Lydia prepared the tea in the microwave. When she’d finished, she handed the glass mug to Jackie.
“You can get back to work now,” her boss said, waving her away.
Lydia bowed out of the room and shut the door behind her. She’d barely taken two steps when something hit the wall behind her. A blood-curdling scream filled the air. 
Lydia rushed back to the office door and pulled on the doorknob. It wouldn’t budge.
“Oh, God!” Jackie screamed. “Help me!”
Something thumped against the door and it shook with the impact.
“Jackie!” Lydia cried. Several employees appeared at that moment. They stared at the door, eyes wide, as Jackie screamed again.
“Get the door open!” Lydia cried.
Two young men rushed up and threw their shoulders against the door. At last, it flew open. Lydia rushed inside.
The place lay in shambles. Paper, splintered wood, and other debris littered the floor. A shadow stood in the corner of the room. It stared at Lydia with strange scarlet eyes and opened a mouth filled with rows of sharp and bloodied teeth. Lydia blinked as it vanished into the woodwork.
A soft moan sounded from behind the desk. Jackie lay on the floor, her right arm and left leg bent at an unnatural angle. She stared at Lydia with haunted eyes.
“G-ghosts!” she whispered. 
“Oh, Jackie. I’m so sorry,” Lydia cried. 
“I will honor Christmas and keep it all the year,” Jackie said, trembling.
“I didn’t know you’d be hurt.”
“Their spirits shall strive within me. Their spirits shall strive within me!”
“Call an ambulance,” Lydia said. “Quick!”
Jackie grasped hold of Lydia’s wrist. “Tim will walk again,” she whispered. “He will walk again.”
Lydia’s heart rose into her throat. She pulled away from Jackie and rose to her feet. Tina took her place as she stepped away. 
Lydia’s cell phone rang, and she pulled it from her pocket. Mt. Carmel’s phone number came across the screen. She answered.
“Hello?”
“Hi, babe!”
“Tim? Tim, are you alright?”
“I couldn’t be better. Are you busy?”
“A little.”
“Then, I’ll be quick. It looks like I’ll be home for Christmas after all.”
“Oh, sweetheart! That’s wonderful! Are they loaning us a wheelchair?”
“Nope.”
“Not crutches?”
“No.”
“They’re not giving us anything?”
“They don’t need to.”
The phone nearly dropped from Lydia’s fingers.
“It’s weird, babe. One minute I was trapped in bed and the next I was on my feet. You see, Peg came to give me a cup of tea…”
Fiction © Copyright Naching T. Kassa
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com
 

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More from Naching T. Kassa:

abArterial Bloom

Lush. Brutal.

Beautiful. Visceral.

Crystal Lake Publishing proudly presents Arterial Bloom, an artful juxtaposition of the magnificence and macabre that exist within mankind. Each tale in this collection is resplendent with beauty, teeth, and heart.

Edited by the Bram Stoker Award-winning writer Mercedes M. Yardley, Arterial Bloom is a literary experience featuring sixteen stories from some of the most compelling dark authors writing today.

With a foreword by HWA Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient Linda D. Addison, you are invited to step inside and let the grim flowers wind themselves comfortably around your bones.

Available on Amazon!

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Ladies of Horror Flash Project – #Horror #author Sheikha A. @Darc_Nina #LoH #fiction

Posted on December 4, 2020 by Nina D'Arcangela

The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

Nov_Image04Bloody Jasmines
by Sheikha A.

The moon swims in Neptune;
she oversees the scorpion,
clad in blue fur. Blood spurts
from throats of those she sews;
she turns silver under the touch
of moonlight – glorious, ravishing,
enthralling – she decimates
as men avoid her gaze – Medusa
on wild ocean waves. She is statue
of Midas, potent and irresistible,
sinister like Poseidon’s stealthy foot
steps on water; like a lurking spirit
in corners of a room. She guards
mirrors and reflections of souls
she has eaten; time has vanished
on her scales, growing longer than grief –
void essence – shedding days
behind her. Her mirror creaks
a beckoning she has heard before;
the moon curdles scarlet-froth; souls
upon souls trapped like tree roots;
she slithers, her venom shimmering
and fragrant. His whisper is familiar
calling her name, urging like waves
surrendering to silken shores; she looks
into her mirror, his smile like the trance
she would cast; and his eyes sapphire
onyx – silent blue flames – consuming,
unforgiving,
as she turns to stone.
Fiction © Copyright Sheikha A.
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

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More from author Sheikha A.:

Screen Shot 2019-12-17 at 10.57.17 AM.pngNyctophiliac Confessions:
Poems by Sheikha A. and Suvojit Banerjee

“The night is cold enough to inspire poetry,” says Sheikha A. in her poem, “Reading My Bones.” This is the basis of Nyctophiliac Confessions – poems that are introspective and luminal, poems that require a certain amount of silence and space to be fully formed and appreciated. Reading these poems, I imagined that they were the kind of poems that assert themselves unbidden during a bout of insomnia. (A nyctophiliac being someone who loves the night or loves darkness).

Nyctophiliac Confessions is the 17th installment of Praxis’ chapbook series and contains twenty-six poems written by two poets, Sheikha A. and Suvojit Banerjee, interspersed with abstract paintings by Robert Rhodes.

Available Here!

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Ladies of Horror Flash Project – #Horror #author Asena Lourenco @ElaLourenco @Darc_Nina #LoH #fiction

Posted on November 30, 2020 by Nina D'Arcangela

The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

Nov_Image01The Broken Barriers
by Asena Lourenco

The glass wept for mercy as sweaty fingertips clung on for life. 
The translucent barrier tempted me with a peek at what it held within but with enough protection to conceal the villain hidden.
 The white streaks of light were fighting a losing battle as the night swallowed it whole. Muffled screams rang through my ears.
 Sharp, but quiet, as if it were through a broken telephone. 
My head rested against the ruins of a wall. 
A warm thick substance tickled my bare toes, as my eyes darted to confront this unwelcome guest. 
A shriek sounded from behind the bolted door, synchronised with my own.
 Fragments of red glass scattered across the floor as a fist of the same pigmentation appeared through the opening. 
The deafening beat from my chest stopped as my brain blanked. 
My shoulder hit the concrete with a thud as my vision closed off.
Fiction © Copyright Asena Lourenco
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

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More about Asena Lourenco:

Asena Lourenco is 13 years old. She loves reading, playing Scottish traditional fiddle music on her violin, dancing, and martial arts as well as writing her own stories.

She would like to be a teacher and writer when she grows up. She also loves cats and babies!

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Posted in Authors, Dark Fiction, flash fiction, FREE, Horror, Ladies of Horror, Writing Project | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ladies of Horror Flash Project – #Horror #author Erin Sweet Al-Mehairi @ErinAlMehairi @Darc_Nina #LoH #fiction

Posted on November 29, 2020 by Nina D'Arcangela

The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

Nov_Image03

Tentacled Stars and Madness
by Erin Sweet Al-Mehairi

How could I resist opening the door
to madness,
to chaos,
to FEELING?
I twisted the handle,
and I floated toward the stars,
toward the particles,
toward the tiny fires,
and I landed with one foot upon
the twinkling glow.
I outstretched my arm to the abyss,
and a tentacle clasped my hand,
and I laughed, being pulled away
into the midnight expanse of iridescent
nothingness
or is it encompassing, life painted as a cerebral hemorrhage,
an image emblazoned on our mind of what God is or the gods are,
of our existence.
I rotate through the soft air, looking upward from my back
as the sky creature pulls me toward oblivion,
as if I don’t even care to know where I go,
but enjoy the spontaneity.
The symbols etched in the stars as I go by – I finger them,
the runes of the galaxy;
my brain on fire, each synapse bursting open,
and yet, I’m unburdened.
In its lair, finally, it wraps its long arms around me and crushes,
bright lights flash before me, around me,
my mind downloading all of humanity’s curses and wishes,
and then,
I’m gone, floating in some communal stomach cavity, disintegrating to smaller pieces,
but becoming part of a bigger cosmos we could only dream of understanding…
…from our tiny window below.
Fiction © Copyright Erin Sweet Al-Mehairi
Fiction Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

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More from Erin Sweet Al-Mehairi:

Breathe. Breathe. 

BreatheBreathe. is a collection of dark poetry and short fiction exploring the surreal depths of humanity. It’s a representation of how life breaks us apart and words put us back together. Purged onto the pages, dark emotions flow, urging readers into murky seas and grim forests, to the fine line between breathing and death.In Act One, readers are presented with a serial killer in Victorian London, a lighthouse keeper with an eerie legacy, a murderous spouse that seems to have walked right out of a mystery novel, and a treacherous Japanese lady who wants to stay immortal. The heightened fears in the twilight of your minds will seep into the blackest of your nights, where you have to breathe in rhythm to stay alive.

In Act Two, the poetry turns more internal and pierces through the wall of denial and pain, bringing visceral emotions to the surface unleashing traumas such as domestic abuse, violence, and illness.
In the short stories, you’ll meet residents of Valhalla Lane whose lives are on a violent parallel track to collision, a man who is driven mad by the sound of a woodpecker, a teenage girl who wakes up on the beach and can’t find another soul in sight, a woman caught in a time shift pitting her against the Egyptian goddess Anuket, and a little girl whose whole world changes when her favorite dandelion yellow crayon is discontinued.
Amid these pages the haunting themes of oppression, isolation, revenge, and madness unfold through folklore, nightmares, and often times, raw, impulsive passion crafted to sear from the inside out.
With a touching foreword by the Bram Stoker nominated author Brian Kirk, Breathe. Breathe. will at times unsettle you, and at times embrace you. Erin Sweet Al-Mehairi, a veteran writer and editor of the written word, offers up a mixed set of pieces, identifying her as a strong, new voice in dark fiction that will tear the heart from your chest, all the while reminding you to breathe.

Available on Amazon!

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Ladies of Horror Flash Project – #Horror #author Bailey Hunter @DarkRecesses @Darc_Nina #LoH #fiction

Posted on November 29, 2020 by Nina D'Arcangela

The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

Nov_Image03

Death’s Embrace
by Bailey Hunter

Jimmy has been by my side nonstop since it happened.  At first I was happy about it, but not anymore. Jimmy is not the sweet, gentle man I knew before that day. It changed him. He’s become so aggressive and violent to anyone he sees as a threat to me. 
When I was in the hospital, there were loads of strangers handing me cards for lawyers, mental health, home care, etc., all under the guise of support.  Except one old man who didn’t really offer anything. He simply said, “for when you’re ready,” and handed me a card with the name Heman Black printed on the front, and an address scrawled on the back. 
I guess I’m ready. I’m at the place now. Jimmy is with me, as always. Part of me is glad. The place is plain, like the card. Just a door, and a sign that says “Knock Three Times” tacked to it, which I do.
A soft shuffling can be heard, then the door opens just a bit. The thin grey man, smiles kindly and gestures with a frail hand for us to come in. 
As we step through the door, the room seems to unfold in front of us, shadows dance in corners and over old books, and Heman… he changes too. I am frozen. My brain tells me I should be terrified, but my heart is calm as I watch his metamorphosis from old man to Death itself. 
He speaks no words, but I hear him in my head. “It’s time, Jimmy. You don’t belong here any more.” Death’s voice is calm, almost serene.  
I feel Jimmy’s cold hand grasp me so tight it burns, and I yelp, “Jimmy please, you’re hurting me!”
His fingers release as if on spring. Jimmy looks at me with those sad eyes I could never stay mad at.  Death wraps Jimmy in his cloak, and I am alone in this abandoned room, only the quickly darkening bruise on my arm where Jimmy grabbed me as proof of Death’s embrace.
Fiction © Copyright Bailey Hunter
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com
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More about Bailey Hunter:
Bailey is a publisher with Dark Recesses Press.

Dark Recesses Press is a publishing house dedicated to providing high quality dark fiction in its many forms to the reader. Our end goal is to impress and entertain, no matter what dark recesses we dare shine our light on.

DarkRecessesPress.com

 
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Ladies of Horror Flash Project – #Horror #author Kendra Hale @DevourAllWords @Darc_Nina #LoH #fiction

Posted on November 28, 2020 by Nina D'Arcangela

The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

Nov_Image02

I Am No Ifrit
by Kendra Hale

I can hear the chant, the continual hum. My eyes are opened. Seeing the smoke and smelling the sweat in the air. There is warmth…no more than warmth, it is a high heat. My body felt like it was on fire. I can feel the strain of my skin as it is pulling taut and hear the popping as my skin is breaking free. The real me, the true me is being summoned. 
My brain tells me that I should be feeling pain but there is none. There is pressure and it is everywhere. This form is being stripped away and it isn’t torture but a pleasure. It is the most exquisite experience. These beings around me have freed me and as my eyes shift and it goes from dim to an outstanding bright light…I feel a familiar hunger in my stomach. 
I want nothing more than to satiate it. They are on their knees before me and the red moon seems to mirror my wanton needs. I have risen, I am whole. Stretching my body to its full height, I tower over these simple beings who had ideals of wishes being granted by freeing me…but I am no Djinn. I am stronger even than the Ifrit and no prayer of Gabriel shall defeat me. 
My stomach again tells me that this sacrifice should be honored. They may have meant to gain power and in a way they shall but it shall be by my hands. Their souls shall be removed from this existence for their wishes are naught but evil…I shall cleanse them and slake my hunger. I do not enjoy their screams…of which there are many. It is time to walk this world once more.
Fiction © Copyright Kendra Hale
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

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More from author Kendra Hale:

je


Just Emotions:
A Gothic Bite Magazine Anthology

A collection of poetry.

 Available on Amazon!  

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Posted in Authors, Dark Fiction, flash fiction, FREE, Horror, Ladies of Horror, Writing Project | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Ladies of Horror Flash Project – #Horror #author Lydia Prime @LydiaPrime @Darc_Nina #LoH #fiction

Posted on November 28, 2020 by Nina D'Arcangela

The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

Nov_Image01

Freddie Promised
by Lydia Prime

Freddie always promised that he’d be home in time for supper. He crossed his heart and hoped to die as his mommy waved him off. He’d hop on his bike and head for the hills, knowing he’d need to return when the lights came on.
Freddie made his same promise every afternoon, and always made it home as the food was being served. His mommy would smile her odd crooked smile. Freddie said grace, and held his mommy’s hand for just a few moments longer each day.
The following day, the pair continued their routine, crossed hearts and sad waves. Freddie’s mommy made a special meal, peppering the pie with a hearty helping of arsenic. A double scoop, she thought, adding some to her own plate, just to get the job done. 
The front door flew open. A blurry version of Freddie ran in, excited to say grace and see his mommy. He washed up and sat at the table, the biggest grin plastered on his face. Hungrier than usual, he sneaked a bit of bread. When his mommy sat down, he presented her with a simple bouquet of wildflowers. She teared up and tried to snatch his plate away, not realizing that it was too late. 
Freddie’s mother watched her son while his mouth foamed and he painfully faded away. Panic, regret, guilt—fear overtook her. She screamed at Freddie, begging him to wake. 
“Mommy?” Freddie’s voice called from the porch, his ghostly figure peering in through the window. Surprised, his mommy ran to the window, wailing and apologizing. . 
Time flew by, and although she aged, Freddie didn’t. He’d become a permanent fixture in her cowardly world. Eventually, her heart grew cold, and she began to resent his memory. But, some promises are bigger, more important than one could ever fathom. Freddie kept his promise, and he always came home for supper. 
Fiction © Copyright Lydia Prime
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

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More from author Lydia Prime:

ibhbItty Bitty Horror Bites

Unknown worlds, monstrous beings from nightmarish visions, and even a look at the darker side of life. Brace yourself as you dive into this chilling forty-six piece collection of bite sized horror—you might just end up leaving with more than you bargained for…

Are you sure you want to turn off that light?

 Available on Amazon!  

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Ladies of Horror Flash Project – #Horror #author Michelle Joy Gallagher @Aphelia @Darc_Nina #LoH #fiction

Posted on November 27, 2020 by Nina D'Arcangela

The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

Nov_Image04

Lisa’s Mirror
by Michelle Joy Gallagher

“The moon is a mirror.” She said breathlessly. “my mother always told me that.” A small smile tinged with sadness followed. She was far away. She was often far away. He was often frustrated. He’d brought her out here to his favorite place on the banks of the American river in order to reconnect, somehow reach her. Mark told himself he loved Lisa, even as time and grief had twisted her. He’d had to correct her from time to time on her behavior but nothing a nice dinner or gift couldn’t fix afterward . They’d had a nice enough time, but then she’d wandered off muttering to herself. He finally caught up with her here, knee deep in the high tide, staring at the moon. She heard him approach and she stiffened, balled her fists up tight at her side. She’d seen the other in him. The moon helped her with that. She sat down hard in the fast moving and freezing cold water and brought a hand up to a healing bruise on her cheek, rubbing it thoughtfully. He stared at her from the riverbank, until exasperated, he waded in toward her. “Lisa, come on. We have to get out-“ A large rock tripped him and he fell face first into the water right beside her. She looked up at the moon one last time and nodded slowly, as if taking direction. She pulled a large rock up from the riverbed and smashed him over the back of the head with it before he’d had a chance to right himself. She brought the rock up again with both hands and drove the rock down on to the same place on his skull. He sputtered and flailed for purchase but was disoriented and in shock. She continued until he lay still, face down, half floating. Blood began to mix with the water. Lisa looked up at the moon and screamed at whatever she saw there. Perhaps the other had now taken residence in her.  
 
Fiction © Copyright Michelle Joy Gallagher
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

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More from author Michelle Joy Gallagher:
cafemacabre
Café Macabre

This collection of twelve stories and artwork by women is truly a collection of the macabre. Make a reservation for terror and get ready to delve into the deepest, darkest fears of some of the best writers and artists in the fiction game. Leah McNaughton Lederman has collected an anthology of the truly strange… a tome of the weird. Take a seat and order a cup, you’re dining at Café Macabre!

Available on Amazon!

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Ladies of Horror Flash Project – #Horror #author Alex Grey @indigodreamers @Darc_Nina #LoH #fiction

Posted on November 27, 2020 by Nina D'Arcangela

The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

Nov_Image03

Smart Doorbell: Review
by Alex Grey

Cracha the Witch you gave this product FOUR stars…
Product: Smart Demon Doorbell
Supplier: Demons and Druids Inc.
Ordering: So easy! The dark web is great. Disappointing that “witch’s favours” are not a recognised currency on Paypal — I had to hex someone for their credit card.
Installation: The installation druid was very polite and obliged me by taking his shirt off to show me the wide range of link tattoos I could choose from. The celtic runes he drew on the wall were very neat but he did slop some paint on my driveway, so now I have demonic paving slabs which are quite feral. The link tattoos were very painful to install and I now wish I’d paid for the “red tooth” option as the vampire’s bite which sets up the brain to demon connection is, apparently, painless. 
Appearance: The celtic runes are really classy and suit my whole “cottage in the woods” aesthetic. The demon, which appears when summoned by unwelcome callers, is suitably intimidating, though the skull and bell tone — (WHO DARETH APPROACH THIS DREAD PORTAL? Seriously?) are frankly outdated. I have some ideas if you’d like to tailor your offering to the modern witch market.
Useability: It’s so easy! A knock at the door triggers the runes – they tell me who’s at the door and the smart doorbell reads my feelings – I don’t even need to think! I’ll never pay bills ever again as the demon is very efficient when it comes to devouring debt collectors and suchlike.The demon is not so good at species recognition, but it was a simple fix to get a carpenter to move the cat-flap to the back door. . 
Anything else?  The demonic doorbell runs on blood, which is a more sustainable energy source than electricity as I don’t suppose we’ll ever run out of doorstep sellers, tax collectors, Jehovah’s Witnesses, carol singers and the like. My main problem, which is what lost you a whole star, is that a witch needs to eat and that demon is too darn quick. It’s had every damned orphan and red-caped munchkin that I’ve lured to the door, despite my thinking pleasant thoughts about pies. I sure hope that the maintenance druid comes soon, assuming he can get past the savage paving slabs, I’m starving here!
Fiction © Copyright Alex Grey
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

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More about Alex Grey:

After a lifetime of writing technical non-fiction, Alex Grey is fulfilling her dream of writing poems and stories that engage the reader’s emotions. Her work has been featured by a wide range of publications including Siren’s Call, Raconteur, Bookends Review, and Toasted Cheese. One of her comic poems is also available via a worldwide network of public fiction dispensers managed by French publisher, Short Edition. Her ingredients for contentment are narrow boating, greyhounds, singing and chocolate. It is a sweet life, yet Alex’ original view of the world has led to her best friend to say ‘For someone so lovely, you’re very twisted!

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