Written for OLWG #423.
The prompts are below.
This is my story.
Tag: Horror
I LOVE IT WHEN YOU SCREAM
βAre you coming or not?β Carl demanded as he took a few steps further into the haunted house at the Springwood Halloween Fair.
Sharon stood there fiddling with the drawstring of her hoodie. She chewed on her bottom lip, her eyes wide and brimming with tears.
βIβm really scared of these places, Carl. I mean, they terrify me. I donβt want to do this.β And the tears came.
This was nothing new to Carl; Sharon hid behind her hands when she tried to watch βThe Walking Deadβ with him in the comfort of their own living room. He rolled his eyes, tired of Sharonβs childish fears of creatures that donβt exist.
βLook, babe, as I told you a dozen times already, everybody knows this is the best haunted house in the countyβ Carl replied in his usual condescending tone. βMy friends at work said it was awesome and even Hal brought is girlfriend Darleen whoβs afraid of her own shadow and she thought it was fabulous. I promise, itβs gonna be a blast.β
Sharon could hear screams coming from inside the haunted house but everyone came out laughing and quickly lined up to go in again.
βOK, Iβll do it but you have to promise to take me to see the Taylor Swift concert on the big IMAX screen next week.β
Carl happily agreed knowing there was no way in hell he was going to sit through a Taylor Swift concert. Laughing, he grabbed Sharonβs hand and pulled her into the haunted house.
βDonβt let go of my hand, Carl!β Sharon cried out.
βSharon, just chill out. Why canβt you get it through your head that itβs all fake, itβs just for show and none of these characters are real? I promise I won’t let go of your hand. Now stop being a drama queen and try to have some harmless fun, ok?β Carl could really be a nasty SOB.
The inside of the haunted house was complete sensory overload; there was constant screaming as zombies, vampires, witches, skeletons, ghosts and hideous slasher movie characters jumped out of doorways, flew into windows, dropped down from the ceiling and popped up through the floor.
The place was madness and Sharon was getting claustrophobic. The only thing that kept her from running out in a panic was the familiar feel of Carlβs hand in hers. She couldnβt see an inch in front of her and there was something popping out at every turn. It was horrifying for Sharon.
Before Sharon knew what was happening, the grotesque image of Freddy Krueger suddenly appeared from behind a wall of smoke and menacingly brandished his deadly bladed glove; Sharon couldnβt take it any longer. She screamed out for Carl and pushed her way through the crowd, grateful that he was still with her.
Once outside, Sharon gulped in the fresh air and blasted Carl. βThat was the worst experience of my life! It was terrifying and you tricked me. How could you?? Iβm not kidding, Carl. Iβm really pissed! Carl!! Are you even listening to me, dammit?β
And when Sharon turned to face Carl, she discovered she had been holding on to his severed arm. The next morning Carlβs body was found in the woods behind the haunted house. He had been sliced to pieces. They say karmaβs a bitch.
At least Carl was true to Sharon about one thing that night; he never let go of her hand.
NAR Β© 2023
This is “Freddy Krueger Sings A Song” (Scary Horror Halloween Parody)
THE REGISTER
βGallagher’s B&B, a beautiful old Georgian country house in Tipperary, set in lovely wooded grounds and gardens. A warm welcome combined with superb food make this gracious house a tranquil refuge for those on honeymoon, couples celebrating a golden anniversary or anyone looking for that special opportunity to get away from it all! You’ll rest peacefully at Gallagher’s!β recited my bride Fiona breathlessly.
βHow do you do that??β I asked for the fiftieth time since we met.
βI canβt help having a photographic memory! Itβs a blessing and a curse!β she laughed.
It had been raining lightly and getting accustomed to driving on the other side of the road was challenging. As we turned the bend, the B&B appeared before us looking exactly like something out of a Thomas Moore poem. Just then the sun broke through the clouds, a rainbow in its wake.
βLook, Dylan! A rainbow! declared Fiona excitedly. βI’m going to make a wish!β
I chuckled at her childlike enthusiasm. We entered the old but immaculate building and a kindly lady was there to greet us at the front desk. βIβm guessing youβre the Colcannons. Iβm Kathleen. Welcome! Would you be kind enough to sign the register?β
Fiona giddily signed the guest book. βAh, newlyweds! Thereβs no mistaking that glow about ya, lassβ Kathleen said, smiling broadly. βOur last guests departed yesterday so youβll have the whole place to yourselves.β Handing us the key to our room, we were informed that dinner would be served at 7pm.
Our room was charming with a view of the rear gardens. Just before dinner we checked out the library. It was small but offered a variety of books from βTime Travelersβ to the writings of Diogenes. Dinner was phenomenal β leek and potato soup for starters, then Kathleen’s own creation called Guinness beef and onion pot pie. Dessert was an amazing apple crisp with vanilla bean ice cream and a perfectly brewed cup of coffee. Exhausted and full, we retired early, looking forward to sightseeing in the morning.
The next day we were served a traditional Irish breakfast of eggs, bacon, hash, toast, marmalade and Lyons Tea. βI’m stuffed! You up for a walk?β I asked Fiona, and off we went exploring. Typical of Ireland, the day was overcast and as we walked along the path we came upon a cemetery. Slowly we weaved our way among the headstones, reading aloud the names as we went along.
βThis is one for the record book of coincidencesβΒ said Fiona.Β βYesterday when I signed the registerΒ I remember seeing the name βGuinnessβ and dinner was Guinness pot pie. Another name in the register was βLyonsβ and this morning at breakfast we had Lyons Tea. And now here are two headstones with those very same names! Thatβs truly incredible!βΒ
βIt’s just your photographic memory working overtime, Fiona. Both those names are pretty common here. I donβt think itβs terribly incredible, luv.β
Fiona gave me a playful shove and we continued our walk. Strolling by the gardens, we discovered Kathleen busily gathering vegetables. βWhy, if it isn’t Mr. & Mrs. Colcannon out for a morning stroll”. She proudly showed us the potatoes she’d just dug up. “For tonightβs dinnerβ, she explained. βA combination of mash with bacon and cabbage cooked together in butter and blended with a lovely ladle-full of cream.β
βOh, my goodness! That sounds delicious!β declared Fiona βWhatβs it called?β
Kathleen looked up at us from her crouched position. “Why, I reckon it’s a name you’re quite familiar with.” Then, moving very swiftly for a large woman, she jumped up and began hacking wildly with her machete! Grinning like a madwoman, she shrieked βIt’s called Colcannon!β
The last thing I remember seeing was my darling Fionaβs head roll to the ground. I was felled by an excruciating pain in my neck while Kathleen cackled hideously. Then the whole world went black.
NAR Β© 2023
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In The Groove?
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