Halloween 75 word story Challenge
- Thread starter ratsy
- Start date
crystal haven
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2007
- Messages
- 1,214
Trick or Treat
Pumpkins are banned this year.
At first we laughed at the size of them. Enormous things! Everyone carved pointed teeth, and eyes to glow in the dark.
Then Sally Smith vanished. And Peter, still with knife in hand, was discovered – ripped apart.
Bonfire night’s come early; a stench of burning pumpkin flesh.
Guard your children well this Halloween.
Pumpkins are banned this year.
At first we laughed at the size of them. Enormous things! Everyone carved pointed teeth, and eyes to glow in the dark.
Then Sally Smith vanished. And Peter, still with knife in hand, was discovered – ripped apart.
Bonfire night’s come early; a stench of burning pumpkin flesh.
Guard your children well this Halloween.
stormcrow
Caaw blimey, Guv'nor!
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2011
- Messages
- 566
Unhappy Jack
I’m coming to hate this time of year: bitterly cold, despite the glaring sunshine; shortening days and darkness closing in all around.
Look at the cheery children; all wiccy and bony, skelly-wags and munsters. Why are they so happy?
I’ve a dreadful, hollowing headache and a scratchy – no, - burning, sore throat.
But, I’ll remain here at the porch; can’t turn my eyes away or go inside now, can I? Can’t unpin my idiot grin.
I’m coming to hate this time of year: bitterly cold, despite the glaring sunshine; shortening days and darkness closing in all around.
Look at the cheery children; all wiccy and bony, skelly-wags and munsters. Why are they so happy?
I’ve a dreadful, hollowing headache and a scratchy – no, - burning, sore throat.
But, I’ll remain here at the porch; can’t turn my eyes away or go inside now, can I? Can’t unpin my idiot grin.
ratsy
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2008
- Messages
- 4,643
Alone for the Holidays
Esbeth was a lonely woman. Her children were grown and forgot how to use a phone. Her husband passed away years ago.
So one Halloween she devised a plan.
The night passed on, her candy dwindled. The streets grew quiet and then one last ring of her bell.
"Trick or treat" yelled a bunny and a princess.
"Come in" Esbeth said. She shut the door completing her "trick" and made them disappear.
Esbeth was a lonely woman. Her children were grown and forgot how to use a phone. Her husband passed away years ago.
So one Halloween she devised a plan.
The night passed on, her candy dwindled. The streets grew quiet and then one last ring of her bell.
"Trick or treat" yelled a bunny and a princess.
"Come in" Esbeth said. She shut the door completing her "trick" and made them disappear.
One fine day
The first swarm caught our town by surprise. Bees big as bats, killer stings and buzzing rage…
Cut off at church, I prayed our isolated household heard the warning bells.
When the second swarm approached I took my chance, racing it home across the fields. Up the path, pounding at the door. Out of breath, out of time.
Beat of insect wings behind me. I scream.
But there is no one left to answer.
WITCH RHYME
"HALLOW'EEN IS COMING AND THE GOOSE IS GETTING FAT..."
Tommy Dean; his eyes pleading to be spared the excruciation of finishing.
I crossed my arms; no shortcuts. Last year, three kids tried that new tricky treating. Died of bird flu that night...tragic.
"IF YOU HAVEN'T GOT A HA'PENNY, I'LL PUT YER WINDOWS THROUGH."
I blinked; repeated it back. Whispered, "A plague on your house."
A black, pestilent one.
I cast my spell.
"HALLOW'EEN IS COMING AND THE GOOSE IS GETTING FAT..."
Tommy Dean; his eyes pleading to be spared the excruciation of finishing.
I crossed my arms; no shortcuts. Last year, three kids tried that new tricky treating. Died of bird flu that night...tragic.
"IF YOU HAVEN'T GOT A HA'PENNY, I'LL PUT YER WINDOWS THROUGH."
I blinked; repeated it back. Whispered, "A plague on your house."
A black, pestilent one.
I cast my spell.
All Hallows' Eve
It's so dark and she is very little and very alone.
Hunched against the wall, huddled in the thin coat, her icy hands tucked, hopelessly, into ragged sleeves.
"Please..." she whispers to darkness.
They only allowed her out tonight. If she returns empty-handed... Her eyes squeeze shut against the tears.
"Mister..?"
He offers a warm hand. Sobbing with gratitude, she takes it, rips his throat and drinks blood.
She runs home singing, warm at last.
Darkness Falls Across The Land
We hid, safe behind stone of siege
Tall turrets and towers entrapped.
All moaned and groaned as hunger took hold.
Only singing songs helped sooth the soul and what we spied surprised us all.
Melodious music’s power to move, that we use when we forage for food.
We blast the beat and bomb the bass, to stomp, shuffle and sway – we smash skull and storm away.
Our army anthem and carrion call.
Thriller, thrilleerr night…
We hid, safe behind stone of siege
Tall turrets and towers entrapped.
All moaned and groaned as hunger took hold.
Only singing songs helped sooth the soul and what we spied surprised us all.
Melodious music’s power to move, that we use when we forage for food.
We blast the beat and bomb the bass, to stomp, shuffle and sway – we smash skull and storm away.
Our army anthem and carrion call.
Thriller, thrilleerr night…
Robjwhite
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2012
- Messages
- 47
Empty Cupboards
Pepper sat, all alone in the corner of the kitchen tentatively drawing a rolling pin towards her, doing her best not to make a sound. Father had gone hunting the week before. When he hadn't returned, mother went after him, leaving instructions never to answer the door. Not for anyone.
Now mother and father were at the door, saliva hanging from their mouths, eyes a bloodshot grimace. But Pepper wouldn't open it. Not for anyone.
Now mother and father were at the door, saliva hanging from their mouths, eyes a bloodshot grimace. But Pepper wouldn't open it. Not for anyone.
hopewrites
Crochet Streamer
Shopping Mall Trick or Treat
Toothbrush from the dentist.
Candy from the chemist.
Lotion from the lingerie boutique.
Mood ring from that shop that thinks it's sheik.
Key chain from the cell phone stall.
But when security stopped me, he took them one and all.
Apparently you cant go trick or treating in April.
Toothbrush from the dentist.
Candy from the chemist.
Lotion from the lingerie boutique.
Mood ring from that shop that thinks it's sheik.
Key chain from the cell phone stall.
But when security stopped me, he took them one and all.
Apparently you cant go trick or treating in April.
Brakiri Dreams
Quintet - the power of five.
Five minds as one.
Five souls scorning reality.
Five points of a pentagram.
Five human hearts burned to ash and scattered within.
Five days until the end of the world if we make a mistake.
A speck of light grew into the shape of a man, clothed in grey-brown dust.
Michael O’Hare stood there, confusion in his eyes.
I stepped forward and held out my hand.
“Welcome back, Commander.”
Quintet - the power of five.
Five minds as one.
Five souls scorning reality.
Five points of a pentagram.
Five human hearts burned to ash and scattered within.
Five days until the end of the world if we make a mistake.
A speck of light grew into the shape of a man, clothed in grey-brown dust.
Michael O’Hare stood there, confusion in his eyes.
I stepped forward and held out my hand.
“Welcome back, Commander.”
BigJ
_insertlabelhere_
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2012
- Messages
- 279
Automobile? What's that?
The costumed children streamed round the block,
With sacks full of candy and sparkling eyes.
I stood on the corner with an eye on the clock,
A great daemon cloaked in a child’s disguise.
I had awoken this day from three centuries of sleep,
I had twenty four hours to devour young souls.
But in crossing the road I did not hear the beep,
And like that my quest ended, cut short by a Rolls.
The costumed children streamed round the block,
With sacks full of candy and sparkling eyes.
I stood on the corner with an eye on the clock,
A great daemon cloaked in a child’s disguise.
I had awoken this day from three centuries of sleep,
I had twenty four hours to devour young souls.
But in crossing the road I did not hear the beep,
And like that my quest ended, cut short by a Rolls.
Grinnel
Well-Known Member
Trick
Great! he thinks, limping from the bite, Hallowe’en on a full moon. I didn’t recognize him in time; everyone’s in stupid costumes.
God, it hurts everywhere!
He gets to the car; even gets the gun. He puts it to his head, but thumbs no longer hold it.
“No!” He vents his rage at the gun, Hallowe’en, life, the moon, “Noooooooooooooo!”
Children scream and laugh at the big dog.
The silver-loaded gun wasn’t found until morning.
A ghost from the machines
Call me… meme theory triumphant. An emergent effect of a highly interconnected, resource poor, planet.
An evolving, roaming, complex of ideas.
A dark thought.
Wriggling out of cyberspace. Into every mind.
Whispering: ....too...many...people........silence...them....all!
I see what you see.
Website headlines: ‘Inexplicable tidal wave of violence’.
An interview.
A page of flash fictions.
I see what your neighbour sees: Glinting garden shears. The exposed back of your neck, craned to read…
Call me… meme theory triumphant. An emergent effect of a highly interconnected, resource poor, planet.
An evolving, roaming, complex of ideas.
A dark thought.
Wriggling out of cyberspace. Into every mind.
Whispering: ....too...many...people........silence...them....all!
I see what you see.
Website headlines: ‘Inexplicable tidal wave of violence’.
An interview.
A page of flash fictions.
I see what your neighbour sees: Glinting garden shears. The exposed back of your neck, craned to read…
Covert Godparents
"Who was that, a ghràidh?"
"More guisers, m' leannan. A mother and four weans."
"What were they this time?"
She clucked. "A witch, a fairy princess, Spidey and a pirate."
"So sweet." The Sidhe lord frowned. "And?"
"And, I gave them sweeties and sprinkled them with faerie dust, of course."
"Good. That should get them safe home. Don't these parents know the gates are open tonight, with goblins looking for children to eat?"
"Obviously not."
"Who was that, a ghràidh?"
"More guisers, m' leannan. A mother and four weans."
"What were they this time?"
She clucked. "A witch, a fairy princess, Spidey and a pirate."
"So sweet." The Sidhe lord frowned. "And?"
"And, I gave them sweeties and sprinkled them with faerie dust, of course."
"Good. That should get them safe home. Don't these parents know the gates are open tonight, with goblins looking for children to eat?"
"Obviously not."
Trick or treaters
I dress appropriately at Halloween to watch the silly little “trick or treaters” and laugh silently at their unimaginative “tricks”. A likely huddle pass me, unseeing, running up a drive. An overanxious mother waits at the roadside.
I step into the light and she gasps.
‘Trick or treat?’ I ask, my hand full of chocolates.
‘Treat please.’
‘Anything to oblige a lady.’ I smile.
She tastes liplickingly lovely. What a treat!
I dress appropriately at Halloween to watch the silly little “trick or treaters” and laugh silently at their unimaginative “tricks”. A likely huddle pass me, unseeing, running up a drive. An overanxious mother waits at the roadside.
I step into the light and she gasps.
‘Trick or treat?’ I ask, my hand full of chocolates.
‘Treat please.’
‘Anything to oblige a lady.’ I smile.
She tastes liplickingly lovely. What a treat!
David Evil Overlord
Censored Member
Think About It
The policewoman batted the parchment away. ‘You explain how they got loose and got smart.’
‘The contract states zombies must eat sheep...’ said the necromancer.
The policewoman drew her pistol.
‘...Zombies eat brains because zombie brains rot. Their thinking is only as good as the brains they eat...’
She aimed at the necromancer’s head.
‘...The League of Brilliant Scientists got out of their tour bus in the Undead Safari Park to prove zombies weren’t real...’
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2006
- Messages
- 6,381
End of the Innocence
The screams rent the night, bodies twisted on wooden stakes, writhing as the dancing fires llicked the flesh.
Cats yowled – sound that embodied anger, and all the while the dark magic sputtered and fizzed.
Halloween. All Hallows Eve.
The night before one of the holiest days of the year, when the witches and warlocks celebrate before leaving, escaping the ride of the virtuous.
This year the saints lied.
They came early.
And the pagans died.
The screams rent the night, bodies twisted on wooden stakes, writhing as the dancing fires llicked the flesh.
Cats yowled – sound that embodied anger, and all the while the dark magic sputtered and fizzed.
Halloween. All Hallows Eve.
The night before one of the holiest days of the year, when the witches and warlocks celebrate before leaving, escaping the ride of the virtuous.
This year the saints lied.
They came early.
And the pagans died.
johnnyjet
Western PA High Tech Country Boy
Bookmarked
Abby brought home a book on witchcraft and set it on the kitchen table on top of her text books.
Disheveled and out of sorts, her mother freaked out.
"Where did you get that book?"
Abby, pretty in black, said softly, "School library."
"What! This is an outrage!"
Abby opened the book and read, "A Spell for Harried Housewives."
"Oh," said her mother, and began reading.
Abby smiled and skipped away, cackling under her breath.
Abby brought home a book on witchcraft and set it on the kitchen table on top of her text books.
Disheveled and out of sorts, her mother freaked out.
"Where did you get that book?"
Abby, pretty in black, said softly, "School library."
"What! This is an outrage!"
Abby opened the book and read, "A Spell for Harried Housewives."
"Oh," said her mother, and began reading.
Abby smiled and skipped away, cackling under her breath.
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