Saturday, October 23, 2010

Banshees and Hellhounds

Maggie left the well-lit street, turning onto the woodland path that led to her house. The moon was full, the trees rustling in the strong breeze. The shadows and sounds reminded her of the stories her mum and dad use to tell her...stories about Banshees and Hellhounds and other mythical creatures of the night. Just as Maggie wondered if these sounds could truly be mourning Banshees, she saw, out of the corner of her eye, two red glowing...and then another, and another, on both sides of the path. She began to walk faster, and faster. She feared turning around, lest some horrible creature grab her. Fast walking turned to running...

"Honey, are you ok...would you like me to stop reading?"

"This is the scariest story I have ever heard mum, but please don't stop."

This story was written as a response to the weekly, prompted, writing exercise,Saturday Centus. It is brought each week by Miss Jenny.
Jenny Matlock

23 comments:

  1. Captured listening to a scary story here. I read a story once (The Raft) by Stephen King that scared me so badly my heart pounded as I turned the pages but could not put it down either.I don't read or watch things just to scare myself. I used to tell my students that if I wanted to scare myself, I just looked in the mirror in the mornings!

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  2. :0 I better pull up my boots and start running :)
    I loved your take on the prompt.

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  3. It's very interesting the way you turned it around to be a story about reading a story. Well done!

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  4. Boy, that's a story that could give a kid nightmares for years! I think Mom is setting herself up for a sleepless night!

    ;)

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  5. It's funny (strange) how some kids like the scary stories and some don't. I was of the latter when I was young and still am. Good Centus.

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  6. I too can't do scary...books or movies. When I see one it scares me so bad that for weeks I run up the stairs from the basement, sure that something is going to grab my leg... :-o

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  7. My kids always liked scary stories!!

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  8. Wooooo this will take a child's imagination on a wild ride. I was encouraging the "ruuuuuuuun!!" in my mind. Excellent use of the prompt!~Ames

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  9. I like this, I could picture it all, even the nice 'safe' ending. A well told tale and a nice Centus. :-)

    My Saturday Centus

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  10. Oh ... I loved your take on the prompt. Wonderful!

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  11. This was refreshing and painted a true picture of mother and child at story time.

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  12. Loved this, what a great twist on the prompt at the end. Nicely done, I could see those glowing eyes - yikes! Kat

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  13. Jeff, as usual, your prose is descriptive and flows across the page. You have a way with words. my man. I loved the dichotomy of fear all wrapped up in safety and love.

    Thanks and (peace).............cj

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  14. Kids often love to be scared half senseless...as long as they know they can climb into mom and dad's bed when the bad dreams start!

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  15. loved how you turned it into bedtie story there. I was in the moment of those spooky red eyes and what it was!

    Tina from Mummy Diaries

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  16. This is great, with a perfect last line. That's a brave kid!
    xoRobyn

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  17. you never disappoint. I am so glad you join each week! I couldn't figure this weeks out for me but everyone else did a great job!!!

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  18. Great story and I just loved how you kept it real with the child admitting fear and not wanting the story to end.

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  19. Lovely mix of a scary bedtime story (that the reader does not know is a story within a story yet) and the warm security of a child's own bed and loving mother.
    Simply wonderful!!
    You are such a talented man, Jeff!
    Best wishes & hugs,
    Anna

    Anna's & Sara's SC-post Week 25

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  20. Great job, Jeff! How am I supposed to fall asleep now? LOL!

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  21. Jeff! This was cool. Really, really clever.

    I saved these to read on Halloween and I'm glad it's still daylight. I liked the pacing of your words, too...they really expressed the action in the story.

    Thank you for this TREAT!

    Witching you a Boo-tiful Halloween.

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