Thursday 8 May 2014

Horror Bites - House of Horror

I'm early this week for the Horror Bites photo prompt challenge, because the picture spoke to me immediately. Something about those type of houses conjures all sorts. This is what appeared today. It was tough to keep to the 300 word maximum.


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She didn’t want to go there again, but they’d insisted, her hands shaking by the time they pulled up at the bottom of the embankment. When she looked up at the white weather-board house it seemed to plead its innocence, but she knew better.

Two cars pulled up behind and then someone opened her door. She spun round, eyes wide with terror at the prospect of getting out and going in there again, but a hand took her arm and she knew she had to comply.

She climbed the embankment with them surrounding her. There was no escape, not even inside her head, where the sounds she’d endured were replayed, even those made by her own body. She stumbled at the prospect of facing it again. 

As they approached the front door she pulled at the man leading her, until they were standing over the coal shoot she’d been shoved down a few terrifying days earlier. The men opened it, taking their time, ready to reveal its horrors.

The smell hit her, metallic and salty; the purist form of distilled fear. And then the sounds reached her and she pulled back, pushing against the men that held her, clawing at their hands to release her and allow her to run free from the torture chamber below, where the few that were still alive wailed their agony.

And they did, they let her go as they braced themselves for what was ahead; letting her run back to the police van. She pushed through the underbrush, oblivious to the damage it inflicted, knowing it could never cut as deep as the tools used in that cellar, and flew into the arms of a waiting social worker, where she allowed herself to be held and comforted, and reminded that her ordeal was over.


300 words

8 comments :

  1. A an edgy tale, Miranda! It brings to mind films like Hostel. I love the writing style, you convey a great sense of dread!

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    1. Glad you enjoyed it. I haven't actually seen Hostel - never had the nerve, I prefer to read than watch - can block out more...although I do own the first 3 Saw movies! ;)

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  2. I agree, felt very real. Great tale.

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    1. Good, wanted to capture all the feels - the horrifying ones!

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  3. In today's world, this could be very real. The psychological horror aspect is much better than just describing some gory scene. I have to remember to use the sense of smell more often; it really does invoke strong feelings and memories, often of things you've forgotten.

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    1. Indeed K R, senses really bring writing closer to the reader. I did a correspondence writing course - some 12 years ago now - and did a nightclub scene without mentioning the sound. My tutor then told me that you need to use ALL the senses, and since then that is what I engage the most. Feelings are what life is all about, and that is what my writing reflects - horrifying ones mostly though! ;) Thanks for reading.

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  4. A very powerful tale of fear and dread. Relieved by the ending that she survived rather than being thrown down the coal shoot which I thought and dreaded! Fab use of senses too. x

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    1. I deliberate did that to draw the reader in and keep them on edge. ;) Glad it worked.

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