This week's photo prompt is from Horror writer Mark Cassell. I found the angle interesting.
He says: 'Location research snappoids (this really should be a word). I have a main character who runs from a cosmic nightmare on this very spot here in Dungeness.'
Dungeness is on the south coast of England (in Kent).
I've gone dark with this story, because, afterall, Mark is a horror writer.
The General Guidelines can be found here.
How to create a clickable link in Blogger comments can be found on lasts week's post here.
There is also a Facebook group for Mid-Week Flash, if you fancy getting the prompt there.
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It slithered over the edge of the boat it
had been hiding in. It could see another boat nearby but knew it didn’t contain
what it sought. It needed more than just the remains of the sea crustaceans in
the old nets; it needed something warm, something living.
It crept up the beach toward the sound of
voices. Daylight was dimming; it could stay invisible among the stones and get
closer. They weren’t paying attention, too caught up in their argument. It
edged round behind the woman.
‘But why do we always have to come here?’
‘For privacy, you know how my mum is.’
‘She doesn’t think I’m good enough for
you.’
‘It’s not that. She’s just a little
possessive that’s all.’
‘It’s peculiar if you ask me.’
‘That’s my mum you’re talking about ...’
‘So?’
‘She’s just looking out for me.’
‘So you agree with her, I’m not good enough
for you?’
‘I didn’t say that.’
‘Sounds like it to me.’
‘Why? Cuz I won’t let you bash my mum?’
‘I’m not bashing her. I just think she
needs to stop treating you as a little boy. You’re a grown man.’
‘She’s my mum; I’ll always be her little
boy.’
‘She needs to get a life.’
‘Oi! That’s enough, alright?’
‘I just don’t know why we always have to
come to the beach and freeze our arses off.’
‘Where else do you suggest we go? It’s not
like your house is any better with your brother and your dad hanging around,
making leery comments. And I don’t have the cash at the moment to be going to
the cafe or the pub every time.’
‘If it’s so hard maybe we shouldn’t
bother.’
‘Oh you want to break up now, do you?’
‘I didn’t say that.’
In the brief pause of awkwardness, it took
the opportunity to get up close and personal. It slithered up the back of the
woman, and she shivered.
‘What?’
‘Just suddenly feel cold up my back, that’s
all.’
‘Come closer then, and I’ll get you warm.’
They huddled up together, the man putting
his arms round the woman. She moved her head in close. Then they looked at each
other and made contact with their mouths, perfect for its intention.
It moved up round the woman’s neck,
enjoying the sudden heat that had taken over her body, and latched onto the
vein throbbing on the side of her neck, drinking deep until it merged with her.
The man cried out and pulled his face off
the woman’s, his hand trying to stem the flow of blood coming from his mouth.
He tried to speak but couldn’t form his words properly.
‘wah ooo ooo at foor, my ung!’
The woman grinned, then lunged at him, this
time taking more than his tongue.
