Spooktober
The World Anvil Spooktober Challenge of 2022 offers thirty-one prompt words, each the seed for an eerie or frightening creation. I decided to approach the challenge two ways.
This is a work in progress. Updates will continue over the coming days!
Stern visage framed forever
His eyes follow me
Hateful eyes stare back at me...
What have I become?
My shadow's arms raise, reaching
But I did not move!
Demons dominate... control...
How can I escape?
Is its threat gone for good?
Or does it lurk still?
Tormented day and night by
Broken sanity
Killed by lover as she slept
Her ghost lingers here
Black swirls, echoing voices
The Void calls to me.
Rotting wood and crumbling stone
What secrets wait here?
Looking for light... or for hope
To see sun again
Magical power within?
Or a deadly curse?
It echoes back from the dark
I am left alone
Charmed by its tone, you comply
Your will bent to mine
Acid hiss and putrid smell
As its victim dissolves
Moaning wind... Whispered voices...
Fear grows with each sound
Enveloping... choking me
Fear grows as hope flees
All paths bring only more pain...
I must have been cursed
Clanking chains and creaking doors
Dare I enter in?
Terrors from the other side
Pour out as shards fly
Human prey stalked, still unaware
I feed again soon.
My goal taunts across the void
In sight... out of reach
Iron door creaks as rust yields
What ghosts wait within?
The tumblers click into place
Treasure inside? Or trap?
Reality's fabric is torn
The portal opens
Poison glistens on its teeth
She will taunt no more.
Hungry maws concealed... lurking...
Death waits in the marsh
Knob turns slowly... hinges creak...
It comes for me now.
Clutching tendrils pull me down
I have breathed my last
Others answer, all nearby
I am encircled
Or are spirits calling me?
They whisper, "Join ussss"
These are all I have left now
The crone's threat came true
This is a work in progress. Updates will continue over the coming days!
Horror Haiku
Two-sentence horror stories are fun and inspiring, but I decided to try something with different limitations. Can I express a frightful thought about each of the prompt words in three lines with seventeen syllables? Let's find out!
Portrait
Long dead manor lordStern visage framed forever
His eyes follow me
Mirror
Evil, sneering smile...Hateful eyes stare back at me...
What have I become?
Shadow
Moonlight's pale glow shinesMy shadow's arms raise, reaching
But I did not move!
Possess
Trapped in my own mindDemons dominate... control...
How can I escape?
Vanish
The ghost disappearedIs its threat gone for good?
Or does it lurk still?
Broken
Dark thoughts, twisted dreamsTormented day and night by
Broken sanity
Spirit
Torn from life too youngKilled by lover as she slept
Her ghost lingers here
Abyss
A dark maw opens...Black swirls, echoing voices
The Void calls to me.
Abandoned
Forgotten by timeRotting wood and crumbling stone
What secrets wait here?
Escape
Trapped in the darknessLooking for light... or for hope
To see sun again
Relic
A smooth, slender wand...Magical power within?
Or a deadly curse?
Echo
I shout for rescueIt echoes back from the dark
I am left alone
Enchant
My voice compels youCharmed by its tone, you comply
Your will bent to mine
Slime
Ooze drips from aboveAcid hiss and putrid smell
As its victim dissolves
Unquiet
Rattles... creaks... rustling...Moaning wind... Whispered voices...
Fear grows with each sound
Darkness
Blackness and silenceEnveloping... choking me
Fear grows as hope flees
Misfortune
Mishaps... maladies...All paths bring only more pain...
I must have been cursed
Haunt
Ghostly moans and criesClanking chains and creaking doors
Dare I enter in?
Shatter
The mirror explodesTerrors from the other side
Pour out as shards fly
Hunt
Keeping to shadows,Human prey stalked, still unaware
I feed again soon.
Chasm
Too wide for a leap,My goal taunts across the void
In sight... out of reach
Ruin
Stone tower crumblingIron door creaks as rust yields
What ghosts wait within?
Lock
Deft fingers wield picksThe tumblers click into place
Treasure inside? Or trap?
Tear
Incantations voiced...Reality's fabric is torn
The portal opens
Thorn
A gift, one red rosePoison glistens on its teeth
She will taunt no more.
Mist
Vapor tendrils riseHungry maws concealed... lurking...
Death waits in the marsh
Door
I cower, waiting,Knob turns slowly... hinges creak...
It comes for me now.
Drown
Lungs bursting... painfulClutching tendrils pull me down
I have breathed my last
Howl
Hungry wolf calls outOthers answer, all nearby
I am encircled
Whisper
Is it just the wind?Or are spirits calling me?
They whisper, "Join ussss"
Curse
Sickness... misfortune...These are all I have left now
The crone's threat came true
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