100wordhorror - Tumblr Posts
For the last two years I have been doing trickortweet on Twitter, where you post a tweet sized horror story every day in October. In the face of Twitter's ever changing policies( not for the better), I am moving it on over to Tumblr.
The challenge here is to write a horror storyline in 100 words or less. This years theme is the senses, as adding in something other than sight makes it a little more engaging. Use #100wordhorror when posting, and let's see if we can make a thing of it!
Hope to see your #100wordhorror this October.
Hello hello, just a reminder that the #100wordhorror event goes live October 1st. Join me in writing a horror story of 100 words or less, every day in the month of October, based on the prompt words above (written list below). The theme of the event is the senses, adding in those other than sight to amp up your horror story. Post the results on Tumblr with the #100wordhorror , and enjoy! Happy Writing!
Prompt List:
I. Taste
Sweet
Sour
Metallic
Pumpkin
Salt
Dirt
Vomit
II. Touch
Hot
Cold
Sharp
Stinging
Rough
Smooth
Slimy
III. Sound
Scream
Roar
Heartbeat
Breath/Breathing
Purring
Nails on a chalkboard
Banging/Clanging
IV. Smell
Sulphur
Copper
Smoke
Mold
Rain
Nothing
Sweat
V. Choose 2
Full Moon
Trapped
Trick or Treat
The overly sweet flavour of candycorn lingered in her mouth, and she couldn't help but think that if she had known it would be the last thing she'd ever eat, she'd have sprung for the chocolate bar.
It was a silly regret, but as she watched the pool of blood expand across the tiled floor, it was all she could think about.
"Still kicking eh? Well, let's see about that."
Light reflected off the knifes blade, and it burned as it entered her chest. Then she felt nothing at all.
Day Two: Sour
It was too late; he was going to die. The monitors hadn’t gone off, it hadn’t been detected until he had the sour taste of it on his tongue, a sure sign that that the gas was beyond the lethal limit.
Claire smiled at him through the plexiglass, but it wasn’t her usual sweet, I love you smile. It was sharp, satisfied, and he knew that this hadn’t been an accident. It would look like one though.
He felt drowsy now, eyes drifting shut as he wondered how long she’d known about the affair. He had always hated unanswered questions…
Day 3: Metallic
Her stomach rolled; the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth. It wasn’t hers, but it would be soon.
He still had a use for her, but she grew weaker by the day, and when she couldn’t stand, he’d replace her, just like he had Tara.
He’d made them watch, as Tara’s blood splattered every direction. The new girl started to wail, falling silent after a single blow, and she’d envied the girl’s respite. She would have no such break; not till she was dead.
It was okay though because it wouldn’t be long now, and she could hardly wait.
Day 4: Pumpkin
She stomped through the orchard, taking a second sip of the disgusting beverage, recoiling at the taste of pumpkin spice. It was an apple orchard, and yet there was no cider to be seen, no market for it anymore.
“I wish that people who liked pumpkin spice would just die,” she muttered, after another terrible sip.
“Granted.” The voice came from nowhere, and everywhere.
Screams rang out from all around her. “OMG, they're dead, they're all dead!”
She froze, willing herself awake. It had to be a dream, right?
More screams broke the silence.
What had she done?
Day 5: Salt
She licked her lips, which were dry, and salty from perspiration. She had escaped, and for a while she had felt elated. He wasn’t chasing, he wasn’t going to kill her, but now understood why. He didn’t have to; the elements would do that.
There was no water, plants, grass, trees all shrivelled under the unrelenting sun, the same as she was.
A honking pulled her to her feet, and she ran towards the car, refreshed. Little did she know, she had escaped the frying pan in favour of the fire.
Day 6: Dirt
She couldn’t slow down; it would catch her. She turned to see if it was following, a fatal mistake, and she went tumbling headfirst into the ground.
She hauled herself up, and ran, ignoring the pain in her ankle, the taste of dirt in her mouth. She was almost there, almost safe, but she had lost precious seconds falling and she could see the gates closing.
She screamed for them to let her in, but they didn’t hesitate, they couldn’t put the village at risk for one girl.
The next night, she was the one doing the chasing.
Day 7 Vomit
Dani wished she had mouthwash, a toothbrush, something to get the lingering taste of vomit out her mouth.
Her stomach rolled again, as she looked at what was left of Molly. Dani should never left her alone, but she had been so insistent that it was all in Dani’s head, that Dani had started to believe her when she said that there was nothing in the closet.
It was too late now, and Dani was trapped, the closet was between her and the door.
She wondered who would find her tomorrow.
Day 8: Hot
She woke up because she needed to pee. When she grabbed the doorknob, it was hot beneath her fingers, too hot.
She flipped on the light, and the room was hazy with smoke. The house was on fire.
She couldn’t understand how she couldn’t smell it, why the fire alarm wasn’t going off, but she knew she had to get out.
She tripped on her way out the window, landing headfirst, neck snapping on impact.
She didn’t get hear the giggles turn to screams, as the pranksters realised what had they had done.
Day 9: Cold
It was cold in the basement, and if it weren’t so dark, she thought she would be able to see her breath.
She couldn’t move though, if she moved it would find her, and she could only hope that it would move on before she froze to death.
She heard something, and her eyes snapped open.
Two the yellow spheres glowed in front of her, and she knew she wouldn’t have to worry about the cold much longer.
Day 10: Sharp
You always heard about fight or flight, but in the alley behind the club she froze when she saw his teeth.
They felt as sharp as they looked, stabbing into her neck, and she felt paralyzed by fear.
By the time fight and flight kicked in, it felt like she was moving through jello, growing weaker the more she tried.
She’d known Jared for six years, and she wondered, would she one day say she’d known him six centuries, or would it be over in six minutes?
She closed her eyes, not knowing if they would ever open again.
Day 11: Stinging
It started as a stinging sensation, and first Sarah had thought that it was bee. The feeling grew, the stinging turned to stabbing, radiating upwards, and when it reached her chest, she wondered if this is what a heart attack felt like.
Sarah was dying, she knew it, and if she was lucky, she would stay dead, there wouldn’t be enough of the virus to turn her.
She covered the leg wound, claiming it was a scratch from the brambles and headed back into the camp to say her goodbyes. Either way, this Sarah would be gone by morning.
Day 12: Rough
The clothes were rough, feeling like sandpaper against her skin. He’d kept her naked for so long, that she had gotten used to going without. The sun felt like spikes in her eyes, after years in the dim light of the basement.
They said it was trauma, but they didn’t know what he’d made her.
She’d screamed when they shot him, felt it, and she needed to bide her time. She needed out, so she could get a proper meal.
A second set of teeth dropped at the smell of fresh blood in the hall. She was sooo hungry.
Day 13: Smooth
It didn’t feel real here, the walls were warm as wood, but smooth as glass under her fingers. She had felt along what seemed like every inch, but there wasn’t so much as a crack to be seen. She had no idea how long she had been there, how she had gotten there, why she was there, but she wanted out.
She screamed until she coughed up blood, but it was like the walls took it, making it so silent she questioned her own hearing.
She didn’t get tired, or hungry or thirsty, and she thought, was this hell?
Day 14: Slimy
The pole was slimy under her fingers, but the ride was rocky, and she had no choice but to keep holding on. Her fingers slid every time they took a corner, and she knew that next time she needed to take the subway, she would faceplant before she held on to keep herself upright.
When she got to her stop, she stepped off the car, hand held away from her to prevent contamination.
Now, did she wash it, or cut it off?
Day 15: Scream
The scream could have shattered glass, and by the time it was over she touched her ears to see if they were bleeding.
It started again second later, and she knew there was nothing she could say that wouldn’t be drowned out by the sound of it.
It was only when her throat started to hurt that she realised that she was the one screaming, and as she looked at the bodies surrounding her, she remembered why.
Day 16: Roar
She felt the vibration of the roar in her chest, it was close now, too close. She wondered if it was worth it trying to run, because she knew that she would make it, not before it caught up to her.
Survival instinct won out, and she fled. She heard it’s feet in the snow, it’s panting breaths, and then she was on the ground. It’s too sharp teeth were all she could see until she felt the wetness on her face.
It licked away her tears, and then in a blink of an eye it was gone.
So was her sight.
Day 17: Heartbeat
She could hear his heartbeat, steady, unafraid, and she wanted to cry because she knew what would come next. She was hungry, so hungry, and the longer he kept here, the longer he tried to protect her from the monster, the closer he got to becoming it’s next meal.
He flipped the page of the book, and cursed at the papercut it gave him.
As the blood welled up on his finger, she could feel her fangs elongating.
The wait was over.
18: Breath/Breathing
For the first few seconds she was awake, the sound of his breathing beside her was a comfort.
Then she remembered that she lived alone, and before she could move, the hands that were lovingly embracing her, were wrapped around her throat.
Her eyes closed and did not open a second time.