So, it’s Halloween’s month and I decided to do some writing that helped me procrastinate from writing sequels because procrastination is my superpower. But c’mon everybody loves Halloween and being safely scared. Anyway, I was inspired by something I saw where people wrote 2 sentence scary stories and so I decided to do my own version. It’s more like paragraph short scary stories, something you could read in under 2 or 3 minutes. Then I decided to have an emotional theme for each story. I posted them on my Instagram Page @may_rose_maxwell and on my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MayRoseMaxwellFanPage/ . But I thought that I should also post them here.  I called them #spookyshorts and put them out on Tuesdays and Fridays.  I have yet to put out the last one, which will be like a serial. It will be in 5 short parts. I will post all five parts here on Halloween. Here are the six that I’ve already put out.

#spookyshorts No. 1 – Joy

Jeffrey bounced on the soles of his feet feeling light and free on his trip home from school. His delight allowed him to ignore the pain induced by his classmates’ mocking of his tattered clothes and his pimple riddled face. He’d collected everything he needed and he was ready. Halloween was finally here and with it came the voices. He merrily awaited their devious instructions.

#spookyshorts No. 2 – Fear

Wanda swallowed and tried to get rid of that salty taste that let her know that vomiting was a real threat. Her unease weighed down on her chest paralyzing her in her position under the covers. She knew it was the monster under the bed scrabbling across the floor and moving towards her headboard. But they’d made a deal and now the monster was supposed to be still and quiet and let her sleep. She felt its presence as the covers at her side lifted. Squeezing her eyes shut, Wanda’s only other movement was the hairs that stood up on her arms and the goosebumps that rose over her flesh. Her mind raced to try to think of her next move when she felt the quick dip of the bed next to her. 

Gathering all of her courage she whispered, “you’re not allowed on my bed.” She felt the hot fetid breath on her neck as the monster turned its face in her direction. It’s voice grated like a metal spoon scraping the bottom of a pot. She braced for its reply.

“I can’t leave. There’s a giant spider underneath the bed!”

#spookyshorts No. 3 – Pity

 

Jared could admit it, he was afraid. There was no shame in it. Everyone was afraid of something. But the strength of his fear had his 6’3″ muscular frame crouching on his knees, offering up heartfelt prayers. He accepted that this was his karma. He knew how he’d lived his life. The universe was just giving him what he deserved. All he was asking for, was a little mercy. Just a little help to carry the burden he’d earned. It was his last chance. He wouldn’t try again. Despite his efforts to forgo any expectations, he couldn’t snuff out the light of hope that flickered in the darkness. The door slowly creaked open, a foreboding omen. There she was with a look in her eyes that was meant to convey compassion and sympathy but instead oozed pity. The unspoken truth coated him like black tar, impossible to wipe away. But he needed the words. The hope refused to die.

“Please, just tell me.” He begged.

“It won’t be so bad. It’s just more than we were planning.”

Confusion. “Honey, I’m going to need you to just say it.”

She strode over and knelt next to him. She touched his face and gently kissed his cheek as if to apologize. “Twin girls. We’re having twin girls to add to the three girls we already have.”

Jared felt every muscle in his body tense before he was comforted by the sweet relief of passing out.

#spookyshorts No. 4 – Horrified 

Amber startled out of her sleep. Her head whipped from side to side searching for the cause. She’d been antsy for the past week. It was hard to describe, but she’d just had a perpetual bad feeling. It was like she was being watched. She would’ve brushed the whole thing off as ridiculous if it hadn’t been for the strange things that had been happening. For instance, when she’d gotten into her car a couple of days ago the radio station had been changed. She always listened to the classical station to help keep calm while driving. The station had been on a sports radio station, she would never listen to. Nothing else in the car was out of place and there were no signs of a break-in. The doors were locked and the car alarm had been set. Then there was the coffee that mysteriously appeared on her work desk on the morning she was running too late to pick one up herself. The cup was from the place she always got it from and appeared to be made just the way she liked it. None of her co-workers knew where it came from and she ended up throwing it away. Finally, there was the Halloween Party flyer that was stuffed in her mailbox. The invite to the club would’ve seemed innocent enough if it hadn’t been for the words, ‘See you on Halloween’ that had been circled in red marker. It had freaked her out so much that she spent all day yesterday, Halloween day, shut up in her apartment without opening the door. So, it was with great relief that it was the morning after Halloween and the day had gone by without incident. She felt well rested and surprisingly at ease. Still, she got up from her bed to check around her apartment. Everything was right where it should be. She wiped her sweaty hand on her leg as she turned to go back to bed. Her hand froze as it touched her thigh. She gasped as she looked at herself. She blinked several times, but nothing changed. Instead of seeing the comfy pajamas she’d worn to bed, she saw that she was wearing a sexy, red negligee that she’d never before laid eyes on.

#spookyshorts No. 5 – Relief

Amanda couldn’t believe it. She’d built up so much anxiety about this final. She really needed to ace this test to pass the class; and she needed to pass the class, to graduate on time. Of course, she’d gotten the most egotistical, cocky, immature professor that had ever existed. To make matters worse, somehow her sarcastic, impossible to keep its comments to itself-mouth, had gotten her on Professor Jerkenstein’s bad side. But as she looked over her essay, she couldn’t help the relieved sigh that passed through her lips. The test had been surprisingly easy. Maybe it had come from the department and it wasn’t one he had made up himself. A low whistle drew Amanda’s attention to her right, where her professor stood looking at her essay. She smiled at him with only a hint of smugness. The strained baring of his teeth could hardly be called a smile. 

As he walked away he cleared his throat and announced, “Class, please be sure to read the question carefully. This test is 50% of your grade.”

Her heart dropped into her stomach as her eyes shot back to her paper. What had she done wrong? She knew it couldn’t have been that easy. She gawked at her watch. There wouldn’t be enough time to fix any mistakes. What to do? Her eyes darted back at her professor with a plea for help just in time to catch him wink and mouth the word ‘psych’ at her.

#spookyshorts No. 6 – Despair

I keep digging through coarse cold dirt and cutting gravel. I feel the pain in my fingertips. I can’t see them but I know that if I could they would be bleeding and damaged. But I refuse to slow down. It’s pitch black all around me and far above me, I can see a pinprick of light. That’s where I’m struggling to be. Once I get to the light, I can figure out where I am and what to do. It seems so far away and I’m so tired. I hear the water before I feel it, but then I do feel it. It’s rising all around me, pressing in on me and dragging me down. I struggle to keep my head above water. It’s overwhelming, the darkness, the pressure, the helplessness. I want to cry out but I have no voice. I’m both frantic and resigned. I need to keep going, people rely on me and yet the task feels insurmountable.

The beeping of the alarm clock, which my insomnia has rendered useless, jars me out of my thoughts. Maybe today I’ll make it out of bed, open the blinds, feel the sun on my skin. I’m hopeful. I’m hopeful that maybe today I can shake off the melancholy and despair or reach out for help or at least hold on until tomorrow when I’ll have another chance. Another chance to be, another chance to keep existing.

I know that one might’ve been a little too real. But sometimes nothing is scarier than real life. If you or anyone you know is feeling depressed or suicidal reach out, hang on. National Suicide Prevention Hotline – 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

I hoped you liked them. I tried to vary the tone of each of them. My overall theme was that everyone is scared about something at sometime.

Let me know which one you liked best and why. I would love to get your feedback!

Also check back for the final one. As romance is my wheelhouse the emotion will be LOVE!