Gothic Haunting
In the heart of the haunted forest, a vibrant meadow lay hidden, untouched by time. One legend whispered tales of lost souls soaring through the night, their mournful cries piercing the darkness. Few dared to venture into this domain for fear of encountering the tortured spirits that haunted the land.
On a moonlit night, a traveler, carrying a lantern to light her way, stumbled upon the meadow. The lantern flickered, casting eerie shadows on the grass. The air grew heavy, as if the souls themselves were watching, waiting.
Suddenly, a gentle whisper echoed through the meadow, sending shivers down the traveler’s spine. She froze, her heart pounding in her chest. The whispering grew louder, the voices of lost souls telling their long-forgotten stories, engraving themselves into the traveler’s mind.
The vibrant colors of the flowers faded, their petals transforming to black. Souls, once trapped, glided above the meadow in an ethereal ballet, crying for release. The traveler’s lantern flickered and died, leaving her in complete darkness.
The souls whispered in her ears, their presence suffocating. She felt her own life force drain away, her spirit soar, becoming one with the tortured souls, forever trapped in the haunted meadow.
My second response to a writing prompt from Written Tales, which asked us to “write a 199-word story, using the five (5) following words. All must be included in the order of your choice: Soar, Whisper, Meadow, Lantern, and Vibrant.”
Upcoming…
A dark alliance via a haiku chain:
All Hallows’ Eve, 18 October 2023
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