Category: Bite-Sized Horror

Charlie was jostled as he tried to break free from the gathering. He couldn’t see any signs of his dad.

Everyone was too tall. And too drunk. As Charlie navigated the sea of legs, the grownups shoved and kicked him. They either didn’t see him or were too inebriated to care.

Nobody asked if he was okay.

As the claustrophobia began clawing at his throat, Charlie spotted it – the edge of the mob. The crowd momentarily parted as a group shuffled past, loftily carrying beers. He darted through their legs, escaping into freedom.

Charlie hadn’t slipped away entirely unnoticed.

This is part eight of a larger story for Halloween. All sections are in the form of a 99-word story. Check back tomorrow for part nine!

Previous parts: #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | #6 | #7

As the townsfolk laughed and danced and drank, something was happening up on the hill of the cemetery.

Things were waking.

Soil shifted. Coffins creaked. Tombs groaned. Crypt doors squeaked.

Moans filled the quietness.

The crows cawed and fluttered their wings and ruffled their feathers – almost in anticipation of what was to come. But the birds kept their distance. They had learned their lesson.

As the clocks ­tick-tocked their way towards midnight, the things long-dead rose from their slumber. Their time was drawing near; the point when the veil between worlds was the thinnest.

The witching hour fast approached.

This is part seven of a larger story for Halloween. All sections are in the form of a 99-word story. Check back tomorrow for part eight!

Previous parts: #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | #6

People were pushing and shoving; trying to get a better view. Charlie had lost sight of the man. Why had his face frightened him so? After all, everyone here was dressed as a monster.

Charlie was shoved from behind. His father’s hand tightened around his own. “Stay near me, Charlie – it’d be easy to get lost here!” he shouted over the racket.

As if on cue, a group of teenagers dressed as werewolves barrelled into the crowd, knocking the child and separating the pair.

Through all the commotion, nobody heard the quiet voice, wracked with despair: “Have you seen my daddy?”

This is part six of a larger story for Halloween. All sections are in the form of a 99-word story. Check back tomorrow for part seven!

Previous parts: #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5

The music was upbeat and infectious. The drums thudded – he could feel the thundering bass inside his chest. There were also brass instruments filling out the upper frequencies – trombones, horns… and was that a saxophone?

Charlie was engrossed in the booming parade of family-friendly horror and knee-slapping comedy. He didn’t notice the man staring at him. At least, not right away.

When he did look around, Charlie instantly locked eyes with the stranger. His stomach dropped and the hairs on his body stood on end. The parade’s din faded as if it were underwater.

The man had dead eyes.

This is part five of a larger story for Halloween. All sections are in the form of a 99-word story. Check back tomorrow for part six!

Previous parts: #1 | #2 | #3 | #4

With bags full of sweets, Charlie and his daddy meandered into the town square, to see the parade.

“Great vampire guise, Graham!” said a stranger.

“Fangs!” replied his daddy, sounding like Dracula.

Charlie grabbed fistfuls from his haul, filtering out the those which had no wrapper by touch alone. He shovelled the sugary goodness into his mouth – knowing he’d have to brush his teeth extra hard tonight.

His daddy guided him through the crowd. So many people, thought the boy, as he munched on the candies. Every resident wore a veil of the macabre.

Not everyone was in costume.

This is part four of a larger story for Halloween. All sections are in the form of a 99-word story. Check back tomorrow for part five!

Previous parts: #1 | #2 | #3

“Don’t be too late, okay?”

“Sure, Honey.” There was a smack of a kiss.

And then they were outside, the air crisp and cool – the way a Halloween night should feel. Charlie sniffed. He could smell smoke and bonfires. He grinned.

“And have fun!” said his mother – the last words he’d ever hear from her.

“Will do!” his daddy called back, as he opened the gate.

The pair slipped out onto the street; father and son. In every direction, Charlie could see colourful lights, draped decorations and candlelit pumpkins carved into faces.

“Now this,” said his daddy, “is Halloween!”

This is part three of a larger story for Halloween. All sections are in the form of a 99-word story. Check back tomorrow for part four!

Previous parts: #1 | #2