Category: Science Fiction

Bite-Sized Halloween #19: A Descending Stairway

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TO THE NETHERWORLD (KIDS ENTER FOR FREE) said the sign.

“This must’ve been what Marion was talking about…” said Charlie to nobody. “He told me to hide.” He pushed the crypt door open and took a step inside. A spiralling staircase lit by candles. A whiff of smoke. And… was that a scream?

He began his descent. Round and round. Deeper he went, the smells of rot and decay filling his nostrils.

Charlie thought he must be nearing the bottom when a voice called out from above. A voice that sounded like crunching gravel.

“I’m coming for youuuuuu, Charliiieeee!”

 

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

Previous parts: #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | #6 | #7 | #8 | #9 | #10 | #11 | #12 | #13 | #14 | #15 | #16 | #17 | #18

Read ‘What Did We Do?’ My short story for this week’s Reedsy contest!

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https://blog.reedsy.com/creative-writing-prompts/author/joshua-insole/

Hey guys! Hope you’re all well and getting ready for Halloween! I know I am — pumpkin purchased and ready to carve! I also hope you’re enjoying the Bite-Sized Halloween stuff — the conclusion is rapidly approaching!

This week’s Reedsy theme was armchair detectives; I chose prompt — ‘Write a story about a character with a sidekick.’ I have to admit, I didn’t really stick with the theme, as I had a really cool horror idea that I wanted to pursue! After all, these prompts are meant as guides to kickstart your writing. The title of my story is What Did We Do? As always, you can read it here on WordPress, and over here on my Reedsy profile.

The dogs were the first to sense it. Without them, who knows how it would have all turned out? Maybe it would have all been over within a few hours.

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Hope you like it! And remember: always trust your dog’s instincts!

Until next time…

Bite-Sized Halloween #18: Shadows and Light

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With sorrow in his soul, Charlie pressed on. He carried the jack-o’-lantern, casting its glow whenever they approached.

Something with long nails and sharp teeth popped up behind a headstone. “Hey, kid!” it said, in voice that was far too deep. “Got some real nice candy, for ya!”

Charlie shone the light in its face. It screamed, swore at him, and then went skittering away into the darkness.

He walked on. How far should he go? Marion had never said. And it looked like Marion wasn’t coming back…

Minutes later, he found the crypt with the flashing neon sign.

 

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

Previous parts: #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | #6 | #7 | #8 | #9 | #10 | #11 | #12 | #13 | #14 | #15 | #16 | #17

Bite-Sized Halloween #17: Marion Faces His Fears

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“No more!” roared Marion, puffing his fleshless chest out. “You shall harm no more children!”

“What’s one more, Marion? How many did you not save?”

Marion yelled and lunged with his sword. The Collector dashed forward, ducking easily beneath Marion’s clumsy swing. With a swipe of his scythe, he sliced the skeleton in half. Marion didn’t even manage to scream.

A few of the dead who had gathered to watch the scene tittered laughter.

Far away, deep in the darkness of the cemetery, Charlie sat down with a thud as a shadow passed over his heart. “Marion?” he whispered.

 

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

Previous parts: #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | #6 | #7 | #8 | #9 | #10 | #11 | #12 | #13 | #14 | #15 | #16

Bite-Sized Halloween #16: The Collector

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“He what?” hissed The Collector.

“Hhheeeeee tooooollllld thhheeee booooooyyyyy—”

“Yes, I got that! My God, you lot talk slowly!”

“Wwweeeeee caaannnoooottt—”

“Enough. Where did he take him?”

The ghost pointed further into the cemetery.

“That damned skeleton… I knew I should have—” But he didn’t get to finish his sentence, for that was when Marion jumped out of the shadows, brandishing an ancient broadsword.

“En garde!” cried the skeleton, as he struck a battle pose. “This is one child whom you shall not consume!”

The Collector burst out laughing. “You never learn…”

He drew his scythe.

 

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

Previous parts: #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | #6 | #7 | #8 | #9 | #10 | #11 | #12 | #13 | #14 | #15

Bite-Sized Halloween #15: By the Light of a Jack-o’-Lantern

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Marion’s grave was a sad sight. 1811 – 1833 read the dates. “How did you die, Marion?”

“Now’s not the time!” whispered the skeleton. “Take this! It’ll ward them off!”

He handed Charlie a pumpkin. Carved into it was a simple smile. “Here!” said the skeleton. He opened the sculpted head of the jack-o’-lantern and placed a single candle inside. Then he blew a small gust of air between his all-too-prominent teeth, and the flame whumped into life.

“How did you—”

“Not the time!”

“Where are you going?”

“To stop The Collector… if I can! Don’t stop, Charlie! Run!”

 

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

Previous parts: #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | #6 | #7 | #8 | #9 | #10 | #11 | #12 | #13 | #14

Bite-Sized Halloween #14: Land of the Dead

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“This way, this way!”

Charlie followed the skeleton.

“What’s your name?” he asked, in between breaths.

“My friends used to call me Marion, once upon a time… And you?”

“Charlie!”

“Charmed, I’m sure! Now, quickly! No time for dilly-dallying!”

“Where are we going?” whispered Charlie.

“Away from him. Away from them. Bad, bad – they’re all bad!”

“Who are?”

Marion stopped and placed a skeletal hand on his shoulder. Charlie shivered. “Why, the other dead, of course! Today is their day. I—well, our day, I suppose… And if they catch you—oh, no!” He squeezed. “You have to hide!”

 

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

Previous parts: #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | #6 | #7 | #8 | #9 | #10 | #11 | #12 | #13

Bite-Sized Halloween #12: Welcome

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They all noticed the child in their midst. Their cloudy eyes and rotten brains had perceived him from his first step onto the revered grounds.

“Boooooyyyyyy,” said one.

“Youuuuunnngg,” replied another.

“Freeeeeshhhhhh…”

“…sooouuuulll,” said the other, finishing the first one’s sentence with a nod.

They could sense the others stirring around them; they didn’t have much time. The pair began closing in, when they saw that Marion had already gotten to him.

“Noooottt faaiiiiirr,” pouted the initial speaker.

“Weeeee saaaawwwww hiiimmmmm,” said the second, “fiiiiiirsssttt!”

But then the gate squeaked again.

“Cooolllleecctooooor,” they whispered, grinning.

They disappeared like smoke.

 

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

Previous parts: #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | #6 | #7 | #8 | #9 | #10 | #11

‘Watching Jeremy’: My bleak entry for this week’s Reedsy contest

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https://blog.reedsy.com/creative-writing-prompts/author/joshua-insole/

Well, here we are again. It doesn’t seem quite right that we’re halfway through October 2019 already, does it? But as they say, time waits for no man. As with last week, you’re getting twice the Josh today — Bite-Sized Halloween and a short story!

This week’s theme was ‘childhood meets adulthood’. I chose prompt #4 — “Write about a parent who sees pieces of a family member’s (or their own) personality in their child — whether this brings them comfort, terror, or something in between.’

I wrote my story in a frantic rush once I’d read the prompt. Sometimes I have to think about the story a bit, before putting words on paper. This was not one of those occasions… The words came rushing out of my fingertips in a frenzy. I feel as though the story is quite a bit darker than my usual fare, even though it’s not straight-up horror. It’s called Watching Jeremy, and you can find it here on WordPress, or over on my Reedsy profile.

Dad had killed people. Before, I mean.

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I hope you find it to be an entertaining read, despite its dark tone. Writing this was one of those rare experiences where you don’t even think about what you’re doing, it just… happens.

You should definitely check out some of the other entries over on Reedsy’s site — there’s really something for everyone, regardless of your genre-specific tastes.

Until next time…

‘We Take the Wolves’: This week’s Reedsy entry!

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Yes, yes, I know, I’m breaking my rule regarding posting more than once a day — but sharing my short stories is kinda the whole point of this blog, and I’ve only got 20 days or so to wrap up that Bite-Sized Halloween story I’ve got going… So, today, I’m afraid you’ve got double the Josh. Whether that’s a good or a bad thing, I’ll leave you to decide…

With that said, I hope you guys have had a good week! I’m feeling much better now, after last week’s period of writing whilst in the grip of a fever… This week’s theme was Peanuts. As in, the comic strip with Charlie Brown and Snoopy, not the salted snack!

I chose prompt #3 — “Write a story about someone who is unexpectedly wise.” I knew straight away where I’d take this prompt, and I think I’ve kinda gone back in a horror-ish direction, after straying away from it slightly with my recent entries. The title of my short story is We Take the Wolves, and (you know the drill!) you can read it here on WordPress, or over here on my Reedsy profile.

When the werewolves first attacked, we didn’t stand a chance.

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As always, I hope you like the story! I had fun writing it, but then, that’s no surprise, is it? Wouldn’t be much of a writer if I hated doing this thing! If you get the chance, check out the other entries over on Reedsy — there’s always some brilliant work happening, over there.

Until next time, have a good’un!