Copyright J Hardy Carroll
Helen stood muffled against the wind and dark memories; peering through the iron railings, at the desolate house beyond the naked trees. Rain lingered on the windows like tears on the faces of the bereaved.
She fancied she saw a figure moving inside, a flicker of light tracing its progress. She heard terrifying screams as an evil hand knifed the innocents asleep in each room.
Holding her head tightly against the pain and noise, she asked herself unanswerable questions, “Who was I? Am I really changed?”
Weeping her distrust she raised her hand; this time the knife was for her.
Written for Friday Fictioneers – a 100 words story based on a photo prompt. Hosted by Rochelle. Read the other entries here.
Michael Wynn 
A full-blooded slasher, Michael
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Thank-you, Neil
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Dear Michael,
Frightening story. I wanted to run. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle, I don’t often opt for horror
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Quite a chilling piece. A troubled woman.
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She is, thanks for commenting
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I feel very uncomfortable with her around…
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I think she was uncomfortable with herself and knowing what she was capable of
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A psychological horror of a disturbed mind – the woman, not the writer hopefully! Well done.
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Hopefully not the writer Iain. 🙂
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A tortured mind indeed, great story
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Thanks Michael
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Helen the Horrible. Finally putting an end to the madness once and for all.
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The only way she thought she could, thanks
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…and that was that. Excellent tale.
Click to read my story
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Thank-you, glad you enjoyed it
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Wow, this was a chilling story written with great skill and great word usage. I really like the line “Rain lingered on the windows like tears on the faces of the bereaved.”
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Thank-you, I liked that line myself.
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Nice twist!
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Thank-you
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My goodness, this photo really brought out the gruesome horror this week! Nicely done — or should I say, chillingly done. I’ll add another vote for the line about the rain being like tears on the window.
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Thanks Joy, having red the others now I see hat you mean about the gruesome coming out this week
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she came to her senses at last. better late than never.
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Best for all concerned I think, thanks
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Gosh! The terror element has been disturbingly well brought out.
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Thank-you, I’m pleased it worked for you
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Love the descriptions in this., like life lessons of a dog lover
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Sent before I finished what I was saying! I particularly like the line about the rain lingering on the windows.
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That’s my favourite line to.
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Thank-you, Clare
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I feel that she might have stopped the carnage of herself… maybe she felt unable to stop.
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Yeah, I think she was scared of what she was capable of
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I hope this is just a horrible nightmare!
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It is horrible and hopefully it hasn’t happened anywhere to anyone but there’s some strange people about. 🙂 Thanks Dawn
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Well, that’s a wander along a dark road there. For some reason it reminds me of The Others – a big, spooky house and a terrible hidden secret. Nasty in a good way 🙂
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I don’t know The Others but I’m pleased it worked in a nasty way. 🙂
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🙂
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I think the first few lines created a great scene for the reader. It looks like this prompt has brought out a bit of horror for many. It’s a frightening write but I wanted to read more.
Isadora 😎
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Thank-you Isadora, I don’t often do horror but this week it just arrived so it had to be written. 🙂
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Chilling stuff!
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Thanks Sandra
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Oh, dear. That’s freaky stuff. I hate it in movies when the killer has a knife, all that slashing and stabbing and blood. I hate it even more when it happens in real life, as it did in Westminster last week D: Shudderingly well written, Michael.
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It’s funny you should say that because, I almost wrote a different story when that happened what with the common element of the railings but stayed away from it in the end.
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Quite shocking, for the reader… and the character.
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I’m glad you found it worked like that, thanks for reading and commenting
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A chilling insight into a twisted mind. “Rain lingered on the windows like tears on the faces of the bereaved” – loved this line.
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Thank-you Dahlia. A few have commented on that line which I also like.
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Beautiful writing, Michael. What a sad story. I can’t be sorry for her, she scares me, and yet, there’s still pity. Does she try to make it easier for those who try to help her, or for herself? Losing one’s sense of self and reality I find the worst of horrors.
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Chilling:)
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Thanks, she saw it as the only way to be certain of preventing her killing again
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