The quote “You’re So Brave and Quiet I forget you’re suffering.” Ernest Hemingway.
It’s my first night in the old dark house.
Such a worrying name for a dwelling
That looks at times like something from Gothic
When we know it was built in the fifties.
I check all the windows, firmly locked
The doors are bolted, I’m locked in.
Outside a storm rages, lightning, thunder,
All good reason to snuggle as deep as I can.
A flash of lightning streaks across my room
Shadows are highlighted
They weren’t there before.
I gulp as the window rattles
The wind whistles outside
Inside I begin to tremble.
I’m not so brave I tell myself
I am suffering now
Wishing I was elsewhere.
Another crash and flash of light
There’s a giant web in the corner
A large black spider sits in the centre
Awaiting a victim, I hope it’s not me.
On the dresser are objects illuminated
Seeming alive one looks at me I’m sure
Then in the darkness they settle again
The next flash I’m positive they have moved to the left
I grab my old camera, my faithful box brownie
I move to the table, there’s an old wooden chair
Too scared to move, now that around me
Are shadows I’m sure weren’t there before.
The door gives a rattle
The handle is turned
I grab hold of the table
Hold my breath, watch as it begins to open
What foul spectre is coming to me
With bones and blood and a breath to kill?
The door wings open there is no one there
I race across, slam it shut
Run the bolts, slip the chain
Drive into my bed as outside
The storm rages, wind blows
Windows creak, door rattles
It’s a night of no sleep
As I have the strangest sensation
Of some body in my bed……
Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2016/03/06/writing-prompt-149-collage-18/
Morpethroad 
I just crawled into bed, a storm brewing outside. As great of a read as this is, Michael, might need a “Best Not Read At Bedtime” warning! 😳
Oh dear Mandy so sorry…..keep those covers pulled right up.
It’s what happens when my son gives me a horror movie to watch. Thought I’d try my hand at that genre. Hope I don’t keep you awake😀😀
Lol, if I may be a judge, I’d say you passed the test ( with honors). You can thank your son- I think!😄
Thank you you are very kind…..I do try my best, thankfully I have fun doing it….🤓😀😜
👍🏻
I enjoyed reading this, very creative at what you do. Keep it up.
Thank you rytha I shall do my best. Thank you for your comment.
The pleasure is mine.
What Mandy said. Thankfully I read it as I woke up so not so terrifying 😉 .
Thank you for reading and your comment. Glad you read in the morning, hate to be responsible for keeping you awake.
I’m a wuss what can I say 😜😜!
I could feel the tension building, the suspense, the fear running wild as shadows dance, light flashes, thunder crashes 🙂
Well done Michael – creepy shivery good!
Thank you Pat, thought I’d give the genre a try.
What foul spectre is coming to me
With bones and blood and a breath to kill?
Loved that! Suspenseful indeed and brilliantly done!
Thank you Yves, it was a fun write.
LOL! This is cute. I enjoyed reading it. 🙂
Thank you Joy glad you enjoyed it.
Should you survive the night — exactly whose body is in your bed? — I would love to see the pictures taken with your “trusty” Brownie!
Good, chills up the spine story. Perhaps a whole new genre for you?
Not sure I’ll do more of these. But it was fun putting it down.
Michael you built this story wonderfully and eerily. The tension built as you described your characters fears, what he may have seen or not — we don’t know if he’s seeing the macabre or if he is imagining his greatest fears. The spider got me ick, big and black. I hate them so, and in Alberta they are generally not that big. I kept thinking dive into bed and hide yourself under the blanket, nothing outside of it of his body. I thought there might actually be someone at the door – is there or isn’t there – that seems to your poems question. But at the end it seems there is somebody with him in bed. Scary! Great job!
That’s a fabulous comment Mandi, thanks for giving me your feedback…..yes I often wonder where fear does lie, in our heads more than in reality?
I think we often think of the worst things, have an inclination to do that. 🙂
Yes we do. You are the second person from Alberta I have now met as a blogger.
Haha. We’re good creative people 🙂 Glad to represent Alberta and Canada. Thanks Michael.
Yes my other blogger friend is very creative also. Must be something in the water there…
Give me more Gothic!
Can I say thanks? I’ll give it another go when the prompts point me in that possible direction. Thanks so much for stopping by.
Oh my goodness! You write of fear/terror so well!
Thank you so much.
You’re welcome!