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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Horror
- Subject: Seasonal / Holidays
- Published: 10/21/2023
Haunted
Born 1957, F, from Mesick Michigan, United States![Haunted](/storage/story/story_9E703765-3EF2-968F-98EE-2C37898E2799-image(393x285-crop).jpeg)
Author's note: I'm trying something new. In this story I begin with one word. Then add another word to the second line and so on up to ten. Then I go backwards from nine words to one word. Hope you enjoy.
Haunted
House
on corner.
I
know not.
Shall I enter?
Eerie
outer appearance.
Dark gloomy windows
mysteriously speak, “Come Hither.”
Feet
slowly moving
ever so closer.
Anxiety building dreading within,
pulling me near impending fear.
Heart
beating faster.
Panic is escalating.
Inhale deeply and again.
Thunderous beats stab my ribs
wanting release from its adrenaline surge.
Chills
creeping slowly
throughout my body.
Spiking spine-tingling goosebumps
adhering upon trembling body appendages
causing dark unsettling feelings deep within.
Standing
I shudder.
Door to enter.
Grasping the metal handle,
grip cold as death itself.
“Creeaak!!!” swiftly a dark abyss awaits.
A heavy fog lies in its doom.
Calling me in deeper to its forbidden web.
Voices.
Distorted everywhere.
Penetrating my brain.
Cackling laughter so wrenching.
“Step inside, if you dare!”
Crossing the threshold into imminent terror.
“Slam!” behind me the entrance is barred.
Inhuman shrieks emerge from every crack and crevice.
Snarly growls mix with weeping and distressed cries entangle.
Walls
closing in.
Suffocating. Can't breathe.
Suddenly a moving spiral.
Flickering lights mask my vision
encasing my surroundings with gross obscurities.
Flitting shadows bounce from wall to wall.
Around every bend emerges grotesque beings lacking form.
Clashing together images of ghoulish, gruesome and ghostly creatures.
Gnashing teeth, piercing eyes, sinister glares, and twisted limbs intertwine.
Pupils affixed and focused on a dimly lit corridor.
Watchful as I approach the grim passage unknown,
unaware of what lurks in its blur.
Cobwebs hang from perilously decaying rafters.
Bent nails hang pictures high.
Persistent mischievous roaming eyes
harbor a shrewd
evil ominous
stare.
Long hall forks, go right or go left.
Drawn to lights glowing in the coolness.
Creepy sounds radiating from dead ahead.
My body hugs the wall.
“Aaaah!” slimy creepy hands
grab my neck.
I turn.
Gone.
Suddenly a strange coldness wraps around me.
Fright has encompassed me, running incoherently.
Slipping, falling in something gooey.
Feel a clammy hand
pull me up.
I rise.
Alone.
Unrecognizable figures sprint quickly toward me.
Creatures cascading to the door.
Need reach escape first.
Panic strickens me.
Must leave.
Now.
“Crash! Bang! Clang! Crunch! Boom!”
“Grunt! Screech! Shriek! Hiss!”
Bloodcurdling nonstopping hypnotic.
Otherworldly chaos.
Unearthly.
Hordes of creatures moving.
Uncontrollably fiercely fast.
Open door.
Out.
“Best Haunted House!”
“So Fun!”
“Yaaaaa!”
“Happy Haunted”
“Halloween!”
“BOOOO!”
Haunted(Shelly Garrod)
Author's note: I'm trying something new. In this story I begin with one word. Then add another word to the second line and so on up to ten. Then I go backwards from nine words to one word. Hope you enjoy.
Haunted
House
on corner.
I
know not.
Shall I enter?
Eerie
outer appearance.
Dark gloomy windows
mysteriously speak, “Come Hither.”
Feet
slowly moving
ever so closer.
Anxiety building dreading within,
pulling me near impending fear.
Heart
beating faster.
Panic is escalating.
Inhale deeply and again.
Thunderous beats stab my ribs
wanting release from its adrenaline surge.
Chills
creeping slowly
throughout my body.
Spiking spine-tingling goosebumps
adhering upon trembling body appendages
causing dark unsettling feelings deep within.
Standing
I shudder.
Door to enter.
Grasping the metal handle,
grip cold as death itself.
“Creeaak!!!” swiftly a dark abyss awaits.
A heavy fog lies in its doom.
Calling me in deeper to its forbidden web.
Voices.
Distorted everywhere.
Penetrating my brain.
Cackling laughter so wrenching.
“Step inside, if you dare!”
Crossing the threshold into imminent terror.
“Slam!” behind me the entrance is barred.
Inhuman shrieks emerge from every crack and crevice.
Snarly growls mix with weeping and distressed cries entangle.
Walls
closing in.
Suffocating. Can't breathe.
Suddenly a moving spiral.
Flickering lights mask my vision
encasing my surroundings with gross obscurities.
Flitting shadows bounce from wall to wall.
Around every bend emerges grotesque beings lacking form.
Clashing together images of ghoulish, gruesome and ghostly creatures.
Gnashing teeth, piercing eyes, sinister glares, and twisted limbs intertwine.
Pupils affixed and focused on a dimly lit corridor.
Watchful as I approach the grim passage unknown,
unaware of what lurks in its blur.
Cobwebs hang from perilously decaying rafters.
Bent nails hang pictures high.
Persistent mischievous roaming eyes
harbor a shrewd
evil ominous
stare.
Long hall forks, go right or go left.
Drawn to lights glowing in the coolness.
Creepy sounds radiating from dead ahead.
My body hugs the wall.
“Aaaah!” slimy creepy hands
grab my neck.
I turn.
Gone.
Suddenly a strange coldness wraps around me.
Fright has encompassed me, running incoherently.
Slipping, falling in something gooey.
Feel a clammy hand
pull me up.
I rise.
Alone.
Unrecognizable figures sprint quickly toward me.
Creatures cascading to the door.
Need reach escape first.
Panic strickens me.
Must leave.
Now.
“Crash! Bang! Clang! Crunch! Boom!”
“Grunt! Screech! Shriek! Hiss!”
Bloodcurdling nonstopping hypnotic.
Otherworldly chaos.
Unearthly.
Hordes of creatures moving.
Uncontrollably fiercely fast.
Open door.
Out.
“Best Haunted House!”
“So Fun!”
“Yaaaaa!”
“Happy Haunted”
“Halloween!”
“BOOOO!”
- Share this story on
- 6
![](/storage/users/F5EDAD23-1716-22CE-7A90-24704B1F1845_1529525679-image(212x212-crop).jpeg)
Kevin Hughes
10/27/2023Shelly, Oh My Gosh, that was Brilliant! What a technique to use to create a story. I am not clever enough to have thought this up...heck, I don't know anybody but you who has ever even thought of it.
And the story unfolkds as it should. Wow Just wow. I am with Lillian on this one. Remarkable! There should be other Awards following this one.
Congrats, and I am in awe!
Smiles, Kevin
Help Us Understand What's Happening
![some-data...](/storage/users/8F5394B8-02B3-46D1-8B3D-732C4F7D9C8B_1713745678-image(212x212-crop).jpeg)
Shelly Garrod
10/29/2023Hi Kevin. I'm so happy you enjoyed this new challenge I took on. It just came to me to try something a little different. I was hoping it would all flow nicely together because at times I had difficulty coming up with the word or words to make the sentences or paragraphs make sense. The plan was that the haunted house, truly was not haunted just a staged haunted house. I hope the readers grasp that, when at the end the ghouls and goblins (Children) run out yelling "Happy Halloween!" It was fun writing this. And stressful at times, ha, ha! Again Kevin, thank you for your delightful response. I always look forward to your positive comments. Maybe a Christmas story using this technique is in my future.
Blessings Shelly
Help Us Understand What's Happening
![](/storage/users/5D6F2FE0-9A36-13EC-B5E1-A8ED29BAC015_1632285588-image(212x212-crop).jpeg)
Lillian Kazmierczak
10/27/2023Shelly, that was so descriptive I could feel the fear and anxiety! I love what you did with the word pattern! It would make a great writing challenge! A great eerie story! Congratulations on short story star of the day!
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
![some-data...](/storage/users/8F5394B8-02B3-46D1-8B3D-732C4F7D9C8B_1713745678-image(212x212-crop).jpeg)
Shelly Garrod
10/27/2023Wow, thank you very much Lillian. I wanted to try something different. It was a challenge for me trying to figure it out. If it's read on a laptop or computer, you can see the pattern. But the pattern can't be seen on a phone. I'm glad you enjoyed the story. I always look forward to your insightful comments.
Blessings Shelly
Help Us Understand What's Happening
![](/storage/users/BBF771A2-182B-0B67-24FF-BBE172CD3493_1586978316-image(212x212-crop).jpeg)
Help Us Understand What's Happening
![some-data...](/storage/users/8F5394B8-02B3-46D1-8B3D-732C4F7D9C8B_1713745678-image(212x212-crop).jpeg)
Shelly Garrod
10/27/2023Thanks Kristin. I always look forward to your comments. That was the plan, lol. I guess I pulled it off. Again, thank you. Happy Haunting!
Blessing Shelly
Help Us Understand What's Happening
![](/storage/users/CF4DAE68-7B0A-943D-C32A-7F1603517067_1714435662-image(212x212-crop).jpeg)
Help Us Understand What's Happening
![some-data...](/storage/users/8F5394B8-02B3-46D1-8B3D-732C4F7D9C8B_1713745678-image(212x212-crop).jpeg)
Shelly Garrod
10/27/2023Appreciate you taking the time to read and comment on my story. Thanks Donald. Happy Haunting!
Blessings Shelly
Help Us Understand What's Happening
![](/storage/users/2BAC3408-B77D-5789-67AC-7DAE2CDE5D1A_1709568270-image(212x212-crop).jpeg)
CPlatt
10/27/2023Congrats on star of the day! Love the tone of this. I'm thinking of dabbling in poetry too. I will have to be brave and follow your lead and take the jump. Cheers, Chris
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
![some-data...](/storage/users/8F5394B8-02B3-46D1-8B3D-732C4F7D9C8B_1713745678-image(212x212-crop).jpeg)
Shelly Garrod
10/27/2023Thanks Chris. I stepped myself up to a new challenge. I've been trying to do a little bit more poetry here and there. There is a name for this kind of story/poetry when you begin with one word and increase it by one word in each sentence. I just can't remember it. I appreciate your comments. Give it a try, you'll surprise yourself. Good luck. Happy Haunting.
Blessings Shelly
Help Us Understand What's Happening
![](/storage/users/83D1CFDF-7095-1147-F650-BF0711943879_1690789891-image(212x212-crop).png)
Help Us Understand What's Happening
![some-data...](/storage/users/8F5394B8-02B3-46D1-8B3D-732C4F7D9C8B_1713745678-image(212x212-crop).jpeg)
Help Us Understand What's Happening
![](/storage/users/5409FB9C-B08D-404A-AEB5-1656E97B7D38_1544319328-image(212x212-crop).jpeg)
Help Us Understand What's Happening
![some-data...](/storage/users/8F5394B8-02B3-46D1-8B3D-732C4F7D9C8B_1713745678-image(212x212-crop).jpeg)
Shelly Garrod
10/27/2023Thanks for reading and choosing my story as Star of the Day. It's an honor.
Blessings Shelly
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Help Us Understand What's Happening
![some-data...](/storage/users/8F5394B8-02B3-46D1-8B3D-732C4F7D9C8B_1713745678-image(212x212-crop).jpeg)
Shelly Garrod
10/25/2023Thank you Marla. Your comments are always much appreciated.
Blessings Shelly
Help Us Understand What's Happening
![](/storage/users/default-image(212x212-crop).png)
Kimberly Barnhart
10/23/2023Great haunted poem! I love the one word headers for each stanza that tie the poem so well together. Great idea and imaginative!
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
![some-data...](/storage/users/8F5394B8-02B3-46D1-8B3D-732C4F7D9C8B_1713745678-image(212x212-crop).jpeg)
Shelly Garrod
10/23/2023Thanks Kim. Happy you enjoyed the read. Did you catch the plot of the poem?
Blessings Shelly
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COMMENTS (10)