Today is Friday and that means another opportunity to ‘free write’ and on this day I have decided to do just that…FREE Write! Halloween has passed but memories of its haunting still linger. On Wednesday Kellie Elmore placed a call for submissions asking for Halloween photos and a chance to have a well-chosen image offered up as this week’s FWF prompt. The winning photo was taken by Missy Upton and pictures Oak Alley Plantation, which was the location for the movie Interview with the Vampire. The photo is displayed at the bottom of the writing.
Thank you, Missy for a great photograph and Kellie for the opportunity to use imagination to write. [OOPS! Being the educator that I am, I must admit I did correct some of the errors along the way.]
Here is my contribution. . .
The Haunting
Rain, pelting the road and windshield, was unrelenting as the drive seemed to be never ending. When we left home, it wasn’t so bad, except the sun had already begun its decent and shades of deep purple projected an eerie feeling to this already spooky day. “Why did we decide to get on the road on Halloween?” I ponder. “And, of all things, now it is pouring rain and getting darker by the minute.”
“John, do we have to go to Aunt Mary’s?” I ask in a trembling voice. “You know I don’t feel comfortable in that big old house of hers and the weather, well, it is terrible and frightening.” At that exact moment, lightning bolts zig-zag across the sky followed by sharp, loud cracks of thunder. “Please, let’s go back home. Please!”
“Settle down. Not for you to worry your pretty little self, my darling, I am driving and all you need to do is lay your head back, close your eyes and we will be there before you know it. Give Aunt Mary a chance and think of the house as a historical landmark. Step back in time. Just think, you would make a great Scarlet from Gone With the Wind! The way you are acting one would think the house is haunted for Pete’s sake!” John laughs as he tenderly takes my hand and presses sweet, tender kisses across the top of my fingers. “I love you,Scarlet!”
No way was I going to relax. Absolutely no way was I going to close my eyes! Too many visions within blood-curdling scenes scream thirstily as they whirl around and around with eyes wide open: knives, axes, scissors, villainous apparitions float effortlessly through the winding corridors of my mind. Understand it isn’t that I don’t like Aunt Mary or that she herself is frightening. She is wonderful and loves to cook and every year at Halloween she tries to outdo herself from the year before as she concocts the most unusual Halloween treats. It is the house…it seems to cast a spell as though dear sweet auntie is Bloody Mary. “Snap out of it!” I slap myself subconsciously.
Thoughts begin to turn away from tales of ghostly encounters and unexplainable happenings that had been reported from one generation to the next in THAT house. I began to surmise whether they are true or simply the fabrication of chilling whispers within the wind of souls crying out to be released. Some say fact, others proclaim fiction. Me? I don’t know but I do know one thing for sure— I don’t want to find out on this night.
Oak Alley Plantation
“We’re here!” John exclaims as he slows down to make the turn into the driveway. There it was…Oak Alley Plantation. Nestled back off a private drive, the secluded house stood hauntingly still. The gaze down the driveway becomes absorbed in massive oaks stretching outward forming a canopy of moss-laden limbs. Shadows creep along the driveway as the wind wrestles with the moss clinging to the oak limbs. The scene is like arms above and below reaching for anything along their path to bring into the clutches of its grasp.
We are not ten feet into the driveway when the car begins to shake. Spine chilling, hair raising, heart pounding sounds howl within the night wind. Rattling chains, feet dragging along the driveway, freightening moans and groans pierce the air synchronizing their echoes with the thunder as it claps in the distance. Are the chains symbolic of slaves owned by the former plantation masters? Do the sounds of feet dragging mimic those of the tired workers coming in from the cotton fields? Are the moans and groans typical sounds of constant hunger and thirst for something better?
Now, I ask you: Is it real? Are the haunting tales of horror coming to life? Is the plantation truly haunted or is it Uncle Harry playing a practical joke?
What is your perception as to the ending to the story?
“And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing
guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity
is self-doubt.” ~Sylvia Plath
catnipoflife 
I enjoyed every word! You are so very talented!
Thank you, Cynthia! I am so glad you found enjoyment for it was indeed written off the cuff with just the picture as prompt!
Your story definitely drew me in! Lots of great sensory detail–flashes of lightning, clanking chains, moans and groans, shaking car. You asked: Is it real? My answer: Does it matter? It’s a terrific story!
WOW! I love THAT response! LOL:>)
ACHH you left me hanging…..!!!!! My imagination is going wild here …thanks for scaring the bejesus out of me! 🙂
You are too funny, Len. I sure do miss being able to leave comments on your site:>(
Thanks, Len! I sure do miss being able to leave comments on your blog:>(
Excellent!!! I’m itching to finish my edit and write. Well done Sharla! Thanks for sharing.
~Taylor ~
It has been (still is) a lot of fun just seeing what comes about from a simple prompt! Get to it…write, write, write!
Very impressive and deliciously scary! Sylvia Plath was so right too….
I found her quote to be quite apropo! Thanks, Van:>)
Excellent–you are full of talent!!
You are too kind, my dear friend! This one was fun to write and it was amazing how it really turned out just from using the photo prompt:>) I love challenges. . .
I find it is excellent Sharla. Have a good day
Thanks you, Gys. I am behind in my visits but will definitely “see” you today:>)
Not my type of tale to read but I enjoyed it anyway. Great writing Sharla. 🙂
I was surprised at my own writing…normally not my kind of read either:>)
“Nestled back off a private drive, the secluded house stood hauntingly still. The gaze down the driveway becomes absorbed in massive oaks stretching outward forming a canopy of moss-laden limbs. Shadows creep along the driveway as the wind wrestles with the moss clinging to the oak limbs. The scene is like arms above and below reaching for anything along their path to bring into the clutches of its grasp.”
your imagery here and throughout is just stunning! I was there, curled up inside your descriptive narrative. You gave me goosebumps! and I say…write the next chapter! 🙂 WONDERFUL addition this prompt! Thank you!!!!! xoxox
WOW! Thank you, Kellie. Your comments really mean alot since I am knew to this kind of writing. So glad I accepted your challenge and took the plunge!
Love it!
Lady, so glad you stopped by for a little haunting:>)
How fun! Sharla, I loved it. Very well written and completely entertaining. A great read for me thank you, Penny
Thank you, Penny. I guess not too bad for totally off the cuff:>)
Sometimes good stuff comes out then because we don’t over think it! 🙂
Lot of truth in that, Penny!
🙂
You kept me scrolling to read more. This is a great writing.
Cherrye
Wow! Thanks, Cherrye. It was a fun write and quite different from my usual poetic nature:>)
WOW! Thank you, Cherrye. It was a fun write and quite different from my usual poetic nature:>)
I’m not sure who or what it is….but I like it!
Kellie Elmore presents a challenge on most Fridays for writers to compose something freely according to a prompt she provides. Really gets the brain cells working and creative juices flowing!
Well you are for sure creatively flowing! Very good!
Thank you, Resa. I ventured outside my poetry box! LOL:>)
[…] Today is Friday and that means another opportunity to ‘free write’ and on this day I have decided to do just that…FREE Write! Halloween has passed but memories of its haunting sti… […]
[…] Today is Friday and that means another opportunity to ‘free write’ and on this day I have decided to do just that…FREE Write! Halloween has passed but memories of its haunting sti… […]