Sue’s #WritePhoto prompt:
Every day, we walk past that gate.
It looks so creepy, and the walls are covered with this green litchen moss that indicates no-one really looked after the place.
I always wonder what is behind it though. The grounds inside are so overgrown that there is no way of glimpsing the house that it guards. Nanna said that it had been a beautiful house when she was young. There were always streams of folk in and out, parties happening regularly. She remembers standing near the gate with her friends, as a young girl, hoping to catch a glimpse of the beautiful frocks that the ladies visiting the house wore.
Then one day, the gates mysteriously closed, and never opened again.
Mummy says that bad things happened there. Someone died, and a child went missing. Nanna can’t recall what exactly happened. When I ask her, she just reminisces about pretty dresses.
There are so many rumours amongst the village.
A happy, fortunate family who suddenly befell an awful tragedy, with the man of the house being mysteriously killed in his house and their only child, a girl, disappearing. They say the lady of the house still lives there, but I can’t work out how. She’d be older than Nanna if she was still alive, and Nanna is quite old…
But just the other day, there was a report of a child going missing. She goes to my school. Her brother’s not been in this week. They must be so scared. She my age. She isn’t really my friend, but anyway… she went missing, and no one can trace her, beyond leaving school to walk home.
She’s often walked the same way as me.
Where could she have gone?
Today, I’ve had Drama Club so I’m late walking back. Sarah, my best friend, doesn’t like Drama so she went home on her own, earlier.
It’s getting dark earlier and everywhere has an eerie feel about it, especially as I get closer to that gate…
But today there is something odd. One of the gate panels is slightly ajar. I’ve never seen it open before.
Curiosity killed the cat, they say. It’s a good thing my name’s not Cat… I push open the gate and step through.
The house is there, masked by overgrown plants. But no sign of anyone around.
Who might have opened that gate?
I just have to walk up a little further. It’d be rude not to. I have to push away some of the brambles that have taken over the path, laddering my school tights.
Great.
Mummy will kill me.
The house looms closer. It really does look like it could have been a grand place.
Oh My God!
The door opens.
A little woman is standing there.
“Come on in Grace. We’ve been expecting you.”
Something pulls me closer, even though my mind is telling me to just run back to the gate, and out.
My body keeps going, and before I know it, I am over the threshold.
My eyes adjust to the dimness of the light in the hallway, and as I glance to the right, through a door, what I see makes me gasp in horror, just as I hear the front door slam shut behnd me with certain finality.
Ritu 2019
stevetanham
Mar 14, 2019 @ 08:41:00
Quite chilling, that…. definitely worth a sequel Ritu.
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Ritu
Mar 14, 2019 @ 08:42:41
Last weeks was the sequel! You’ll have to check it out!!!
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stevetanham
Mar 14, 2019 @ 13:59:25
I will! 😎
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Jennie
Mar 03, 2019 @ 13:37:20
Oooo…this was so good. You MUST finish the story, Ritu! 🙂
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Ritu
Mar 03, 2019 @ 14:34:48
Thanks Jennie!!! What can I write next??
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Jennie
Mar 04, 2019 @ 02:45:58
Write about the inside of the house, and the old woman. Does she snatch children, or is she really just a recluse? Write about the old woman’s past- from HER perspective. This is the makings for a great serial story, Ritu.
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Ritu
Mar 04, 2019 @ 06:49:25
🤗 Thanks for lots of ideas!
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Jennie
Mar 04, 2019 @ 12:18:04
Hope it helps! 😀
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jenanita01
Mar 03, 2019 @ 10:05:40
Yes, you must tell us what happens next! Shame not to really…
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Ritu
Mar 03, 2019 @ 10:07:15
I’ll need to get my thinking cap on 💜
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jenanita01
Mar 03, 2019 @ 10:22:03
That would be lovely!
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Ritu
Mar 03, 2019 @ 10:35:13
🙃
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jenanita01
Mar 03, 2019 @ 10:03:53
Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
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Hugh's Views and News
Mar 02, 2019 @ 11:56:28
As you know, I love open-ended short stories as it gives the reader the chance to fill in the blanks — a nicely paced story with lots of mystery and suspense, Ritu.
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Ritu
Mar 02, 2019 @ 12:01:52
Thanks Hugh! You are like my blog king of mysterious stories 😍
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Hugh's Views and News
Mar 02, 2019 @ 12:04:42
What an honour, Ritu. Thank you so much. Hopefully, there will 32 in publication soon.
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Ritu
Mar 02, 2019 @ 12:07:54
I look forward to reading them ❤️
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Michele Jones
Mar 01, 2019 @ 21:12:03
That is one of those things. You should have listened to your mummy. I do like the mystery behind it.
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Ritu
Mar 01, 2019 @ 21:41:41
Thank you Michele!
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OIKOS™-Publishing
Mar 01, 2019 @ 16:19:00
Well written, Sis! Very imaginative. Thank you for sharing! Michael
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Ritu
Mar 01, 2019 @ 18:31:48
Thanks Bro 💜
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OIKOS™-Publishing
Mar 01, 2019 @ 19:10:51
💜💜
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dornahainds
Mar 01, 2019 @ 15:13:11
Groovy. 🥀😎
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Ritu
Mar 01, 2019 @ 16:09:17
Thanks Dorna!
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Rajiv
Mar 01, 2019 @ 05:47:46
Nicely done
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Ritu
Mar 01, 2019 @ 06:57:08
Thanks Rajiv-ji 🙏🏼💜
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syl65
Mar 01, 2019 @ 04:51:51
Reminds me of those creepy 70s horror movies, not all gory but more suspenseful. I think you’ve walked yourself into a sequel sister!
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Ritu
Mar 01, 2019 @ 06:56:38
I think I may have Brother 😂
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syl65
Mar 01, 2019 @ 13:52:01
😱🤣
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robbiesinspiration
Mar 01, 2019 @ 04:31:00
OOooh, curiosity certainly didn’t do her any good. Great story, Ritu.
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Ritu
Mar 01, 2019 @ 06:56:06
Thanks Robbie! Thought I’d go mysterious this week!
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balroop2013
Mar 01, 2019 @ 03:44:43
Well written Ritu and i like the open ending…let the reader’s imagination figure out! 🙂
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Ritu
Mar 01, 2019 @ 06:55:42
Thanks Balroop, though plenty here are trying to get a sequel out of me 😂
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Colleen Chesebro
Mar 01, 2019 @ 02:22:34
Nice and creepy, Sis. Well done! ❤
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Ritu
Mar 01, 2019 @ 06:55:05
Thanks sis 💜
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RAJA TAKSI TRAVEL GROUP tlp 0813 4500 6566
Mar 01, 2019 @ 00:26:31
What nex mystery ritu
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Ritu
Mar 01, 2019 @ 06:54:08
I’ll have to think!!
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RAJA TAKSI TRAVEL GROUP tlp 0813 4500 6566
Mar 01, 2019 @ 08:35:04
😀😀😀
I waite
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Sue Vincent
Mar 01, 2019 @ 00:16:41
Brilliant, Ritu. You wrote the youthful voice to a ‘t’. And what happened next…? 😉 x
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Ritu
Mar 01, 2019 @ 06:53:48
Lol thanks Sue! You too? I’ll need to think!!!
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Sue Vincent
Mar 01, 2019 @ 07:02:38
Heh 😀 x
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dearanonymousfriend
Feb 28, 2019 @ 21:59:52
oh my! I am hooked….
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Ritu
Feb 28, 2019 @ 22:02:33
Oh man… Looks like another person who wants a continuation!
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pensitivity101
Feb 28, 2019 @ 20:52:33
Good one Ritu. Are planning to follow it up?
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Ritu
Feb 28, 2019 @ 21:22:06
Oh the pressure!!! I’ll have to see if my mind let’s me!
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foodzesty
Feb 28, 2019 @ 20:19:38
Ohhhh I liked this one!! 🙂
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Ritu
Feb 28, 2019 @ 20:19:50
Thanks Sophie!
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foodzesty
Feb 28, 2019 @ 20:25:10
Welcome 🙂
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Annette Rochelle Aben
Feb 28, 2019 @ 20:17:59
KAH- REEPY! in the best of ways
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Ritu
Feb 28, 2019 @ 20:19:29
He he! Thanks sis 💜
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Erika Kind
Feb 28, 2019 @ 20:17:09
A great way to end the story since everybody plays the story in their own minds what could have been seen!
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Ritu
Feb 28, 2019 @ 20:19:17
I though a little suspense was due sis! Glad you liked 💜
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Erika Kind
Feb 28, 2019 @ 20:34:33
Absolutely! It can also be an ending or the actual beginning. However, that way you activate the fantasy in everyone. Well done!!
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Ritu
Feb 28, 2019 @ 20:36:44
Thank you sis 💜
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Erika Kind
Mar 01, 2019 @ 19:03:11
You are welcome💖
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macalder02
Feb 28, 2019 @ 20:13:53
To read it at midnight. I guess I’ll wait for the continuation.
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Ritu
Feb 28, 2019 @ 20:15:24
Oh man… You want me to finish it? 😜
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willowdot21
Feb 28, 2019 @ 20:13:17
Excellent Ritu what happened next 😜💜💜
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Ritu
Feb 28, 2019 @ 20:15:00
That us the mystery… 😜💜
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willowdot21
Feb 28, 2019 @ 20:20:42
❤️❤️
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