Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Hey, Thrillers!

 Lindsay swallowed hard and looked into the camera. “Hey Thrillers. It’s been a fun year broadcasting with you. Just wanted to let you know that, in case this is our last video. Ever.”

Julie laughed and switched the feed to her own camera. “Hey everyone. Can you believe the woman who dove with hungry sharks and climbed into a derelict mine in search of treasure is afraid of a cemetery?”


“Those are thrills. This is spooky stuff. Not my thing at all.”


Julie lit up her face with the flashlight beneath her chin. “But it is mine. And you lost the coin toss.”


All true.


Julie smirked. “Okay, Thrillers, you’ve been watching the live stream of the cabin for hours now. No one has entered or exited since we checked it out together before sunset. Now, it’s five minutes before midnight.”


Lindsay sighed heavily. “On All Hallow’s Eve, when the veil between worlds is at its thinnest. When spirits have the best chance of crossing that veil with a full moon to light their way.”


Julie made a Wooo sound and Lindsay glared at her. Julie lowered her voice in a conspiratorial whisper while she looked at the camera. “Okay, Thrillers, we’re moving in. Approaching the cabin as the clock ticks closer to midnight. Lindsay, remind our viewers about the legend.”


Lindsay blew out a breath and steadied her voice. “Here, deep in the swamps surrounding New Orleans, the line between reality and the supernatural is always thin. Voices lure you in far deeper than you planned to go. Mists rise from the ground, sneaking between the plants and reaching ever upward.”


Lindsay panned her camera down and around, showing the old forest and the mists. The full moon made the pictures perfectly creepy and she had to work to keep her voice level. “On this night seven times seven times seven years ago, in 1679, a family lived here. The youngest was the seventh son of a seventh son.”


Julie grinned and picked up the tale. “The number seven has power. Young Caleb Bouchard felt it growing inside. He’d told his parents but they urged him to keep it quiet, to never use his powers, to never let others know. But Caleb was two times seven years of age and oh, so sure of his control. Sure that he was a good person and that the power would do as he commanded.”


When Julie nodded to her, Lindsay continued. “Caleb decided the night of All Hallow’s Eve would be the day he’d show them all that his power was good. He waited for the stroke of midnight, waited for the moon to shine. And then he called for the spirits to cross. Called for them to rid the world of those who would harm others. Called for them to spare those of good heart.”


Julie whispered. “Witnesses heard terrible screams and saw flashing lights, but there was no evidence of fire. No evidence of anything. Not Caleb. Not his family. Not a trace.”


Her phone vibrated in her pocket, and Lindsay took over. “It’s almost midnight. Count it down with us.”


Julie put her hand on the door and slowly twisted it as Lindsay counted. “Five, four, three, two, one. Midnight.”


Julie threw open the door and light bloomed from inside, flashing and changing. A hideous howl filled the night and Julie jumped back with a shriek.


Then the iconic first beats of Michael Jackson’s Thriller filled the air and Lindsay couldn’t keep in the laughter anymore.


It took Julie about three seconds before she joined in. Then she moved to stand beside Lindsay with a playful swat on her arm. She tapped her hand over her heart and then smiled at the camera. “She got me. Just remember, payback is coming. Happy Halloween, Thrillers!”


***

Tagline: A legend of a Seventh Son of a Seventh Son



The above is part of the WEP Challenge for October! Be sure to click the links to get to more entries for the Challenge. This is always a favorite time of year for flash fiction. I hope you join in for this round!





21 comments:

Yolanda Renée said...

LOL, such a great trick. Everyone has a fear or two. Just ensure the person you play that trick on doesn't have a weak heart. Great job! I stay away from haunted houses. Real and pretend. :)

Happy Halloween, Jemi!

Ornery Owl of Naughty Netherworld Press and Readers Roost said...

The unexpected ending is a lot of fun!
I was always a big horror fan, so you'd think I'd love Halloween haunted houses. I don't--I despise them! I prefer my horror in a book or on a screen.

Damyanti Biswas said...

Haha, Loved the twist! I enjoyed reading this :)

J.Q. Rose said...

Heart-pounding story. You caught me with that ending. This would be a good one for April Fool's Day too!!!

Olga Godim said...

Wonderful ending! You drummed up the tension so well - and then boom. A good one.

Elephant's Child said...

My tension was building - you did that soooo well. And then the unexpected ending. Which my wimpy self welcomed. Thank you.

Jemi Fraser said...

Renée - I stay FAR away as well! I'm a big wimp!

OO - Thanks! I can't even handle it in a book - never mind a real house!!

Damyanti - Thank you!

JQ - LOL - you're so right!

Olga - thanks - it was fun!

Sue - thank you! My wimpy self says you're very welcome!

Denise Covey said...

Very twisty, Jemi. Loved the build up, and then ... what fun!

Nilanjana Bose said...

Haha neat story! I would have fainted at the shriek and never got to the actual music.

Pat Garcia said...

Hi,
If someone played that kind of trick on me, they wouldn't be in my friend category anymore. That was plain downright scary. Great job!
Shalom aleichem

Lenny Lee said...

Hi Miss Jemi,

What a fun read. Well, not so much fun until it got to the surprise ending. I love twist endings and you pulled this one off brilliantly. Thanks for putting a smile on my face.

Jemi Fraser said...

Denise - thank you - it's always fun to go sideways :)

Nila - LOL - you and me both!

Pat - I'm with you on that one! I hate pranks, especially scary ones!

Lenny - you're very welcome - twists are always fun!

Susan B.Rouchard said...

Chilling Jemi. Thanks for this great thriller. Happy writing.

L.G. Keltner said...

This was so much fun! I love the buildup, and the ending was so unexpected and satisfying at the same time.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Jemi - this was a great read ... and one so easily we could see the Thrillers taking this out on their soul mate - oh gosh I'd have heart-tingling worries too! Great take on the tale - cheers Hilary

Jemi Fraser said...

Susan - thanks!

Laura - it was fun to write!

Hilary - thanks so much!

Bernadette said...

She was expecting a spooky night, her friend didn't disappoint.

Deniz Bevan said...

Ha, ha, that was brilliant! Love the build up and the fun twist at the end!

Sally said...

oh yes, great twist at the end.

Mary Aalgaard said...

Fun story. Great use of the prompt. I can hear those first notes of Thriller, now!

Jemi Fraser said...

Bernadette - I wouldn't have been a happy camper!

Deniz - thanks - it was a fun one!

Sally - thanks

Mary - thank you!!