PHOTO PROMPT -Copyright – Jan Wayne Fields
He rarely left that desk.
For years, he ensorcelled the public with haunting stories spawned from his imagination yet refused to bask in the brilliance of his fame.
Some dismissed it as cheap tactic, speculating that there was no single mysterious author but a group of ghost writers.
Fans camped outside his fortress. The media met only with agents of glib tongues and swollen pockets.
They said he answered to disembodied whispers.
His last words were jumbled letters carved into the ancient desk, engraved into emaciated flesh…
Indecipherable, except for the words: “Free us” penned shakily in sick, diluted blood.
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Words engraved into flesh. Ooh, K.Z.! I wasn’t sure how you’d turn this one into horror! But you did it and you did it well. Nice one.
You can’t capture muses. They don’t take well to captivity. Good piece!
‘ensorcelled’. Lovely word. That sounds like one tortured desk – brings a whole new meaning to ‘distressed wood’. Good work, as always, KZ.
I learned a new word. Horrifying as always.
Dear KZ,
I always enjoy learning a new word. Once more you’ve upped the bar on horror. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
A great story, so imaginative. Were they ghost writers? Was it a writer chained to his desk? Possessed by spirits? It doesn’t matter; it made me shiver. And I too love that new word.
Claire
Oh, I wasn’t expecting that ending. But wow, KZ! You have a talent!
Spooky. Turns out it really was “ghost” writers after all 🙂
That’s a desk I would prefer not to be chained to.. what a chilling end, and as usual the vocabulary is amazing..
Can always rely on your for a chilling tale. Well written and enjoyable to read. Thank you
Now I know the key to being a prolific author–just get possessed. Somehow, I’m not sure it’s worth the hassle.
Great story, K.Z.
All my best,
Marie Gail
I always love your twisted mind 😉
Should have known to “turn the page” at ghost writers. Well done.
Sick blood – that’s a haunting image! You and I both thought of ghost writers!
you did it again.
That last line made me shiver.
Creeptastic! I like how it kinda plays on writer’s and their demons… but he has others’ souls instead? I want to know more!
Bleerrggh great imagery there. I wish I could’ve met him!
Ensorcelled puts me under a spell. Such haunting imagery (pun intended) here.
right up your alley K.Z. – your are the smartest “Ghoul Soul” on FF ! 🙂
brilliant story with just the right amount of mystery and dark chill!
Girl, you gotta be kidding me! I’m with Amy — no WAY did I think you’d make this into a horror story, but you did it! You got the world of the story in there and the character is quite fascinating.
You have made me VERY ensorcelled with this. 😉
I’ll just sound repetitive, but great use of language and while not as gruesome as usual, you managed to add a wicked twist to this simple scene. Never ceases to amaze me!
I love it when your horror stories make me laugh. This was a good one.
K.Z., I have to also admit that I looked up “ensorcelled.” Poor man. Enslaved by others to fill their pockets while he was possessed.
Creepy and well written as usual. 🙂 —Susan
K.Z. you enchant all of us each week with either a new take on the prompt or something. I sure enjoy reading your story each week – but this did give me goosebumps! Great job as usual! Nan 🙂
Thank you for enscorelled – a new one for me. I’m jst left wondering who wanted to be free. Great the way you starter this so normally and had turned it horrific by the end.