Quote of the Day: It’s close to midnight, And something evil’s lurking in the dark, Under the moonlight, You see a sight that almost stops your heart, You try to scream, but terror takes the sound before you make it, You start to freeze, As horror looks you right between the eyes, You’re paralyzed. Thriller, composed and written by Rod Temperton, recorded by Michael Jackson, with voice work by the eerily talented Vincent Price. 

I’m participating in the WEP challenge. WEP stands for Write – Edit – Publish, an online community that partners with the Insecure Writers Support Group. This year, they’re using songs/music as a writing prompt. I already had this one in my saved work. I’m using it as the prologue to a short thriller/suspense story that I’ve been working on this summer. Thriller is the best creepy song ever written and recorded and is a great kick-off to spooky season. Of course, it reminds me of being in high school, late night drives, scary movies (which I mostly avoided, except for Halloween, preferring the snacks and socializing to screaming at intense scenes.) However, I do share a fascination with the macabre, if not too graphic. Here’s what I came up with from a writing prompt about the moon on a deserted beach. 

133 Words: NCCO: Tagline: Something evil’s lurking in the dark

******************************************************************************************************

Murder Moon

By Mary Aalgaard

            How could such a clear night cast so many shadows? The full moon glinted off the knife, and blood pooled black as it soaked into the sand. They call it the death rattle when the last breath leaves a body – sending up the spirit- giving up the ghost. The grooves of footprints surrounded the body. Water filled into the marks that their heels left from digging into the sand as one heavy set gained control over the smaller, lighter set. Can people be identified by toe prints the same as finger prints? It didn’t matter. The tide was rolling in and the traces of footprints would wash away, leaving one body lying on the sand, under the water, the other moving into the shadowy bushes and back up the steps of the bungalow.

North Shore of Lake Superior as the full moon is rising. Photo: Mary Aalgaard

******************************************************************************************************

Short, but not sweet, this month. I’m embracing the fall fun, even though we’ve had unseasonably warm temps lately, with pumpkin treats, Halloween decorations, leaves changing color, and cooler nights. This is my favorite season. I’ll be putting out my Fall decorations this week. Spooky season is fun when you keep it playful in real life. I’ll keep the creepy in the fiction I read, watch, and write.

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt: Do you enjoy Halloween, or the spooky season? What are fun fall activities you like to do?