Fiction | Writing challenge responses

Abandoned Fairground

A seasonally spooky story

This short story is a response to my own spooky prompts (idea #5) at The Fiction Writer’s Den. Prompt below.

I like to gobble up the Hallowe’en partygoers. Lure them in.

Well… in truth, I used to like it. Now I crave it. I’m slowly starving, my mind flicking in and out of consciousness.

I really need a fix.

I become aware of a smothering darkness, the moon a merest sliver, the time unknown. The area around me is desolate as ever: muddy grass, silence. Nobody comes here anymore. My wings are damaged. It’s not like how things used to be, for sure. Ah, the upholstery, the chrome… How my victims used to gush.

They used to come by the dozen, actually. No matter that spray-painted on my side, I have a sign that warns of death. You’d assume that might put people off! But quite the opposite. I always had to be discerning in my appetites to escape attention.

Suddenly I hear a voice, returning me to a hungry, watchful, hunter’s focus.

How long has it been since I last fed? I really can’t say. Quickly abandoning my attempts to piece together the memories, I instead listen and watch as a couple in their 20s approach. A confident redhead and their girlfriend, seems like. One way or another, the pair are the first I’ve seen in a while. Strangely, nobody comes to the far edge of the abandoned fairground, overshadowed by the freeway flyover.

I watch, silently willing them closer.

“This is amazing,” says the redhead, their eyes wide.

If I could nod, I would. Now hurry up, I think to myself… I’m HUNGRY, goddammit!

“Jeez, that ugly old thing?” says the girlfriend, her breath forming a misty cloud. “Besides being unsafe, surely it’s all rotted to nothin’.”

Hurtful! She’s nothing special to look at either.

“Probably!” replies the redhead. “Half the decorations have probably crumbled.”

Then both of them start to read it — my wonderful sign:

Hallowe’en thrill barn! Dare you enter the county’s most chilling spook-tacle?

In my mind, the lettering gleams and sparkles in the moonlight. In reality…

“What’s exactly does it say on the side?” asks red, before snapping a selfie by my once-beautiful sign.

“Yeah… I’m not sure…” muses the girlfriend.

Even more hurtful! Surely it’s not that hard to read.

“Hallowe’en something… Ill? Chill? Something about a count… and then below, it says it’s a spectacle. No — a spooktacle.”

They snigger.

“Ah.” The girlfriend rubs at her nose with a tissue. “Hey, it’s cold. We should get going.”

No!! Delirious silent panic.

But red takes a step closer. “Come on… we’ve walked this far. Let’s at least take a look inside. For the selfies and lols, if nothing else.”

Runny-nose makes a face, but then pockets her tissue and nods.

Red leads the way, pushing at my once-proud door.

And once they are both inside…

Nom-nom-nom.

This was the prompt: Some LitRPG stories are written from the perspective of the dungeon — for this prompt, you are asked to write from the perspective of a haunted house, cave, or some other spooky location. How does it feel about its current state of affairs? Does it miss the happy days of old, or does it enjoy luring in and devouring plucky explorers?

Check out this and more writing prompts at The Fiction Writer’s Den.