REPLY TO A PROMPT
Back And Again
Horror story with a sci-fi twist
I created this story from one of the prompts proposed by Anique Van de Put for Writers’ Blokke. The last prompt she proposed in her last article, to be more precise. In fact I used the prompt to both open and close my story:
I stopped to take a break at the park, but when I looked around I saw dozens of empty swings swaying in the wind. An icy chill ran down my spine as I realized something was watching me from the shadows.
I quickly got up from the bench and started walking towards the entrance of the park. As I walked, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being followed. I looked over my shoulder several times, but I didn’t see anyone.
I reached the entrance of the park and started running down the street. My heart was pounding in my chest and I was out of breath. I didn’t stop running until I reached my apartment building. I never dared to look back.
Once inside, I locked the door behind me and leaned against it, trying to catch my breath. I couldn’t believe what had just happened. I decided to call the police and report the incident.
The next day, the police came to my apartment to investigate. They searched the park and the surroundings, but they didn’t find anything. They told me that it was probably just my imagination and that I had nothing to worry about.
But I knew what I had seen. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was still watching me from the shadows. I knew I would never feel safe at that park again. I stopped going there and found a new place to take my breaks. But every time I passed by the park, I couldn’t help but feel a chill run down my spine as I remembered the empty swings swaying in the wind.
After the incident at the park, I became more cautious and started paying closer attention to my surroundings. I didn’t want to be caught off guard again. I started carrying a small flashlight with me at all times and made sure to always be aware of my surroundings.
But despite my precautions, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was still watching me. It was always there, lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.
I tried to ignore it, but it was always on my mind. I became more and more paranoid, always looking over my shoulder and checking for potential threats. I stopped going to the park altogether and started avoiding any place that made me feel uneasy.
But no matter what I did, I couldn’t escape the feeling that something was watching me. It was like a shadow that followed me wherever I went.
One day, I decided to face my fears and go back to the park. I wanted to prove to myself that I wasn’t afraid and that I could overcome my anxiety.
I walked into the park and headed towards the swings. As I approached, I saw that they were still empty, swaying gently in the wind. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realized that something was watching me from the shadows. This time for sure, totally sure.
I stopped to take a break at the park, but when I looked around I saw dozens of empty swings swaying in the wind. An icy chill ran down my spine as I realized something was watching me from the shadows.
I then deduced the only logical conclusion. I was looking at myself from a different, certainly awkward, point in time.
D’you like to read more?
www.lucianoabriata.com I write and photoshoot about everything that lies in my broad sphere of interests: nature, science, technology, programming, etc. Become a Medium member to access all its stories (affiliate links of the platform for which I get small revenues without cost to you) and subscribe to get my new stories by email. To consult about small jobs check my services page here. You can contact me here.
