Flash Fiction, Scary Story Prompt
The Mystery of the Disappearing Girl
Inside the box was a peculiar board adorned with strange, ornately carved letters
When I saw an advert about a writing competition that hoped to showcase the most scary real tales ever, I knew it was my last chance to tell a story I have wanted to write for many years. The trouble is, most people will not believe it’s true. And it happened so long ago I sometimes even doubt it myself, but then all I have to do is remember my first and very best friend — Agnes — to realise it DID happen.
Let’s go way back to the ’80s when Agnes and I were known as the terrible twosome throughout the neighbourhood.
At the time we were twelve, with an insatiable curiosity for everything.
One day, we were playing in the forest when we stumbled upon an old, wooden box hidden amongst a tangle of brambles against the wall of a derelict building.
I immediately wanted to open it.
“Oh goodness Daisy. I am really not sure if we should. I feel a sense of dread,” Agnes exclaimed while bending down and touching the weathered wood.
I laughed, “Come on. What’s got into you. I never would have thought of you as a scaredy-cat.”
Agnes hated to be called out on anything, so she hit the ground before pulling the box from its hiding place and forcing open the lid.
Inside was a peculiar board adorned with strange, ornately carved letters.
Both of us had read our fair share of horror novels and screamed out at the same time, “it’s an Ouija board.”
We placed our hands on the planchet, and without a moment’s hesitation began asking silly questions — giggling nervously as the heart shaped piece moved on its own, spelling out weird answers.
Suddenly, we received a chilling message — “One of you… shall vanish… into the unknown… as an offering to the god of darkness.”
Before we had even been able to process the information, a rush of cold wind swept through the woods, and in an instant Agnes was lifted off her feet and pulled towards the board, before literally vanishing into thin air with a blood-curdling screech.
Terrified, I ran home crying and told my parents about the Ouija board and how Agnes was now… gone.
The police were called and neither the board nor Agnes were found. The search continued for days, weeks, and months, and to this day her body has never been discovered.
I always hoped my dear friend would return to stop the guilt from ceaselessly taunting my broken heart.
The above story was inspired by Alone in the Darkness by Laura Knapke from last year. I recommend it! And also — Gone Girl by Marsha. Find it with the showcased prompt stories below.
October Prompt — Campfire Scary Tale
I think my flash above gives you an idea as to what this month’s prompt is all about. Halloween and bonfire night are ahead, so we want you to write a scary story that could be told while sitting around the bonfire with friends, family, lovers. You decide. Of course, the story needs to be fiction — any genre — and you can pretend it is true if that suits your plot line.
All our prompts for the year are evergreen. So you can write for them at any time and be included in the newsletter.
And last month's secret prompt…
Prompt rules
- Submit something to us with one of our prompts in mind; full length stories or Micro Monday flash fiction.
- Please let us know it’s a response to a prompt by including it as a topic or adding the theme to your kicker or subtitle.
- You’re welcome to post your prompt story on another publication. Just link it back to this newsletter and let Posy Churchgate or me know.
- Prompt stories are given priority where scheduling is concerned and earn a mention in the next newsletter.
- You are welcome to write more than one prompt story during the month.
Showcasing the last month’s tantalizing prompt stories
Secrets
- Sneaking into the Most Exclusive Club at Harvard: A Naughty Nerd Adventure
- Secret Past: History Matters
- Not Seeing the Wood for the Trees: You guard these magnificent woods, do you?
- Two May Keep A Secret: Lady Sir Phililomeneena Philosiphant-Phortitude, at your service
- Gone Girls: I closed my eyes and she vanished
Covert Company: Hitting Out of The Rough: If I had met a woman like Julie-Anne, perhaps my resolve may have been broken
- Buried Secrets Have a Way of Worming to the Surface — Ep. 1: A young woman forges a friendship with an elderly neighbour
- Buried Secrets Have a Way of Worming to the Surface — Ep. 2: Henry’s hospital stay gives Ruby cause for concern
- Buried Secrets Have a Way of Worming to the Surface — Ep. 3: Ruby Struggles to cope with the news she’s been dreading
Posy Churchgate — Writes & Edits Fiction
- Together in Electric Dreams: Latin Lover #11
- The Secret of the Silent City: Tourists in search of Instagrammable content cross a line
- The Demon in the Silent City: A priest reveals the City’s Dark Secret
- Respecting the Demon in the Silent City: How can they escape the city’s dark secret?
- The Sex Club at the Library: Not an urban legend; after all
- My Threesome on a Sex Club Couch: The Secret Sex Club
- She Shared Her Devastating Secrets: Ebony knew she had to tell Burke, or it would forever stand between them
Simone Francis — With a secret story from earlier in the year
Guilty Secrets: Mavis Beauchamp does not have guilty secrets
Victoria
Posy Churchgate — Writes & Edits Fiction
- He Needs his Mistress to Watch him Cuffing his Carrot by Max is not without conquests, but to satisfy his kink, he visits a dungeon
- She Was a French Girl From Occupied Paris and I Was a Bloody Nazi by She was everything I ever dreamed of, but could we make it work?
- When You Believe Everything Someone Says Or Does: How do you feel when you realize a person is not who they say they are, when their actions don’t portray their true self?
Bad Experiences
Ryan Klemek with one we like from the past
News
Medium updates: It feels to me like a lot has happened on Medium since I last wrote a newsletter, just a few months ago. It appears that when Medium put through their big August 1st update, they really had not dotted all the eyes and crossed the tees 😊. Initially, they liked that we have a supportive community and were rewarding engagement on stories. But that all changed, and suddenly words such as spamming were being thrown around. Have a look at this post I wrote, Medium Awareness — which explores the issue and also has some interesting quotes from the CEO as to why it has happened.
Cocktail Club: The editors of Tantalizing Tales are involved with other magazines. Each one attempts to support the writers and their work in some way. We see the group as a family, so have created a place where you can find out more about the five publications. Between them, they host all kinds of fiction, nonfiction, serials and even self-promotion stories.
Check us out here at the Cocktail Club — a collection of publications that put community first.
Boosting: The magazine has had an older story by Posy Churchgate — Writes & Edits Fiction boosted this month.
Check it out here: Like many good mysteries, it began in an antique shop: An Accidental Hero #1 : A Romance with One Foot in the Past
Stats: Since Medium changed the stats page it is difficult to see how many actual views and reads a story gets, so I can’t showcase the best performers in the newsletter at the moment. However, I would like to give a shout-out to GK Grayson and J.D. Masterly — who are usually at the top of the pack. Thank you guys for choosing our magazine to work with.
New Writers: We have a host of wonderful new talent on Tantalizing Tales
- Grandma Smillew Pink belt in social media marketing. I’m here to answer your questions (even if you’re not Smillew or a Grandma). Story: Alien Diarrhea: It’s Back
- Lorelei_Sands Writer of erotica and erotic romance, specialising in tantalising tales of demons. Story: Erotica Writer in Need of a Muse
- F.P. Wilson Let’s log on, swipe our fingers, and see what the next pages bring. Here’s to hoping we enjoy the ride. Thanks for reading. Story: Last Nets
- Isadora Monroe Writer of extra spicy erotica. My favorite kinks are cheating, revenge sex and punishment sex. Story: Seduced by my cocky work rival (Burning Desires 01)
- Olivia Lockhart Romance Author — Contemporary & Paranormal Story: Hurry Home
- Asmi I actually write dreams for you… Story: Sun Warriors 1: Taxila
- Morgan Rush Author of the Legends of Braeyork, Historical Fantasy Erotica series. I also write short erotica under the influence of watching way too much Twilight Zone Story: The Mail Order Bride’s Wedding Night
There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.
Margaret J. Wheatley
And I see a change coming… Posy will be along next month with a new prompt, until then remember we have a community engagement incentive on this magazine — check it out here — and try to read a couple of stories on the magazine each time you publish a Tantalizing Tale.