PHOTO PROMPT © AJ Wilson
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Some idiot family from the suburbs thinks owning an SUV gives them license to off-road to a wilderness area and then trash it. I bet they think taking the little kiddies down to the lake is some sort of adventure. Those trails haven’t been used in years and with good reason.
I walk over to the blue foldout chair, have a seat, and wait. Fortunately, he doesn’t come out until dark. With any luck I can get these people out of here before he wakes up. As the guardian, I’m the only thing between this family and an immortal killer.
It’s Wednesday and once again time to participate in Rochelle Wisoff-Fields’ 7 July 2023 edition of Friday Fictioneers. The idea is to use the image above as the prompt for crafting a poem or story no more than 100 words long. My word count is exactly 100.
It took me a moment to get a handle on the prompt. The bright umbrellas spoke to me of children and a family rather than a bunch of drunken teenagers in the woods. Nevertheless, I landed on the trope of a psycho killer in the forest. Fortunately for them, I was in a generous mood and created a guardian to save them.
It is true that both the killer and the guardian have little love for people who go into the wilderness and treat it casually.
To read other stories inspired by the photo, go to Inlinkz.
To read more of my work, try the SciFi/Fantasy novelette ICE.
At the end of time, the world is hot and men travel the vast oceans in merchant sailing ships. Captain Ki-Moon Yong of the Star of Jindo has discovered a new horror at the bottom of the world. Can he and the Star escape disaster long enough to warn a disbelieving world?
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Good atmosphere crafting in this chiller, James.
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Thank you.
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You’re welcome.
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Whoa! I think these “happy campers” have a surprise coming, no matter how it turns out.
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True. It just depends on what kind.
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Some idiot family from the suburbs thinks owning an SUV gives them license to off-road to a wilderness area and then trash it. – every SUV owner ever… except those too afraid to scratch their baby.
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Probably.
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Putting up a sign might be a good idea too!
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Sure. “Beyond this point, serial killer danger area. Do not stay after dark.”
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I wonder how the returning campers will view the Guardian who has helped himself to a chair in their campsite. THAT could be in interesting moment 🙂
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I’m sure it will be. Thanks.
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What a great story and atmosphere you created here. And it has a moral too.
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Thanks.
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This is like the beginning of a horror story.
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Oh if the Guardian has his way, the end of one.
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Great spin on the prompt and setting the scene.Very chilling! Nicely done!
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Thank you.
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You’re welcome 😊
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Great story telling! There’s just something about the forest and killers. My mind went to a dark place too. I love the idea of a guardian.
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There are tons of stories about an insane killer in the woods. I just gave the campers a fighting chance. Thanks.
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This guardian is such a great character. He really makes the story.
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Thanks, Dawn.
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That immortal killer, eh? Well, what’s he supposed to do? Grow tomatoes? 😉
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Wait for the opportune moment.
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ah, yes, some meat to go with them tomatoes … 😉
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