This week’s spotlight is on Teela Robertson! Her story is only called “Picture Prompt,” but her story surpasses the simple name. Her story is short, unsettling, and easily pulls readers in.

     He ran as fast as his long legs could carry him, the splashing of the sewage water underfoot echoing off the tunnel walls. He could no longer feel the presence of that, that thing behind him but he kept running anyway. The flashlight in his hand kept creating odd shadows on the tunnel walls, making him frantically glance around, fearing they would somehow come to life and drag him back to the monster who lurks underground. At this point the only thing he could think about was how much he hated his so-called friends. It was their fault they were in the tunnel, it was their fault that they had tied, it was their fault that he could no longer stand the stench or sight of blood. And it would be their fault wh”en he died, never remembered. He kept running, faster and faster. He could outrun it, he kept telling himself he could outrun it. When he looked up, he could see the faint light of day. He was almost free, he just had another few miles to go. He sighed with relief, coming to a stop as he caught his breath, feeling safe. Before he could take another step towards the light, he heard the most awful noise ever, for the second time in his life. He heard the sound of fingernails scraping against metal, tearing it apart. Then he heard it scream again. It sounded like all of the voices of the dead and the damned yelling in unison to create the most god-awful and ear-wretching noise he ever heard. And then he saw it. It had white eyes and a huge mouth that stretched down to its neck. It was so bony and lanky, and disfigured in a horrifying way.  Bones were set in a way they should never be set and its limbs and fingers were so long they seemed to be cramped in the tunnel. It was right at the end of the tunnel, blocking his exit. It grinned a sinister toothy smile at him that would haunt him for the rest of his life. They both stood still just staring at each other for about 5 minutes. And then, it moved. It ran so fast that he didn’t even have a chance to really see it before it was upon him. He blinked, and then he felt pain, and he felt something drip onto his shoe. When he looked down, he saw that his arm was no longer attached, he opened his mouth to scream and then, silence. 

     It’s been 5 years since he and his 4 friends have disappeared. And their missing posters still hang all over town, with their seemingly lifeless eyes staring back.

Author’s Notes:

“I wish I had more time to work on it and I love doing scary stories and I draw a lot of inspiration from the things I see.”