Copyright Al Forbes
Thanks once again to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for hosting this week’s Friday Fictioneers. Where would we be without you Rochelle?
I must confess that at first glance I saw the copyright image as part of the photograph, which inspired the following story. Duh! 🙂
“I’m amazed it’s still available.”
The agent shifted uncomfortably. “Not everyone likes these older houses…ring me when you’ve decided.” He bolted, like a rabbit.
I was strangely drawn to the ugly old house, almost mesmerised. The marbled eyes stared sightlessly as the skylight above the door shimmered, revealing my name frosted into the glass itself. This was meant to be… surely.
I slept uneasily, before returning to the house for a final look.
Today it held no attraction for me; and the name in the glass was not mine.
I recognised it in horrific newspaper headlines some weeks later though.
castelsarrasin 
You write some awesome creepy stories. This is my kind of thing! I love it.
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Thanks David, I can concur with the ‘creepy’ and only aspire to ‘awesome’. 😉
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Superb idea…so he/she is next on the list…
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I think the narrator is safe, he/she didn’t buy the house. He/she was pipped at the post by someone else…who’s now popped his clogs (as we say).
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Poor Al, should we get him a bodyguard ? Surround him in bubble wrap ? Loved how your story incorporated the name !
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A misconception on my part, but it did at least inspire me. Thanks for dropping by.
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Loved this image and the story you wrote to go with it.
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Thanks Sheila! 🙂 Long time no speak. Hope all is well with you.
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Dear Sandra,
It’s always good to let big decisions percolate before signing those final papers. I don’t think I’d want that face over my front door either. Nice one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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No, there is something a bit chilling about that countenance, Rochelle. Thanks for dropping by. 🙂
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Excellent tale, superbly crafted.
Love it.
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Thank you, glad you liked it.
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Dear Sandra,
You have a fertile mind…or is that febrile? I love what you concoct out of the blue of a photo prompt. Well done.
Aloha,
Doug
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febrile… lovely word. I am feeling a bit that way today. Thanks for dropping by and commenting Doug. 🙂
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Lucky one, she didn´t buy it – so you leave us with the question what happened in the house 🙂
Liebe Grüße
Carmen
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Anything the mind can conjure will be so much more horrific than the reality… Thanks for reading Carmen.
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Good development of your great take on the prompt, Sandra–but must say, I love your “pipped at the post” and “popped his clogs”. Colorful to say the least.
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Just my attempt to bring in a bit of English vernacular. I was going to mention ‘gazumped’ but I wasn’t sure whether that has crossed the great divide yet. Or indeed, whether it came from across the great divide… 🙂 Thanks for reading vb.
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You are definitely not talking to yourself! This one did a lot with those 100 words. Very haunting.
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Thank you! I love to spook…
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omg, Al, be careful! lol this was very scary. and the idea of one’s name appearing on the house, Death-note style, so creepy..
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Thanks for reading kz. 🙂
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Oh, spooky, a chilling bit of fun, great job 🙂
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Thanks Helen! 🙂
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Very chilling and well written!
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Thank you! 🙂
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Another fabulous tale. Good thing the Real Estate Agent warned her to sleep on it!
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A little consideration never went amiss before making a major decision. Fortuitous in this case. Thanks Linda.
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I always look forward to your stories, Sandra, and this is why. You tell the most complete tales of anyone with just 100 words. Brilliant.
I read a book once called “Lullaby” by Chuck Palahniuk which has a character who is a Real Estate Agent specialising in selling haunted properties…. this reminded me of that.
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Thank you Helena, you’re very kind. 🙂
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I love the way mis-seeing something like that turns out the be the best inspiration! I just watched Rosemary’s Baby two nights ago. And your wonderful take on the photo reminds me of it.
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Thanks Linda, loved your poem this week.
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I usually love old houses. I’ll have to rethink my fascination after this, however. Great, as always.
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🙂 I’m more of a new-build person myself, but then I’ve an overactive imagination.
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Thanks for spooking me, Sandra, just as I’m looking to buy a house – I’ll make sure I check the windows first : )
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Ghost-busters… that’s what you need. 🙂
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Oooh, now I really want to know what the news story was! And what kind of real estate agent runs away when a client says they’re interested? Lots of mystery and intrigue here; leaves me wanting more! Well written and compelling.
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Trust me, you don’t want to know what the news story was… 🙂 Thank you!
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Oh, but I do! Love your stories, Sandra. 😉
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Oh, YES! This is what it’s all about! Something about the house being older reminded me of the older houses in Hollywood where the silent film stars used to live. Conjures up the old movie Sunset Boulevard with Gloria Swanson. Great work, Sandra! Thanks.
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You never know what’s been going on in an older house… I avoid them like the plague. Thanks for commenting Kent. 🙂
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Yowzer. Creepy old haunted houses are my favorites. Ever since I was a girl. Loved this.
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Thank you!
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A lucky escape! Another top-drawer story, Sandra.
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Thank you Steve.
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Cool story.
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Thanks Dawn.
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Ooh, you’ve got me wondering all sorts of things here, Sandra. Nice creepy feel to this one!
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Ps Just noticed the title. Masterful!
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Yes, sometimes I think we don’t look at the titles often enough. I spend quite a bit of time finding the right one and yet I often miss it on other people’s work. Thanks for dropping by Jennifer.
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Oh dear! A close call with a creepy house. And a less-than-forthcoming realtor, I think!
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Never trust a realtor. In surveys here in the UK the estate agent used to come top of the ‘love to hate’ list. But now they’ve been replaced by bankers. And footballers on my personal list…
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A great idea, perfectly executed by your story-telling skills. And a lucky escape for the narrator.
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Thanks Claire, glad you liked it.
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Always best to sleep on such decisions and see things clearly the next day;-)Loved the creepy twist at the end-amazing story telling Sandra-loved it:-)
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Yes, a moment’s consideration never goes amiss. Thanks for commenting.
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A pleasure Sandra:-)
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Outstanding story. I love the creepiness and hint of dead bodies.
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Thanks Russell. I’m partial to a dead body or two…in the nicest possible way.
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Oh goodness… just my kind of creepy! Well done 🙂
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Thank you Freya, glad you liked it.
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Hi Sandra,
This one has some dark tones, the idea that reality can shift and the future can be pre-cognitized. I’m amazed at the range of your writing ability. Ron
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Thanks Ron, I’m blushing here. 🙂
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Wow, it beckoneth you! Well done Twilight Zone-type story.
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Thanks Perry! 🙂
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Ah love it. the house that does dirty deeds. The name effect was capital
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Thank you!
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Amazing, creepy story! Sounds like your protagonist had a very lucky escape.
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I think he/she did. 🙂
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Great story, Sandra. That head did look scary and you’ve made me realise why I felt so uncomfortable looking at him. You created an unsettling mood and the ending backed it up brilliantly.
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Thanks Karen! Glad you liked it.
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Jolly good I shall say, not only the writing, that is a given with you, but the turnaround, enjoyed it!
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Thank you! 🙂
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so glad there was no buyer’s remorse.
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Well I think somebody regretted buying it, but thankfully not the MC. 🙂
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Excellent take on the prompt Sandra, enjoyed this.
Dee
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Thanks Dee. Hope all is well with you.
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If possible you made that picture even creepier. Shudder.
Here’s mine: http://unexpectedpaths.com/friday-fictioneers/sentinel/
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Thanks Maggie!
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Your misinterpretation of the photo led to an excellent story.
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Thanks Adam!
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The main character experiencing such a chilling close call, but, in the end, escaping with her life: this is what makes great thriller fiction. And I’m glad you emphasized the eyes that stared sightlessly because that particular aspect of the bust was what really grabbed me and wouldn’t let go.
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They were a bit spooky weren’t they? Thanks for dropping by.
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Eerie and delightful, especially: “…as the skylight above the door shimmered, revealing my name frosted into the glass…” I love your delicate touch with this challenge.
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Thanks Cherry (love your name) 🙂
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Oh, look what happened there, Sandra! That was brilliant. Funny, I saw his name in the glass, too, and for a second thought the same thing. What a unexpected twist at the end. Nice one!
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Thanks Amy, I’m amazed that more people didn’t go down this route.
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I almost did the same… you did this excellently.. and I bought our house partly because my name is in the street name…(chills down my spine)
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🙂 Thanks for reading and commenting Bjorn.
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A lovely flash.
🙂
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Hi yarnspinnerr, I just thought I’d let you know that I found two of your comments in my spam-box despite the fact that you’re a regular commenter. I hope WordPress isn’t kicking off again along this path.
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I think I would have run from that one!
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