This week’s photo prompt from Madison Woods’ Friday Fictioneers.
I watched as it rose slowly from the centre of the blasted oak, sated.
The setting sun loaned life to its evil countenance, dappling the broad, smooth forehead, throwing spirals of light from cavernous eye sockets, and glinting on its horns.
The barking of tracker dogs and the shouts of the other members of the search party faded as they pushed further into the forest, and I longed to be with them.
I turned to leave; and, hearing the plaintive cries of the Dexter twins deep within the tree, I knew that although alive, they were not of our world now.
castelsarrasin 
The end really threw me off! Beautifully done!
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Glad you liked it! 🙂
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“Sated” is such an excellent word and I loved the second paragraph. I didn’t expect the Dexter twins but then, no one expects the Spanish Inquisition, either. 🙂 Nicely done!
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Thank you Janet. 🙂
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My type of story. Well done.
Scott
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Thanks Scott!
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Very original, well done! Mine is here
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Thank you, glad you enjoyed it.
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I think we shared a similar interpretation this week. Nicely done!
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Thanks for dropping by JK.
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Chilling! I always feared mr. willow in Lord of the Rings and here you’ve created another predator tree with an attendant fearsome spirit or something. Poor Dexter twins! i love the word “dappling!”
cheers,
Lorelei
http://westcoastwriters.blogspot.com/2012/08/fridayfictioneers-fork.html
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Thanks Laura, glad you enjoyed.
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I had not initially seen the central image as rising from the tree, but after reading your introduction, I can easily see it pulling itself up. Fascinating how differently each person sees the same picture and how each tale is unique. Good story with unexpected ending.
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It was a weird one this week; such diverse responses. Thank you.
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Creepy, atmospheric, just the way I like it. 🙂 I enjoyed this one.
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Thanks! 🙂
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nice story… nice ending. Randy
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Thanks Randy.
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Ooh, spine-tingling, Sandra! Really enjoyed the imagery in your second paragraph, too. Well done indeed, and thanks again for your comment on ours.
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Thank you Joanna.
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[Shivers] Oh, very nice–perfect last line.
Here’s mine: http://unexpectedpaths.com/friday-fictioneers/thus-endeth-the-lesson/
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Thanks Maggie.
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Wow Sandra, very creepy. The last line took me a bit by surprise. Here’s mine: http://postcardfiction.com/2012/08/17/discovered/
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Thank you Janet.
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Chilling, sad and well told. Mine is here linked as well: http://readinpleasure.wordpress.com/2012/08/17/fridayfictioneers-the-withered-flower/
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Thank you. 🙂
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Cool! Great reverse perspective–the skull rising from the tree.
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Thanks, for dropping by and commenting.
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rich, expressive prose, very nicely done ( loved dappling, haven’t seen that used in a long time.
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Thanks Bill – I like to dapple where I can. 🙂
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creepy – you did a lot of painting the scene with very few words. I like it!
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Thank you Erin.
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Eery, and beautifully written, especially: “The setting sun loaned life to its evil countenance …”
–Jan
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Thanks Jan.
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Woah, creepy! It was a scary picture and you certainly did it justice.
http://anneorchardwriter.wordpress.com/2012/08/17/tree-hugger-friday-fictioneers/
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It was a weird one for sure. Thank you.
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Hi Sandra,
Ew, spooky story. Wouldn’t want to meet one of those Dexter twins in a dark alley after what’s happened to them. Thought this was an imaginative take on a challenging photo. Thanks for reading and commenting on my story.
Ron
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Thanks Ron, glad you enjoyed.
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Sandra….you sure come up with some “spooky” ones. What’s in that drinking water in the UK? Tks for visiting mine.
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Spook Juice…
Thanks for commenting Lora. 🙂
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Oooh. Delicious creepy. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
http://adrarasdreams.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/fridayfictioneers-blogflash-day-17.html
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Thank you, glad you liked it.
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Excellent – I love that second paragraph “spirals of light from cavernous eye sockets” – and scary to imagine hearing those voices coming from inside. Nice job!
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Thanks Brian.
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really liked the line, “I longed to be with them”
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Thanks Beatrice.
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Wow, Sandra! Vivid description fills so much of this piece, you really shouldn’t have room for plot in here as well, but you pack it in with so much grace, I feel like I’ve read a whole novel and this is the final page. Well done!
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Thanks Jennifer! Glad you enjoyed it.
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nice work.
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Thanks. And congrats on your ‘freshly pressed’ honour.
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Sandra,
You left me spellbound with this one. Beautifully descriptive language threaded through a tightly woven plot. What more could a reader ask for?
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You had me at ‘The Soul Snatcher’, and the story didn’t fail to satisfy. I loved ( not the right word, I know!) the description of the twins trapped inside, a really scary tale.
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Pingback: Lamb to the Slaughter (Friday Fictioneers, July 2014) | castelsarrasin
Dear Sandra,
Apparently I didn’t read this the first time around. Glad I came back to read it this time. Seriously vivid and chilling.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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