PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers. Other stories featuring the prompt can be found here.
The steps lead down to a realm of liquid. Once a hallway, now a deluge. Eyes watched, flickering between open and shut. Dark shadows swam passed.
Her heartbeat echoed throughout the house. Muscles became traitors and refused to move, blood turning hot and cold.
Knees gave way and arse hit the stairs. With all her might, she dragged her body to the platform. Safety. Away from the predators. Not even a ripple below.
Resting on her arms, oxygen passed through her lungs.
Splash. Bang. The beast landed at her feet, its jaw snapping.
Her eyelids swung open. Her bedroom came into focus. Bed sheets wet. Now she knew for sure crocodiles lived under her bed. She’ll wait until morning to pee.
I love stories where people invent explanations for the world that are wrong but make perfect sense
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All about perception.
Thanks N!
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Oh, that was great – you got me!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thanks S!
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The incessant sound of a dripping tap can penetrate the sleeping mind and stir memories that never existed. All for the want of a tap washer.
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Very true.
I sometimes have dreams where I am going blind, only to wake up with the sun in my eyes.
Thanks P!
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Dear Tanille,
You left me with a chuckle and a smile on my face. I didn’t see that ending coming. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I must admit, dreams are usually a cop out unless they tie into the plot some how. It was irresistible to turn a horror story into something cute. 😀.
Thanks R!
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A different take on the monsters under the bed theme. Nice.
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We all had them and if we didn’t they were in the closet. 😀
Thanks C!
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Reminds me a bit of the lawn animals in The Shining. Well done.
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The Shining is great stuff.
Thanks J!
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What an imaginative take on the prompt!
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Thanks P. Wasn’t sure I was going to wind this one up. 😀
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Crocodiles are people too, they have to live somewhere!
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Let them stay under the bed!
Thanks C
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Hopefully the crocodiles only come out at night! 😉
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They might make good guard animals.
Thanks I
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Took me right back to early childhood, but I never could identify the monsters under my bed. You’ve expressed the fear and horror perfectly.
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They were always there no matter their form. Never sleep with limbs hanging over the bed!
That’s L
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Great snappy twist! Ha ha!
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Haha snappy indeed!
Thanks M
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I loved “realm of liquid” and “muscles became traitors…” The story was brilliant. The reveal made me laugh out loud in this Starbucks. Well played.
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Normally I wouldn’t pull the dream card but I needed a quick ending. Phew for the ending working.
Realm of liquid, I wanted to go places with that but the word count reined it in.
Thanks N!
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This was wonderful, T! Poor little one (I am assuming 😉 ) afraid of the monsters under the bed! Lovely write.
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It sent me back to being little. Damn croc nightmares. Great fodder as a writer though lol.
Thanks D!
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I was lucky enough to not have any nightmares when I was a kid. Mind you, I don’t live in Australia where there are so many beasties!
My pleasure!
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Ironically we never lived where crocs are, no idea why my subconscious tortured me with them lol.
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Monsters are monsters…
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Great descriptions and then… only a dream. Or nightmare, rather. Nice one!
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Or is it? 😀
Thanks D
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Brilliant – I need a trip to the bathroom now!
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Just hold it 😀.
Thanks K
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I guess she’d peed already!
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She may have. 😀
Thanks L!
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I wonder how crocodiles feel about swimming in warm, salty water?
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I’d say they love it. Northern part of Australia has “salties” (as we call them). As if sharks weren’t enough we have saltwater crocs. 😀
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lovely, i hope she didn’t drink a lot of liquid before bedtime so she can hold on and prevent the inevitable from coming too soon. 🙂
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Her mother hopes so!
Thanks P!
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Haha OMG it is the worst waking up needing to pee. And it’s always 20mins before your alarm goes off.
This was terrifying dreamspace
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Actually the worse is when the bed is wet because the body didn’t wake up 😀. But yes needing to go is frustrating.
Thanks L!
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First thing in the morning, I may would just have to chance it! Alligators or not.
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If you run really fast they can’t get you. The day light repels then too. 😀
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Oh, I loved this, what an unexpected ending, made me smile and laugh. Hope I was meant to!!
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Absolutely – horror turn sweet 😀.
Thanks Shrawley!
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You had me all the way. Great surprise ending
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Thanks M!
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Memories of my childhood running from night time monsters.
I was not sure where this story was going and held my breath until the end.
Enjoyable read.
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Seemed so real back then!
Thanks J
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This makes me think it is a young child afraid of the dreaded nighttime pee. Nicely captured.
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That’s it 😀. The need entered her subconscious mind.
Thanks F!
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Oh, I hope she can hold it!
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So does her mother 😀.
Thanks S!
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😀
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