Friday, December 3, 2010

Flash Fiction Friday: Week #16




Amy C over at Romance Book Wyrm and Dottie over at Tink's Place
have come up with the idea for a Monday Morning Flash Fiction challenge. Each Monday a new picture prompt wi
ll be posted and if you choose to participate - you post your story on Friday.

And here is the sixteenth picture prompt:






My Story

Raven Ridge
By Michelle Greathouse

The locals call it Raven Ridge - and most avoid it like the plague, with good reason - it is cursed. 

The Blackthorne family has owned Raven Ridge as far back as folks can remember and records prove ownership even further than that - the first Blackthorne, Obediah - settled Raven Ridge during the Salem Witch Trials.

Malcolm Blackthorne is the current owner and as far as anyone can tell - the only person living on the Ridge.

Back in the 60's a van full of teens came through town and somehow wandered up to the Ridge.  Of the eight that arrived only two left - six of the teens were found dead with no obvious signs of foul play.  The Sheriff ruled the deaths ‘drug related’ and the couple found passed out in the van had no recollection of what happened.

Soon after, Malcolm’s father, Jeremiah, had a fence installed around the entire property. 

Folks weren’t sure if the fence was to keep people off the property - or something else inside. 

In the early 90's a four man television crew arrived wanting to film on the Ridge - but they never made it passed the gate.  Eventually the Sheriff had to come up and run them off - apparently Malcolm called and made a complaint.

Later it was rumored the film crew died in a murder/suicide incident.

Not many people have actually seen Malcolm - he comes and goes leaving a vague impression of being there one minute and gone the next.

Sheriff Miller is the about the only person who has any dealings with Malcolm - much like it was with his father, the previous Sheriff Miller - and Malcolm’s father, Jeremiah.

 
Of course now that the senior Miller is aging, his mind wanders - and he has been known to say that Malcolm and Jeremiah could be twins - they look so much alike, and then he will begin to recount some of the things he's done for the Blackthorne family over the years.

Then the senior Miller will get a panicked look in his eye - quickly followed by a moment of agitation - only to end up with an unfocused, faraway look that results in a few days of confusion.

Yes, the locals stay away from Raven Ridge.

The End
Word Count: 378


What do you think?  My daughter says it's boring.  LOL  Oh well.  :)

Have a wonderful weekend.

5 comments:

Blodeuedd said...

Aye it is not bloody as it usually is ;) I thought this one would make you come out in force, lol. But it was a nice one, dark still, but still...softer

Michelle Greathouse said...

B,

I think it's cause I'm in the Christmas mood. LOL

I had a hard time getting into the picture with my Christmas tree staring me in the face....but there is always next week. :)

Have a wonderful weekend.

M

Julia Rachel Barrett said...

I like this - it reads like a sort of news report! Love the warning at the end. Made me smile.

Michelle Greathouse said...

Julia,

Thank you. :)

This story was my second draft - the first one was a group of teenagers hanging out at Sonic and one of them decided to go up to The Ridge. He ended up hanging himself - it was to morbid for my Christmas tree. LOL

M

Unknown said...

Hi Michelle!

I loved it, it was kind of like those old urban tales, you know, like the one where there's scary on the car's roof? It was a little spooky, and there's definitely something strange going on up there on Raven's Ridge!

Dottie :)

(not boring at all)