This is my contribution to Sunday Photo Fiction for January 11, 2015. Every Sunday a new picture prompt is given. The weekly challenge is to write an original story with no more than 200 words. It’s supposed to have a beginning, middle, end, and follow the picture prompt for the week. Be sure to click on the little blue frog in the blue box to read all the other stories.
The link for all other stories is as follows:
http://sundayphotofictioner.wordpress.com/2015/01/11/sunday-photo-fiction-january-11th-2015/
Genre: ย Speculative Fiction
Word Count: ย 200 Words
SILENT CARGO By P.S. Joshi
The 3-masted schooner was moored at the Whitby port. It was delivering cargo from the Balkans, one item of which some Londoners would never forget. Others, if they heard rumors, wouldn’t believe them. It was too horrible to believe, to far beyond comprehension.
Below decks, with other goods of a more common variety, was an ancient coffin with a single bodyguard. a strange, nervous little man. The Count had been busy. All but he and Renfield had been bled dry. It was now dark and time to leave.
Count Dracula would be exploring a new homeland, following a pull he felt after seeing the photo of a woman. It was not just any woman, but the one who had been the fiance of Renfield, the possessed man who was now his guard.
A former real estate agent, Renfield had bought an old estate where Count Dracula would make his new home. Now, at his master’s bidding, he hired delivery men.
Within hours of the ship’s arrival, the coffin had been brought to the manor house basement. For a second time, the Count had a hearty meal. The men delivering the coffin were never seen alive again; dead, but not alive
Ooh delightfully creepy!
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Thanks Pat. I’m really glad I achieved the effect I wanted and you liked the story. ๐ — Suzanne
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Fun story.
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Thanks Diana. I’m so pleased you liked the story. ๐ — Suzanne
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Fan fiction! I loved your ominous last line.
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Thanks Ali. I’m glad I got the effect I wanted and you liked the story.
— Suzanne
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I kept imagining Steve Martin as Dracula, as in Dracula: Dead and Loving it. Nice ominous feeling but I could not stop giggling. Curse you, Mel Brooks!
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Thanks Penshift. I know what you mean. Some of those parodies on Dracula are hilarious. ๐ I’m really glad you enjoyed the story. ๐ — Suzanne
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Great little tale.
xxx Huge Hugs xxx
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Thanks David. I’m really glad you liked the story. Huge Hugs to you also. ๐ — Suzanne
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Really fun story (especially if you like drinking blood). One factual detail: Whitby isn’t anywhere near London. And then a literary criticism if I may: no need to name the Count; let the reader come to that conclusion (show, not tell).
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Thanks Patrick. Somewhere I read that the Count’s ship landed at the port of Whitby, and he was coming to London, so naturally thought it was somewhere near London. I should have looked up the location. You’re also right about naming Dracula. It was unnecessary. I’m really glad you enjoyed the story. ๐ — Suzanne
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Today we have blue skies and a thin blanket of snow struggling to survive.
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Made me chuckle…
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Thanks Hugmamma. Almost everyone is remembering those funny movies about Dracula. Some were hilarious. I’m very glad you like the story. ๐ — Suzanne
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A bit gruesome but somehow delightful also!
Lily
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Thanks Lily. The Count’s usually always an interesting guy as long as we don’t get too close. I’m very glad you liked the story. ๐ — Suzanne
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Brilliant. I especially love that last line.
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Thanks Al. I’m so glad you liked the story. I wrote that ending because I couldn’t leave the Count without an evening snack. ๐ — Suzanne
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๐
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A fascinating look at the old myth. People are always dying around the Count. It shouldn’t be hard to trail him, I imagine.
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Thanks Eric. I’m so pleased you liked the story. Yes, dead bodies fall like autumn leaves around the Count. People must be in denial or too scared to look for him. I don’t know if I blame them. Where is Van Helsing when you need him? ๐ — Suzanne
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The count is back in London. Loved it.
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Thanks Yarnspinnerr. Yes, you never know where and when that fellow is going to show up. I’m so glad you liked the story. ๐ — Suzanne
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