Photo Copyright: Connie Gayer (Mrs. Russell)
Here we are for another week. This week we’re gathered near a virtual graded road with a cut phone cable. I’ve taken the liberty of transforming it into a virtual cemetery for my story. Our hostess for this gathering is the gracious and talented artist and author, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. We’re the Friday Fictioneers, and the challenge for each of us in the group is to write an original story with no more than 100 words. It’s supposed to have a beginning, middle, end, and follow the picture prompt provided for the week. This week’s prompt was provided by Connie Gayer (Mrs. Russell). Thanks Connie.
To read the other stories from group members, just click on the link given below, then on the little blue frog in the blue box. The link for the other stories this week is as follows:
https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2015/11/04/6-november-2015/
Genre: Speculative Fiction
Word Count: 99 Words
THE ANCIENT PLAGUE by P.S. Joshi
Mary visited the cemetery to pray at the graves of her parents.
Today, as she neared their marker, she noticed the door of a new mausoleum standing open. Thinking nothing of it, she said prayers and placed fresh flowers in her parent’s vase.
Next morning, a headline in the paper read:
RECENTLY INTERRED BODY OF COUNT MARKOVITCH DISTURBED
A strange sickness began affecting people in that area. They all showed the same symptom, two red marks on the jugular vein and gradual weakness. They never recovered.
New coffins were buried, then unearthed. No one would guard the open graves.
Oh that sounds creepy. Something horrible is on the loose. Well told.
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Thanks, Margaret. I couldn’t resist with that loose dirt. It said “vampire” to me. Of course the “head guy” was in the mausoleum. I’m so pleased you liked the story. I by far prefer vampires to zombies. Vampires have “style.” 😀 — Suzanne
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Scenes I don’t want to imagine….Well written.
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Thanks, Ansumani. Me neither. I like to write about them though. I’m not afraid of the dead in a cemetery though, but the living who might be there. Some cemetery gates are kept locked at night for that very reason. Drug dealers sometimes meet there. I’m so pleased you liked the story. 🙂 — Suzanne
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🙂
That is truly outstanding take.
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Thanks, Yarnspinnerr. I’m so pleased you liked the story. I like to write a creepy story once in a while. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Oh, creepy. What an imaginative take on the prompt!
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Thanks, Alicia. That loose dirt said “grave” to me, and grave said “vampire.” That’s the way my mind was working at that time. I wrote it late at night. I’m so pleased you liked it. 😀 — Suzanne
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Interesting take on the prompt. What a wonderful imagination you have Suzanne!
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Thanks, Sandra. I probably thought “vampire” because I wrote that late at night. I’m very pleased you liked it. I’ve also recently watched the 2004 movie, “Phantom of the Opera.” There are graveyard scenes in it. 🙂 — Suzanne
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this provides an opportunity for an enterprising businessman to start selling neck braces for protection. 🙂
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Thanks, Plaridel. You’re right. I never thought of it that way. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Oooh, the count rises again! A good scare, Suzanne.
Lily
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Thanks, Lily. I’m so pleased you liked the story. When I saw loose dirt, I couldn’t resist. 😀 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
This really…um…er…bites. Sorry. If I resisted my fangs would fall out. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle. Sounds like you’re going to give the Count some competition. 😀 — Suzanne
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I believe Phyllis Diller referred to her husband as Fang. Perhaps he had something to do with this. One thing’s certain, you’ll never hire me as a cemetery guard.
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Thanks, Russell. With the Count about, that job will be at the bottom of everyone’s list of job opportunities. 😀 — Suzanne
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Was never a fan of mausoleums…they give me the heebie-jeebies!
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Thanks, Dale. I’m not a big fan of them either. I don’t even know if they’re built any more. Cemeteries seem to even prefer a flat marker to a large standing one in the newer areas of a cemetery. It makes it easier for the maintenence men to mow the grass. At least it was that way where my parents are buried. — Suzanne
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We have a huge cemetery in Montreal and, as I make my way to mu son’s grave, I have to pass by a wall of them. I’m always amased at the size and what must be the cost of them. Hmmm. I do wonder too now if there are any new ones…
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My parents are buried in a Catholic cemetery where a lot of Italian people are buried. My daughter thought some of those grave monuments were great. They were so artistic, and were in the older section. Some of the biggest ones must have cost a fortune. I don’t remember seeing mausoleums, although there might have been some in the oldest part. It’s a huge cemetery.
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Yay, creepy vampire tale 🙂
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Thanks, Ali. I thought you’d like this story. I know you’re a fan of vampires. 😀 — Suzanne
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That’s areal horror story. Very clever.
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Thanks, Patrick. I’m so pleased you liked the story. If I’d had more words I could have made it even creepier. It’s difficult to hurry a vampire. — Suzanne
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Well, I’m going to say that it is not a vampire but a mad acupuncturist with a neck fetish. Hey, it works too!
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Thanks, Perry. Only you would think of that solution. If that’s true,someone better hit him with a maltreatment law suit. He’s killing his patients. 😀 — Suzanne
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Always the count.. And the disease is viral.. There is a pale in impale.
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Thanks, Bjorn. It’s going to take a brave vampire hunter to enter that cemetery and impale the Count. — Suzanne
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Vampires! What a great tale. I very much prefer vamires to zombies, too. The zombie hype totally escapes me. I’d rather dreeenk your bloood than eat your brains. 🙂
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What a grand story, Suzanne. It’s truly of my favorites of yours. Very creepy! Well written, too.
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Thanks, Amy. I’m happy you liked the story so much. Glad also that I achieved the desired effect. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Today’s lesson: Never count a Count out!
Sorry..couldn’t help myself 🙂
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Thanks, Dawn. At least not that one. 😀 — Suzanne
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Interesting! I use to teach about the curse of King Tut’s Tomb. This post reminded me of it. I also teach about Bubonic Plague. Thanks for visiting my site and liking my Pinterest post. It was nice of Chris to feature it. I know Sue Vincent and others here.
Janice
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Thanks, Janice. Those subjects are interesting. I enjoyed your blog post. I enjoy a lot of those blogs. Sue Vincent’s is especially good. Her son, Nick, has a blog now also. 🙂 — Suzanne
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