Introduction
This collection is a collection of seventy stories, each 240 words. They were inspired by the first picture seen on my Twitter feed on a given day.
26. In the Woods 14 January 2019
She was lost. She kept going east. The woods were to the west of the town, weren't they? But it was getting dark now.
Then saw it the A-frame house. The windows were invitingly lit up. Logs were stacked up on the veranda and she could smell wood smoke.
She hurried up the steps and knocked at the door. No reply. She looked up to the upstairs window. Were they asleep? "Can you hear me?" she called.
Still no reply. She pushed the door open. It wasn't locked.
A fire burned brightly in the log-burner. Someone must have lit it. She could smell cooking as well. Garlic. Herbs, maybe meat.
There was note on the table. "Help yourself. I'll be along later."
A few moments later the oven pinged. The food was done.
She waited. It was soon dark outside. She was hungry now. It didn't seem as if anyone was coming to eat the meal.
She found oven gloves, cutlery and a bowl and helped herself to some of the casserole. It was delicious but it made her sleepy.
She made her way up the stairs.
The bedroom was sumptuous. A thick duvet and big plumped up pillows. The ensuite was equipped with soft towels, a fluffy dressing gown and a power shower. After she'd showered and returned to the bedroom she saw the nigh shirt. Had that been there before?
No matter. She was so sleepy now. She slipped it on and climbed into the bed.
She awoke with a start.
"I knew you’d come." This wasn't Goldilocks or Hansel and Gretel. Trevor. The reason she'd run into the woods in the first place. This was the nightmare.
About the author
Gill James is published by The Red Telephone, Butterfly and Chapeltown.
She edits CafeLit and writes for the online community news magazine: Talking About My Generation.
She teaches Creative Writing and has an MA in Writing for Children and PhD in Creative and Critical Writing.
http://www.gilljameswriter.com
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