Finish this 177 word story with 73 or less of your words. Send it as a message on the Contact Us page. If you are judged the best of all entries from now through the end of November, 2010, I will send you a signed copy of 'THE MUSE EQUATION', author's final proof edition. In case of a tie score from our judges, both will receive a book. __________________________________________________________________________________
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Slough Hollow
Cold winds swirled through the tiny village of Slough Hollow. An hour ago, the storm had toppled the power pole. Rain pounded mercilessly against The Gable’s shutters.
Jessica was home alone—she thought. She lit a candle to read by. A powerful wind gusted and sucked the air from her bedroom out through the chimney. The candle flames flickered and died. A pitch-black curtain of darkness closed around her. The smoldering wick smelled of melted wax.
Jessica opened the tattered lace curtain letting the quarter-moon cast waving shadows of trees across her bed. Creaking noises in the attic startled her. Then sounds of footsteps in the hall made goose pimples surge up and down her arms and neck. Salty tears flowed down her cheeks and into her mouth. Blood flowed in her veins like Ice water. Her stomach knotted.
The wind suddenly stopped as if helping her to focus attention on the tarnished brass doorknob and iron hinges that creaked like fingernails slowly dragging across a chalkboard. An eerie chilling mist spilled into her room when …