Flash Fiction written by Stefanie Gilmour
Writing Prompt
The three words given were: stalking, leering, sinister. Story must be 440 words or less.
Story
“Are you sure?” asked the manager. “I’m worried to leave you alone. All those stories…”
JR looked up from her phone, “Yes. My ride will be here soon.”
The manager flipped the lock. “Message me when you’re home?”
“Okay.” JR was left with the pools of light in the mall’s nearly empty parking lot.
The news had reported people being taken from such lots. The officers swore they smelled pumpkin spice at the crime scenes. The only thing sinister about that was how the town reeked of it! All retail outlets were offering the autumnal flavor. If JR had a buck for every pumpkin spice latte she’d made today…
Bizarre reporting aside, she was worried some weirdo was actually stalking people. She checked her watch. A slamming car door made her jump. She laughed nervously. She almost didn’t hear the whimper behind her.
A sudden crash from the dumpster caused her to leap up. Her pulse raced as she faced the dumpster. She heard whimpering again, its source a shadow at the dumpster’s base. She approached cautiously. The shadow thrashed about, and JR heard muffled cries for help. She rushed over. It was someone wrapped in a cocoon.
“Hold still!” She peeled away web-like pieces of cocoon. It stuck to her fingers, and smelled sickenly sweet like… cotton candy? As JR tore at the cocoon, she recognized the victim. It was the last customer to leave that night. What name had she written on the cup? Becky? Becky seemed delirious.
A chill ran down JR’s spine as scratching noises came from inside the dumpster. Glowing eyes watched from a small crack between the dumpster and its lid. Her senses were assailed by the scent of pumpkin spice, making her light-headed.
A hairy, multi-jointed limb crept over the edge. Then another. And a third. The lid rose slowly, and a huge jack o’lantern emerged. It paused, a leering grin permanently carved into rotting pumpkin flesh, and small flames burning behind triangular eyes. JR ran.
The lid slammed back as the creature exploded from hiding. JR shrieked as it landed on her. Legs clasped around her and giant mandibles clicked beside her ear. She seized the monster and threw it off. It rolled across the pavement before flipping back onto eight long legs. The creature’s body remained low to the ground as it scuttled toward her.
With a terrified scream and powerful kick, JR’s shoe connected with the jack-o-lantern. The monster burst apart, chunks of pumpkin flying from the point of impact. The legs swayed before collapsing. Shaking, she watched the scattered flames sputter and extinguish into wisps of smoke.