PHOTO PROMPT © Alicia Jamtaas
WARNING: disturbing content, so please skip if you need to.
Bel loved fairy tales as a child. She imagined herself The Woodsman instead of Red Riding Hood; the Prince, not Rapunzel; and the Witch, not a child baited by sweets.
As a scholar, her interest in myths and fantasies grew.
When her sister, Weena, fell while rock-climbing and became paraplegic, Bel knew what to do.
She followed the arcane book’s map until she was standing outside of a creaky, moss-covered cottage. Bel stated, “I ask for your assistance,” as she held out the required offering, still dripping, in a cloth sack.
“Enter,” said a voice as old as time.
[100 words]
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields is the host with the most of Friday Fictioneers.
Tao Talk 
Good and evil are more tightly intertwined than we care to believe
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100% in agreement. Thank you.
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Whoa. That’s a chilling ending. Reminds me a bit of Blair Witch. The thing unseen is much scarier.
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Thank you, Josh. Much appreciated.
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Now I really want to know what happens next😊..enjoyed reading this tale👍
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Thank you so much, Roshni. I’m not sure that I do!
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That was so good! Li, you excel.
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Punam, thank you!
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My pleasure, always.
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A scary concept, Jade!
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Yes it is! Thanks for reading and your comment, Penny.
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Ooh! I love the throwback to the raw fairy tale before they were watered down “for modern audiences.”
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Thanks, Nobbin. I call it “Disnified.”
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A real dark fairy tale that leaves you yearning to know more. Well done.
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Thanks much, Mason.
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Lisa,
So chilling. Fairy tales are murkier than the children’s tales we think they are.
pax,
dora
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Thank you for reading, and yes, they are!
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A beautiful image that works well with your post.
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Thank you very much, Gia.
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My pleasure. 🤓
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I will not ask what is in that cloth sack…
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Good because I will not tell you 🙂
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lol, good
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There’s something so disconcerting about bloody cloth sacks. So many visions come to mind. Creepy, at best. Well done.
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Alicia, I never said blood 😉 Thank you so much for reading and hope I didn’t creep you out too much.
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I know but that’s certainly where my mind went. So I stick by YUCK! In a good way.
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Cool!
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Ah, then, that’s the path she’s taking, is it? Well done, you!
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Na’ama thank you! She really loves her sister…
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Yeah … sounds like …
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A very chilling ending, Li. I wonder what happened after that!
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Thank you for reading, Shweta. Maybe better not to know…
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Maybe. You’re very welcome, Li
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Enjoyed the throwback to the originals. This isn’t Disney. I saw fairy tales this week too.
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Thanks much, Tanille.
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It’s nice when you can put all your knowledge and research to good use! Shame about whatever was in the sack, though.
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Thanks, Ali!
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A gruesome prospect, that ending. The things you do for love…
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Thank you for reading and your comment, Sandra.
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That photo begs for mystery, and you provided it. (K)
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Yes it does! Thank you, K.
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Dear Lisa,
Very disturbing. But well written. I love the background you gave Bel.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, thank you very much. That image brought out the dark side.
Shalom,
Lisa
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Oh my goodness, this is chilling. You’ve got us all wondering!;
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🙂 Thank you, Keith!
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Like Keith said, you have us all wondering. Gruesome images come to mind. Very well done!
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Thanks much, Brenda!
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Sounds like a deal with the Devil, but at what price? A good take on the prompt, remind me to steer clear of small lonely huts in the wood.
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Oh yes, there is always a price. Thank you very much, James.
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Ooooooo how creepy. I think this was well told.
I wonder if her wish will be granted or if
If she will be required to do more.
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My guess is “the first one is free…”
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Chilling! More like the original Grimm tales which were indeed grim. I both want to know and don’t want to know.
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Thank you!
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I loved the Bel loved – like a play on beloved – which, we soon learn, she is not! So well done!!
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Thanks much, Dale, glad you connected with the story 🙂
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So good!
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i wonder what happens next. then again, maybe i don’t want to know. 🙂
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You probably don’t, Plaridel 😉
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Nice
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Oh, so very well done. And it could go in so many directions. I love it.
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Thanks much, Gah!
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I could take that different ways…one way that I don’t think is true…getting something to help her sister but I think it’s going to be dark and helping no one.
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I think you are looking at it in the right way, Max. FYI I watched the TZ where the guy got the love potion last night. That twist is not one I considered! Wow! I think my story and that episode could be considered along the same lines. What do you think?
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Yes it could…I would say yes it’s on that thought.
The first time I ever watched it I didn’t appreciate how dark it was… glove cleaner indeed.
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Creepy story to match with the prompt.
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Thank you!
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