#FF — Night Hunter

103024 my beach pic lisas-shorelinePHOTO PROMPT © Lisa Fox

Night Hunter

July tourists and townies imprint on sugar sand until it is dappled like elephant skin. Sol, melted butter in the clouds, toasts the water golden. Gulls toddle, amongst toddlers to seniors drowsing on terry, seeking out dropped chips or buns. Nobody pays notice to the beach junk driftwood, sticks, and feathers.

At dusk, adults pack up chairs, coolers, inflatables, frisbees, and other summer paraphernalia, cooling bodies wrapped in wet towels, arms full, as they trudge to their vehicles.

It is only then that Godzilla rises, shakes off, and goes hunting down the long, empty strand for hot-blooded, distracted lovers.

[99 words]

Rochelle, thanks for choosing my pic this week.  Looking at it today, I see it with new eyes.

FF 083023

Rochelle Wisoff-Fields is the host of Friday Fictioneers.

45 Comments Add yours

  1. Steve's avatar Steve says:

    I had such a sense of late summer beach time visits with all the imagery… then the surprise ending. Brilliant!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Steve, thank you. The photo has a magic about it and I’m loving the stories coming out of it.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Steve's avatar Steve says:

        You’re welcome, Lisa.

        Liked by 1 person

  2. GHLearner's avatar GHLearner says:

    A beautiful picture painted with word that slowly moves from idyllic to chilling. And Godzilla knows what it does.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      :) Thanks, Gabi!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. GHLearner's avatar GHLearner says:

        Perfect for Halloween. :D

        Liked by 1 person

  3. randydafoe's avatar randydafoe says:

    Whoa! That took me off guard.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. memadtwo's avatar memadtwo says:

    Selective! (K)

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Whoa. I never saw that twist coming. Great take!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Shweta, thank you :)

      Liked by 1 person

  6. CGraith's avatar CGraith says:

    Moral of the story, don’t fall in love at the beach.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Or if you do, don’t stay after dark! ;)

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Sadje's avatar Sadje says:

    That last line wasn’t what I was expecting 😱

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Sadje when I looked at the pic today, I saw Godzilla, sorry :)

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Sadje's avatar Sadje says:

        No worries 😌

        Like

  8. Beautiful imagery and word play. I didn’t expect the idyllic setting to end in gore. Great twist.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Joy, thanks much! Happy Halloween!

      Like

  9. Adds my praise for the lovely imagery. The conjunction between the lyrical and the horrific was jarring

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks much for the feedback, Neil.

      Like

  10. Oh my, this is SO good Lisa! I’ve got a beach at the end of my road. I’ll bear this in mind when I next go for an evening stroll!

    Great picture. It initially looked like a shipwreck, there is a scene very similar to this near me, where where a Dutch cargo ship, The Amsterdam ran aground in the 1700’s.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks much, Keith. Yes, please do be careful on evening strolls. If not Godzilla, could be Dracula is afoot as well. Thanks on the pic :)

      Like

  11. Beachzillah! Shiver me sandless!

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Love the Godzilla reference– fun !

    Liked by 1 person

  13. James McEwan's avatar James McEwan says:

    Whoops, thank you for the warning. No more hot nights snuggling on the beach for me.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Badfinger (Max)'s avatar Badfinger (Max) says:

    Great line in melted butter in the clouds… and of course I love the Godzilla reference! He is my man/monster.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Glad you liked my spooky tale that started out so innocent.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Badfinger (Max)'s avatar Badfinger (Max) says:

        Yes it did start off like that…

        Liked by 1 person

  15. plaridel's avatar plaridel says:

    before the monster hit, i was sidetracked by the beauty of the scenery portrayed. well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks, Plaridel. You were distracted. Good think Godzilla wasn’t around! ;)

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Dale's avatar Dale says:

    A beautifully poetic and evocative beginning only to be flipped on our backsides with the end!

    You do this so well!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Dale I enjoy setting readers up ;) Thanks, Dear.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Dale's avatar Dale says:

        Yes you do! And you d it so well!

        Liked by 1 person

  17. Laurie Bell's avatar Laurie Bell says:

    Fabulous sense of summer days and lazy beach times and then, boom that last line. Terrific work

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks, Laurie! Sorry for late response. Been on hiatus.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. Dear Lisa,

    Evocative piece that had me digging my toes in the sand. And oh that ending. I didn’t see that coming. Great picture. Vivid story.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Rochelle, thanks much. Sorry for late response. Been on hiatus.

      Like

  19. Nobbinmaug's avatar Nobbinmaug says:

    To be fair, humans disrupted Godzilla’s sleep first. It’s only fair that he disrupts their day at the beach.

    Thanks for the inspirational picture.

    Like

  20. Carol anne's avatar Carol anne says:

    What an ending, your so talented at writing flash fiction! Well done!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks much, Carol Anne.

      Like

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