The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!
Everlasting Portrayal
by Elizabeth H. Smith
The ancient wall stood like new, the intricate design’s paint still vibrant and without wear. We approached with caution, shined our lights over its beautiful design. I placed my palm against the golden canvas, found it hot to the touch. Something thrived there, old yet youthful. Its vigor resonated within the stone behind the artful and mysterious depiction.
I knew fear rested in my heart, but there it stayed; it had no influence, no power.
The floor rumbled. I watched my companions flee. But I stayed.
The illustration came to life, the wall bending and stretching as flesh. A rancid breath came from the animated image, filling my lungs with fire. From the pain I screamed, but not from fear—my body writhed but my soul was calm. Terror remained within my heart, which held strong against the flames consuming me from the inside out.
Before the eyes burned out of my skull, I stared once more at the perfect art—alive and everlasting.
Fiction © Copyright Elizabeth H. Smith
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com
More from Elizabeth H. Smith:
Through Clouded Eyes: A Zombie’s Point of View
Through Clouded Eyes: A Zombie’s Point of View: a collection of twelve stories told from the Zombie’s perspective.
They’re shambling toward you, feet dragging on the broken roadway. Arms outstretched, faces slack, they move as if they’re tracking your scent on the wind. You want to run, but you know there’s nowhere to hide.
Aware of their insatiable hunger, fear paralyzes you. These things were once human, people someone loved. Is there anything left inside them – some sliver of humanity that may save you from this nightmare? Your mind doesn’t want to accept the inevitable, a single thought consumes you: what are they thinking?
With your chance of escape dwindling, you snap out of it and run like hell knowing there is little to no hope; fate is coming for you. Soon you will see what they see Through Clouded Eyes…
Featuring stories from Maynard Blackoak, Calvin Demmer, Paul M. Feeney, Stacy Fileccia, Trevor Firetog, DH Hanni, Shannon Lawrence, Josh MacLeod, Zachary O’Shea, Neal Privett, Mark Steinwachs, and Alex Woolf
Spreading the Writer's Word 
Wonderfully dark, a great story.