The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!
A Dream of Humanity
by Sheri White
“Oh, it’s you. Why are you here?”
“You know why, Ravenna. It’s time to return home.”
“Oh, I don’t think so. Look at me – I’m stunning! Why would I want to return to being a mere bird?”
“You don’t have a choice, Ravenna. Your transformation was to last only a fortnite.”
“I don’t care, Bertram! I love being human. A man has fallen in love with me! This is my destiny. I know it is!”
“This is impossible. What does this man think of your wings? Humanity is not for our kind.”
“He has not seen my wings, Bertram; I have kept them cloaked. I’m sorry, but I will not return. If you remove my wings, I can begin my new life.”
“No, Ravenna. That cannot be done. You would regret it greatly.”
“You will regret not assisting me, Bertram! Remove my wings at once, then leave me be!”
“Very well.” Bertram shrieked and flapped his wings, summoning the other ravens.
The birds slammed into Ravenna, knocking her face-down into the moss. With their sharp beaks, they ripped the shimmery white feathers from her flesh.
“Wait!” Ravenna screamed. “Not this way – please use your magic!” She writhed on the ground, struggling to escape the flock devouring her.
“I’m sorry, Ravenna. But this is the way it must be. If you survive, you may have your freedom. Good luck to you.”
Bertram flew away, soaring through the blood-stained feathers scattered in the air, Ravenna’s screams fading in the distance.
Fiction © Copyright Sheri White
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com
More from Author Sheri White:
Sacrificial Lambs and Others
Sacrificial Lambs and Others is Sheri White’s first collection. From quiet horror to bloody violence, these flash fiction pieces and short stories are chilling and emotionally visceral. You will find people teetering on the brink of sanity, dark farms, creepy carnivals, weird kids, and Armageddon. These stories will stay with you long after you’ve closed the book.
Spreading the Writer's Word 
A great story, loved the ending.
goes so well with this prompt, too!
Thank you both so much!
😮 Excellent, and a nice twist ending.