Take a very close look at this photo.
Can you see that dark creature? It’s staring back at you. See its eyes?
Don’t look away from it. Stare at the creature for at least five seconds, and you’ll see exactly what it is.
Here, take another look. Remember, look at it for at least five seconds.
Did you stare at it for at least five seconds?
Did it reveal what it was to you?
Did you notice how it moved slightly?
No? Then take a final look. Remember, stare at it for at least five seconds. Providing you do, then you’ll see it move slightly and reveal its secret.
Did it work? No? Then I’m going to have to tell you.
You see, that creature is the creak of the door. It’s that faint sound you hear in the middle of the night that wakes you up and makes you freeze, unable to move. It’s that feeling that terrifies you even though you’re not sure you heard a noise.
That creature is the creak of the trees as you walk past them. It’s the faint sound of those footsteps behind you. It’s the one ring of the telephone that stops and makes you wonder if anybody was really calling you. It’s the chill that passes through your body when somebody walks over your grave. That creature is the whisper you think you heard when you were all alone.
That creature only sleeps on the night of Halloween. That’s the one night you can rest, knowing that you’ll be safe…unless…you stared at the photo for more than five seconds.
Did I not mention to you that the photo is cursed and that nobody should stare at it for more than five seconds or have read to this point of this post? Now you’re cursed. You see, that creature is me. I’m right behind you, right now! Whatever you do, don’t look behind you. In fact, never ever look behind you ever again. Never! You see, if you do, then…
I am the creature.
Written in response to Sue Vincent’s The Thursday Photo Prompt #writephoto – Over at The Daily Echo.
© 2016 Copyright-All rights reserved-hughsviewsandnews.com.
Hugh's Views & News 
Wonderful to see you in such great form Hugh…but now I’m regretting reading this post, lol! That is one creepy photo and story…perfect! And a very Happy Halloween to you too! 🙂 xxx
Thanks, Sherri. I’ve Sue, over at Daily Echo, to thank for this piece of writing. It was the photo she posted that brought this creature alive.
Happy Halloween.
xx
Ahh…great writing prompt! Thanks Hugh, am typing in between handing out sweets to trick or treaters…thin on the ground this evening so far…the trick or treaters, not the sweets! All the more for us though 😀 Happy Halloween to you too and I’ll email you tomorrow 🙂 xxx
Hope you enjoyed Halloween, Sherri. We were out at the Sister-in-laws for dinner, so all those chocolates I bought for the trick or treaters are now all my treats. 😀
xx
We did, thanks Hugh! Oooh…enjoy!!! xxx
I’m not turning around ever, Hugh! Fabulous!
Not even for me, Olga?
Oh, I forgot. I am the creature.
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.
umm. *shudder* feeling more than somewhat creeped out!
You? Creeped out? Are you revealing another side to me? 😱Mwhahahah 😱
I don’t do scary films! Imagination is far too big for that!
You know, I can’t do them anymore, either. The last one I watched (Paranormal Activity) had me freaked out for months. Scariest thing I’d ever seen. But I do like to send the shivers through my readers.
Oh no! Not that cat again, Claudette. Is it the one from my short story ‘Needles’, I wonder? 😱
Thanks, Elizabeth. It’s amazing what people see me (the creature) as.
Happy Halloween. 👻
Good morning Hugh you monster you 😀First time writing back to you . You gave me no choice …quick look behind you I may be there …tee hee happy Halloween.
Cherryx
Good morning, Cherry. A Happy Halloween to you. 👻 Welcome to the creature’s blog. A place where anything can happen…to its readers. 😱
Reblogged this on Jemsbooks and commented:
Oooh, don’t look behind you! Something is creepy, crawly and goes bump into the night! From the king of the unexpected, Hugh Roberts, provides the scene for a scary short story for Halloween. Happy Halloween to all!
Oooh, Hugh, you got me! I was really concentrating on the photo and even enlarged it to get a closer look. I should have known you were going to try something tricky! LOL! Your words gave me the creeps. I am stilll not looking behind me! 🙂
I’m so pleased to hear that about my words, Janice. The creature takes great pleasure when it does its job well.
Thank you for reblogging and sharing the post. You’re now safe, unless…😱
This was fabulous, Hugh! Dang it! I’ve got to go… something’s chasing me…
Thank you, Colleen. If it’s chasing you, then you’re safe. It can’t run very fast. However, it’s very good at hiding behind you. Did I tell you that? 😱
Happy Halloween.
What??? LOL! Happy Halloween!
Well done! Deliciously creepy!
Thank you. I just hope nobody looks behind themselves.
well done!
Thank you.
you’re horrible. How am I meant to sleep now?
Very well, I hope, Geoff. But don’t look behind the pillow! Just saying…😱
Agggh
Oh no, I’m cursed!
Are you sure, Jan? Have you looked behind you…yet? 😱
Omg! Hugh@ that was creepy!
I’m cursed now though…..
lol, no, only of you read the whole post or stared at that photo for more than 5 seconds. You didn’t, did you, Ritu? Ritu?
Ritu? OMG, Ritu? 😱
😱😱😱😱😱
Thank you for helping me and revealing the secret and that from now on I will never ever sleep again. Well done 👍😄
Sleep tight, Erika. Did I say ‘Don’t look under the pillow?’
Thank God, you didn’t 😂
There’s still tomorrow night. And the night after, and the night after, and the night after… 😱
See, that is the good part of bein 40+ and having a busy life….. you forget easier 😂
But the creature never forgets who it needs to visit; especially on dark creepy nights when victims are on their own. Was that your front door I could hear creaking? 😱
Hahaha… you don’t give up… lol! It will be the scariest night ever tonight…. 🙈 😤 😱 😰
I’ll never turn or look over my shoulder again. What have you done to me?
Eeeekkke.
😀 😀 good one, Hugh.
Good to hear, Tess. Tomorrow, you’re safe; I sleep during Halloween, but then there’s the 364 other days of the year…😱
Arrrrrrrrrrgh! A Hugh Monster. OMG I am really scared now.xxxx
I’m sure you’ll be safe, Willow. Just don’t behind you…Ok? 😱
Hellllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllp!!!!!
Just read this in the daylight around a crowd of people. Creepy indeed, but that is surely the eye of a sleeping dragon. I’m safe! I hold up my cross, garlic cloves and silver stake, LOL!
Good for you, Terri, but did you look behind you yet? 😱
Ohh Hugh I thought you were a sweet chap now I’m beginning to think you’re a bit of a devil. 🙂
What? After all those lovely short stories I wrote, Marje? 👻
I should have known…. !!!
I just hung wolfbane and garlic all over the place. Good one, Hugh. *blink blink* Slowly I turned……
And you still think you’re safe, John? 😱 I like garlic with my pasta.
Never safe. 😀
Happy Halloween, Chloe 👻
I stared for waaaay more than 5 seconds, waiting for it to move. Nothing.
That’s because…it’s behind you. But, whatever you do, don’t look. 😱
Thank you. I’ll see if I can come up with something in time. 👻
Happy Halloween.
Oh you really gave me the creeps with that Hugh as I stared at it for quite a while. Your menacing ending made me shiver!
You definitely excel at these dark, creepy stories!! 🎃🎃🎃🎃
And there’s everyone thinking I was a quiet boy, Judy. 😀
Creepy will have to be my middle name. Now, I’m off to feed the creature. Oh, hang on. He seems to be hiding behind somebody. Now, who is it? Oh no! 😱
Ooooh now you just stop that! 🙂
Reblogged this on Edwina's Episodes and commented:
This creeped me right out. Perfect for Halloween!
I have to admit that I did stare for more than the 5 second limit lol. Am I the only one who sees a cute little black dog with slightly curly, medium length fur?
Arh, that’s great. That means it’s worked, Brenda. Now, no looking behind you, otherwise…😱
I should also admit that I’ve never been that great of a listener lol 🙂
Happy Halloween
Happy Halloween. Remember, no looking behind you. 👻
Oooer, Hugh… not sure that was what I needed at Halloween! I’ll admit, its not a side of you I saw, or even suspected last June in London. But then they do say the quiet ones are the worst…
Oh, I do, Ali. Come to think of it, you were always very quiet until you met me 😀
Now, remember, no looking behind you if you read all of this post. 😱
Haha! I can’t imagine anything more guaranteed to make me look behind me! Lol! 😂😂😂
A good one, Hugh. Happy Halloween!
Thanks, Darlene. Happy Halloween to you. Remember, don’t look behind you…😱
I won´t, but early this morning when I took the dog for a walk we encountered a black cat who kept following us. Not sure who was more frightened, the dog or me.
The creature has been known to shift shape, Darlene. 🐱🕷
That’s really creepy, Hugh 🙂
Oh good. I’m glad you said that, Sue. Just so long as you didn’t read all of the post or stare at that photo for more than five seconds then you should…😱
Ah… er…well….;)