I’d always enjoyed walking in the fog.
There’s something about the eeriness it creates that keeps me outdoors rather than sat indoors in front of a screen.
Today was no different. I’d taken my camera with me in the hope of snapping some eerie shots that would get my creative cogs whirling.
It was just before the light gave way to the twilight that I decided I’d better go home.
Although the next day had been forecast to be another foggy day, I had decided I needed one more photo.
Turning to my left, the scene before me was perfect.
An upward slope shrouded in the fog would make the perfect photo; a photo I’d use for my next book cover.
As I focused the camera towards the top of the slope, I noticed a figure looking down at me.
I immediately lowered my camera and kept my eyes focused on where the figure was standing, yet it wasn’t there.
It must have been a trick of the light, or maybe the fog?
I raised the camera again, ready to focus on the top of the foggy slope, when I was startled by what I saw in the viewfinder.
The same figure, standing there. Yet when I lowered the camera, the figure was gone.
A cold sweat swept over my entire body. That was when a plan came to me.
I aimed the camera towards the top of the slope so that if the figure appeared, I could use the viewfinder to walk towards it.
My luck was in. The figure was there, so I began my walk up the slope.
Halfway up, my arms began to ache, forcing me to bring the camera down. The ‘watcher’, as I had now named the figure, had disappeared.
Raising the camera up, the watcher, once again, appeared in the viewfinder. This time I was determined not to bring my camera down.
The ‘watcher’ became a blur as I got closer to it, but I kept walking.
By the time I reached it, nothing but a hazy, thick, off-white fog had filled the viewfinder.
Lowering the camera, I was faced with nothing but the sight of fog and the sound of waves.
Behind me, something stirred.
I span around.
“You’re it!,” were the words that came out of the mouth of the most repulsive creature I’d ever seen.
Then it pushed me.
As I fell off the edge of the cliff, towards the sounds of the crashing waves, my eyes were briefly focused on the creature as it looked down at me.
“YOU”RE IT!”, it kept on screaming.
I closed my eyes and waited for the coldness of the sea to smash into my body, yet no impact came.
When I finally got the courage to open my eyes, I found myself looking down a foggy slope, at you!
You were looking up at me through a camera and began to climb towards me.
“You’re it,” I repeatedly murmured to myself.
Will you be ‘it’ for me?
***
Written in response to the #writephoto challenge, hosted by Sue Vincent at Sue Vincent’s Daily Echo. Click here to join hundreds of other writers who have taken up the challenge.
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Hugh's Views & News 
Well done, Hugh; a quantum fog.
Thanks so much, Rob.
Have a great weekend.
You too, Hugh. 🙂
Scary, Hugh.
That’s very good to hear, Mary. 😀
Bwahahahahaha! Good one Hugh. Seriously, you drew me right into your clutches. The “you’re it” twist was a fun touch. Thanks for making me smile. Hugs!
Ah, so ‘You’re it’ now, Teagan. 😀The photo Sue shared said nothing but a creepy piece of flash fiction was called for. I’m glad I delivered it.
Hugs to you.
Reblogged this on Viv Drewa – The Owl Lady.
Good one Hugh, but I shall respectfully decline.
Really, Claudette? Even if you could see it was me in your viewfinder standing at the top of that slope? 😈
More so than ever, :), the things you write about have to come from somewhere , right? I wouldn’t like to find out it’s all you in reality 🙂 🙂 🙂
Very clever, Hugh. I enjoyed this story.
That’s great. Thanks, Robbie.
That old Hugh magic! Leave it to you to create a twisted story from a figure on a hill, lol. Well done my friend, you still got it! ❤
Thanks, Debby. The image that Sue gave us to work from said to me ‘scare them, Hugh.’ So I did. 😈
xx
Of course it did!!!! 🙂 ❤
Oooh so chilling, Hugh. I love the twist!! Great story… one for the next book for sure!
I think so, yes, Diana. The first for book 3.
Thank you so much.
Oh yeah, love me a scary viewfinder! Another good one, Hugh!
Thanks, Terri. For some reason, when I wrote the last few lines of this piece of flash fiction, I thought about your Sunday Stills feature.
Will I be it for you?
Not a chance, I’d be running the other way!
Spooky all the way around, Hugh 🙂
Even if it looked like me at the top of that foggy slope? 😀
Glad you enjoyed this new piece of flash fiction from me, Aimer. See you when you reach the top of the slope.
Oh!Hugh it’s so scary!! Love it 💜💜💜
That’s good to hear on both accounts, Willow. Thank you for reading it.
I thought it was excellent 😱
Oh, so creepy 😨Fantastically written, Hugh. Great story idea.
Thank you, Erika. It’s been a while since I wrote some flash fiction. The prompt photo was creepy, so I had to go along those lines. Glad you enjoyed it.
I totally loved the story! Steven King level!!
Wow! That story definitely captured my attention. Good thing I read it in broad daylight!
You did the right thing reading it during daylight hours, Donna. Wouldn’t want to frighten my readers too much. 😈
That was scary, but I could not stop reading! Yikes then pushed off the cliff! I’m glad I’m reading this at lunchtime 😂 great work, thank you!
Thank you for reading it, Debbie. Being told that it was scary is the best comments, cause that’s what I was hoping for. Glad you read it during the daylight hours.
Love the twist at the end, Hugh!
Thank you, Sue. One for book 3 I think.
It’s a good one 🙂
Umm, no!
Eerie, indeed. Good job freaking me out, Hugh 🙂
I’m glad to hear it, Jacquie. I thought it about time I ‘crept’ my readers out again. 😀
Great Hugh… another terrific story… very creepy..hugsxx
Thanks, Sally. You don’t know how good that makes me feel. Looks as if I got the creepiness over.
xx
You did…. I had to watch cartoons before bed… xx
Thank you so much, Charles. Glad you enjoyed it and found it engaging. That makes this writer very pleased.
I think this is one for your book Hugh. Brilliant. 🌼
Thank you, Brigid. Unfortunately, too late for the next book, but book 3? 🤔
Now that’s creepy Hugh!!!
Brilliant. That’s exactly how I wanted the story to come over, Ritu. Thank you.
Greetings, Hugh. Being a photographer is a dangerous business, especially when you think you’ve found “the one”. I enjoyed your story. Well done.
Best wishes,
Rowena
Thank you, Rowena.
Yes, I agree. It can be a dangerous business, even if what you’re seeing is really there. 😀