Warning: It’s not a good idea to respond to calls for help coming from behind doors that were made specially for the Halloween season.

Why? Well, when you read what happened to me recently upon responding to calls for help coming from behind the rather scruffy door in the image below, you’ll believe me.

Photo of a scruffy door in need of a lot of repairs.
The October Door

“HELP! GET ME OUT OF HERE. HELP!”

Those were the words I could hear coming from the other side of the October door.

With its light blue paint having almost peeled away and signs of having been kicked from the scuff marks along its bottom, the door looked unloved and old. People passed me and the door by without taking any notice. Was I the only one who could hear the calls for help?

I watched as the flap of the letterbox lifted and two eyes appeared. They looked shocked when they saw me.

“I’m trapped. Please, you need to get me out. Just turn the knob to the left, then to the right, and once more to the left, and the door will open. I’ll be truly grateful for your help. It’s jammed. I’ve been stuck in here for over forty years.”

As the flap closed, I questioned what I had just heard. Forty years? That should have told me not to open the door, but the writer inside me said this would make a great story.

“Hold on. I’m coming in. Step away from the door,” I announced, as I approached it.

“Left, right, and left again,” I muttered under my breath, as I tried the door knob. The door opened without any problems, but I hesitated before stepping into the black void that now faced me.

“Hello,” I called out, as I took my first step inside.

Nothing but silence met my ears. Even the world behind me seemed to go to sleep. I hesitated and wondered if I should take a step back; to maybe get some help?

“In here,” came a voice, “please help me.”

On my fifth step in, the door slammed behind me.

Turning, I ran towards it, but it wouldn’t open. I told myself not to panic and to feel for the door knob, but there wasn’t one. Then, I heard a terrifying sound from something behind me. I banged on the door hard with both hands, hoping that somebody on the other side would hear me.

“HELP! GET ME OUT OF HERE. HELP!”

As the sound behind me got nearer, I had a strange feeling that somebody on the other side of the door had heard me. Then I remembered that the door had a letterbox. I bent down and pulled open the flap. My eyes opened wide with shock.

I hadn’t expected to see myself staring back.

***

This week’s door is located in Llandeilo, South Wales, in the United Kingdom.

Have you ever come across a door that isn’t all it seems?

Linking to the weekly photography challenge ‘Thursday Doors,’ hosted by Dan Antion who blogs at No Facilities. Click here to join hundreds of other participants with your Thursday Doors.

If you’re enjoying the pieces of flash fiction I’m including with my Thursday Doors posts then you may like Glimpses, my first book of flash fiction and short stories.

The above piece of flash fiction features in Glimpses.

Glimpses

28 short stories and pieces of flash fiction take the reader on a rollercoaster of twists and turns.

Available on Amazon

Paperback – £4.99

Kindle – £0.99

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Check out some of other Thursday Doors Posts

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55 responses to “Thursday Doors – The October Door”

  1. September Story Chat Summary – Marsha Ingrao – Always Write avatar

    […] HUGH’S VIEWS & NEWS: “You pulled it off, Gary. In fact, your story has been going around in my head since I read it because I loved the ending so much.  I had no idea how the story would end until I reached the final few lines. I enjoy reading dialogue stories as you can build your own scene in your head, including what the characters look like. The conversation was good and full of emotion which I think many writers have problems getting over to the reader.” […]

  2. Marsha avatar

    Knowing you, Hugh, I expected that he was going to get trapped. I did not expect what he saw! LOL It’s so perfectly your signature piece! :)

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      Thanks, Marsha. You know how much I love writing twists.

      1. Marsha avatar

        And you know how much I and all your other readers, enjoy reading them! :) Well done!

  3. Smitha V avatar

    This kept me on edge. Wonderfully done!

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      Thank you so much. I’m glad you enjoyed it.

  4. robertawrites235681907 avatar

    Hi Hugh, a most entertaining story. I think it is in one of your books because I’m sure I’ve read it before.

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      Thank you, Robbie; yes, I mention in the post that ‘The above piece of flash fiction features in Glimpses.’ So you will have read it before when reading Glimpses.

      1. robertawrites235681907 avatar

        Thanks, Hugh. I thought it was Glimpses and I actually did dive straight into the story. Both your books were really good.

        1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

          Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed them, Robbie.

  5. Marsha avatar

    OH MY GOSH, Hugh, what a great story! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, so I’m glad it was a short story! :)

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      Glad you enjoyed it, Marsha, and that it kept you on the edge of your seat. Thanks so much for reading it.

      1. Marsha avatar

        You are the king of Halloween stories. I hope you are on the roster again for the first Story Chat of Year 3!!! I think Year 2 is full. Yay! :)

        1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

          Of course, and great to hear that Year 2 is full.

          1. Marsha avatar

            Me too! So you’re on!

  6. KJ avatar

    Absolutely loved it!

  7. noelleg44 avatar

    Woo hoo! Definitely Twilight Zone worth!

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      Thank you. Anything can happen in the Twilight Zone.

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