June 20, 2023, prompt: Write a story about grains of sand in 99 words (no more, no less). Where are these grains, and what importance do they hold? How many ways can you think of using sand? Who interacts with the sand and why? Go where the prompt leads! See June 20: Story Challenge in 99-words for more details.
What Lays Beneath – by Hugh W. Roberts
On the secluded beach, grains of sand held a horrifying secret.
As twilight embraced the shoreline, their malevolence awakened. Slightly serrated edges transformed into razor-sharp teeth, hungry for flesh.
Unseen to the unsuspecting visitors, they slithered beneath the surface.
With a sinister intelligence, they devised a plan. Swiftly, they surged, entangling ankles in a web of gritty terror. Screams of agony filled the air as victims got dragged below, devoured by the insatiable maw of the sand.
Panic swept the beach, but the grains, now stained red, revelled in their newfound power, forever cursed to prey upon the unwary.
Written for the 99-word flash fiction challenge hosted by Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch.
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Enjoyed this piece of flash fiction? Then you’ll love ‘More Glimpses.’
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32 short stories and flash fiction pieces take readers to the edge of their imagination.
More Glimpses
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True horror! Wonderfully worded story Hugh. Suddenly, I don’t miss the beach. Lol :)
I can never imagine you not missing the beach, Debby.
Yes, but you bring up reasons to be leery, lol :)
Even worse than hot sands and no flip-flops for one’s feet! Such a scary vision, Hugh!
I’m glad you think so, Liz. And, yes! I dislike hot burning sand too. I also dislike sand sticking to me.
Another yikes, Hugh. Don’t underestimate the power of sand.
Exactly, Eugi. There is more of it than there is human life on earth.
Yikes Hugh…
Glad to have got that reaction, Gary.
I would say, “gritty,” Hugh, but I’ll stick with creepy instead! ;) A great short story to bring our fear of the beach screaming back after dealing with the movie Jaws for years. Kinda glad I don’t live near the ocean.
Thanks, Terri. I got the idea for this piece of flash from a 1981 horror movie ‘Blood Beach.’ It was very much on the heels of ‘Jaws.’
I’ll never look at a beach in the same light 🫣
At least you can’t see what’s going on under the surface of a beach, Cathy. Happy summer holidays.
That’s true. Thanks, Hugh. Happy summer holidays to you too
I loved this Hugh. I think the sand was having fun
Lol. Like turning the tide on humans, Brenda. Given the rubbish I see humans leaving on beaches, I’m not surprised beaches and the sand are fighting back.
Exactly. Similar theme to an idea I’ve brewing
For a story?
Yes, something I plan to work on over the holidays … but not beaches
I look forward to reading it.
Sounds like the plot of a horror movie 😱
I recall a movie coming out a few years after ‘Jaws’ was released where alien monsters hid below the surface of sandy beaches.
Ah, I see! Very well done, Hugh! The scenery is in my head through your words.
I looked the movie up – it was made in 1981 and is called ‘Blood Beach.’ Not for the fainthearted, Erika.
Horror! Don’t you have a flash fiction story in one of your Glimpses books about three friends going to the beach and being swallowed, Hugh? I vaguely remember something to that effect… I had to think about it when I read Charli’s theme for this week at the top of your blog.
Well remembered, Liesbet. It was a story called The Sand Man. However, while one of the friends disappeared on the beach, the other three disappeared in the carpark of the beach where they encountered the sand man when he opened the door of the car he was sat in.
That’s right! Now it’s all coming back. :-)