Halloween – Hugh's Views & News

An AI-generated image of a Paris street in spring. In the background is the Eiffel Tower, and along the street is a cafe and trees with spring blossoms. Two men stand next to a large clock.

Experience the Magic of Spring in Paris! But not as you know it!

Published on Nov 3, 2025Nov 3, 2025 by Hugh W. Roberts1 Comment

Just in time for Halloween! Oh, wait! Halloween has come and gone. But fear not, because I have something special that will thrill and chill you—an intriguing tale set against the romantic backdrop of springtime in Paris, France!

Introducing “Springtime in Paris,” a captivating story featured on Marsha Ingrao’s blog as part of her successful Story Chat feature. This isn’t just any story; I’ve been told it’s a rollercoaster of emotions that has generated vibrant engagement from readers who couldn’t get enough of its enigmatic charm! After pouring my heart and soul into this short story for six long months, I hope you will agree that I crafted a narrative that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Will you unravel the mysteries intertwined with the beauty of Paris in spring? If you’re longing for a literary escape to this enchanting city, while the rest of the northern hemisphere is in autumn, click the link below. Can it really be spring in Paris when it’s autumn in London, New York and Munich?

👉 Story Chat Digest: “Springtime in Paris” by Hugh W. Roberts

I’m eager to hear your thoughts! Although comments are closed here, feel free to share your reflections and feedback on the original post so they can be included with all the other comments.

So, pack your virtual bags and embark on this unforgettable journey to Paris—don’t forget to bring me back some coffee and croissants, and maybe a little souvenir of the Eiffel Tower. Dive in and enjoy your literary getaway!

Feature image created using WordPress AI image creator.

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When The Clocks Go Back

Published on Oct 25, 2025Oct 26, 2025 by Hugh W. Roberts42 Comments

Old Tom watched the clock, dread clawing at his insides. At two in the morning on the night the clocks went back, they always returned to torment him—haunting reminders of the mistake he had made when he’d forgotten, one year, to turn the clocks back.

However, one fateful night, an hour after the clocks had gone back, the spectres faded, but the shadows lingered too long, and Tom never opened his eyes again.

The day before the clocks went back, Monica moved into Tom’s old house, blissfully unaware of the terror that lurked within its walls. Exhausted from the move, she resolved to set her clocks back an hour at dawn.

At 2:00 AM, Monica was suddenly jolted awake by the unmistakable creak of her bedroom door slowly opening. A cold sweat trickled down her brow as she froze in place, eyes wide, witnessing the ghostly figure of an old man twisting and writhing, a cruel smile stretching across his face as he glided towards her.

“What are you doing in my house and in my bed?” the ghost thundered, his voice echoing through the almost empty room, making her heart race.

For what seemed like an hour, the ghost tormented her with the same words until the clock struck 2 AM for the second time, and Tom’s malevolent spirit dissipated into the air. Monica’s pulse quickened, doubt lingering in her mind. Was it all a nightmare, or a malevolent invitation?

She blinked, and the chill of reality sunk in. The bedroom door gaped wide open, the darkness beyond beckoning like an abyss. She was sure she had locked it tight, a protective measure against the night.

As a cold autumnal breeze caressed her bare skin, a frantic shiver coursed down her spine. Heart pounding, she inched to the door and tentatively closed it, sealing herself in with the echoes of her terror.

Climbing back into bed, she pulled the covers tightly around her, desperate for warmth—a futile shield against her fear. But soon, sleep reclaimed her, its sweet embrace luring her into a false sense of security.

When the clocks struck 2 AM for the third time, a bone-chilling rustle beneath her bed shattered her dream. Something slithered just out of sight, a dread revelation that all was not right, confirming that her nightmare was merely beginning.

Monica never woke up from the nightmare until the following year, on the night the clocks went back, when, with Tom, she visited the new owner of Tom’s house to check if they’d remembered to put the clocks back.

Linking to Sunday Stills hosted by Terri Webster Schrandt – Theme: Scary

The clocks go back in Europe and the UK on the last Sunday of October.

In 2025, the clocks go back on Sunday, November 2nd, in most of the USA and Canada that observe Daylight Saving Time (DST).

Feature image credit: Image by Alexa from Pixabay

Looking for more spooky tales like this? Check out my first collection of short stories and flash fiction.

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

An image with a blue background with the words 'Flash Fiction' in white text.

Flash Fiction – A Small Invasion

Published on Aug 11, 2025Aug 11, 2025 by Hugh W. Roberts30 Comments

Nobody took much notice of the small Halloween pod that appeared in the Griffiths’ small front window on the night before Halloween. They’d sold the place because it was too small, and the neighbours thought the new owners had placed the pod there. But they were wrong!

The mesmerising, faint green glow out of the eyes and mouth of the pod during daytime Halloween became brighter as the sun set and dusk arrived. It was a sight to behold, especially for the innocent local small children who couldn’t resist posing with it for photos. Their innocence, a stark contrast to the small danger lurking within, made them all the more vulnerable.

Photo of a halloween pumpkin — Halloween

Little did they know that the small creature inside was not just observing, but also making intricate plans. Its intelligence, a chilling reminder of the impending threat, was something to be feared and respected.

At the stroke of midnight, the pod cracked open, and the small, agile creature darted out. It was now a master of disguise, mimicking all the costumes it had seen. Its constant shifting and learning, and planning its next move, was a clear sign of the magnitude of the threat.

By dawn, the small population of the street had shrunk, mostly of children. Of course, nobody took any notice of me, the new owner of the Griffiths’ house, as I blended in seamlessly into your world, now a perfect mimic of your kind.

They asked me about the small pod and the missing children, but I denied any knowledge of them. Over the following twelve months, the city’s human population decreased.

On the run-up to Halloween, keep your eyes peeled for a small alien pod in your neighbourhood. But more importantly, keep a close eye on your neighbours. After all, every invasion starts small.

Written for Esther Chilton’s writing prompt: Small.

The featured image in this blog post was created using AI.

I’m taking a proactive approach to comments to keep conversations meaningful on my blog. Please leave some constructive feedback. Short comments like ‘Nice story’ don’t help anyone.

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Halloween #WordlessWednesday #Photography

Published on Oct 30, 2024Oct 30, 2024 by Hugh W. Roberts29 Comments

Wordless Wednesday – No words, just pictures. Allow your photo(s) to tell the story.

Photo of a jack-o-Lantern looking out from a window of a house. — Who’s watching you? Happy Halloween.

Not sure what Wordless Wednesday is or how to participate? Click here for full details.

Linking to Sunday Stills hosted by Terri Webster-Schrandt – Theme: Eerie.

Are you participating in Wordless Wednesday? Although I am not hosting this challenge, you can leave a link or pingback to your post in the comments section to help promote it to other bloggers.

To help those with eyesight-impaired vision, please remember to complete a description of your photo in the ‘alt-text’ and description boxes of the picture in the WordPress media library. For more details, check my post, Adding Images Or Photos To Your Blog Posts? 4 Essential Things To Do.’

If you want to know more about the photo featured on this post, ask me in the comments section.

Did you miss last week’s Wordless Wednesday?

Do You Play This Game? #WordlessWednesday #Photography

Question: Could you beat me at this game?

by Hugh W. Roberts Oct 23, 2024Oct 22, 2024

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Are You Ready For Halloween? #WordlessWednesday #Photography

Published on Oct 16, 2024Oct 16, 2024 by Hugh W. Roberts36 Comments

Wordless Wednesday – No words, just pictures. Allow your photo(s) to tell the story.

Photo of some fairy-light ghosts hanging from a fireplace. — Have you ever seen more than one ghost at the same time?

Not sure what Wordless Wednesday is or how to participate? Click here for full details.

Are you participating in Wordless Wednesday? Although I am not hosting this challenge, you can leave a link or pingback to your post in the comments section to help promote it to other bloggers.

If you want to know more about the photo featured on this post, ask me in the comments section.

Did you miss last week’s Wordless Wednesday?

Are You Seeing Double? #WordlessWednesday #Photography

Question: Have you spotted a rare double?

by Hugh W. Roberts Oct 9, 2024Oct 9, 2024

Follow Hugh on Social Media. Click on the links below.

What Strange Halloween Creatures And Objects Are These? #WordlessWednesday #Photography

Published on Oct 25, 2023Oct 25, 2023 by Hugh W. Roberts52 Comments

Wordless Wednesday – No words, just pictures. Allow your photo(s) to tell the story.

Photo of two knitted spider hanging from a post box. — Don’t look behind you!

Photo of some knitted pumpkins and ghosts on top of a post box — What strange Halloween creatures and objects are these?

Not sure what Wordless Wednesday is or how to participate? Click here for full details.

Are you participating in Wordless Wednesday? Although I am not hosting this challenge, you can leave a link or pingback to your post in the comments section to help promote it to other bloggers.

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Thursday Doors – The October Door

Published on Oct 14, 2021Nov 17, 2025 by Hugh W. Roberts55 Comments

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

Join Hugh on social media. Click on the links below.

Check out some of other Thursday Doors Posts

Flash Fiction – Creature

Published on Oct 30, 2016Dec 5, 2025 by Hugh W. Roberts97 Comments

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. If you do, 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. That faint sound you hear in the middle of the night wakes you up and makes you freeze, unable to move. That feeling 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 is really calling you. The chill 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 you’ll be safe…unless…you stared at the photo for more than five seconds.

Did I not mention that the photo is cursed and that nobody should stare at it for more than five seconds or have read 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.

Photo credits to Sue Vincent.