Horror Fiction – Hugh's Views & News

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!

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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.