PHOTO PROMPT – © J Hardy Carroll
Being in this place feels wrong. I shouldn’t be here. I never did believe in God or Satan or any of that stuff. Neither is it a fear of zombies rising from their graves. No, it’s none of that. It’s more of a feeling I get when I go in graveyards. Usually it’s nothing more than a persistent tingle radiating through me. Sometimes it’s more.
That doesn’t stop me though. I still come, but never to the same cemetery twice. You see. I’m searching for something. I have been for a very long time. I need to find my body.
—
Thank you to all of the veterans out there, especially those that may still be wandering around looking for their bodies. I hope you find what you’re looking for.
Written for Friday Fictioneers.
Click here to read stories from the rest of the Fictioneers.
November 11th, 2015 at 8:30 PM
Fine Twilight Zoney/Alfred Hitchcocky story. I”ve always liked tales of how the deceased deal with things
November 12th, 2015 at 8:07 PM
This story originally started as something different, but halfway through it kind of changed on me. I liked this new direction so much better.
November 12th, 2015 at 1:16 AM
What a unique take, Adam. I imagine the dead need closure, too. It’s not just the living.
November 12th, 2015 at 8:09 PM
Yes, I would imagine closure is needed on all sides,assuming the dead are still around in some form that isn’t strictly worm food.
November 12th, 2015 at 3:25 AM
A different, creative take on the prompt, Adam. Sadly, some bodies will likely never be found. I think that when I see locations like the jungles of Vietnam. The most the families can do is put up markers in cemeteries to honor their dead. Well done. — Suzanne J.
November 12th, 2015 at 8:10 PM
You’re right. Many bodies will never be found. That’s a sad truth.
November 12th, 2015 at 4:04 AM
Really sad Adam. Well written.
November 12th, 2015 at 8:10 PM
Thank you.
November 12th, 2015 at 6:04 AM
Nice ghostly twist at the end!
November 12th, 2015 at 8:11 PM
It’s been awhile since I’ve written about a ghost. This started as something different, but when the ghost idea came to me I ran that sucker right into the ground.
November 12th, 2015 at 2:40 PM
that was eerily good 🙂
November 12th, 2015 at 8:11 PM
Many thanks. 🙂
November 12th, 2015 at 11:11 PM
Makes me wonder if his family was ever able to bury him.
Ellespeth
November 13th, 2015 at 9:00 PM
I’m thinking no, but I can’t say for sure.
November 13th, 2015 at 10:44 AM
You could make a song out of that, “Has anybody seen my body?”
But on a serious note, most of the ghostly apparitions people claim to have seen were folks who died tragically. Like one commenter said, they need closure too.
November 13th, 2015 at 9:02 PM
Sounds like a bad country song, but then to me most country songs are bad to begin with.
Ghost stories where the ghosts died a tragic death could just be that way because that’s a bit more interesting than saying ‘He lived a happy, full life. Probably why he stuck around.”
November 14th, 2015 at 5:59 PM
I like the way you worked this, Adam. The imagery is sharp, and the idea of the dead searching for something packs a punch. You’ve always been so good with this genre and setting the right mood in the story. Nice job.
It’s SO great to see you posting again! I was overwhelmed for a few weeks with stuff that had to get done, but happy to see you back. 🙂
November 16th, 2015 at 10:15 PM
Thanks, Dawn. It’s good to be back. Spring/Summer have a tendency to draw me outside a lot more so I tend to not do as much writing or much of anything with the blog during that time of the year. Maybe next year I’ll try a little harder to stay active on here. Sadly those wonderful warm months are all but over now, but at least more inside time means more writing time, right? I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about that story I sent you and your comments/suggestions on it. I think I finally figured out a way to rework the ending, which almost makes it a completely different story. I’m going to dive into that and see where it takes me once I finish up my current project.
November 17th, 2015 at 2:33 AM
Good for you Adam! Dig in and find a new route for the story; I know you can make it work. As for staying outside in warm weather: bravo for you! Good to see you here again. 🙂
November 14th, 2015 at 9:56 PM
Nice one!
November 16th, 2015 at 10:17 PM
Thanks!
November 16th, 2015 at 4:26 AM
Good one with a clever twist.
November 16th, 2015 at 10:17 PM
Thank you.