Next

For Six Sentence Stories where the given word is Paste.

Last weekmy youth, my childhood, my birth….then nothing…my old life an empty book…my new life as a Local had begun…a bed on which sat a scroll bound with a ribbon…it contained just one word, a name…one of you, reading these words right now… 

‘ 

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…I fell into a dreamless sleep until a rap-rap-rap on the door awakened me.

I opened it to find a  fellow Local standing in the pitch-dark hallway, an enigmatic smile plastered ‘cross his pallid face.

He carried two lanterns, one of which he handed to me.

He turned and started walking, I followed, our footsteps echoing from the stone floor.

I hope you sleep well tonight, all of you, for tomorrow one of your lives will change, forever.

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You’ll meet me soon, dear reader, very soon for you are the chosen one.

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Postscript. I was only able to tell you my story because I’d written down details of my journey from the beginning. Is it fact or fiction? I have no memory, therefore no idea.  However, it’s now time for you to block it from your mind, once and for all. Do it, NOW!

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sss-logo-200x200959-1-1Thanks to Denise at GirlieOnTheEdge for hosting.

PART ONE CAN BE FOUND HERE

PART TWO CAN BE FOUND HERE

PART THREE CAN BE FOUND HERE

PART FOUR CAN BE FOUND HERE

PART FIVE CAN BE FOUND HERE

 

27 thoughts on “Next

  1. beth's avatar beth January 18, 2023 / 23:35

    I’m trying, I’m trying….)

  2. Frank Hubeny's avatar Frank Hubeny January 19, 2023 / 00:33

    Ominous ending unless the change is for the good.

  3. Suzette Benjamin's avatar Suzette Benjamin January 19, 2023 / 01:16

    Ooh! Well done, macabre, spine tingling. Oh but wait…I was supposed to forget it all, right.

  4. imnobodywhoareyou's avatar imnobodywhoareyou January 19, 2023 / 02:33

    The mysterious enigmatic Lady who seems to be the reason for the existence of the Locals. Is she the conductor of the orchestra bringing innocent bystanders into her orbit and dancing to her tune? Hmmmm.

  5. Sadje's avatar Sadje January 19, 2023 / 03:45

    Trying to forget but it’s a very intriguing story.

      • Sadje's avatar Sadje January 19, 2023 / 11:42

        Okie dokie.

  6. Nicole Horlings's avatar Nicole Horlings January 19, 2023 / 04:14

    Fantastic way to wrap this story up… Except for that person it personally unraveled for.

    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings January 19, 2023 / 11:45

      Thanks so much. Keep your fingers crossed, Nicole!

  7. Spira's avatar Spira January 19, 2023 / 10:31

    Brilliant, Keith.
    Cue Ken Hensley and his Lady in Black.

    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings January 19, 2023 / 11:52

      That would have been a perfect song to end my tale with!

  8. The Atomic Mage's avatar The Atomic Mage January 19, 2023 / 10:53

    Wow, Keith, such a spellbinding horror, which I just went back and read from start to finish (?the end?or just the beginning?)
    It made me think of the ghost stories of M.R. James, with a little bit of The Prisoner and Tales of the Unexpected added! I love how it all tied together with the words: “and then…” plus the graphics were a good touch.

    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings January 19, 2023 / 12:04

      What can I say? Your comment makes it all worthwhile. It was nothing like my normal style and a bit of a risk, so I’m pleased it seems to have worked! Thank you.

      • The Atomic Mage's avatar The Atomic Mage January 19, 2023 / 20:42

        It worked brilliantly Keith, especially reading it in one go, as I’ve been missing the past few months. Will read it again for sure. Bravo!

  9. 100 Country Trek's avatar 100 Country Trek January 20, 2023 / 11:01

    Thanks this story and his Lady is in Black ..ha!

  10. clark's avatar clark January 20, 2023 / 20:01

    very cool.

    nothing, not a word or an image or as much as an innuendo was out-of-place (or worse, un-necessary) in this story ‘ending’

    damn!*

    * a compliment and a reminder to my self to keep practicing (especially appreciated: “…nothing like my normal style and a bit of a risk.”. )

  11. dyannedillon's avatar dyannedillon January 25, 2023 / 02:33

    I would have hidden behind the closed door and not opened it, let alone walked down a dark hallway with a stranger and a couple of lanterns! This is getting intriguing, all right!

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