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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Inspiration/Block (for the writer) (05/20/10)
The mansion was exactly what they wanted and more. It was the classic Alfred Hitchcock movie type of house. Ashlie walked around the property with its overgrown plants and vines. Shading her eyes from the setting sun at the back of the property, she stared at the unpainted, three-story house with its hideous gargoyles decorating every window.

Ashlie looked at her watch, tapped it twice and held it to her ear to make sure it was still working. It was working just fine. "I'll give the owner a couple more minutes," Ashlie said to the wild rose bush near the front porch. "If she's not here soon, I'll have to reschedule. Don't want to be here alone in the dark. I love a good scare but not by myself."

Wrapping her coat closer to her body to fight off a sudden chill, she climbed the steps to the front porch. Ashlie turned the door knob. The gothic door, with its own ugly gargoyle knocker, creaked as she pushed it open. "Oh great, just like in the movies," she said shivering, "I wish Adam were here. This is down-right spooky."

Thick layers of dust and cobwebs greeted Ashlie as she stepped over the threshold into the foyer. Putting her finger under her nose to stop the allergic reaction, she walked into the heart of the mansion. A sneeze escaped anyway, reverberating throughout the empty house. "Creepy. Spooky. Eerie. Perfect." Ashlie declared.

Ashlie and Adam liked practical jokes. Their odd sense of humor was one of the main reasons they were drawn together. Pushing cobwebs aside and walking into the vast ballroom, Ashlie knew this was THE place to host their October 31st wedding reception.

Standing in the middle of the room, Ashlie slowly turned in a complete circle looking at the room from every angle. She screamed when a young woman suddenly appeared. "Oh, excuse me. You startled me. I thought the place was deserted."

Ashlie began giggling when she realized she was talking to herself in a full-length mirror. "A little edgy are we?" she asked.

Pulling cobwebs out of her bobbed red hair, she noticed her hands were shaking. "Get a grip, girl," she scolded. "You don't want to walk down the aisle with gray hairs on your head. This place is creepy enough to turn a dead man's hair white."

The sun was setting low on the horizon and the shadows were growing eerier by the moment. Music began to play from the far corner of the ballroom although Ashlie couldn't see anyone. "Hello, is anyone here?" she asked. "Mrs. Boyer is that you? I waited out front for a long time. I didn't mean to trespass. Hello?"

While facing the corner where the music was playing, Ashlie began backing up to the ballroom door. With her right hand on her throat to keep more screams in check, she reached for the door only to find it locked.

"Okay, this isn't funny. Adam, are you playing a mean joke on me? I like a good joke and all but this really isn't funny."

Shaking the doorknob in an effort to free the lock, Ashlie could hear footsteps coming her way. Turning towards the direction of the footsteps, she yelled while looking into the eyes of her assailant.

Ashlie couldn't move. She looked like the statue of a frightened young woman frozen in the fear of the moment. Her eyes were bulging, her right foot raised in midair was caught in an attempt to run. She was frozen in time and space not able to move a single muscle.

Her assailant wasn't doing much better. His arms were frozen over his head with a pillowcase in his hands. Obviously, he had planned to do her harm. Now he was completely immobile, not able to even twitch a single muscle.

No, this isn't the Twilight Zone. No, this isn't an Alfred Hitchcock thriller. They are really frozen in time and space because this goofy author can't think what to do next.

Augh, not now! The story was flowing rather nicely too. This is not the time to have writer's block. I was so inspired, so in the moment. And now this. Good grief. Not cool. Ashlie, I'll be back to save you, I promise. I won't leave you frozen in time with that wacko-job-of-a-nutcase pursuing you. I'll be back once this brain freeze thaws out. Until then my dear heroine, I bid you farewell.
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This article has been read 1168 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
AnneRene' Capp
05/30/10
Yay...Excellent! This is my favorite entry. Love all the suspense. You had me right there, holding my breath, alarmed and smiling at your genius. I will be SO DISAPPOINTED if this doesn't win 1st place! Sorry to everyone else, but it is what it is :)
Terry R A Eissfeldt 
06/01/10
Very creative and gripping!
Joanney Uthe 
06/01/10
I loved the suspense, wondering how this fit the topic, until I got to the end. I can relate as I have an MC stranded on an island with no gas in her boat...
Genia Gilbert
06/01/10
This is a great idea and well written. The end (or lack thereof) surprised me. lol
Maria Egilsson
06/01/10
grandmalovesbabies
What an ending, a real "cliffhanger". Now we all want to know what happens next?
Jody Day 
06/01/10
I love this. I, too, wondered how it fit the theme but love the way you tied it in. Good job!
Carol Slider 
06/01/10
Even though I was captivated by the story, I kept wondering what it had to do with the topic--Surprise!! Great ending... well done!
Lisha Hunnicutt
06/01/10
Captivating story and creative tie-in to the topic. Now I'm itching to know how it will end.
Kate Oliver Webb
06/01/10
Ah yes, a wonderfully satisfying suspense story with a great giggle at the end. Perfect description of what happens when inspiration just freezes up. Love it.
Sarah Elisabeth
06/01/10
lol, perfect freeze! Your poor MC. I left mine standing by a fire in a trashcan, trying to stay warm. Ah, I feel guilty now ;-)

Great job!
Susan Montaperto
06/01/10
Well, I was wondering what this very dramatic story had to do with writer's block. Now, if you just hadn't had writer's block I would really love to know the ending. Thanks for a very gripping story.
Brenda Shipman
06/02/10
oooooh, gripping, eerily fun, and needs to be finished! I do hope your muse shows up soon and you continue this in another entry. We'll all be waiting! Great job.
Mona Purvis
06/02/10
Fun, fun, fun! This tale grabbed my attention and left me hanging awaiting it's most creative writer to proceed.
Don't you love the power you possess??

Mona
Margaret Kearley
06/02/10
Great fun! How long does it take for the release of a 'Writer's Block' - we're waiting for the sequel! Thanks for the first half!
Kimberly Russell
06/02/10
This was a fun read- I thought Adam was playing a joke and was also wondering about the whole writer's block thing. Nicely done- loved the title.
Karen Rice
06/02/10
I am in such deep trouble, still laughing so hard I can hardly write!

Excellent, wonderful and totally Alfred-like.

I'm hoping the next challenge I read isn't serious, this is going to be a struggle to get my mind back on track!

Rachel Phelps
06/02/10
Ooh! So very creepy and exciting. Great suspense.
Amanda Brogan
06/02/10
Very crazy, creepy characters . . . and I liked the ending! HeHe! Funny! My brother (Adam ;) ), wondered what it was all about 'cause he was so into the story. Well done.
Ann Stocking
06/02/10
Totally unexpected ending. Good read!
Edmond Ng
06/03/10
Nice approach to sensationalizing the whole story. I like the ending. It conveys the meaning of writer's block very well.