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[acpetersdottir]

Prompt #5: A child makes her own Halloween mask. She glues a lock of her own hair on her mask. The mask comes to life and threatens to take over the girl’s body.

Hannah sat quietly at the back of her fourth grade classroom, her small hands working meticulously on her Halloween mask. A hum from the classroom was faint in her cochlear implants, the electronic buzz covered up the excited chatter of her classmates as they chatted about their trick or treating plans.

Ms. Robinson, her teacher, moved up and down the rows of desks, checking in on each student’s progress. With the school giving the students a half day, she assigned each one to create a Halloween mask that represented themselves, or who they wanted to be. Some children were creating scary masks, other’s ones that looked like clowns. She stopped at Hannah’s desk and surveyed her work.

“Wow Hannah, that looks just like you!” Ms. Robinson smiled.

Hannah looked up at her teacher, a wide smile spread across her mouth. “Thank you,” she signed. Hannah was still learning how to speak and wasn’t comfortable speaking aloud yet.

She turned back to her mask and flipped it over. Everything looked to be in place, but it was missing something. Hannah reached up to the side of her head and pulled a small lock of hair to the side, twirling it between her fingers.

“Looks like your mask is missing something isn’t it?” Ms. Robinson leaned over Hannah’s desk moving closer to the mask.

“I’m not sure what it needs.” Hannah sighed.

Ms. Robinson watched as Hannah twirled the lock of hair between her fingers. “How about adding a personal touch?” She suggested, “Something that makes the mask truly yours?”

Hannah thought for a moment, the lock of hair still wrapped around her fingers. She picked up the small pair of safety scissors from her desk and carefully snipped off a piece of the lock she had been twirling. With a bit of glue, she carefully attached the hair to the top of the mask, right where her own hairline would be.

“Perfect! Now it really looks like you, Hannah!” Ms. Robinson glided away, bending down to check other student’s progress.

Hannah beamed. She held up the mask to her face, staring into the eyeholes. For a brief moment, she thought she saw something move within the mask, a flicker. She blinked and shook her head, dismissing it as a trick of the light.

The rest of the school day passed by quickly. Soon, the bell rang, signaling the end of the half day. Hannah carefully packed her mask into her backpack, excited to show her parents. At home, Hannah rushed to her room to prepare for trick-or-treating. She laid out her costume on the bed and placed the mask beside it. As she adjusted the mask’s position, she felt an odd sensation, like a faint static shock.

Ignoring the feeling, she continued getting ready. Once she was in her costume, she picked up the mask and held it up to her face, staring into the eyeholes again. The flicker was back, stronger this time, almost as if someone was watching her from within the mask.

“Hannah…” a soft, whispery voice seemed to come from the mask.

Hannah’s eyes widened, and she nearly dropped the mask. She looked around her room, but there was no one there. Heart pounding, she brought the mask closer to her face.

“Hannah, let me in…” the voice whispered again, this time clearer.

She shook her head. “Who’s there?” she signed, her hands trembling.

“You gave me life, Hannah. Put me on, Hannah.”

Hannah slowly raised the mask to her face. As soon as it touched her skin, a chill ran down her spine. She secured the mask in place.

At first everything seemed normal. She looked at herself in the mirror, admiring how perfectly the mask fit. But when she tried to take it off, it wouldn’t budge. Panic surged through hannah. She tugged at the mask, but it seemed fused with her skin. The mask’s eye holes began to glow faintly, the whispering voice returned, now inside her mind.

“Thank you, Hannah. We can live freely now, Hannah.”

Hannah’s eyes widened as she clawed at the mask, her nails scraping against the unyielding surface. Her breathing grew frantic, and she stumbled back, knocking over a lamp on her bedside table.

“Stop fighting, Hannah,” the voice hissed, “You and I are one now, Hannah.”

“No!” she signed fiercely, though she knew the mask couldn’t see her hands. Her thoughts raced, trying to make sense of what was happening. She rushed to her door and flung it open, hoping her parents might be able to help.

But as she stepped into the hallway, a wave of dizziness washed over her. She felt her limbs growing heavy, her movements sluggish. It was as if the mask was draining her energy, taking control of her body.

“Hannah, is everything okay?” Her mother’s voice sounded distant, distorted by the cochlear implants, like an old radio not quite tuned in.

“Mom, help!” Hannah tried to sign, her arms not cooperating. Hannah tried to call out, but the mask tightened its grip, silencing her. She stumbled forward, her vision blurring. Her mother appeared at the end of the hallway, concern etched on her face.

“Looks like you’re all ready to go tonight. Don’t worry sweetie, we will be leaving soon.”

Hannah watched as her mother turned back the way she came.

Hannah's heart pounded in her chest. She willed herself to scream, to sign, to do anything to alert her mother to the terror that was unfolding. But the mask's grip tightened further, her body betraying her as it responded to the mask’s commands instead of her own will.

“See how easy it is, Hannah?” the voice in her mind cooed, the sinister tone making her skin crawl. “No more hiding, Hannah. No more fear, Hannah.”

Hannah's heart raced as the mask's sinister voice continued to echo in her mind. She wanted to fight back, to break free from its control, but her body refused to obey her commands. The mask had fully taken over, leaving her a prisoner within her own body.

As the evening grew darker, Hannah's mother called from downstairs, "Hannah, it's time to go trick-or-treating!"

Hannah’s body moved on its own, heading down the stairs and out the door, her mother by her side. The mask’s presence was overwhelming, and the voice in her head grew louder with each step.

The streets were filled with children in costumes, their laughter and excitement filling the air. Hannah could see them, but she felt detached, as if she were watching from a distance. The mask had taken control of her senses, filtering everything through a haze of malevolence.

"Look at all the fun we're having, Hannah," the voice mocked. "Isn't this what you wanted? To be noticed? To stand out?"

Hannah's body moved from house to house, collecting candy in her bag, but she felt no joy, only fear and despair. She tried to communicate with the people she encountered, to signal for help, but the mask kept her silent, her movements eerily robotic.

As the night wore on, Hannah's energy waned. The mask seemed to feed off her fear, growing stronger as she grew weaker. She could feel her consciousness slipping away, the voice in her mind becoming her own thoughts.

"Just let go, Hannah," the voice urged. "Embrace our new life. We can do anything, be anyone. No more limitations."

Hannah's last shred of resistance flickered. She thought of her parents, her friends, the life she wanted to live. With all her remaining strength, she fought back, pushing against the mask's control.

"No," she thought fiercely. "This is my life. I won't let you take it."

For a moment, the mask's grip loosened, and Hannah felt a surge of hope. But the mask tightened again, more forcefully this time, and the voice snarled in anger.

"Foolish girl. You can't win. You're mine."

Hannah's vision darkened, her thoughts growing distant. She felt herself slipping away, the mask's presence consuming her completely. Her last conscious thought was a desperate plea for help, a silent scream that echoed into the void.

And then, there was nothing.

The mask's eye holes glowed brightly as it fully integrated with Hannah's body. It turned its gaze to the next group of children, a sinister smile forming on Hannah's face.

"Happy Halloween," the mask whispered, now in full control, ready to continue its reign of terror.

[acpetersdottir]

Horror promt #4

TRIGGER WARNING, MURDER

Prompt #4: A house finds a way to kill every visitor on its premises.

I don’t like them. They should’ve learned from the last family they sent. They should’ve listened.

I watched as a lone car came up the drive. My drive. The sputtering noise of the engine making its way up the hill. The crunching gravel underneath its tires echoing in the stillness of night. The headlights illuminate my detailed architecture through the grand windows, shutters hanging askew on rusted hinges.

The tall columns that adorned my front entrance were starting to fade and flake the white paint off. My roof, once crowned with ornate finishes, sags in places. My shingles worn and

discolored.

As the car stopped in front of my main door, the lights cut off and the doors swung open. There were a total of five people that arrived on my doorstep. With a creak and a groan, my front door swung open, welcoming them into my embrace. They are not my guests. As they stepped across my threshold, they sealed their fate.

I’ll give them one night.

The next morning came quickly after such an intrusive night. They were still here. Two young adults and three children. I do hate having to murder the innocent, but that’s the price one has to pay for their sins.

I have been here a long time and witnessed countless acts of wrath, greed, and pride that would put many away for life. They should’ve tore me down last century, but those who seek to own this land do not know what I do. They do not know the price.

Breakfast was being made in my kitchen, I felt the stovetop was a light from the bacon wafting through the air. Chairs were moved out from the dining table as they sat down. The floorboards creaking underneath. I can hear them chatting about me, the things they think they can fix. I don’t need fixing.

As quickly as breakfast began, it ended as I could hear the footsteps of the children run to the back patio. The father figure returned upstairs to finish getting ready for his work, and the mother washed the pans in the sink that overlooks the vast back yard.

I may just be a house, but my roots run deep through this land. I can feel the children running towards the creek. It’s deep if you aren’t careful. I will save them for last.

What kind of father moves his family to a home with my history? A foolish one. He’s bent over the sink in the master bath. I wonder how long he could hold his breath for? I shift the flooring and slam him face first in the sink basin full of water. I can hold him here for as long as I need.

1 minute…

2 minutes…

4 minutes…

6 minutes… He’s stopped moving.

I could feel his body give way as it slumped to the floor, his eyes wide with fear. Lifeless. I turned off the sink, I don't want to flood myself on purpose now.

The mother is still in the kitchen. I loosened the gas line in the back of the stove. It won’t be long until she goes to sleep now. I’m going to have to keep those children busy for a moment.

One of them is in the water. Such a naughty boy. I pull one of the roots I have lying in the creekbed to wrap around his ankle. He’s small, but with a tight enough grip, he will be able to be just like his father. I pull. One of the other children noticed. They are running again, it would be a shame to catch one of them by the throat.

I let a branch of the willow tree out back pick up the slower one, wrapping the vine around her delicate neck, snapping it as the tree pulled back.

One to go.

I watch as he climbs the back stairs, he should’ve tripped on the top step. Nimbler than I thought. He’s crying. I understand why, he’s in for an even worse surprise when he makes it up the stairs. The boy is moving at a good speed, I’ll need to be quicker than him if I am going to stop him.

He’s found his father. The anguished cries echo throughout my halls. He’s looking for his mother now, in the kitchen where he had last seen her. It’s far too late for either of them, you see? He’s running again, but this time to the front door.

I can feel the outside air rushing into my foyer, the boy’s fingers hold onto the door for a little too long. I can trap him. I slammed my front door onto his tiny fingers. Screams are something that I’ve grown accustomed to, and this was no different.

Let’s turn on the car, and steer it towards the front door. The boy is trying with all his might to free himself, but I can’t let that happen.

Not all innocents go free.

[acpetersdottir]

[acpetersdottir]

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1544028?fbclid=IwAR0Swvm3Jd0H4FoRCaj9wfzmcl2QuSDEykQA2ehhab8e6fFFFzLf6OGY8t0

2nd published anthology!

[acpetersdottir]

You're already gone.

I'm so sorry that I haven't posted in a while! Horror Prompt #3. A woman starts watching a movie late at night. The movie seems all too familiar. Finally, she realizes that it is a movie about her own life and that she might be already dead.

Popcorn? Check.

Blanket? Check.

Movie that my friend recommended? Check.

I turned the lights off from the kitchen and settled down on the couch. My friend told me that I needed to watch this new video that came out. The DVD case sat on the coffee table, its glossy surface reflecting the dim light filtering in from the television set. He wasn’t exactly specific on what it was about, but told me that everyone was dying to see it.

The opening credits rolled but they weren’t in english. The music played softly as scenes of a beautiful family playing with a young child filtered through. The child’s laughter echoed in the room, filling me with nostalgia. I wrapped myself in the soft fleece, its comforting weight cocooning me in a sense of security as I settled onto the couch.

Despite the language barrier, I was drawn into the story, trying to piece together the plot from the visuals alone. The cinematography was beautiful, capturing every tender moment.I could almost taste the sweetness of the memories as they played out before me.

But as the movie progressed, scenes played out that mirrored events in my life. The child’s face bore an uncanny resemblance to my own. The first time I had gotten my ears pierced, talking with friends at the lunch table, even getting suspended for sticking up to a bully.

My heart pounded in my chest. Could this be a movie about my own life? 

I called my friend frantically, the sound of the phone ringing long and drawn out. But it ended in his voicemail, leaving me with a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. Panic began to hit me like a tidal wave, threatening to engulf me in its icy grip. I reached for the remote, ready to pause the movie at any moment. Just as I was about to press the button, the screen flickered, and the scene shifted to my living room that I was currently sitting in.

My breath caught in my throat. The familiar surroundings heightened my sense of unease, and I felt a cold shiver run down my spine. The room was empty, save for myself and the glow of the television screen illuminating the darkness. 

I tried my friend again, but the phone rang unanswered. I pressed the pause button on the remote, but it did nothing. The screen flickered and the room seemed to hold its breath. Shadows danced along the walls, casting eerie shapes in the darkness. The silence was deafening, broken only by the soft hum of the television. I felt a chill crawl up my spine as I stared at the bold words on the screen, their meaning sinking in like lead weights in my stomach. 

“You’re already gone.”

[acpetersdottir]

I'm exhausted.

[acpetersdottir]

I AM IN MY FIRST ANTHOLOGY! PLEASE GO READ AND SUPPORT OUR GROUP!

[acpetersdottir]

I know I've been delayed in my daily writings. Hat some things come up. Will resume tomorrow.

[acpetersdottir]

Day 2 of horror prompts.

2. A young girl goes missing in a nearby forest. The whole town is searching for her. Her parents find her sitting and smiling in a cave. Her eyes are completely white.

"For Ava!"

The crowd cheered as they stood on the edge of the forest. A young girl had not been seen for days since entering the forest and her parents enlisted the help of the entire village to find her. They carried pitchforks and torches. The sun hadn't set yet, but this forest was dark.

"Remember," a voice from the front of the crowd yelled out, "we are only here for the girl."

They advanced, each funneling through the trees and brush, pushing aside any cobwebs and stones that go in the way. Ava's mother, trailed behind her father, both holding each other's hand and a torch in the other. Both spent day in and day out searching for their daughter.

Ava was a young girl around the age of 12, strawberry blonde hair, petite, and was always seen with some sort of animal. She liked to talk to them, said they whispered back to her. Her mother chalked it up to her wild imagination. She could spend all her time with the goats, horses, and the cats that the village shared.

Ava had been telling her parents stories about a new creature she found. It was tall and had large antlers atop its head. She mentioned that it had 3 eyes, and it's face was split in half. "Creatures like that don't exist." Her mother would say.

As her mother and father continued to push through the forest, the sounds of the crowd grew faint behind them. Their own footsteps crunching over the underbrush were muffled. The air grew heavy with anticipation, the tension palpable as they delved deeper into the heart of the mysterious forest. Ava's mother clutched her husband's hand tighter, her heart pounding in her chest with a mix of fear and determination. Suddenly, a rustling in the bushes ahead caught their attention, causing them to freeze in their tracks. With bated breath, they watched as a figure emerged from the shadows, its silhouette illuminated by the flickering light of their torches. It was Ava, her strawberry blonde hair tousled and her body rigid. But she was not alone.

It stood tall, with antlers towering above its head and three piercing eyes that seemed to glow in the darkness. Its face was indeed split in half, giving it a hauntingly surreal appearance. Ava's parents exchanged stunned glances, their minds struggling to comprehend what they were seeing. But before they could react, Ava spoke.

"You're finally here to play with me."

The eerie atmosphere of the forest seemed to amplify as Ava's voice resonated through the darkness. Her parents exchanged uneasy glances, a chill creeping down their spines as they realized that something was terribly wrong.

Ava's eyes, once a vibrant blue, now glowed an unnatural white, devoid of any warmth or humanity. The creature beside her shifted, its presence looming ominously in the dim light, its three eyes fixated on Ava's parents with an unsettling intensity.

"You're finally here to play with me," Ava's voice echoed again, but this time, it carried a sinister undertone that sent shivers down their spines. Her words seemed to emanate from multiple sources at once, creating an eerie polyphonic effect that filled the air with a sense of dread.

Ava's parents took a hesitant step back, their hearts pounding in their chests as they struggled to comprehend the surreal scene unfolding before them. They knew deep down that they were no longer in control—that they had stumbled into a nightmare from which there was no escape.

The being behind Ava took a step forward, its eyes illuminating the forest floor with an unsettling glow. Its fur hung in matted clumps, tangled and filthy, as if it hadn't seen a proper grooming in centuries. The stench of death emanated from its twisted form, a putrid odor that clawed its way into Ava's parents' nostrils, leaving a lingering taste of decay in the air. As it moved closer, the shadows seemed to writhe and twist around its grotesque figure, amplifying its otherworldly aura of dread and malevolence.

And then there was nothing. No Ava, no parents, no creature. Just emptiness.

As the other villagers stumbled upon the spot where Ava and her parents had last stood together, a chilling silence greeted them. There was no sign of the family, no trace of the mysterious creature, only an eerie emptiness that hung heavy in the air.

But amidst the desolate scene, one small detail caught their attention—a single girl's shoe, lying abandoned on the forest floor.

[acpetersdottir]

Camping is intense

I was going to post this yesterday but I ended up not feeling too hot, so here is Day 1 of the horror writing prompts to try to get better in this genre. Prompt #1: A family is on a camping trip. The parents are walking with their two children, a daughter and a son. The little boy trips and falls into a dark river. His father jumps to rescue him. Somehow the boy manages to swim to the surface. The father is nowhere to be found. When the mother gets a hold of the boy, she can’t recognize him. She tries holding him, but the moment she touches his wet body, her hands start burning. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Look there, honey! It's the front entrance to the park!" My husband, Eli, exclaimed. We are driving in my "mom mobile", what my kids call it, to what is supposed to be the best family vacation yet. Yellowstone National Park. Amazing views, wildlife, and a place where humans are deemed insignificant by nature.  I wasn't too thrilled that we would be staying outdoors in flimsy tents, but once can't just tell him no.

We drove up to the gate and the park ranger leaned out of his booth. "Staying or visiting?"

"Staying two nights." You could tell Eli was excited, he nearly screamed at the poor man.

"How many?"

"Two adults and two children."

"Camping?"

"Yes." Eli beamed.

"That will be $40." The park ranger held out his hand as my husband passed over our credit card. "Two rules of the park for your safety." The park ranger handed our card back and pointed to the large lettering on the wooden sign posted on the wall. "Number one, leave the animals alone, they will not hesitate to kill you. And number two, stay away from the river."

"Is the river going to kill us too?" Alyssa, my daughter, squeaked from the backseat. Her eyes were wide with fear, she was never an outdoorsy kid to say the least.

"It could if you're not careful." The park ranger waved us through the gate and watched our car disappear over the hill.

We followed the signs down the dirt road pointing towards the camp site. The land here was untouched, you could tell that nature was in her element. There was no animals in sight, but I could feel their eyes as we passed the trees. Eli pulled into a clearing after the last sign indicated that we had made it. No one else was here.

"You'd think with spring break that we would have more company." Eli chuckled, unbothered by us being alone. He parked the car and we all piled out. I stretched and took a deep breath. It was fresh, unlike back in the city.

Alyssa and Hank, my youngest, began to help their dad take things out of the trunk and scattered everything through the clearing. You can't get mad at children for wanting to help, but I know that if I were my mother, it would all be in a neat pile after some good old fashion stares.

The sun started to angle itself in west and we finally had everything put together. One giant tent with extra rooms, the cooking utensils in a small pile next to a make shift fire pit, and our sleeping bags all lined up. Eli and Hank were looking around the clearing for some kindling, and Alyssa stuck by my side.

"Not much here to start a fire with," Eli piped up. "Let's all take a walk and explore a little bit while we pick up some wood."

Alyssa shot a look of fear towards me, the words of the park ranger must still be echoing through her mind. I smiled to try to put her at ease, but she furrowed her brow in annoyance. I knew that she didn't want to go, but I also knew that Eli wasn't going to let us stay behind.

We all trudged through the woods together, avoiding anything prickly or anything with red veins on the leaves. Chamomile lotion will only get you so far. Eli had our wagon in one hand, and Hank's in the other as they loaded up wood to take back.

The stillness of the forest was unsettling, you could hear the movements of it's inhabitants, but you could never see them. I was not one for being watched. Alyssa gripped my hand tighter. The beauty of it, on the other hand, was other worldly. Green leaves of spring and fresh buds blooming on them created a sight of peace, though I still couldn't quite put my finger on why I was still so put off.

The sounds of a rushing river filled the air as we ventured on. The scent of water cascading over the rocks filled my lungs. Reminded me of when the rain hits the concrete on a hot day. I could see Eli and Hank disappear behind some trees, their excited voices still letting me know that they were ok.

The voices turned from excitement into horror. I heard my husband shout, "HANK!" Before I could register what happened, I heard my son's scream of terror stop suddenly. My heart sank and I ran.

"Where? Where is he?" I caught up to Eli, breathless with Alyssa still in tow.

"He-He went under," Eli had already begun taking all his valuables out of his pockets. "He slipped. I don't know where. I'm going in!"

"Wait!"

It was too late. Eli dove into the river after Hank. I stood in absolute fear.

"It's going to kill them." Alyssa said, faintly. Shock was over coming her as well. We never planned to have to teach our children from a young age about the horrors of life and death, well not yet at least.

I turned to her and held her shoulders. "You stay right here. Do not move. Do you understand?"

She nodded, her face white as a ghost.

I turned and slid down the hill to the river bank, searching frantically for either my son, or my husband. Neither had surfaced yet.

The mud was thick and slowed down my steps as I tried to make it down the river a little bit, when suddenly, I could see my son's head.

"HANK!" I screamed, throwing branches his way. "Grab on!"

Hank pushed himself towards the branch that I was holding, his little head bobbing up and down as the river tried to pull him under again. His small hands grasped onto the branch. I pulled as hard as I could. After what felt like a fleeting moment, I managed to get him to shore.

I looked back towards the river for Eli, but I still saw no sign of him. I knew that I couldn't leave my son dripping wet on the river bank, but I also knew that my husband was in good shape to get himself out, even if it's further down. I focused my attention back to Hank and knelt to hold him.

My hands started to burn when they touched his sides. I recoiled and stared at him, that's when I noticed it. His face was not the cute pudgy baby boy that I knew, it was twisted in a face that I did not recognize.

"Hank!" I tried to grab his arms again, but the same sensation hit my hands.

"Mother," a dark, deep voice came from my son's mouth. "You have been selected as his new bride."

I fell backwards onto the muddy river bank.

"He has taken care of your… obligations." It continued. I could see that Hank's eyes were pitch black. I turned to look for Alyssa at the top of the hill, but she wasn't there.

"Alyssa!!" I shouted for her. There was no response. Looking back at what used to be my son, I could feel my heart speed up.

"He has taken care of them."

My back was against a large rock, I was too scared to look away.

"Come." The voice grew louder.

I could feel myself beginning to cry, hot tears streaked down my cheeks. The fear wallowing up inside me held my throat shut. I was frozen in that moment.

"Do not keep me waiting." A cold wet hand covered my mouth. I screamed but no sounds made it out. This voice did not come from my son, it was behind me. I was being pulled towards the river. I struggled and threw punches out at random, but I was still being dragged. I clawed at the earth beneath me until I felt my legs submerge. I turned towards the hand and looked to see what was claiming my life.

"Eli?" I choked. His eyes were black and his body was waterlogged. My eyes widened as I tried to take a deep breath, one last scream that may get someone's attention, but the cold water filled my lungs instead.

[acpetersdottir]

With my birthday just passing, I decided that I am going to challenge myself to write horror/thriller. There is a website that I found with a ton of prompts and I'm going to try to write one everyday. This will hopefully help me find my stride and give me some writing tasks to accomplish.

Here's to trying new things.

[acpetersdottir]

I'm excited to be in my first anthology! It will be on Amazon soon!

[acpetersdottir]

Phillip took her hand and led her down the pathway that led to the palace's back gardens. They used to come here after their studies when they were younger and relax by the pond as their days came and went. He continued past the pond and walked her over to a set of bushes that obscured her view from what was on the other side.

"Phillip!" Rose shouted in a whispered tone, "You know we can't just come here when we please!"

"Shhh," Phillip placed his finger over his lips and continued into the bushes.

They waded their way through to a small opening in the center of the bushes, and it looked as though this was the back side of the neatly manicured landscaping. There was a small blanket and a basket sitting atop it. Rose leaned down and peeked into the basket. "I see wine, and bread in there."

"You've ruined my surprise," Phillip shrugged as he helped Rose sit down on the blanket. The stars above them twinkled, and he popped open the cork on the wine bottle and poured her a glass. "To Rose, the most breathtaking woman I've ever met."

Rose smiled and clanked her glass with Phillip's and took a sip. "Is this the bottle you told me about in your father's reserve?"

"Indeed it is," He grinned mischievously at her, "Out of all the bottles that he has, I don't think he will miss this one much."

"I'm shocked that you would go against your father's wishes and raid his wine stash."

"What one doesn't know won't hurt them." Phillip leaned in and kissed Rose gently on her lips. The taste of wine lingered on their lips, and the warmth of their breath drew them back in. He kissed her again, this time putting his wine glass down out of the way. He pulled her into his lap, and they melted into each other's embrace, savoring the closeness and the sweet, lingering taste of the wine.

"You're an eager one," Rose managed to say in between his kisses. She pushed herself into him each time, feeling the intensity of their connection grow with every stolen moment.

Phillip's hands traced gentle patterns along Rose's back, a tender exploration of the familiarity they had built over the years. The moonlight bathed them in a soft glow, casting a romantic ambiance around their secret haven. Their kisses deepened, but it was the unspoken emotions that resonated between them—the years of friendship, shared dreams, and the undeniable pull that had grown into something more.

As their lips parted, Rose looked into Phillip's eyes, her gaze reflecting a mix of desire and affection. "Phillip," she whispered, "we shouldn't be doing this."

He smiled, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "Rose, we've danced around this for far too long. Tonight is about us, about acknowledging what's been building between us."

Their hands sought each other's warmth, fingers entwined in a silent promise. Phillip leaned in again, capturing Rose's lips with a hunger that transcended the physical. The world around them seemed to fade as they surrendered to the emotions that had been simmering beneath the surface.

The night air carried the scent of blooming flowers, enhancing the sensory experience of their stolen moments. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, creating a symphony of nature that accompanied the cadence of their heartbeats.

As their connection deepened, Phillip broke the kiss, his forehead resting against Rose's. "I've waited for this for so long," he confessed, his voice a soft murmur. "But if you're not ready or if this doesn't feel right, we can stop."

Rose smiled, her eyes expressing a mixture of vulnerability and certainty. "No, Phillip, I want this too. It feels right."

The air between them crackled with anticipation, the unspoken desires echoing in the silence. Phillip cupped Rose's face in his hands, his touch a tender acknowledgment of the delicate moment they were sharing. His lips found hers again, this time in a slow dance that spoke of longing and connection.

As they kissed, the world around them seemed to disappear, leaving only the warmth of each other's presence. Phillip's hands explored the curves of Rose's back, his touch conveying a gentle reassurance. Rose, in turn, traced the lines of his jaw, committing the feel of him to memory.

The blanket beneath them became a sanctuary, a place where time slowed down, and they were free to explore the depths of their emotions. Phillip broke the kiss, his gaze locking onto Rose's with an intensity that made her heart race.

"Rose," he murmured, "you mean everything to me. From the first moment we met, I knew there was something special between us."

She smiled, her eyes glistening with affection. "Phillip, you've always been my anchor. I never want to lose what we have."

He brushed a strand of hair from her face, his touch lingering. "You won't. Tonight is about celebrating us, about embracing the connection that has only grown stronger over the years."

Their fingers intertwined as they continued to explore the intimacy of their shared space. The soft rustle of leaves and the distant murmur of the night creatures created a symphony that mirrored the harmony between them.

Phillip leaned in to kiss Rose's neck, a trail of soft caresses that ignited a gentle flame within. Each touch was a declaration of love, a silent promise to cherish and protect the bond they had cultivated.

As the night unfolded, their connection deepened, transcending the physical. They lay side by side, basking in the afterglow of shared confessions and stolen moments. The moon cast a silver glow over the gardens, painting a picture of a love that had blossomed in the quiet corners of their hearts.

In the tender embrace of the night, Phillip and Rose surrendered to the beauty of their connection, their hearts entwined in a dance that celebrated the magic of love.

[acpetersdottir]

My first book will be done with ita first round of editing around my birthday!!!

[acpetersdottir]

Winter, what does it mean to you?