Short Horror Writing Part Two - The Discovery Phase - The Haunting Memory Returns
Yesterday I posted an article about writing short horror fiction in the Medias res, (latin for the middle of everything) style. Today I wanted to continue on with the different techniques I'm using to finish a story about Miriam, who's caught in a horrific ordeal, and is the focus of a short horror fiction I'm creating. The next process in creating this story is The Discovery Phase.
The discovery phase is where the main character begins to realize the horrific predicament they're in. Many times, this realization is thought based and still takes place in the narrated, first-person style. You'll want to be as descriptive as possible during this part of the story as the initial feelings of dread that the main character is experiencing are essential for the rest of the piece and can be the point where you really grab the reader by the throat. I actually led into this with the second paragraph of the first segment:
The following is what's been written so far in Miriam's horror tale. The continuation is below the image:
Miriam couldn't feel her hands or her feet anymore. When she tried to focus her vision on either of them, blurred darkness was all she could see. Slowly, she was able to focus her eyesight and when she looked around, the blackness was only interrupted by glowing embers and ash, floating throughout the air. She began to realize that her hands, feet and backside were firmly restrained by what seemed like a rubbery mist that prevented her from moving much more than her head.
Her consciousness was instantly filled with the horrific vision of what had been recently afflicted upon her - the savage abduction, beating and rape at the hands of that sickening creature. She could barely bring herself to recall it's image to the forefront of her mind, the ordeal was so repulsive. Then, far within the distant darkness, she could hear it coming once again. Miriam would never forget the chilling sound it made, slithering as it moved along slowly. The sounds were getting closer, louder...
The sounds were getting closer, louder and Miriam began to recall some of her short-term memory, which was not a good thing. She immediately remembered the creature that viciously snatched her from her bedroom, beat her unconscious and did unspeakable things to her in this darkened chasm of hell. She lowered her head and began shivering at the thought of it's slimy, smooth skin pressed up against her own. The sticky ooze that covered it's entire body was now dried into her hair which was stuck to her face. When she tried to escape, the grotesque thing had grabbed her entire head with it's huge, frog-like hand and nearly broke her neck. The pressure on her skull was so intense, Miriam had passed out from it. The last thing she could remember was being slung under it's arm like a rag doll - the intense squeeze rendering her breathless and unconscious.
It became apparent to her that the slimy, repugnant filth was slowly and methodically moving all around her now, and as the visions of the first encounter rushed back through her hazy mind, she started jerking furiously at the nightmarish restraints that held her to the floor. With an exhale of defeat and exasperated moan, fatigue now took control as Miriam slowly relaxed her futile struggle. Without focus on escape, the worst part started to reenter her mind. Recalling the memory and visual of the sexual assault at the hand of the beast, vomit erupted from Miriam's mouth and spewed out across her restrained legs and feet. The disgusting aroma from what was left in Miriam's stomach filled the entire area around her. Suddenly the slithery movement stopped and the silence was replaced by a throaty inhale from the beast - a tiger-like growl followed. The savage thing could smell her vomit, and seemed to like it, she thought ...
With paragraphs three and four I focussed mostly on what Miriam could remember about her abduction and frightening assault. As she regains control of her damaged psyche, Miriam is confronted by the return of the creature, which forces her to remember the insanity that she'd been able to block from her mind, albeit briefly. Her discovery is her own terrible memories, but also the stark realization that her enemy is back, with her powerless once again to stop it.
I can't stop reading this post. Awesome work, Vegascomic!
Upvoted & Followed you as well.
Thanks!