A Message From Rhiannon

Hi everyone!

Just a quick little message to let you know what's happening in my life.  Firstly, I am still writing for www.trulydisturbing.com so if you want to see my works just type in Ahlephia in the search box (you can also type Rhiannon Irons)

Secondly, I want to thank everyone for the warm reception of James Thompson to this blog.  His amazing short stories are literally lighting up this blog and your comments have been encouraging and fantastic.  Thank you for all the love!

Thirdly, James and I have decided to team up to bring one of my horrors to life.  The Roommate is currently undergoing James' treatment from story to script to which then I will film.  Getting very excited for that and you should be too because it will be posted on here FIRST!!!

A busy life in writing and all your support means the world.  As requested, Trent will be back with another Q & A so keep your questions coming.  You can send them directly to Trent_Faulkner@hotmail.com or else, leave them down below in the comments box.

Once again, from the bottom of my heart, Thank you!  You are all amazing people.

Cheers

Rhiannon Irons!

Circus Of Horrors

Hey guys and gals, the UK's James here again with my second short story, this time we enter the evil world of clowns. Hope you enjoy and I look forward to your comments!

As they stepped out of the car rain engulfed Caroline and Richard. This was the first day of Autumn where the weather really had turned and a storm was brewing. It was their 3 year anniversary and this year it was Richard’s turn to decide where they celebrated it. Unfortunately for Caroline he had chosen the one place she had no desire to visit whatsoever, the carnival and circus that Raven Falls held once a year.

It wasn’t so much the carnival that got to her but the circus itself contained her greatest of fears, clowns. And these were not any old clowns. The circus clowns were specifically attired to scare the audience witless with their unique masks showcasing the most evil of looks possible. Ever since she was a young girl Caroline feared what she called the ‘ultimate freaks of the circus’, with recurring clown nightmares haunting her throughout childhood.

Trudging across the soaked muddy grounds towards the carnival, their feet sunk into the dirt with every step and a squelch could be heard with every movement, the sort of sound you would expect from those low-budget horror films when part of someone’s anatomy is subjected to extreme violence.

Eventually they reached the entry gates, either side consisting of a pillar topped by an unusual looking gargoyle crouched with a sadistic smile. With her mind at unease she began to imagine them morphing into two clowns; yellow eyes that pierced through her like blades, crimson red hair that drooped down onto a ghostly a white face and jagged teeth that looked like they could be used to terrifying effect. Then the crouching turned into standing up and the clowns turned their heads towards Caroline, yellow eyes widening and then they pounced towards her. Caroline screamed.

“Babe, are you okay?!” a worried Richard turned to her. Her imagination had got the best of her and she squinted a few times in an attempt to get the images out of her vision.

“I’m sorry, you just know how clowns freak the shit out of me, I’m just being silly. Just stay with me and I will be fine.” Her tone clearly showing that her confidence in such an environment was waning. Despite this they carried on through to the bustling carnival.

Bright lights shimmered in every direction and young children screamed and shouted at parents at every possible ride and bazaar. Bumper cars, a helter-skelter and other rides covered the grounds before reaching a red and white canopy that towered above everything else, much like a skyscraper that looked completely out of place. And naturally on top of this towering structure was a huge constructed clown leaning out towards the entrance with an evil smile on its face. Caroline’s heart sank, this was the stuff of nightmares but she had to grin and bare it.

“Whoa, I wasn’t expecting it to be this huge! This is great!” the excitement from Richard a complete mirror of Caroline’ thoughts.

“The best thing babe is that we have got a meeting with the clowns after the show too, VIPs baby!!”

With this statement Caroline had to grit her teeth and refrain from unleashing an angered verbal attack. Richard had been good in letting her go to places she wanted to in the previous years and this year was his, she didn’t want anything to spoil that. She simply smiled and proceeded with their walk to the entrance.

Once at the entrance they were greeted by a young man in a black suit checking the tickets. With a sharp smile he checked theirs and simply responded with a nod of the head and, “Enjoy the last great show you will ever see!”

Caroline felt a shudder down her spine; those words were the last thing she wanted to hear with an impending horror circus awaiting her.

Sitting down in the front row the two of them settled and soon the show was up and running. The stage came alive with flashings lights, pumping circus-style music and what appeared to be masses and masses of clowns each performing their own stunts and routines. Caroline’s breathing stepped up a notch and she could not help but clench the hand of Richard throughout. This was her living nightmare.

An hour and a half of terror later and the show came to an end. Waiting until the crowds had disembarked, Richard and Caroline head backstage to meet the stars of the show. Despite a whole number of clowns appearing on stage they were met by one, introducing himself as Kane.

“Sorry guys, the others are just preparing themselves because as VIPs you get an extra special after-show. If you sir could come and get ready with me and ma’am you just go back to your seat we can get the show up and running.”

Richard met this with excitement and looked at Caroline.

“Babe this is fantastic! Go sit down and I will see you in a minute!”

Reluctantly with a disturbed look on her face she head back to her seat and awaited yet another show in which she would wince and genuinely be wishing she were somewhere else. She knew little of what was in store for her next.....

With at least 20 minutes passed until she had heard from anyone Caroline’s heart began to beat so hard that it began to hurt her chest. Panic began to set in as thoughts ran through her mind that a prank was about to be undertaken at her expense. Rising from her chair she looked set to demand answers.

Then she stopped dead as she experienced a feeling her body had never felt before. She froze and could not move a muscle through sheer shock. She had heard a terrifying scream, a scream that would torture the innocent through to their bones, a scream that personified suffering and death. To make matters worse she recognised who was screaming despite never hearing such a sound ever come from his vocal chords. It was Richard followed by sadistic laughs, clearly from the clowns she hated so passionately.

Never had she been subjected to such painful cries from her one true love. She didn’t know what to do. With no-one around and psychotic clowns on the loose she had little chance of escape. The screams soon turned to laughter, the clowns had clearly enjoyed their sadism at the expense of her partner.

Suddenly the lights dimmed and the circus music commenced. She stood, frozen on the spot, still unsure of what to do. With the curtains flinging open just one clown entered the spotlight. She had not seen this particular individual in the show.

With the most sadistic laugh she had ever heard the clown pointed towards her direction.

“I’m the star of the show now bitch!”

She felt like her heart should stop at that exact moment, her hands clammed up and all over her body a feeling of numbness overcame her. It suddenly dawned on her that this clown she knew perfectly well. RICHARD!

“What’s wrong with you Rich? What have they done to you?!” Caroline couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Her one true love had changed in an instant and was now a stranger to her. The only thought in her mind now was to run, run as far away from the place as possible.

Turning her still numb body towards the exit her sight soon met with the sadistic eyes of the remainder of the clowns. Each laughing hysterically at her petrified state they walked towards her as she fell to the floor.

With clowns all circled round her helpless body, Richard overlooked her and simply uttered the words.

“Welcome to the show.........”

Snowflake

Staring out of the log cabin window, Rhiannon sighed. She was alone, tucked away from the outside world, determined to finish her novel. She had purposely rented the cabin high on the mountain top in hopes of finishing it in serenity and peace but alas she was feeling more like Jack Nicholson in The Shining with every moment she spent up there alone.

Of course, Jack had gone completely cuckoo bananas even with people present.

She sighed again, watching a single snowflake dance in the icy breeze. Its pattern captured her attention. So delicate and fragile, Rhiannon felt like if she touched it, the snowflake would disintegrate in her hand.

She turned, rubbing her hands up and down her arms. She was never one for the cold but she had always wanted to experience a mountain retreat in the snow. Although, as she stood in the log cabin, she couldn't imagine what was so appealing about freezing her ass off miles from any civilisation.

Her laptop sat on the table. That blinking cursor had taunted her in the city and now it was taunting her up here. She had written most of her novel but seemed to be stranded on chapter twenty and the constant staring at the screen was slowly beginning to drive her bat-crap crazy.

She sighed again, eyeing the screen in what seemed to be staring contest. The cursor blinked. Rhiannon smiled. Victory was hers. Now if only she could write something.

She began to pace the large, open living space of the cabin. She stared at the walls, hoping against all hope that something would speak to her (not literally of course) and cause her some motivation. Nothing did.

Shivering, Rhiannon rubbed her arms again. She had intended on making a fire over an hour ago but then a freak blizzard had blown in and she wasn't going to chance it to run out to the wood pile near the shed. Instead, she had wrapped a crocheted blanket around herself and perched herself delicately on the window seat so she could watch the storm.

Now that it was over, Rhiannon decided to brave the cold in hopes of making a fire. She pulled open the door and let out a scream of surprise as the icy winds whipped her face with such ferocity that she was convinced she had an icicle or two handing from her nose.

Rhiannon sucked in a deep breath and ran outside into the snow. Her heavy boots left impressions as she sprinted the best she could to the shed. 

Picking up a few small logs of firewood, Rhiannon made her way back to the cabin. She kicked the door closed, slamming it shut, as she got inside, shivering and wishing she had have stayed in Australia. It was Summer there and chances are if she were home, she'd be at the beach being burnt to a crisp by the sun while sitting on her surfboard idly watching the waves. Instead she was freezing her ass off in a log cabin in the middle of nowhere in Utah, USA.

She loaded the fireplace quickly, lighting it before the last log came to rest atop the others. She placed her hands in front of her, warming them. Though the fire had just roared to life, Rhiannon was feeling much warmer.

She grabbed her laptop and took a seat on the oversized stuffed couch that smelt a little of mothballs. She had concluded earlier that the smell was 'woodsy' and that it was something she had to get use to because she'd be living with it for three months.

Her fingers were paused above the keyboard. Her index finger began to twitch. Her mind was blank. Her eyes focused on the fire, the flames hypnotising her.

BANG!

Rhiannon jumped, her head on a swivel. The back door had blown open and snow was starting to enter the cabin. “Fuck.” Getting up off the couch Rhiannon rushed over to the door, slamming it shut. She took a couple of steps back towards the couch before pausing. She turned and looked back at the door. She remembered kicking it closed when she entered it before with the firewood.

Panic washed over her and she quickly made her way back over to the fireplace. Arming herself with a fire poker, Rhiannon began to search the cabin.

The cabin itself was a luxury cabin with three bedrooms and a grand living space with open plan kitchen and dining. She really didn't need all the space to herself but it was the last cabin available and the lady who owned it made her a nice, tempting offer.

Now she was spooked within an inch of her life.

She crept silently to the hall. She could hear voices speaking in hushed toned. She craned her neck, listening carefully. While she couldn't hear what they were saying, she did notice that they were coming from the bedroom at the far end of the hall. The room she had chosen to sleep in herself.

Raising the fire poker to her chest, Rhiannon sneaked down the hall, pressing herself against the wall. She got to the door. She took a deep breath and raised the poker above her head, her hand waiting on the doorknob.

With a trembling hand, Rhiannon turned the doorknob. The door to the bedroom swung open.

There stood Mrs. Cartier, the lady that offered her the cabin at a reduced rate. Standing with her were two other men both rugged up in snow suits. Rhiannon noted that the bright orange colour was an odd choice for thieves.

Msr. Cartier looked up at her and smiled sweetly. Rhiannon, highly confused, lowered the poker and smiled back as the two men bent down to pick something up. 

Rhiannon edged closer, trying to get a better look.

She gasped, her hand covering her mouth, her other hand releasing the fire poker.  It fell to the floor with a loud thud.

The two men were trying to pick up...her.

Her skin was pale, paler than normal, her blonde hair covering her face. A single streak of blood turned part of her hair pink. She looked down at herself. She was still wearing her jeans and the white sweater her father had given her before she left.

Rhiannon felt nauseated. She lent against the cabin wall as the two men took her body out of the bedroom. Mrs. Cartier came up to her, a smile still etched on her face.

“What happened?” Rhiannon asked, her blue-green eyes filled with tears.

“You died, my dear,” Mrs. Cartier said, small winkles appearing around her grey eyes.

“How?” Rhiannon couldn't remember. Her lips began to tremble as Mrs. Cartier told her how the blizzard was so fierce that the wind was able to pick up objects and use them as projectiles. A rock had come through her bedroom window, hitting her in the temple, killing her instantly.

Rhiannon began to cry. Tears fell down her cheeks but she couldn't feel the wetness of them. She began to shake uncontrollably.

Mrs. Cartier turned and began to walk out of the room but Rhiannon called out after her.

“Wait! Oh please, wait!” Mrs. Cartier turned back around, suddenly looking much older than she did moments ago. “How is it that you can see me?” Rhiannon asked.

Mrs. Cartier smiled. “Because I'm dead too,” she said, her voice raspy from the cold air. “We all are.”

Rhiannon shook her head. “I don't understand,” she said truthfully. “How can you be dead? I spoke to you when I was alive.”

Mrs. Cartier smiled. “You spoke to my daughter, Linda Cartier. I am her mother, Desiree Cartier. And Vince, Linda's husband was the one that checked you in.”

“I can't believe this.” Rhiannon was beside herself. How could a single rock end her life? It wasn't fair. Mrs. Cartier reached over and touched Rhiannon's arm. “You had better believe it, my dear, because it happened.” Her hand crumbled, skin and bone fell to the wooden floor, the dust particles flying through the air. “And now that you're here, I can move on.”

“What do you mean?”

“When someone new arrives, the person that invited them has to leave. Those are the rules.”

“Rules?” The more Mrs. Cartier told her, the more confused Rhiannon became. “But Linda was the one who invited me, not you?”

Mrs. Cartier smiled knowingly. “Possession is something you will learn in due time, my dear,” she said, through chapped lips.

“Possession?”

Mrs. Cartier nodded as her body began to disintegrate at a rapid pace. First her feet, then her legs, then her torso and arms. Finally her head fell to the ground before turning into a pile of bone dust. 

Rhiannon dropped to the floor, her head in her hands. She was dead. A ghost no less. She lifted her head and screamed...

* * * * *

Her eyes opened. Rhiannon glanced around. She was sitting at the table, her laptop in front of her, its blinking cursor taunting her. Outside the wind picked up, howling through the trees. Rhiannon shivered. She stood up, stretching. 

She started down the hall, rubbing her arms. She placed her hand on the doorknob when she froze. Deja vu. She released the door handle, backing away slowly. 

Rhiannon had gone into that bedroom to get a blanket and that's when the rock came hurtling towards the window, breaking the glass and hitting her in the temple, killing her. Or was that all a dream?

Rushing to the bathroom, Rhiannon flipped on the light and stood staring at her reflection. Her blonde hair framed her face, her blue-green eyes were full of life and most importantly, there was no cut on her forehead.

“I'm not dead,” she said softly, feeling her body. The warmth of her sweater penetrated her skin. The feel of the denim on her hands reassured her that she was alive and well.

“It was just a dream,” she told herself, stepping out of the bathroom. “Just a very bad dream.”

CRASH!

Rhiannon jumped. She slowly made her way to the bedroom. She opened the door just a enough to poke her head through. Sitting in the middle of the floor was a rock no bigger than her fist. The wind howled through the broken glass as a single snowflake came to rest on the bed.

Dial 'S' For Sex

A country apart but that didn't matter. His voice down the phone line was so soothing and sweet, his words dripping with that heavenly accent. 

The sexual tension between them was intense. What started out as harmless flirting was rapidly becoming something much darker and fuelled by desire. A phone call here and there to discuss work eventually evolved into those conversations that started with “What are you wearing?” 

Rebecca chewed her nail. It was nine o'clock her time. He was online because he was corresponding with her. All work related of course. “Jeez, Bill is a royal prick,” he said. Rebecca held back a giggle. True, Bill was a prick, but he was also her supervisor. She began to type back when her phone began to buzz. His name flashed on the screen and she got an all to familiar feeling between her thighs.

“Hello,” she said breathlessly. Did that husky voice really come from her?

“Why hello there yourself,” came his voice. She felt her cheeks grow warm, the heat in her face rivalling that of the heat between her thighs.

The conversation started innocently enough. He raved on about Bill and how much of a total asshole he was. Then things turned highly sexual when stopped mid-sentence with “You know, I didn't call you to discuss Bill and that great big stick up his ass.”

“So then, why did you call me?”

“I called because I wanted to hear your voice and to tell you I'm thinking about you bent over my desk in a naughty school girl outfit with that short tartan skirt riding up so I can see your white lacy panties.”

“Have I been a bad girl?” she teased, biting her lip, her hand lightly caressing her breasts through her Snoopy pyjamas.

“You're always bad,” he responded with a laugh. “But that's OK, I know how to tame bad girls.” He cleared his throat. She loved it when he took charge of their conversations, telling her exactly what he would do to her if she were standing in front of him.

“Yes, I can just see it now. That white blouse clinging to your large, firm breasts. Your nipples erect as the fabric caresses them. That short skirt that could rival a belt with lace white panties. You come into my office, all innocent and sweet, asking for an extension on your homework because of some family function that was completely unavoidable. 

“You seductively walk over to me, telling me you'll do anything. I pull you down on my lap. You can feel my erection pressed against your ass. You wiggle a little, teasing me, begging me to take control. And so I do by pushing you over my desk, lifting that little skirt and ripping your panties down your creamy white thighs.”

He paused. Rebecca nearly died in anticipation. “Oh please don't stop, Sean. Please,” she begged, her hand lingering on the outside of her pyjama shorts. She heard him chuckle faintly. “Sorry, my dear, I was busy unzipping my pants and pulling out my throbbing cock. I'd give anything to have your mouth wrapped around it, those enchanting eyes of yours looking up at me, my hand gripping that blonde hair.”

“And here I thought you wanted me bent over your desk,” she teased, awkwardly sliding down her shorts with one hand.

“Oh believe me that's a fantasy,” Sean said. “But as for right now, I can just picture you, sitting at your desk, probably in those Snoopy pjs of yours, running you hand across your breasts, tweaking the nipples until they're hard like diamonds. You leave your breasts before running your hand against the plain of your belly until you reach between your thighs. Slide a single finger into yourself, Becca. Imagine that it's mine.”

Rebecca was already doing that. Her breath quickened as she closed her eyes. “Good girl. Now slide another one in. Fuck yourself.” Rebecca obliged inserting another finger into her moist flesh. She let out a whimper of protest as Sean told her to stop. He laughed as she withdrew her fingers, knowing full well that she would do anything he suggested.

“I want you to tweak your nipples for me,” he said. Rebecca did as she was told. Her nipples were already standing to attention. She told him so. She could almost picture him smiling on the other end of the phone. “Good. Wet your finger and then rub it around your nipple,” he instructed. Rebecca obeyed sucking on her index finger before rubbing her right nipple with it. “Now do the other one, exactly the same way,” came Sean's instructions.

Sean continued to guide her, bringing her ever so close to an orgasm, just not letting her get there. Rebecca was getting frustrated. She had tweaked her nipples to the point that they had began to hurt, she had fingered herself to the point of exhaustion and still she wasn't allowed to come. 

She was one step off getting her vibrator when the voice down the other end of the phone told her to lightly trace a finger down either side of clitoris without touching the delicate bud. Rebecca licked her fingers and followed Sean's instructions. 

Rebecca let out a low moan of approval. That moan got louder when a finger was added to her pulsing flesh.

Freaking out, Rebecca opened her eyes to see Sean standing over her, his weight holding her down in her chair. “Surprise,” he said, taking her phone from her hand and ending the call.

“Sean?” Rebecca was stunned. How long had he been standing there and more importantly, how the freaking hell didn't she hear him?

He traced his finger over her clitoris, sending tiny spasms coursing through her body. Her body twitched. He held her in place, his body leaning on hers, pinning her down in her leather desk chair. He roughly shoved a finger inside her and was delighted by how wet she was. He added a second finger, his teeth nipping at her neck, his free hand stroking his erect member.

“Come for me, Becca,” he said soothingly, nipping at her ear lobe. 

Finally. Rebecca threw back her head, her honey blonde hair cascading down her back like a golden waterfall, letting out a throaty cry as her orgasm washed over her with such power she had never before experienced.

She opened her eyes. Everything seemed glassy. She blinked, her body trembling with delight, the odd spasm still coursing throughout. Every inch of her was alive and tingling, every nerve pulsing. She was tired but satisfied and, oddly, hungry for more.

Glancing up at Sean, she smiled.

“You should come visit more often,” she teased.

To be continued...

All I Need

A smile from you is all I need
To get me through today
Then the thoughts of harm and doubt
Simply go away

A hug from you is all I need
When things are looking blue
Wrap your arms around me
Come on, you know what to do

A kiss from you is all I need
When the clouds are rolling in
A lingering one on my lips
Or dusting them along my skin

In any event you are my stars
You are all I need
You are the moon and sun aligned
You are the air I breathe

You are everything that I will ever need
You are everything I could ever want
You are the reason my world revolves
Please don't let it stop

And as I sit here
Alone in my room
I begin to think
About all the times we've been through

A smile creeps to my face
My heart begins to dance
I want to say "Thank you"
For taking a chance

A simple smile is all I need
An embrace is all I need from you
A kiss is all I need
Because no one else will do