They scared me once:
“Beyond that door are secrets, too dangerous for you”.
I imagined torture chambers.
I saw rooms where teenage girls were starved to death, and when I read about Myra Hindley and saw darkness in my mother’s eyes,
I grew silent and protective, and decided it was time to act before they did,
But then I learned: beyond the door was old machinery.
I scare my daughter now:
“Beyond that door are secrets, too dangerous for you”.
I know what fantasies can do.
I watch for darkness in her eyes and prepare to act before she does.
Of course a closed door with a chain will make me curious, and first I thought that curiosity might kill the cat. But what if the cat defends itself. For those not aware of the Moors Murders you can read more here.
Friday Fictioneers is run by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields and every week there are many stories written in 100 words to the same picture.
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November 23, 2016
Björn Rudbergs writings 
Definitely something about the door is making us all curious. Nice writing as always Bjorn.
Thank you… so much can be found behind a door.
A darkly brooding atmospheric tale. Nice work, Bjorn
Ah… yes I find darkness everywhere.
I would want to know what is behind that door. No fears. 🙂
It’s never as bad as your worst fear (almost)
Very atmospheric.
Thank you..
Dear Björn,
Handing down fear from generation to generation? Nicely written, if not dark.
Shalom,
Rochelle
A little dark maybe…
Darkness at the edge of the town…delightfully bleak.
Behind every locked door there might be darkness
I was brought up in the Moors Murdererers territory so your piece had a doubly eerie and sinister quality for me. I don’t go back north often, but I still shiver as I cross Saddleworth Moor.
I imagined it would be more sinister for those that knew the surroundings…
Dark and deeply unlikeable theme, Bjorn, crafted with your normal aplomb.
Hard to like indeed… a story that can keep you up at night… wonderful picture.
This is a very good piece of craft. Bit dark, though, but then at times craft can only come alive if the theme is slightly unpleasant.
I always write dark… sometimes I make an effort not to… but I never manage.
A well written, darly affective spin on the prompt, Bjorn. So easy to be frightened by the unknown. And for those of us here in England, that name will always conjure horrors you don’t need to describe to feel real.
I think there are those names that reach beyond the borders… for me it does at well.
I’m sure you’re right – their crimes must have resounded through many nations
What a horrible muse for your story! Well done,a s per usuall
My muse has fangs.
Big ones
🙂
Bit like monsters under the bed i.e. fear of unknown, dark etc. Good one. BTW there was only one Hindlay, Myra. Her partner in crime was Ian Brady.
Ah… I need to think about that… the name fitted so well.
With old machinery Frankenstein comes to mind.🙂
Ah.. I thought the old machinery was quite benign compared to the fear…
This is so creepy, I can’t even… and I followed that murder link and wish I hadn’t. Night mare stuff. Great writing, Björn.
Sometimes even a hint of might have happened be enough for nightmares
So dark. Your Moors Murderers reference made all the more so.
My story is called Sally’s Secret
Very poignant piece. I think it will depend from person to person how will they read and etch it into their daily lives.
Mystery and curiosity — the foundations of great suspense. Bjorn, you’re doing great each week. Keep it up! It reminds me of the Edward Gein case in Indiana back in the 1950’s. What was horrifying was the thought of the small town people of that time thinking, “It couldn’t happen here.” Also, check the BTK murders. They happened in my State.
Fear of the unknown is usually much worse than the reality, Nice one!
An eerily fun story this week!
Dark and eerie but there’s something about that which lures me in.
IN Australia, we had the backpacker murders on the East Coast carried out by serial killer Ivan Millat. I feel ill just seeing his photo and when you think about how these people keep souvenirs, anything could be behind that door.
xx Rowena
One doesn’t have to go as far back as the Moors murders for horror stories to scare the children.
I agree this is a dark brooding tale that was very well written. I just wonder what darkness he is looking for in his daughter’s eyes. Does he think she could be a killer?
Dark and chilling – even more so given the story behind it, which I’d never heard of until now. What a terrible real-life horror story, no wonder it scares children.
curiosity can be both our glory and our doom.
Great concept, how we hand down fer and it’s contagious but then there is the debate on whether we’re right to do so. It’s done to protect but sometimes used where not required to ill effect
There is something about this door, that is bringing out some really dark stories. Nicely done, Bjorn.
great dark piece
True, it’s hard not to think dark thoughts when you see a chain across the door, even if it’s a delightful purple. I enjoyed your take. What’s beyond the door? You don’t know unless you open it. Depending on someone’s perspective and experience, there is probably varying degrees of darkness and ideas. Nice writing, Bjorn.
The complexity of the generational impact of such horrors is hard to capture in 100 words, but you’ve done it, Bjorn. The depth of darkness in the human soul never ceases to astound me.
I didn’t know about those murders being from the U.S. but we had similar murders. Parents may not realize how fearful they can make a child giving those warnings. Children feel helpless as it is. Good writing, Bjorn
Hmm I do know that the “knocking man” who came tapping past bedtime hours was a good help 🙂 Thought there is a more sinister undercurrent in this tale.
Very dark! Good read!
This is an amazing piece!