You ask me to describe the scent of fear, and I blush ashamed.
For some it’s a fragrance red and bloodstained, other say it smells of ice and snow. Fear for me it is rot, a whiff of jungle meeting sea; fear is murkiness of mangrove. Fear for me are eddies in stale water; movements underneath. Fear is scaly hands reaching through the porthole, the shadow of its fins and fangs.
After all these years I still have nightmares, at night he visits me. The creature of the Black Lagoon.
And you still insists that we should go to Amazonas?
The first thing I see with a tropical picture like this is not paradise but memories of watching parts of “The creature of the black lagoon”. I’m not a fan of horror movies but images from that one have disturbed my sleep many times. I have never watched it as an adult, but today I think I would laugh at the pictures.
Rochelle selects the picture, and the example. The rest of us come up with a 100 word story that we find from the image. Friday Fictioneers starts on Wednesday and gives you the whole week to read and comment. I try my best.
February 7, 2018
Björn Rudbergs writings 
There is no explaining fear for each person!
As for the movie clip, thanks for that. Now I’m thinking “The Shape of Water” must have been partially based on this old movie!
Ha.. I thought this one was a well-known classic.. I saw some scenes from it on TV and it has haunted me ever since.
I was never into those types of movies… However, “The Shape of Water” is not a horror movie… 😉 You should be able to watch it!
I love “Creature of the Black Lagoon” (1954). The last of the Universal monsters and actually part of a trilogy. I especially loved the character of Lucas (Nestor Paiva) the Captain of the beat up river boat. “The catfish in this river are six feet long and killers, like everything in this river, killers.”
The movie was originally a 3D production and I had the fortune of seeing it in a movie theater in Berkeley many years ago in 3D. Fun times.
I can only remember watching terrifying snippets of the movie… I should watch the whole movie and get rid of my nightmares.
If you saw it as a child, I can see why you’d be scared, but for an adult, it’s pretty tame, at least by the standards of today’s horror movies.
I like the way you use your sense of smell in this. So primal.
I imagine that smell of marshes…
I love the smells in this
I think scent is a great part of any story… and it was a bit of an exercise in writing about them
We all have films from our childhood that haunt us – mine was ‘Gremlins’! Perhaps writing about it will help you confront your fears.
Ha.. Gremlins I thought was a cute story… but I saw it as a grown up.
It certainly looks like an unsavoury place. Creatures might well be lurking beneath the rubbish.
EXACTLY! Good capture of the scent. I love that old movie. Used to scare the bejebbers outa me when I was little. Now, I stay up late to watch it on Svenghoolie when it’s on. Then, I still have nightmares. Heheh! Love it!
I have no problem believing that films we’ve been affected by as youngsters stay with us into adulthood! I loved the rich vividness of your writing in this story.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
what a pleasant ending. coming from you, it was totally unexpected, though. 🙂
Great and imaginative take on the prompt. I like how your character stepped into this – the point of view, in trying to explain the hesitation. And using scent – to try to explain – and the idea of ice and snow – that’s really clever – it adds another element to not wanting to travel to a particular place. In this case, the murky jungle. Clever writing ideas here Bjorn 🙂
For some it’s a fragrance red and bloodstained, other say it smells of ice and snow. LOVE this line.
I don’t know how many times I’ve seen Creature From the Black Lagoon. My husband grew up watching all the oldies. It’s a wacky movie that makes me smile.
As reasons go that’s pretty compelling!
Dark and creepy. Nice one!
I like the way you have written a story within a story. The outer story is that you are explaining to an unspecified character that you don’t want to holiday in Amazonas. The reader identifies with the unnamed person, and that draws them into your tale. Clever – I like it! And then you tell your tale to that character, and it’s beautifully described and rich in sensory detail. Excellent writing, Bjorn!
The second para is so graphic, scarily so. Simply brilliant Björn
Dear Björn,
What a unique take on the prompt. I love it. Fear is different for everyone. Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Now I know the face of fear.
Wonderful writing, Björn.
Your explanations of fear are superb, but I think you should watch the film now, as an adult, to banish your nightmares.
Love the imagery in this
It’s so interesting to hear what horror movies different people find traumatizing. Usually, it’s something a person watched as a young child. I’ve loved scary movies from a very young age though.
No horror films for me, they are just not my thing. They are nearly as bad as packing to go on holiday.
One of my favorites
Great take on the prompt and the story 🙂 Horror has come a long way. This doesn’t seem so scary any more.
tps://lindaswritingblog.wordpress.com/2018/02/07/a-watcher/
the fact that you write poetry is so alive in this description. You detail so well and I can feel the fear. Well done.
You make me even more firm believer of not watching horror movies. Good confirmation!
Loved the way you’ve put fear in the second para. Nice take on the prompt, Bjorn.
Thanks for sharing that movie clip.
well that is why i do not watch horror stuff- I feel like I do not want it in my mind –
and in your piece here – I felt two sections.
The second one was the connection to the movie and memory- but the first one leading up – was so word rich and layered and could apply to many fearful experiences.
esp. liked:
it is rot, a whiff of jungle meeting sea
You paint the fear so well, the tropical scents and the humidity, the fins and fangs in the porthole – yuk.
I am floored by your descriptions of fear!
I enjoyed the way you described fear in so many ways. They all seem to be what I feel when I’m in fear. Thumbs up, Bjorn, for taking this photo that looks heavenly to a dark place. This is why I enjoy FF so much. Everyone sees things in a different way.
Isadora 😎
Fear comes in all shapes and colours. Each person has his/her own.
Well written Björn.
You described fear in a most excellent way, Björn, using all of the senses. I felt it all!
A very poetic way to describe fear. After having watched the trailer I want to see the movie 🙂 I bet it will be pure cheese.
I watched the trailer. I’m staying in Cheshire from now on. The only danger here comes from indifferent politicians. Nicely written.
I’m not a fan of horror films either. Your story was scary enough for me!
Wow! From the way you have described it, I can smell the fear and discomfort. *shudders* Good job!
Ahhhh creatures lurking in wait. Love this one Bjorn.