IAIN KELLY

HOLIDAY OF YOUR DREAMS

In the dark, bare concrete room huge bloodshot eyes leered out at her. Bright red lips manically grinned. Tufts of dishevelled green and purple hair sprouted from the white scalp. A venomous sharp red nose pushed and prodded her.

‘Come on down to the County Hotel. So much to see and do,’ said the clown, laughing deliriously.

The figure morphed into a serpent. The red nose became a forked tongue. She could feel it probing her face. The hissing grew louder and louder. She strained her muscles, desperate to break free but she was bound to the concrete slab.

‘Come on down to the County Hotel. So much to see and do,’ the snake smiled malevolently.

Something brushed against her exposed legs and crawled up her body. A rat. It’s clawing nails jagged into her skin as it moved over her naked chest and neck. A sharp, stabbing pain as the rat bit and chewed her lip.

‘Come on down to the County Hotel. So much to see and do,’ screeched the rat.

Sam jerked awake. The same nightmare again. The same one for the last week.

Why had she agreed to let David organise the entire holiday this year?


191-01-january-22nd-2017

Written as part of Sunday Photo Fiction. Write a story of around 200 words based on the photo prompt given (above). For more details visit HERE.

To read more stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.

41 responses to “HOLIDAY OF YOUR DREAMS”

  1. Sunday Fiction Avatar

    Great story and with everything the character fears as well. Mind you, with the way this hotel turned out ( https://iainkellywriting.wordpress.com/2016/10/02/glasgow/ ) then I’m not surprised she had nightmares

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks, I’m glad I never had the joy of staying at the County Hotel, it really doesn’t look very appealing!

      Liked by 2 people

      1. quillella Avatar

        LOL, I think that the rat in particular would be a little disruptive 😛

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Iain Kelly Avatar

        Thanks, it would ruin your relaxing holiday!

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Sunday Fiction Avatar

        Even less so now 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  2. shehannemoore Avatar

    Punchy, brilliant as always Iain. just catching up here. I know you have other posts and I certainly intend getting to them

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      No problem Shehanne, thanks for reading 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  3. angietrafford Avatar

    Now, that’s a proper nightmare! Brilliantly done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Angie 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  4. emmylgant Avatar

    Vivid nightmare! Brrrr!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Emmy 🙂

      Like

  5. k rawson Avatar

    Terrifying with a sublime punch line!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  6. J Hardy Carroll Avatar

    Hotels bring out the creepiness of all of us. This place looks especially grim. Nicely done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It looks awful doesn’t it, hard to imagine anyone booking up to stay there.

      Like

  7. Keith's Ramblings Avatar

    I’m cancelling my booking! Deliciously creepy.

    Click to visit Keith’s Ramblings!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Keith

      Like

  8. ceayr Avatar

    Great writing, but surely stretching credulity a bit?
    A woman letting a mere man arrange a holiday?
    C’mon!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It certainly wouldn’t happen in my household, and I’m quite happy to keep it that way!

      Like

  9. Graham Lawrence Avatar
    Graham Lawrence

    Colorful and for want of a better word, punchy. Great story

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Graham

      Liked by 1 person

  10. swarmsandbee Avatar

    A real nightmare, almost like a fevered one too which is even worse!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks for reading and commenting.

      Like

  11. James Avatar

    “Welcome to the Hotel California.” First thought that popped into my head.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. D. Wallace Peach Avatar

    Yikes. The stuff of nightmares. It’s time to trade David in. Well done!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Maybe when they get there it won’t be so bad 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  13. athling2001 Avatar

    Great story. What a horrible dream. I hope things go well on holiday or maybe she should just run.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I’m sure it won’t be as bad as her dream…

      Liked by 1 person

  14. neelwritesblog Avatar

    That’s a nightmare for real. Well written.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  15. mandibelle16 Avatar
    mandibelle16

    Wow, scary one Ian. Not only the clown or the serpent but that evil little rat chewing on her lip. I wouldn’ t be falling asleep so easily if I had those kind of dreams. Creative and terrifying. I think that’s a definite sign, the husband should not be organizing the holidays alone! I’d start trying to get him interested in other things pretty fast with those dreams. Distraction of some kind should work!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It’s a sign she doesn’t trust him, but I have faith that he will get it right and they’ll have a great holiday after all! Thanks Mandi 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. mandibelle16 Avatar
        mandibelle16

        I hope so. That’s one frightening dream!

        Liked by 1 person

  16. patriciaruthsusan Avatar

    Wow, that sounded like a dream about one of those creepy houses in an amusement park only worse. That’s the last time she better let David arrange things. It sounds like she has a fear of clowns. Good twist at the end, Iain. 😀 — Suzanne

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Suzanne – I used my fears to make up the dream – snakes definitely, clowns a little bit, and I’m okay with rats so long as they aren’t on me!!

      Like

  17. Singledust Avatar

    that was skin crawling – especially when the rat spoke – her David must be really bad at organising holidays! Like the detailed description!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks,I’m hoping it’s just in her mind and David isn’t that bad really!

      Liked by 1 person

  18. Dahlia Avatar

    Quite an awful nightmare and to have it repeatedly – shudder…

    Liked by 1 person

  19. akaushiva Avatar

    Haha! Brilliant! Very vivid description of the nightmares. I hope she does get some peace of mind on the actual holiday. 🙂

    Aditi

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Aditi, I hope it won’t be as bad as she thinks! 🙂

      Like

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