IAIN KELLY

IN THE HOLLOW TREE

Nothing sinister or suspect.

Samson looked out at the row of bungalows. A car drove past, a dog barked, the trees swayed in the breeze.

He stepped inside the house, walking through the hallway, glancing in each room.

No signs of disturbance.

She lived here alone. Late last night, a call from neighbours reporting screaming.

In the backyard a huge oak tree dominated. Samson walked up to it, feeling the cracked bark.

He walked round the wide trunk. His hand felt a sticky, dark excretion. His fingertips were red. He looked up.

A large hollow. He had found her.


tree-sandra-crook
Copyright Sandra Crook

Written as part of the Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).

To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.

Read more stories featuring Detective Samson: THE DETECTIVE SAMSON STORIES

111 responses to “IN THE HOLLOW TREE”

  1. Sandra Avatar

    Nicely done, Iain. I see we went along the same lines here and suspect FriFic will be littered with corpse-filled trees before too long. Perhaps I should have done the weeping reindeer after all. 😉

    Liked by 5 people

    1. ceayr Avatar

      Let it be, Sandra, Rudolph already has a red nose!

      Liked by 4 people

      1. Sandra Avatar

        Nope, I’m definitely warming to the idea.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Iain Kelly Avatar

        Save it for a Christmas Special.

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It’s nice to know I am not alone in seeing corpses in the prompt photo. Somehow reassuring!

      Like

      1. ceayr Avatar

        The place is littered with them!
        Maybe including Santa?

        Liked by 1 person

  2. michael1148humphris Avatar
    michael1148humphris

    Such a sad story for a lovely tree 🙂 but Samson did well,

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Michael – perhaps next week I will try and write a happier tale!

      Like

  3. Annie Avatar

    What an ending. Great story, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Annie 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Annie Avatar

        You’re welcome, Iain.

        Liked by 1 person

  4. beautyswot Avatar

    Sent a chill down my spine, very good!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      The desired effect, thank you!

      Like

  5. rochellewisoff Avatar

    Dear Iain,

    That’s not what one wants to find hanging in a tree, is it? Chillingly well written.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Rochelle – will put him off climbing trees for a few years I suspect.

      Like

  6. Moon Avatar
    Moon

    so well written!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Moon

      Like

  7. granonine Avatar

    Lain, your story kept me right up to the last word, and then I wanted more. Good job.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. J Hardy Carroll Avatar

    The tree as a hiding place for bodies! Rumor has it that Thomas Pynchon would stash manuscripts for his editor in a hollow tree somewhere in Central Park, so reclusive was he.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Are they still there, do you think? Has anyone searched?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. J Hardy Carroll Avatar

        I think it’s legend. But hey, it’s a good story.

        Liked by 1 person

  9. James Avatar

    I have to admit, I wasn’t surprised. Still well played, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  10. ceayr Avatar

    Tight and tense as always, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Keith's Ramblings Avatar

    Like a scene from a movie! Bloody brilliant Iain

    Click to read my FriFic!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Keith

      Like

  12. scr4pl80 Avatar

    Poor girl. Nice job.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Not a happy ending, thanks Janet.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. neilmacdon Avatar

    You seem to be channeling Sandra. Nicely done, Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Neil – reassuring that I’m not the only one who saw death in a picture of an old tree.

      Like

  14. Caerlynn Nash Avatar
    Caerlynn Nash

    Dead people in trees. Reminds me of “Harvest Home” by Thomas Tryon. Well done!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Not familiar with that one, will need to look out for it. Thanks.

      Liked by 1 person

  15. Claire Fuller Avatar
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I just saw the Jo Nesbo film The Snowman at the cinema – I think it had an effect.

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Akshata Ram Avatar

    that was scary as hell

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you, the desired effect.

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Varad Avatar

    Delightfully creepy story, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Varad

      Like

  18. pennygadd51 Avatar

    I don’t think I could be a detective…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Not for me either. I’ll just write about one instead.

      Like

  19. shehannemoore Avatar

    Excellent job. Great economy of words .

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Less is more. Thank you Shehanne.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. shehannemoore Avatar

        Absolutely xx

        Liked by 1 person

  20. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) Avatar

    I’m glad I didn’t go for the hollow as a hiding place this time… you did so much better.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you, very kind.

      Like

  21. Alicia Jamtaas Avatar

    May I just say “Ick” and be done with it? In a good way, that is. Kudos.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Of course you can. I like a good ‘ick’.

      Liked by 1 person

  22. JS Brand Avatar

    The way you painted a picture of suburban normality at the beginning lowered my guard and although I knew something must be coming, I didn’t twig what it was until you told me. Very well told.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you, I’m glad you saw that at the beginning, it was the effect I was aiming for.

      Liked by 1 person

  23. lingeringvisions by Dawn Avatar

    Oh wow…gruesomely good!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Dawn 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  24. J.A. Prentice Avatar

    Great story. Very dark.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  25. draliman Avatar

    Ooh, gruesome. Loved it!

    Liked by 1 person

  26. Kelvin M. Knight's blog Avatar

    This had the feel of a murder mystery from the off. And I was not disappointed. I like the crisp viewpoint of the narrator.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Kelvin, much appreciated.

      Like

  27. Vivian Zems Avatar

    Oh God! How many dead bodies is this tree hiding. Yours is a fresh one. Watch out- grandma is here too!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Room for anymore?!?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Vivian Zems Avatar

        Let’s keep searching 😉

        Liked by 1 person

  28. bbryanthomas Avatar
    bbryanthomas

    You’ve given me a good idea Iain. I hope I won’t get caught.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Oh dear, I hope I haven’t started something…!

      Liked by 1 person

  29. Liz Young Avatar

    I wonder if the tree ate her?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      That could be a good defense if they ever catch a suspect!

      Like

  30. rgayer55 Avatar

    I wonder how many armadillos a person could stuff in that tree?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Oh, room for plenty.

      Like

  31. Lynn Love Avatar

    ‘Nothing sinister or suspect.’ Love that opener, as I know fulle well this is not going to be the case with your fiction! A great set up and the creepiest of pay offs. But how did she die and how did the killer get her up into that tree? Good beginning to a crome novel Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lynn Love Avatar

      Err, Crime novel. Not sure what a crome novel is 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Iain Kelly Avatar

        A whole new genre! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Lynn. Quite a distance to get a heavy body up there, I’m guessing there might be a few body parts…

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Lynn Love Avatar

        Yes, I think that would be the only way. Unless they had a ladder and an accomplice. Or supernatural powers. Am I over thinking this? 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Iain Kelly Avatar

        Usually the simplest theory is the right one 😉

        Liked by 1 person

  32. Life in the 50's and beyond... Avatar

    Bloody Mess! What a shame to dirty that beautiful old tree!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Ruth, hopefully it can be cleaned up!

      Like

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Scott – it just looks like a tree you would hide something in..

      Liked by 1 person

      1. kindredspirit23 Avatar

        I agree, but I saw, instead, an invasion! lol

        Liked by 1 person

  33. Laurie Bell Avatar

    Oh no. Oh dear what on earth happened? Truely terrifying to imagine

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      He’s on the case to find out… Definitely something that will live with him.

      Like

  34. Joy Pixley Avatar

    It did seem like she had come to no good end, and indeed, bloody and up a tree counts as “no good end.” What a gruesome ending! The tree in the photo does look a bit like it’s bleeding, now that you mention it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Joy, that’s what I saw when I looked at it – not sure if that’s a good thing!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Joy Pixley Avatar

        You aren’t alone in that, at least — so it’s not just you!

        Liked by 1 person

  35. plaridel Avatar

    i was hoping for a happy ending, but maybe not this week.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Maybe I need a break too, to find a bit of happiness!

      Liked by 1 person

  36. Woman walking Max Avatar

    Very atmospheric – I like the spare style, and build up to the grim truth.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much.

      Like

  37. Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist Avatar

    Great build up of tension and use of the photo. I have a vision of someone trying to stuff her down that hole. Ugh! Good story.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Irene – sorry for giving you that vision!

      Liked by 1 person

  38. johnmarkmiller Avatar

    So chilling – well done!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  39. Sascha Darlington Avatar

    Oh! Quite a discovery! Stop this short stuff! Give us a great big novel of gore. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Haha, NaNoWriMo is round the corner, so I’m gearing up for a bit of longer writing soon. Thanks Sascha.

      Like

      1. Sascha Darlington Avatar

        Can’t wait to see what you do with it!

        Liked by 1 person

  40. Dahlia Avatar

    Cool! Nicely done Iain 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  41. subroto Avatar

    Detective Samson I presume? Some people take the blood and bone fertilizer too literally. I am guessing the gardener did it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Ha, he’ll certainly be wanted for questioning! Thanks for reading.

      Like

  42. Alice Audrey Avatar

    That matches the picture a little too close for comfort.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It looks like blood, right? Thanks Alice.

      Like

  43. Natasha Avatar
    Natasha

    Ouch! This one’s gory and like how. And yes, the picture portrays your tale too well.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Natasha

      Liked by 1 person

  44. mrgoodquote Avatar
    mrgoodquote

    Great work !
    See some of my blogs as well hope you will like them 😇

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks, look forward to checking out your work 🙂

      Like

  45. etiennehanratty Avatar

    Interesting how reading that has completely changed the way I looked at the picture. Well done

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you 🙂

      Like

  46. The Reclining Gentleman Avatar

    Nicely told, very macabre

    Liked by 1 person

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.