Jaye Marie and Anita Dawes

For visually challenged writers, the image shows a tall circular tower with arched windows covered by metal bars. There are trees to the left and a ruined archway to the right.

The old tower, long past its best
I cannot say it has seen better days
Its history is steeped in horror
People avoid the tower
Some say they can hear the screams of torture
The sound of a whip, flesh burning
Until last summer when a family of ghosts moved in
Mum, dad and two teenage children
A boy and a girl, died in a boating accident
We can be happy here, said mum
Years passed and it was so
Until a young boy of about ten years old
Climbed through the ruined archway
Shouting, where are you, I know you’re here
Had there been a corner to run to
The family would have run to it
Father said, make a noise, maybe he will go away
No good. Toby, is that you, he replied to the noise
Thinking it was his dog that shot out through the ruined archway,
followed by the boy. The loud noise echoed behind them…

© Anita Dawes 2021