Prompt: Someone Else's Idea of Spooky

[Prof. Sky Alton]

It’s the time of year where people’s thoughts stray to thrills, chills and things that go bump in the night. But humans can’t be the only creatures who enjoy settling in and listening to a good scary story, can they?
For this prompt, we’d like you to come up with a scary story that another species might tell and write it in 200 words or more. It could be real world animals (or even plants) or fantasy/sci-fi beings. Hey, you could even treat us to a ghost story told by ghosts. You don’t have to tell us outright who the story is being told by but it would be fun if you could leave us a few clues.
Remember that what you write should be suitable for members of all-ages. We’re looking for some fun spinetingling, rather than all out horror, please.
You’ll earn 20 beans for completing this prompt as well as it counting towards the chance to snag our shiny Quill and Ink award.
There is no deadline as such for these prompts but if you’d like it to count towards your chance of earning the award for a specific year, we’ll need it by the end of that school year. If you’re comfortable sharing, then post below. If not, email your story to us via hol.bookclub @ gmail.com (without the spaces). Oh and remember it’s a good idea to check through your piece carefully for spelling and grammatical errors as they make it harder for people to properly enjoy your work.

[Artemisia Thorne]

Once, in the shadowy realm of the Enchanted Forest, where moonbeams danced through twisted branches and the air was thick with the scent of ancient magic, there lived a unicorn named Ebonhorn. Ebonhorn was no ordinary unicorn; his fur was as black as the deepest night, and his eyes glowed with an otherworldly intensity.

One eerie night, as a blood-red moon hung low in the sky, Ebonhorn gathered a group of curious creatures under the twisted canopy of the Forbidden Grove. The owls hooted in ominous harmony, and the wind whispered secrets that made the leaves shiver in fear.

With an air of solemnity, Ebonhorn began to weave a tale of a time long forgotten, when the veil between the magical realms was thin, and unspeakable darkness crept into the hearts of the purest creatures.

"There was a unicorn much like myself," Ebonhorn intoned, his voice a haunting melody. "But she wandered too far into the shadows, where the trees whispered of forbidden knowledge and the air crackled with malevolence. The unicorn, unaware of the impending doom, frolicked through the moonlit glade, her hooves creating an eerie rhythm that echoed through the twisted boughs."

As Ebonhorn continued, the temperature dropped, and a cold mist enveloped his audience. The other creatures huddled closer, their eyes wide with a mixture of fascination and dread.

"The unicorn found herself in a clearing bathed in an unnatural glow. In the center stood a gnarled oak, its branches twisted like the claws of a vengeful spirit. From the shadows emerged a figure, hooded and cloaked in darkness. The unicorn, sensing danger, tried to flee, but an unseen force held her in place."

Ebonhorn's eyes glowed brighter as he spoke, casting an eerie glow on his surroundings. The creatures listened, captivated, as if the very air held its breath.

"The cloaked figure revealed itself to be a spectral sorceress, cursed for eternity and hungry for the innocence of magical beings. With a wave of her bony hand, she summoned the roots of the twisted oak to ensnare the unicorn. The once-majestic creature trembled in fear as the sorceress whispered forbidden incantations that drained the very essence of magic from her."

A shiver ran through the enchanted audience, and Ebonhorn's tale painted a vivid picture of the unicorn's struggle against the encroaching darkness.

"And so," Ebonhorn concluded with a somber tone, "the unicorn's once-gleaming coat turned as black as the night, and her eyes became hollow, reflecting the abyss that had consumed her. She became a harbinger of doom, haunting the Forbidden Grove to warn others of the perils that lurked in the shadows."

As Ebonhorn finished his chilling tale, the blood-red moon cast an eerie glow on the assembled creatures. The wind whispered through the twisted branches, and the owls let out mournful hoots, as if mourning the tragic fate of the unicorn who had ventured too close to the edge of darkness. The creatures dispersed, their hearts heavy with the haunting story that lingered in the air like an ancient curse.

[Hiya Debnath]

Moaning Myrtle was still fuming in rage towards Olive Hornby. Not only had she died because of her, she was also stuck at Hogwarts because of the restraining order. Anyway, at least she had terrorized Olive enough. Dead Myrtle Warren kept visiting the Black Lake to see mermaids and the Giant Squid. She was very fond of them.
Although Myrtle spent the rest of her time in the bathroom, she loved chatting in the students.
One day, Myrtle saw a little red-haired girl walking into the bathroom. It must be a Weasley, she thought. Smack, something landed in her toilet and got flushed right in her presence. Here she was going to say hi and be nice but all she received was a splash of water and an object - "Let me see, it's a diary". She was always ignored and hated even after her death. She cried a lot that night.
Meanwhile, students who came to the bathroom whispered stories about someone being petrified in one of the corridors a few days ago. That was horrendous. What was afoot?
The next night, on the night of Halloween, Myrtle decided to go out to see if any students had come into the bathroom, and be a haunty ghost instead of a moaning ghost for awhile. As she came out, her gaze met a pair of yellow eyes. She screamed and remembered how her heart had stopped and her scream had stopped unfinished in her throat and she had died instantly, leaving the world and only remaining as this imprint of herself. Staring at those yellow eyes again scared her so much.
Ghosts are already dead. What harm could the basilisk do to her, she thought. But she didn't know that it was possible to feel the fear of death again even after dying until she looked into the eyes of the monster that night. It was terrifying. The Basilisk was out again.