Contest Entries

A Shadow in the Mist

Roger turned around. The noise stopped. He wondered what could be out in this misty night. The drip drip of sprinkles wet his glasses enough he needed to use a towel to wipe them off. Certainly he saw a shadow behind him. It could belong to the fabled monster that was rumored to be on the loose. He didn't believe in monsters. Then he turned back and walked forward. Then the shadow appeared again. The being seemed to be coming in from behind. Slowly, he turned around again, wiping his glasses. The shadow and being disappeared once more. Whatever it was, it was clever enough to be teasing him. Or maybe his eyes were just playing tricks on him. He wasn't sure about that though. This was the second time it happened.

"Come out come out where ever you are." Roger didn't like hide and seek games and this felt like a hide and seek game. He felt certain that he saw a shadow of someone or something behind him and he didn't like that at all. Feeling around in his pocket, he searched for something he could use to protect him from whatever it was that was following him. Then he saw a shadow on the ground for the third time in a row. He turned around. "Gotcha!"

There on the sidewalk was a monster that was tiny and round like a ball. The moment it heard him it decided to move in a flash around him before facing him face to face once again with begging eyes. It didn't mean any harm and was uncertain about this human, if this human would take it in and help it find its parents. That was the one thing it really wanted. Nothing else mattered. It got lost in the mist and couldn't find its way back home. Still, there was something about this human that seemed promising. Maybe this human could help it find its way back home, despite all warnings against meeting humans.

"Who are you?" Roger asked it in a frightened voice.

"I am Gurgle and I need your help. Will you help me?" Gurgle replied and sniffed.

"I don't appreciate some kid following me around dressed up as a monster. Go back to your home," Roger said.

"That's the thing, I can't find my parents. I lost my way back home. I need your help to find it. I guess you aren't a believer in monsters?" Gurgle shed a tear.

"That's right. I don't believe in monsters. Well, since you are lost then I can help you out then. Come over to my home. Follow me. No more moving around quickly on the electronic skate at high speed. Or are you really-" Roger didn't finish his thought. He realized there were no electronic skates on Gurgle. Gurgle could be a monster and he agreed to help it.

"Did you say monster? Oh, I would love to meet a monster! I'm Alex by the way. And I'm great, just like Alexander the Great. I have a ton of information about monsters. It won't be easy to get you back home little one but we'll promise you we'll make it happen," Alex said, coming into view riding on a skateboard.

Prompt: Vignette
Word Count: 541
Contest: "Vagrant Vignettes"