This is something I do to keep the creativity flowing, and write the spookies when my current novel WIPs are in a different genre entirely. I pick one word and write a microfiction story up to 150 words based on it. The word that sparked this is “explore”. Enjoy!
She swatted frantically at the cobwebs that clung to her face, cleaving to her flesh as though its weaver wanted to crawl through that barrier and merge with her soul. She had to stay silent. Resist the urge to scream.
Creeping through the dark, echoing, damp corridor, her pulse roared in her ears. The skittering, scuttling steps behind her were relentless. She didn’t know what the creature was, but the visceral urge to get away from it was undeniable.
Her lips moved as rapidly as her feet, and remained as soundless. She prayed to any god that would listen for her path to lead topside, to an exit. If she could just survive… she would never explore anything again.