Frightful Friday: Clara

Fearsome flash fiction for your Friday from the spooky short story collection

By Elyse Salpeter

Clara sat on the edge of my bed. Stupid doll Grandma had given me for my birthday, telling me it had been in our family for generations. I didn’t care. It was horrible with that head of unruly red hair, those painted, chipped lips, and hideous black eyes.

I pulled my blanket over my head, but I could feel her nasty eyes staring at me.

Stretching my feet, I kicked hard. Trying to kick her off the bed.

I heard chuckling. Peeking out from under the covers, I screamed. Clara was grinning at me and I swear she was closer.

I pulled my blanket over my head, but I could feel her nasty eyes staring at me.

Stretching my feet, I kicked hard. Trying to kick her off the bed.

I heard chuckling. Peeking out from under the covers, I screamed. Clara was grinning at me and I swear she was closer.

Ricket Row

Terrifying things are happening to those in Ricket Row. Why do a set of grieving parents dig up a shoebox each week from their son’s grave? Who is that maniacal clown that follows a man home? Why do those teen boys chase after a ghostly girl they’ve never met before? This anthology is packed with tales both psychologically creepy and horrifying. You’ll meet a group of disabled orphans trying to survive a zombie apocalypse and a woman who is getting sicker and sicker, day by day, with no reason why. Or is there? Come enter the horrors of Ricket Row. You’ve been warned.

Elyse Salpeter

is an author who loves mixing the real with the fantastic in her books. She likes nothing better than taking different scenarios and creating worlds where things just aren’t what they appear to be.

When she’s not writing, she’s training for triathlons and eating shock food in her Gastronaut Club. Please come on over and learn more about her at: