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In March 2026 I took part in a music challange. 

Each day we were given a song title, we had to write a short story that was no more 1000 words, but it had to include the full song title.  

All the authors that took part are amazing and each story had it's own twist. They were all fantasic. 

I was blown away when I found out I came 3rd with my submission 'The Summoning'

You can read my short below -

*note* this is unedited. 

This house is enormous, I thought as I entered the lobby. Soft lighting lit up the sweeping staircase, showcasing the expensive looking art on the walls, art that should be in a museum or gallery not someone’s hallway. 

Silently following the parents into the kitchen, the baby monitor was already set up on the massive marble island. 

“The rules are on the fridge,” the mother said calmly. “He’ll be asleep by eight.”

The father smiled. “If the hallway candle goes out, follow the instructions immediately.”

I laughed, my face frowning in confusion.  

But they said nothing for a moment. 

“It’s written down,” she said pointing to the fridge. “Just follow it exactly and you’ll be fine.”

Nodding as my cheeks heated with embarrassment.

I followed them to the front door, and locked it behind them. 

Rich people are weird.

Staring at the baby monitor, I watched Oliver, he was wide eyed but quiet as he lay in the cot. 

Just as the mother had said, he was asleep by eight. 

The house was silent as I scrolled my phone, half watching the monitor. 

A cold shiver ran up my spine as the clock in the hallway chimed midnight. Turning slowly, I watched as the candle flame flickered once and went out. No smoke, no smell of cooling wax. Just darkness.

“Okay,” I muttered to myself quietly. 

The bay monitor crackled and when I glanced at the screen, Oliver was standing in his crib. He wasn’t crying, he was smiling at something in the corner of the room. 

My skin prickled as another cold shiver ran through my body. 

Instructions. 

Grabbing the piece of paper from the fridge door, I scanned them.

Most were normal. 

Bedtime. Bottle warming. Emergency contact numbers. 

But at bottom, in different handwriting was the instructions. 

If the candle goes out. 

• Draw a circle of salt around the kitchen island (pantry, top shelf)
• Place a black candle in the centre (pantry, next to the salt)
• Light it.
• Speak the words below, exactly as written.
• Do not stop. No matter what.
• Do not let him cry.

Crazy ass rich people. I thought to myself.

But my chest tightened as Oliver started to whimper. 

His whimper didn’t sound normal, as the baby monitor crackled. 

Panic started to creep in, as I grabbed the salt, candle and lighter from the panty.

Not stopping to overthink, I walked around the island fast, pouring a shaky circle and placing the candle in the middle. 

As I reached across to light the candle, Oliver’s whimpers became louder, and the house started to creek. The coldness in the air was creeping into my bones, my hands shook as I flicked the lighter and the golden glow shimmered around the kitchen, as I lit the black candle.  

The screen on the monitor turned into black and white fuzz and his whimpers became wails. 

“Don’t let him cry,” I whispered. 

The flame burned low and unnatural as I read the words out loud. 

“The summoning has begun, something ancient has answered…”

The words that followed didn’t make sense, they felt heavy, like old English. 

Oliver’s crying stopped, but the silence was deafening as I continued to read. 

Pressing my back against the wall, I could feel the house move. Like the walls were breathing. My voice wavered as the room got colder, and my breath fogged in the air. 

The flame from the black candle grew and flickered violently, as a dark shadow crept out of the pantry. Its legs too long, fingers like claws. It loomed over the candle as I continued reading. The flame got brighter as I said the last few words. And the shadow slowly faded back into the pantry. 

The walls stopped moving and the warmth rushed back into the room. 

Dropping the paper to the floor, I collapse to my knees, shaking.

Glancing up at the monitor, Oliver giggled and laid back down like nothing had happened.