The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

Salty Air
by Sonora Taylor

Maggie didn’t know why there was a covered well in the marsh. It had fascinated her since she and her mother had moved in with her grandfather earlier that summer.

“That well holds secrets we’ll probably never know,” he said when Maggie drew him to it on an afternoon walk. “Maybe it holds the sea. Take a deep breath – can you smell the salty air?” He sniffed and puffed out his chest for effect.

Maggie copied him, but rather than sigh, she crinkled her nose and tried not to cough. All she could smell was dead fish.

A small rattle sounded near them. Maggie looked and saw the well’s lid tremble. Her eyes widened, and she turned to tell her grandfather. But he’d already continued down the beach. Maggie hurried to catch up with him.

***

Maggie’s mother…