I love a good writing prompt. Every 2 weeks I give myself the challenge to grab a writing prompt online that sparks an idea and try to write a piece of fiction from the prompt in and around 500 words.

Here’s my latest attempt! Enjoy 🙂

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WRITING PROMPT:
Write about someone finding a treasure in an unexpected place.

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The Peak
Written by Jess Knaus

The gavel fell and it was theirs – another fixer-upper.

‘Well done babe, get ya tools,’ said Lea, giving him a wry smile.

Most people couldn’t see the value in this property – but to Tyler it was perfect. Known locally as The Peak, it’s unique character with crumbling stonework, significant flooring gaps and a back shed barely holding onto form, was too good to pass up when it came up for sale. His calloused hands were consistently coated in plasterboard dust these days. Lea couldn’t deny he did have the skills to renovate them, and the newfound joy on his face had lifted the fog of years of illness. With the slow improvement in his health he’d sought respite from dull hospital life, choosing to patch holes in walls instead of starting at hospital walls.

While Lea sat in her corporate office writing emails and attending meetings, Tyler was knocking down walls, tiling bathrooms and installing ceiling insulation. She’d receive texts throughout the day with updates, ‘toilet’s replaced’, ‘running to the hardware’ and ‘almost took my finger off, whoops’. Some days she felt like her pay checks were just about funding his tool collection, but then he’d sell the property to great profit. It all evened out in the end.

The first few weeks working on The Peak were no different to the other projects he’d worked on – long days, ear muffs and piles of rubble. But pulling off plasterboard in the front sitting room revealed something unusual. 

A wooden box, strategically placed between studs.

Tyler’s text message that day was just a picture of this same box.

‘Huh, weird,’ she replied. ‘Leaving work soon, see you shortly.’

After work she swung by their favourite Chinese take away, before pulling up the long driveway of The Peak.

The sun had set but Tyler’s flood lights lit up the large entrance foyer as if it were still the middle of the day. She called out to him, but he didn’t respond. She continued walking through the property, careful not to fall through any gaps in the floor.

After walking a full circuit of the house she returned to the foyer, realising she’d missed the front sitting room.

Opening the door slowly, careful not to step on the nails scattered across the floor, she edged her way in. She saw his feet first – unmoving just behind the ladder. He was dead.

From behind her in a dark corner, she heard a deep and sudden sound. Turning around, the shadow grew, towering over her, until she was engulfed.

Seventy-two hours later they were found. The Peak remained abandoned.

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