PHOTO PROMPT © Liz Young
“They’re like dinosaur bones,” Simon explained. “All the living matter in the tree dies, and minerals build up inside, turning the wood into a fossil.”
“If you say so,” Lydia responded, taking a step back. “Still doesn’t seem natural to me.”
“You’re scared?” laughed Simon. “Of a dead tree?”
“Can we just go already?”
Simon shook his head as Lydia walked away. He was about to call to her when he heard a sound behind him. He turned… had that gray branch always been so close to him?
“Lydia!” She stopped and looked back. The screaming then began.
It may be called Friday Fictioneers, but the photo prompt for the weekly flash-fiction challenge is posted on Thursday. Decided to get a head start on this one!
The Diligent Dilettante 
I’d like to read more of this one. interesting
There is more to this ‘tree’ than meets the eye. Great scary ending, too.
The tree doesn’t exactly sound dead to me! Well done.
My story!
I guess the tree wasn’t the one “petrified” in the end!
Seems like it would have gone for her not him, but maybe he knew too much!
Gotta watch out for those deciduous trees… they have an awfully large appetite. hehe!
Well done!
Wonderfully creepy story for a creepy looking tree!
The stuff of nightmares.