It was Natalya’s fourth trip to St. Petersburg for the year. She was writing a treatise on Tsar St.Peter the great and could still feel the massive influence he had had in founding the city. Of Albanian descent but born in Russia, Natalya had never failed to be impressed by how much of the architecture and cultural past of Russia been dominated by just a few (noble!) men over the centuries.
Her favourite was of course, Leo Tolstoy, of noble birth who had been beloved of the masses. She wondered how it would be to meet a tsar from the long ages gone by. After entering the Church of our Savior on Spilled blood, she turned a deserted corner absentmindedly. She was shell-shocked to see a shimmering transparency in the air which beckoned to her with bloody hands. She couldn’t control the panic that followed nor the unheard tinny screams.
(150 words)
“What Pegman saw” is a weekly challenge based on Google Streetview. Using the 360 degree view of the location provided, you must write a piece of flash fiction of no more than 150 words. You can read the rules here.
It sounds like meeting a tsar from long ago was not what she’d expected. Nicely done.
Maybe her thoughts were what drew him in. Thanks for writing in.
Tsars – ancient and modern – have always used terror, cruelty and bloodshed to rule. You express that very forcefully in this ghost story. Well written!
Thanks Penny. I have always been secretly terrified of them in my childhood after I read about them. Appreciate your feedback as usual.
Let’s hope that Natalya’s (such a lovely Russian name!) treatise is all the more informed for this ghostly encounter… once her panic finally calms… Nice, researcher tone to this piece, befitting of the protagonist, me thinks. 😃
Aww, honoured by your compliment. Thanks for writing in.
This falls under the heading “be careful what you wish for”! Loved the history woven into this tale, as well as the surprise it brought. Great to see you on Pegman 🙂
Exactly. I felt a spooky need to insert a ghost into the story. Prob the tsar was looking over my shoulder 🙂 truly appreciate your encouragement. Thanks for writing in.
Well, her wish came true. She’ll get a bit of eye witness knowledge for her treatise, though!
Ha ha. That’s a novel angle. Eye witness huh? Thanks for stopping by to comment. Really appreciate it.
Dear Lavanya,
It sounds like Natalya got more than she bargained for. Frightening experience, I’m sure. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
PS In my my novels, my heroine comes from a tiny (fictitious) village in Moldova called Natalya. 😉
Wow, that’s an amazing coincidence. Natalya happens to be my favourite Russian name. Thank you Rochelle for the kind comments