Six Flags Over Georgia has this wonderful little ride called “Monster Mansion.” Used to be Monster Plantation, of course but the p word has certain connotations down south that the good folks at Six Flags felt they should distance themselves from.

It’s a fun ride, though. Real easy. Got a real catchy song, too.

You sit in this little boat and you ride on a lazy river through this plantation home where monsters are throwing a big picnic type party. Everybody is laughing and having fun and playing games and you get to ride in your little boat and happily watch all the festivities played out before you. And its a good time as long as you pay heed to Marshall Billy Bob Fritter (see above) and stay out of the marsh.

But you can’t. There’s something in the marsh that pulls your boat in. And as much as Marshall Fritter yells and screams for you to stop you have a destiny in that black swamp. You can’t stop the ride.

This week I want some stories in the Southern Gothic style. The idea is that there is something out there that your character should avoid but fate has other things planned. There doesn’t have to literally be a marsh.