Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Hexed into the Spotlight

 I have a new illustrated story to share. This one was helped along by ChatGPT. All the characters, dialog, plot and settings are mine. ChatGPT took my long, very detailed, rambling, stream of conscousness prompts and formatted them into something coherent and added bits of sensory detail. I used AI to create the illustrations too.  Here is the result.



The RV sat parked at the edge of a gravel lot behind a faded dive bar off Interstate 8. The paint was chipped and sun-bleached. A plastic devil skull dangled from the rearview mirror, gently swaying as wind beat against the sides. From the outside, it looked like something left behind by a touring act that never made it past the second encore.


Inside, the air was thick—an acrid blend of cigarette smoke, old beer, leather, and the sharp tang of burnt incense. The tiny space was dim, lit mostly by the flickering flame of a black candle atop the kitchenette. On the counter next to it lay a stack of tarot cards, a rusted dagger used as a paperweight, and a half-empty bottle of cheap whiskey.


Celeste sat sprawled on a tattered bench seat near the window, legs crossed, a long, white cigarette held delicately between her fingers. The nail polish on her long nails gleamed cherry red, matching her full lips. Her outfit was unapologetically provocative—tight black mini dress with lace trim clinging to her athletic form, a weathered leather jacket with spikes on the shoulders, and laddered fishnet stockings stretched over toned thighs. Her black platform heels tapped idly on the floor in a syncopated rhythm. Her long, wavy hair flowed over her shoulders like smoke itself—dark black at the roots that slowly ignited into fire-engine red at the ends.