Belinda's Story - By Tania Visser

Written By: Tania Visser

Category: Mystery & Thriller - Crime Story

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Tania Visser presents a haunting narrative in "Belinda's Story," her entry in the Mystery & Thriller - Crime Story category of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. This gripping tale unravels the eerie mystery surrounding Belinda's untimely demise, inviting readers into a world of suspense and intrigue. The competition is a prestigious platform celebrating diverse literary talents, and Tania's contribution adds a chilling edge to the collection.

About the Work

"Belinda's Story" immerses the reader in a suspenseful atmosphere, rich with intrigue and unexpected twists. Tania Visser crafts a vivid world where silence speaks volumes and secrets lurk beneath the surface. The story's gripping narrative and chilling mood are enhanced by its detailed imagery, leaving readers pondering the complexities of human nature and the shadows that dwell within.

Belinda's Story

Original Submission by Tania Visser

The room was silent only the sound of the clock ticking could be heard, everything stood in its place unchanged as though no one had been living in it yet this was a residence that belonged to Belinda yet today it was silent, today Belinda was inside this residence but Belinda wasn’t particularly what we would call alive. Belinda was a woman who had for some time enjoyed the single life and had enjoyed living alone, she was busy celebrating her life and finding herself and she had begun redecorating this place that she lived in and she had just started making friends. She wasn’t exactly a social butterfly and spent most of her free time doing the creative things that she enjoyed which was painting, pottery and playing guitar. Her group of friends were few and her family lived a bit far away, so Belinda was someone that kept rather to herself. Today though in this place she once called home it was now a designated crime scene. Her neighbour Mark noticed the place was quiet and Belinda’s car stood parked in the driveway; he recalled that she had mentioned going out today to run some errands as she had asked if he wanted or needed something. Belinda was always the kindest soul and always offered to help yet she hadn’t left and she was supposed to come by his place to collect the parcel he had asked if she would mind dropping off at the courier’s office. Mark thought odd, she was always on time and always remembered especially if she had offered to help. He walked towards her door and as he was about to knock, he noticed it moved slightly open, okay this was not the norm she wouldn’t leave her door unlocked or slightly ajar, so he pushed it slowly open and began to call out for Belinda. As he moved down the corridor his head searched and scanned the room and he neither heard or saw her, odd her car is in front, her door is open and she is not responding.... he walked towards her bedroom and kept calling out to her and still she did not answer. He noticed her bathroom door was slightly half open, and he walked slowly towards it calling out and apologizing at the same time not knowing what he’d find behind the door. As he came closer, he could already see something appeared off and not normal Belinda lay in the bathtub still fully clothed, not immersed in water, just lying in the tub but not responding to his calls. He pushed the door open and in doing so a shock spread across his face and immediately he ran out, out of the bathroom, out of the room and out of her house. Soon the blurring sounds of sirens could be heard and soon this once safe and peaceful home became embodied with the ever-present number of officers and detectives and suddenly the air, the atmosphere changed. It was a cold serene one and this was now officially a crime scene. Mark stood outside crying and barely getting his words out as he tried to explain to the officer questioning him what he had found and the events of the day. Belinda lay covered in a pool of blood her throat had been slashed almost wide open, the cut was not a perfect one and the weapon was missing. Her eyes were not entirely shut and she appeared to have no time to gasp for air, neither to defend herself from whomever did it, one thing though she was not attacked in the tub, no she was moved there and this is where the investigation began. The officer asked Mark if he noticed anything odd about the house, but Mark said he just walked in to look for her, so he did not really see or pick up anything out of place. He was just a neighbour that tried to ask her if she’d still deliver on the favour they’d arrange which was the package, either than that he did not pay attention to anything else. However, the kitchen knife was missing so they found out, apparently, she had a set but this set was today incomplete, whomever was in her home also cleaned up all the blood and currently the officers were trying to pinpoint the original location of where she stood when her throat got slashed. It was whilst scanning the rooms that a trickle of blood was found on the carpet, something this person did not notice and failed to clean so for now she was in the living room that much they knew. Her body was placed in a bag, and she was taken to the mortuary for further tests and scans part of police protocol, Belinda’s life was officially over, she barely got a chance at a fresh start. Mark was done speaking to the officer and went home, the police continued to scan the house and search for clues, some passing through the neighbours and asking them for information and as everyone started to hear shocks slowly spread after all murder in this area was rare in fact non-existent. Nightfall arose and the cops left the home of Belinda now shut and taped left an eerie feeling to the neighbourhood and poor Mark wondered how he was going to sleep knowing that whoever did this was still out and about. As Mark walked past his mirror a voice spoke “how long you think you are safe?” and then he quickly jumped replying “shut up, shut up” then he walked slowly back to that same mirror and stared deeply into it and he whispered “you get what you deserve, you get what you deserve” he fisted the mirror not so to break it only enough to place his anger in it. Then he walked away and headed for bed. The next day Mark’s doorbell rang and once again a police officer stood in front as he approached the door he once again past the mirror and again a voice spoke “you can’t pretend now” and Mark snapped he grabbed the mirror off the wall and went to chuck it in the closet and in doing so causing a bit of noise, the officer knocking harder at the door asked what’s going on, he hurried to it opening it and simply said he stumbled over something. The officer asked if he could come in and Mark said sure and as he walked to the living room, he noticed the nail on the wall but said nothing, he scanned the surroundings and then turned to face Mark who now had an awkward look on his face. Then he began to ask Mark a few questions “So Mark, yesterday upon questioning you said you spoke to Belinda around 9, correct?” Mark then answered “Yea, I believe it was around then “Officer “Believe or are you sure about the time Mark?” Mark “9 it was around 9 like I said” Mark began pacing the room and then asked the officer, “Look I answered all your questions yesterday so why you asking me today again?” the officer answered, “Just formalities you know to verify your story and was this the last time you saw her?” Mark “No, around 11 she was coming back she had driven somewhere and that’s when she asked me if I had any errands she could help with, and I told her about the package. She said she was going to come around 2 for it and yea that’s pretty much it, you know till I found her.” Officer “Right, right I see. You also said she drove right” Mark getting annoyed with the cop “Yea and came back at 11” Officer “Ok, any idea where the car keys are though as uhm we didn’t find those yesterday after checking the place” Mark looking towards the ground “Uuuuhhhh no she would of kept them I guess in her house” Officer “Probably but for now it’s missing, you know Mark I noticed a nail in your wall did you have something hanging there?” Mark didn’t realise that was noticeable “Oh, just a mirror but it was loose, so I took it down” Officer “Hmmm, ok and uhm Mark what keys are those on the side table next to the couch?” Mark now realising he forgot one crucial thing panics and tries to attack the officer not realising he was prepared and suddenly a bolt of electricity travels throughout his body and he slumps and falls to the floor, as he lays there several cops rush in and suddenly, he is no longer alone with just one. He is flung onto his belly and handcuffs placed on his wrist and the officer reads him his rights and he is raised up from the ground to be taken into custody. As he is walking with cuffs on his wrists his eyes catches the mirror that he kept in the corridor room and once again a voice speaks “told you not to do it” and he yells “shut up, shut up” the officer escorting him out says “no one is talking to you, you crazy fool”

Justice was served that day as Mark is on his way to jail, thanks to neighbourhood cameras and one Belinda actually had hidden inside her home that caught everything it was easy, easy for officers to figure out who the murderer was. What was not easy was watching it for Mark was a little pyscho and speaking to himself he did. The reason behind it no one knows, Belinda might have lived alone but she was smart enough to have some security measure almost as though she knew sometimes in life you need a backup plan and hers was to ensure that if she were ever murdered evidence would definitely find its way home.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, hosted by Hashtag Kalakar, is a celebration of literary innovation and creativity. This esteemed event showcases exceptional works from writers worldwide, offering a platform for diverse voices and narratives. Participants explore various genres, contributing to a vibrant tapestry of contemporary literature.

We extend our gratitude to Tania Visser for her compelling entry, "Belinda's Story," in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Her work has contributed to the rich diversity and depth of this year's collection. We appreciate her sharing this captivating and haunting narrative with us.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.