Greetings all,
There are, as I type this, utility trucks and heavy equipment outside of the house next door. They are digging for and readying to repair a gas leak. They've been there for some hours now. It's just 10:00 PM here. Something tells me I won't be getting much sleep tonight. It's all right. I tend to be a bit of night owl these days. Besides, the windows are open and there's the tiniest breath of Spring in the breeze.
The Tome is perched on my bed near the open window, waiting to bring forth new words. Let us not make it wait much longer, eh?
Our winner this week is Rob Evangelista with part 3 of his as yet unnamed story. The prompts are gorgeously woven into this. I had to read it three times just to find them! Thank you!
In second place is Sandra Davies with A Change of Focus (120): First of all, I can't believe it's been 120 chapters. You have kept this story fascinating and going strong. This chapter is lushly written and honestly made me shiver in sympathetic pain. Thank you!
And now for new words.
Asylum
Limit
Pride
The usual rules apply: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all of the three words above in the genres of horror, fantasy, science fiction or noir. Serialized fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and use of the words and stems are fine.
Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media best pleases you and, if you like, remind your friends that we are open to new and returning writers.
You have until Friday, March 20th. Winners and words on Saturday, March 21st.
I swear I posted this last night! Good thing I'd saved it!
ReplyDeleteThank you Colleen, and congratulations Rob for a well-deserved win. I have to admit Pettinger feels to have been around longer than 12000 words, but he did first appear in a couple of short stories and is playing a large part in my current wip, with Vanessa in a cameo role.
Deletecongratulations, Rob, you're doing really well. Waiting for you to start on the novel now...
ReplyDeleteand to Sandra. Yes, it is 120 instalments and spellbinding throughout! Brilliant storyline and outstanding writing makes it seem like only a short time ago since it began.
Good words. The Captain is already smiling over them, so it should be good this week...
Hello everyone! It's good to be back among you. I hope you enjoy this latest piece, it was fun to write.
ReplyDeleteThe Great Game
I sit down at the table and open the file.
“Are you Nirgal, Third Baron of Pride? Beast of the Dark Citadel?”
The demon snorts through his upper nose. “Yes, and I have been waiting…”
“Seeking asylum on… March 15,” I finish, checking off the requisite boxes. “You understand, of course, there are limits to the protection that we offer? If your Master appeals to the Throne…”
“He won’t.” Nirgal trembles like a nervous semi-truck. “I know sensitive things. He wont risk me speaking.”
“Is that so?” I adjust my halo; time to earn my commission. “Please, tell me more.”
Very curious piece in regards to it left me wanting to know more about what was going on. I enjoyed the writing and the conversation was quite compelling, and the final lines made me even more intrigued, good work.
DeleteLovely use of the prompt words and thoroughly enticing piece creating a vivid world. Wanting to know more, for sure.
DeleteVery intriguing world. Loved the humorous tone! I also really loved the little detail about the demon's appearance - "...snorts through his upper nose". Is there more than one? :)
DeleteThis was totally enchanting. I love the little hint that the "good guy" might be tainted with just a little smidgen of corruption. Interesting image created of Nirgal with the sneaky insertion of "his upper nose." And I would pay no small amount to see a semi-truck tremble given the number of times they've nearly run me off the highway!
Deletegood to see you again! This is an enchanting piece and reminds me how much you've been missed... really like this.More please!
DeleteSome very worthy winners this week. Many congratulations Rob and Sandra. Competition sure is fierce in this arena!
ReplyDeleteThank you, I had not expected to win but always appreciate the feedback the site offers, thought Sandra had it in the bag to be honest. I have been a bit busy so only just got to put some feedback on last weeks stories and will work on the next part of my own, although I feel it needs a title so will hopefully publish tomorrow. Yay me lol.
ReplyDeleteCongrats Rob & Sandra!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAppearance of a rickety ladder [Threshold 58]
ReplyDeleteO god I don’t believe in, grant me pride! For a moment I near-grovelled before returning my lust-madness to asylum, manacling it again to chastity.
Stepping away, ‘You offered ransom?’
Helvinsson smirked. ‘Already paid in kind, to Phelim.’
‘His father won’t like that. Plans?’
‘For you? Bait.’
‘For what?’
‘Ravenscar.’
‘I heard he’d a wife.’
His laugh was cruel. ‘She limits him. On my orders. Teases then denies. Soon as he lays hands on you, she’ll kill him. Fully justified.’
I doubted Ravenscar would allow himself to be so emasculated. Or turn, desirous, to me.
But ‘twas worth a try.
Every time I read your work I feel the need to step up my word game, always enjoy reading your instalments.
DeleteThanks Rob - I have to admit others' writing here has always had the same effect on mine, so I much appreciate the compliment.
DeleteHeavens to Betsy, this is the work of a truly talented Wordsmith. I envy your turn of phrase, but in the most flattering of ways. These continuations are one of the (many) submissions I look forward to every week.
Deletethis is going well...leaving loads of intrigue for the future - don't stop this one dead in its tracks, I need to know what happens next!
DeleteThe Root of All (Part 4)
ReplyDelete“Trent!” I screamed, fear gripped to my very core; dare I leave the asylum offered by the temples chamber and see what happened? My thoughts were awash with crazed conspiracies; with no idea of what had occurred my mind did not limit possibilities.
The local tribes were a proud people, had I angered them by entering the old gods home uninvited? With no sign of blood on Trent or even a weapon I steadied myself to step beyond the limits of the stone entryway.
Then as I approached the door the sentries’ stone blades crashed down cutting off my escape.
You evoke the scene so well, and once again ramp up the tension. Love 'crazed conspiracies' and the final, cliffhanger line.
DeleteThis is turning into an epic tale which conjures images of the Indiana Jones movies. I was hard pushed to even spot the prompts here, they were so nicely interwoven.
DeletePatricia's right, Indiana Jones overtones, and that is no bad thing! Clever use of prompts here, like it a lot.
DeleteA change of focus [121]
ReplyDeletePettinger questioned Faith, ‘Just-peeled oranges? From drink?’
‘Don’t know. You said this might be separate from my sisters’ crimes? More to do with you?’
‘Insofar as my name was tattooed on your father’s back, cut into yours, aye. I don’t believe in coincidence. I take no pride in that: we need to extend the limit our search –‘
‘Begin with lunatic asylums –’
‘For other Pettingers?’
‘It’s not a common name.’
‘Presumably your... colleagues know nothing of him?’
’You think it’s tarts he’s targeting?’
‘More likely Cherrystones: my mother claimed a family link.’
Sly smile. ‘Ah, yes, your naughty mother.’
This gets more intriguing with every episode. Virtually nothing here but pure dialogue and yet, it reveals more than any descriptions could dare to accomplish. I referenced "Wordsmith" above and this only serves to reinforce that comment. Can I be you when I grow up?
DeletePatricia - thanks for your kind words - I have to confess it was joining this site back in 2011 when it belonged to Lily Child and having to choose and polish words to limit them to 100 that 'grew up' my writing. Personally, I've not managed it yet.
Deletebtw I'll be in your neck of the woods in July - perhaps we could swap dictionaries?
Sandra's words echo what I keep saying to my writers all the time, join in, work at it, polish that 100 word segment and see how it affects and enhances your writing in bigger works. It really does help. I've been here forever too and loved it.
DeleteEpisode 121 and you've not dropped the ball once during that time. Suspenseful as ever.
I enjoyed the conversation a lot in this one, and like the introduction of the 'naughty mother' lol, great way to carry the tale on but keep us guessing
DeleteCripplegate Junction/Part 5-Cakes And Cautions
ReplyDelete(By: Foxxglove)
(100 Words)
Beneath a glass dome on the counter, a display of teacakes bore the invitation: "Free! Limit One Per Patron." However, immediately capturing Clive Bailey's attention was a door at the rear of the Canteen marked "Asylum"
"Don't be hasty," cautioned the waitress, named Violet according to her tag. "Words often have two meanings." She delivered a buttered cake to the small blonde child, now alone at the table.
The girl accepted the treat and beckoned Clive closer. "Play with me," she wheedled as she took a bite. "My cake is free every time I win," she confided proudly. "Every time."
Read this three times and cannot fathom how you've managed to suggest so much underlying menace in this apparently innocent scene.
Deleteyes! how did you do it?
DeleteReminds me in ways of the classic stories I grew up with, sweet looking on the outside but double meaning at every innocent looking turn, great work!
DeleteBeyond The Veil
ReplyDelete(By: Foxxglove)
(100 Words)
She had probably been too young to make such a commitment, little more than a child, but choices had been limited. Abandoned, hopeless and afraid, she had accepted their offer of asylum and never regretted the decision. Now, she had paid in full for her transgressions and free to control her own destiny. The achievement would have brought her pride, if the thought had not been sinful.
Neatly folding the trappings of the Order that had been her sanctuary for almost ten years, Sister Margaret Magdalene removed the plain gold wedding band and was reborn again as simple Maggie McDonald.
And I'm far from sure this is the innocent delight it first appears ... Fantastic use of the prompts.
Deletethis is clever, it could lead on to a myriad of things (tonight's word, I do believe, is myriad... oh my, getting posh so I am...) and intrigues me no end.
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ReplyDeleteBrotherly love
ReplyDeleteUnlocked! Third church he’d tried in this godforsaken city. Asylum, once offered without limit so that such as he could access it, regardless of severity of crime, now itself become vandalised.
Conscious, in the high, black silence, of the raggedness of his breathing, he subsided onto the nearest pew; unable to escape sight of spurting blood, sucking sound of blade within soft tissue, pleading gurgle of departing life.
All because his brother had failed to recognise that, lacking employment, without money or usefulness the pride he took in the probity of his wife was essential.
And had now been lost.
You are definitely on a magnificent roll this week, Sandra. Here you are with three amazing tales and I was hard pushed to come up with two that would accept the given prompts. I would tip my hat if I ever wore one. This was dark, but deliciously so...and thank you for providing me with a word I had never before seen or heard, that being "probity." We are never too old to learn.
ReplyDeletethat's as perfect as it comes.
DeleteI went away for 1 night and 2 days and have been fighting to catch up ever since... here goes...
ReplyDeleteInfinity 9191.
Pride holds me here in my cabin writing these words. There is a limit to what I can stand and I about reached that limit. I would be in an asylum if I were to give way to feelings, so I reach for the rum instead and say to hell with all creatures not of this earth. The cries of the islanders do reach me even as I have Infinity moored outside the bay and see the crew curse as they row to the ship, in haste for they know sommat has happened but not what it be.
As you so often do, you write as if the prompts were chosen with you in mind, and that first sentence so very typical of the Captain. I trust we'll find out next week ...
DeleteVery curious, great build up, I look forward to see what is spooking the crew
DeleteI've discovered this week that I get serious withdrawal symptoms without my 100 word challenge! The Captain is pacing, wondering what to say next, asking if we should write a piece anyway and slot the prompts in later (no, that's too confusing, I told him) but he is suffering as I am...
ReplyDelete