As
you might expect when 'magpie' is one of the prompt words, even so Jim managed
a ripe bit of gruesome in his 'Keep your mouth shut', and Antonia's
insertion of all three in her un-numbered 'Stop the week' was as smooth as
ever. This week, however, David's clever and delightful 'Sing a song of
pig pens' flew to the top of the list and stayed there, cheering me every time
I read it.
Words for the
coming week: bookmark limp wreak
Entries by
midnight Thursday 11th February, new words
posted Friday 12th February
Usual
rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all
three words above in the genres of horror, fantasy, science fiction or noir.
Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and uses of the words
and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or
Facebook or whichever.
Congrats David!
ReplyDeleteA great bit of poetry, David.
DeleteYours was the right choice, David. Congrats!
DeleteGreat news, David1
DeleteThank You, Erd [3]
ReplyDelete“Thanks to Rach’s goblin friend, I’d count this as another success!” Felicia grins and returns the bookmark to the journal in her hand. The wrinkled green leather makes a soft farting sound as she snaps it closed, but only I seem to notice.
Rach nods. “It’s not a map, but Erd’s account of the burrow was surprisingly accurate.”
Vera sighs and glares at Rach, then limps towards the road. “Whatever. This quest has wreaked havoc on my robes. Let’s go to town and appraise the gem.”
"Yes, let's go!" I say. "After today, I'm definitely buying a trap detection ring."
I had to rewrite this after I realized I used the word 'wreck' instead of 'wreak.' Alternate line from Vera was: "Whatever. Let’s go to town and get the gem appraised. Salvage this wreck of a quest.”
DeleteI decided to keep this light-hearted dungeon crawler story going as long as possible. :)
For once, a goblin did something good. I wonder how it will go in town? Not well would be my guess. The gem will likely attract a lot of attention.
DeleteLove what you've done with a bookmark!
DeleteEntering town could be a mistake. Vera and Rach best be on guard.
Deleteintriguing so it is, goblins centre stage, love it!
DeleteExotic keepsakes
ReplyDeleteThe goal had been twofold; to wreak as much mayhem as possible, and to fashion custom bookmarks from human skin.
Kraft limped from the pile of filleted bodies. “That should do it,” he said, wiping his hands on his apron.
“Nice diversion,” Sheila said. “The whole business will be blamed on ethnic cleansing. Too bad for China.” She checked her clipboard. “But we’re slightly short of our goal.”
“No problem,” Kraft said, approaching Sheila with his skinning knife.
Very definitely 'ugh' this one, John.
DeleteSheila should have lied. You sure do create some evil people, John.
DeleteWell that is utterly horrifying. I'm not sure I want to know what their goal is.
Deletenastiness and blood and gore and - John's standard fare and every time it gets to me! It's a bad week if I don't go 'yuk' or urgh' or... !!!!!
DeleteSNARK LOVES COMPANY
ReplyDeleteJoanie, not one for staying put with even the more serious injury, was almost tastelessly happy to give up her spot for the wounded Sally.
The alien bombardment hadn’t eradicated jealousy, so she limped off the bus with a light heart.
Running into the wall of tension outside wreaked havoc on that bright moment.
Caolin was being snarky with a curiously dressed … woman? Yes … a woman.
Unlikely to be a rival … by the stench … so Joanie didn’t feel immediately threatened, but she bookmarked the potential in the event of a bath.
She caught Colm’s eye. ‘Another girlfriend?’
Oh, Perry, this so intriguing - I loved it (also that, by implanting a song lyric, it sent me to a Jon Bon Jovi video)
DeleteSounds like a fairly fragile relationship. Be careful, Colm!
DeleteLoved the phrasing of 'running into the wall of tension outside.' It is sad that things like alien invasions and zombie apocalypses don't always bring people together.
DeleteVisitor to the shop in the week insists the zombie apocalypse will happen and he is learning to live off the grid to be ready... not sure what he would make of the strange people you conjure each week!¬
DeleteNo Turning Back
ReplyDeleteSelma bookmarked the entry on the website and limped away from her laptop. In the mirror her reflection revealed the violent havoc they had wreaked upon her. Split lip, blackened eye, deep lesion above the eyebrow, another on the bridge of her nose, one tooth so loose it was clearly irretrievable.
She was close now. They were like rats backed into a corner. Once she’d cleaned herself up, she’d go back out into the fray. Try to end this thing. She hoped Dan was still alive. She hoped when he saw the bookmark, he’d piece together the fragments.
And another 'ought to be a novel' entry - lucky us!
DeleteThis could lead to some very interesting encounters.
DeleteA very compelling scene with a strong end. I hope she finds Dan safe.
Deletestrong, vivid scenarios here which I find fascinating.
DeleteSMALL MARAUDERS -
ReplyDeleteBookmarking the fissure between here and there, a sliver of limpid-light flickered faintly in the dark of a clouded moon.
Two very large Trolls crouched motionless.
‘Clubs ready. Wait for the chink to widen.
Wreak chaos. Don’t give them bloody raveners chance to step on our soil,’ grunted the larger.
‘Erm, Raveners usually fly, Urgrat.’
‘Fer fecks sake Mungle, you know wot I means. Give the little bleeders hell.’
As Mungle nodded, there was a tinkle of sound. The crack split open and raveners billowed out like bees under the shadowy sky.
‘Feckin’ fairies,’ bellowed Urgrat, swinging his club.
Lovely, especially the opening sentence.
DeleteAs always, Terrie, you create such beautiful imagery.
DeleteI agree with J.E., so easy to imagine the scene with your descriptions! Loved the trolls' conversation and the phrase 'raveners billowed out like bees under the shadowy sky.'
DeleteVivid writing, Terrie, and such vivid conversations too!
DeleteSelf-doubt [Threshold 382]
ReplyDeleteSo what had changed? When had I begun to believe myself little more than a bookmark in his life? Carelessly torn margin from handy newspaper, destined to be discarded, limp and ragged-edged from careless handling when the chapter in which I'd been placed ended? Had my behaviour – oft-times childish and intemperate, I knew – wreaked irrecoverable damage to what once (I thought) was more than fondness for me, or was Raven by nature incapable of fidelity?
Did he now aim for a position in what society had evolved to, whereby he needed a helpmeet of dignity, of maturity by his side?
I can feel her emotions strongly here and I loved your use of bookmark and the following sentence. A clever comparison.
DeleteLots of questions building to a solid brick instalment - for future storylines.
DeleteChange of focus [459]
ReplyDeletePhilly Stepcart, judging Pettinger's question so limp as to be meaningless, had no idea why she'd mentioned marriage; her Life Plan having never been bookmarked with such conventions as 'Husband' or 'Children'. His eyes, however, shone with hope. If she was pregnant (time would tell) having him on her side would be no bad thing. She doubted he'd be one to rein her in, and Aleks an interesting project.
Just one thing: Holding his gaze, 'You know marrying me might wreak havoc with your career.'
A smile, 'Bollocks to that. Are you saying 'Yes'?
'I am.'
A marriage born in Heaven? Hmm... I think not.
DeleteI'm very curious to see how this turns out! Loved the phrase 'judging Pettinger's question so limp as to be meaningless.' :)
Deleteyou're doing a magnificent job with this serial, Sandra, still holding the attention after 459 episodes!!!
DeleteA READING
ReplyDeleteRudy opened Linda’s diary to the bookmarked page then wiped at the tears that invariably filled his eyes when he read his deceased wife’s words. He read aloud, as he always did: “Darling, I love you. Oh! how I love you! Forgive my girlish euphoria, but my entire being grows limp whenever you fill my mind… and my body. I cannot live without you. God, how I adore you, Dennis.”
As he had for the past 14 years, Rudy replaced the diary between the bodies of Linda and her lover then smiled at the ruin he had wreaked upon them.
Definitely felt a decided chill when I read 'Dennis' and I was right to be concerned. Yikes!
Deleteoh good one! Such nasty and devious thoughts going on here!!!
DeleteTHE POINT
ReplyDeleteSome thought that Dennis might wreak revenge upon his employer via some non-violent act of rebellion, but he scoffed at that sort of limp retaliation.
Before being elected as the fall guy for the loss of company revenue, Boss had referred to him as his “right hand man”.
Remembering that appellation had been an inspiration.
The doorbell rang.
Denis rose from the armchair and placed the novel on the coffee table, bookmarking the page with a heavy object which smelled of bleach.
The forefinger, which somehow extended during the pickling process, pointed to the door.
Dennis smiled. ‘Still bossy, eh?’
Oh! Masterly misdirection and a sly prod of resolution - this is very neat, Perry
DeleteThe cunningly deliberate mind of a psycho exposed. Nice, Perry.
DeleteThe beginning was quite clever and despite the horrifying reality of what Dennis has done, I had to crack a smile at the pointing finger.
Deleteoh yes, carefully done, leading us into that oh so telling phrase!
DeleteUPDATE
ReplyDeleteMy daughter (something of a computer whiz) has tried to figure out my posting problem with marginal success. She does believe she knows what's going on, but it's nothing we can do anything about unfortunately and there is no fix at my end. So....it is with much regret that I retire myself from this forum. Perhaps I will return and try again at some point in the future. Keep those plumes waving fellow Predictioners and I will attempt to comment as time permits.
Oh, I do hope you'll return! I always love your stories. :)
DeleteDon't give up, Patricia! As Lt. Bromhead said to Lt. Chard in the movie ZULU, "We need you, damn it! We need you!"
DeletePatricia, I have emailed you with a possible solution.
ReplyDeleteIt’s been a bit busy both in the shop and at home, different work but tiring enough to wreak havoc with my sleep patterns. I try to finish editing by 8 and go get a milky drink, to bookmark the kindle and end up falling asleep in the chair, then limping to the kitchen followed by two cats who always want more… the onset of arthritis causes the limping, by the way! Sometimes I know why there is a retirement date… The shop remains quiet although footfall has increased, who knows, there might even be news one week!
ReplyDeleteHow very neatly you wove the prompts into this revealing entry, Antonia.
DeleteWhat Jim says (always an impressive skill you regularly demonstrate) And sympathy for the arthritis because I am suffering in the same way, hating not to be able to walk with pleasure.
DeleteMy cats are always complaining I don't feed them enough. Hard to please! :)
DeleteThe Mad Italian is here!
ReplyDeleteIt is a time of high pension seen from this side of the veil, we are concerned about the damage a conflict in the Ukraine will do, we watch as the will of various governments go limp at the very thought of trying to intervene in a problem area of long standing. We/I see the governments bookmarking the dates and times of yet another meeting even as they know it is of no use, some things are inevitable and another war is very likely to be one of them. Hold on to hope for peace.
And as if we weren't already impressed, anther demonstration!
Delete