Chemical bullets, creepy woods and tattooed infidelity bad enough, but Antonia’s swarming rats are the stuff of nightmares, so this week I declare her winner while thanking all contributors for posts and comments.
Words for the coming week: cut quick trespass
Entries by midnight Thursday October 20th new words hopefully posted Friday 21st
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.
thanks, Sandra! Being home all the time produces some strange reactions to the writing!
ReplyDeleteWell done Antonia .
DeleteCongrats, Antonia!
DeleteYour winning entry was marvelous, Antonia.
ReplyDeleteHere Here! Finestkind!
ReplyDeleteStirrings
ReplyDeleteDisregarding ‘do not trespass here’ warnings carved in ancient symbols scripted along the rocky fortification, Bailey cut away trailing vines and tested the strength of the tomb’s stone entrance with a small pickaxe.
Unexpectedly, the wall crumbled easily and quickly into a fair-sized entrance.
The shaman chanted gutturally and howled. Small gourds tied at his waist rattled rhythmically as he stamped feet.
Behind him many villagers took up the chant.
Bailey turned and glared, ‘Stop that bloody awful caterwauling,’ he growled.
Silence fell as the stench of something long-dead filtered out from the opening behind him.
Echoing keening followed.
Perhaps Bailey should have honored the warning, Terrie.
DeleteBailey certainly not as sensitive as he ought to be. I trust he'll get his comeuppance.
DeleteA DETOUR – PART II
ReplyDeleteThe voices strengthened as Arthur Irwin cautiously crept toward the brightening glow. He paused occasionally to question his decision to continue, but curiosity invariably cut through his doubt and drew him onward.
A clearing gradually appeared through the trees, and there Arthur saw adolescent girls in white dresses dancing in a circle to music originating from an unseen source. The sight was lovely yet shocking: why were beautiful young girls dancing in the dark heart of an eerie forest?
He looked quickly side-to-side, confident he’d see adults present.
There were none.
Doubt again arose, asking him if he dare trespass.
Especially enjoyed the opening paragraph.
DeleteCentre of attention [Threshold 409]
ReplyDeleteNeither of us sufficiently self-conscious of our supine nakedness to claim trespass on our privacy – and too well aware, since we were on their land, it would be hypocrisy – we nevertheless were quick to attempt to judge their mood. Six of them, a semi-circle, all male. Expressions from lascivious to prurient; some, regarding Raven’s … magnificence, I judged as envy.
Raven’s sudden twist and use of elbows to sit so as to part conceal me cut into my complacency – he’d registered their re-evaluation. Of me. Their recognition of my female potential. Their condemnation.
Raven’s growled ‘She’s mine,’ a deliberate challenge.
I definitely would not mess with Raven in this situation!
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ReplyDeleteChange of focus [487]
Quickly decanting beef Biriani and curry sauce onto ready-heated plates; tearing portions of Peshwari naan, Pettinger raised his pint of Cobra, his ‘Bon appetit’ unnecessary: London already forking food into his mouth.
For several minutes silence, apart from the clatter and scrape of cutlery, the swallowing of spicy food. London in no mind to waste time speaking, and Pettinger reluctant to trespass on bad memories. Trading food for information felt underhand, even though it had worked with Philly.
But then the trade had been more even; she had inside information, and ensured he used it well. Allowed him to use her.
I look alive, I feel dead.
ReplyDeleteHere’s no such thing as a truly neutral rat, we aren’t built that way. We’ve grown and grown into the screaming mass of creatures running around this planet. There’s them as can see we’ll eat ourselves out of existence… hey, who cut the broadband?
Rat Two made his careful way through the battered shattered laboratories, He knew he was trespassing, knew he had to be quick to get the hell out before someone came with axes to cut and hammers to bang and SCREAMS to tell the world what the world don’t wanna know – it’s too late for humanoids. The giant breed of rats has arrived.
Such an ominous future for humanoids, Antonia. Great first line!
Deleterushing, as usual, loved your entries, love that you are still there, patience and faithfulness all in a few bright heads... BTW, thank you for he votes, Sandra, thanks for the comments, everyone!
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