A slender week for entries but evidence (if such were needed) that I’m outclassed when it comes to creating tales of horror, since both David’s ‘Apples from Eden’ and Jim’s ‘The Voice’ were such perfect, clever and impactful examples of how to unsettle their readers, with skill, inventiveness and freshness – a skill they demonstrate week after week.
Which makes the selection of words for each coming week a pleasurable, but minor challenge; I seek a catalyst and a couple of non-obvious companions, then sit back and enjoy seeing how they are used. This weeks I found on the spines of the pile of books I’ve yet to read.
Words for the coming week: pearl, razor, trespass
Entries by midnight Thursday 4th May, new
words and winners Friday 5th
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.
[Threshold 436]
ReplyDeleteDesdemona! Once heart-worn pearl, beloved by Othello (a part Raven could claim he was born to play) until trust in her fidelity was razored unto shreds by Iago’s wicked lies; Iago’s false claims she’d allowed others to trespass upon places only her liege lord had the right to do.
I sincerely doubted Raven believed Indigo Eyes had been permitted such liberties (or had taken them without) but if murdering me was in his mind, I needed to make clear this no time for play-acting.
Wonderful use of the prompts in this one, Sandra!
DeleteChange of focus [514]
ReplyDeletePettinger’s good luck still held next morning. On arrival at the station Ben Brickwood’s pearly grin a promise of good news. ’Vanessa Quintain rang. Apologies but she’s finds herself unable to take on the Cold Case role she was offered –’
‘Excellent, I didn’t think it a good idea to trespass on the civilians’ duties –‘
‘There’s two already on it. No news as yet of similar razor- butchered torsos, but house-to-house, showing a photo of his face is still on-going –‘
‘Good.’
‘’And, by the way, congratulations. Is this your second child?’
‘Far as I know, yes.’
'Far as I know, yes.' What a sneakily crafty line, Sandra.
DeleteThe Girl Who Lost Some Earrings and Acquired A Necklace
ReplyDelete'I, for one, never forgive those who trespass against me,' said Captain Zidane, wiping blood from his razor.
The girl who worn the stolen pearl earrings dabbed her wounds with a handkerchief. 'You could have just asked for them back,' she sobbed.
Zidane laughed. 'There would have been no fun in that. Just be thankful I didn't exact a full pound of flesh from you.'
The girl was philosophical. The diamond necklace she'd stuffed up her sleeve while the captain was otherwise engaged was ample compensation for her lost lobes.
This is one heady girl. I hope she gets away with her theft.
DeleteLove the phrasing of this, David
ReplyDeleteMismatched
ReplyDeleteThat Christmas day – mid 1960s – I saw my mother guess from the shape of the package what it likely held. Watching her face, I sensed her practising a surprised expression; rehearsing words of gratitude in readiness for her unwrapping and revealing the crimson box which held the pearl necklace my father had, following her usual deluge of razor-sharp hints, bought her.
I never saw her wear it. Never asked why not; the rules of their marriage never to be trespassed. Most likely due to her perceiving small revenge instead of apology in my father’s ‘Cultured, of course’.
A poignant description of a troubled marriage, Sandra.
DeleteDON’T BLAME ME
ReplyDeleteAnna radiated a beguiling beauty that totally captivated me, and I loved her deeply. She, however, had a violent side, and trespass into her dark realm invited peril. My scars from knives, scissors and razors prove that.
A pearl can be found only by digging through the bowels of an oyster, and early on I believed a somewhat parallel belief – that if I patiently and carefully removed the layers of acrimony coating Anna’s heart, I could free the benevolence trapped there.
Sadly, I was wrong, for Anna’s animosity toward me steadily increased.
So, I killed her.
Do you blame me?
A morally troubling question, Jim, and a well-constricted dilemma. How deep WAS your love?
DeleteI shall ask the Bee Gees, Sandra.
Deletedetermined to send something!!!
ReplyDeleteThe razor fine edge that cut him away from me will never be bettered. Some stubble laden people could entice me into the newly opened barbers but few seem to take that route. People preferring the old walkway find that sometimes these jolt a few more memories into place, sometimes it causes distress - like the time the pearls were stolen (they said they were borrowed – and the retribution was enough to remove half the population of our town.) Odd that, I only just remembered it was me who knows the history of this town by .- if I could but remember… and the trespass laws, we said -
I'm impressed with hint of epic behind this piece. Has me wishing there were lots more pages to turn.
Deletethank you, Sandra! I should be able to find somthing good in this strangely moody piece. ope so, anyway. Really is high time I got writing/working again.
Delete