Friday, 7 July 2023

‘The stranger that lives in my head’

 This week, for the familiar truth of the final line of his extra-ordinary offering,  I choose Jim’s ‘The stranger’ for top place, well aware, as ever, that every other posting this week was equally as packed with delight. Thank you all.

Words for the coming week: coast common wicked 

Entries by midnight Thursday July 13th, new words and winners Friday 14th

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.

13 comments:

  1. Well deserved top slot Jim. Excellent offering for last week.

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  2. The Secret Armadillo Soldier (SAS) Diaries - entry 231

    Warily watching a nightjar coast silently above Nigel said firmly, ‘scouting an’ snooping in full daylight aint common practice but we gotta know as much as possible, get movin’, don’t take chances, an’ if we get separated, make for old Tumbledon ruins.’

    The pair were half way down the incline when Armi stopped and turned, ‘keep watch on the horizon in our direction, I’ll use the stone to flash a signal when we’re on the way back. That crystal should sparkle pretty wickedly against sunshine; dunno about moonlight mind you, an’ be ready, Nige, cos we might not be alone.’

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    1. It's amazing, Terrie, how you so skillfully carry us along with your characters. Always a good read!

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  3. So satisfying, both in tale and incorporation of prompt words

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  4. [Threshold 442]
    Seeking reason for the sensations of stinging stripes being drawn across my belly – now crimson and glistening in a manner reminiscent of fat-cushioned humbugs – I identified an uncommon species of wasp; its red/black banding signalling a wicked malevolence which matched slow-emerging memories of a lion-haired woman, standing lighthouse high above a rock-strewn coast.
    Of Raven’s similarly-compelled striding away from me.
    Of his saying, with awed and all-too-evident delight, ‘Solva. You came.’
    I didn’t doubt her similarly capable of commanding insects.

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    1. Loved the image of the fat-cushioned humbugs - not that I'd want them attached to me mind you . For me it feels as though linking the present to a past incident is setting us up to expect further unpleasant interactions .

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  5. Change of focus [521]
    Essex police covered the east coast port of Harwich – once home to diarist Samuel Pepys, and departure point for Christopher Jones’ ‘Mayflower’ – too well aware of it too commonly chosen as favoured destination for Netherlands’ illegal drug trade, which, like cotton through a wax candle wicked through the bulk of the crimes they dealt with and almost certainly lay behind Goren’s untimely death .
    John Pettinger phone Philly. ‘I have to go away for a couple of days’ –‘
    ‘And you want me to be here for Aleks?’
    She sounded stressed. ‘Please. Yes.’
    ‘Be back by Friday. Without fail.’

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  6. Brilliant opening sentence, Sandra. ...cotton candy through a wax candle... it doesn't get any better than that.

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    1. Thank you Jim, much appreciated.

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    2. A most enjoyable instalment Sandra, although i think Pettinger more or less promising Philly he'd be back 'Friday without fail' is doomed to actually fail.
      I could almost see her on the other end of the phone frowning and shaking her head because she knows this mans track record for getting side tracked .

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  7. MY CALLING
    I coasted gleefully through life, treating both commoner and royalty the same. And to be honest, I treated both wickedly. Why? Hell, I don’t know… I saw it as my calling.

    I gruesomely killed many people and, to be truthful, I enjoyed doing so immensely! Again, I don’t know why, except that the thrill of murdering and dismembering someone beats anything else ever I’ve done in life.

    Am I proud of what I’ve accomplished over the years? You bet! And I emphatically state that you, judge, and you, jury, have no right to separate me from my calling in life!

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    Replies
    1. Superbly prompted opening sentence, Jim, and I doubt this plea will much convince the jury.

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    2. I was struck by the characters calm matter of fact-ness as he talks about his brutal pastime. You really captured the coldness of a killers point of view here.

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