Flash fiction is a type of short story writing that focuses on extreme brevity. There are some variations on what the actual length is, but it is generally around the 55 to 100 word range. I find it to be an interesting form and I enjoy the challenge of making a full story in such a small space. I sometimes also use flash fiction to get an idea down to develop it later.
Enough talk! Lets get to the good short stuff! ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hopping Mad
He was found face down in a pool of blood on the floor of his living room. The murder weapon, the victim’s own mallet, was found covered with hair next to him. There were plenty of suspects to question; the deceased had a long history of bopping others on the head. Days later after hundreds of dead ends it was discovered that Mrs. Peter Cottontail had a taste for bad boys and Little Bunny Foo Foo fit the bill. They had been going at it like, well, rabbits. It was all fun and games until her husband found out.
They were everywhere. I had no escape. Brainless masses aimlessly wandering the highways and byways with no real connection to their fellow man. The only thing that kept me from being one of them was the fact that they were too oblivious to notice me.
That’s not to say they were not dangerous. They constantly walked into others and drove machines into anything they didn’t see.
I had one hope. My weapon was illegal here but I didn’t care, I actually gave a gleeful laugh as I turned it on.
Screams of pain and horror surrounded me as the zombies dropped.
“I’ve lost my IM!”
“I’ll miss the next update!”
“NO SIGNAAALLLL!!!!!”
I went on happy that my cell signal blocker 9000 once again saved the day.
Zombies was featured in the August 6th issue of Indie Book Bargains!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Word Police
The idyllic night was shattered by a sudden scream that ended with the unmistakable sound of a knife repeatedly shredding flesh. Police rushed in from all corners to the grizzly scene.
“Halt!” The senior officer looked at the body on the ground with disgust and turned to the woman standing over the body, covered in gore and still holding the knife. “Did you do this?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“He said a naughty word.”
“Very well, carry on then.”
The perpetrator of bad words vanquished, the bloodied hero melted into the night waiting to strike another blow in the name of piety.
*I wrote this after a supervisor got mad at me for saying pissed. Being as I had just slipped in lose gravel left all over the parking lot and had a knee full of rocks I felt I was rather restrained.
I’ve lost track of how many bodies I’ve left in my wake. I think the worms are my biggest fans, lord knows I’ve fed enough of ‘em.
I like to vary my approaches also; keeps the work fresh. I’ve shot people, stabbed em, poisoned unsuspecting victims, and have even nuked a few. I have been merciful to some with a quick death and let others suffer for months.
The great part is that I always get away with it and let someone else take the blame.
The visitor marveled at the garden and its testament to a life that was in balance with nature. He worked his way through the house and found William in the study.
William turned and the sound of the visitors entrance. “I knew you would come.”
“It would kill me to disappoint you.”
William smiled at the shared personal joke. “Can you stay a while?”
“It would be my pleasure.”
The sat and talked as old friends are wont to do. The talked of good times and bad; loves lost and battles won.
“I suppose we should get going,” William said with a sigh.
“If you would like.”
They paused at the door as William looked back at his soulless body.
“What will my family do?”
“There will be anger and grieving,” Death replied, “but in the end they will realize that time comes for us all and none can escape it. Not even me.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Time
The young girl looked at her mother’s lifeless form and screamed.
“Why this way? Why death!?”
A man materialized out of the darkness.
“It is the way of things.”
Kathy’s rage burst to the surface as she attacked him; kicking and screaming until her anger ran out and she collapsed. He sat next to her and gave her a handkerchief.
“I’m scared,” she sniffed.
“We can stay until your father arrives.”
Moments later her father ran around the corner.
“I’m not the enemy,” he said quietly, “time is.” He whispered to his right and melted back into the night
Matt sat at his desk, frustrated. "What am I to do?" The story can only be fifty five words. My story is at forty and not close to being done. "What can it hurt?" Matt started writing some more. He finished the fifty sixth word and the world went dark. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Interview
Jeff sat in the office hopefully, this job had great benefits.
"How do you like the job?"
"It's a living, just like any other. I have good days and bad days. Just wright in your name and sign and the job is yours."
I, Jeff Radspinner, agree to collect souls in exchange for immortality.
*this short later grew to become Contracts of the Father ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Family Ties
She studied her target across the park and gave up fighting the depression that followed her all her life. While contemplating her grandfather and her unique way of committing suicide a strange yet familiar face came into view. She couldn’t place the face but he had her eyes. Eyes that had her so mesmerized that she missed the knife he carried until it was plunged into her stomach.
“I solved the grandfather paradox,” he whispered in her ear as he gently brought her body to the ground.
Death’s clarity provided her last thought. “My grandson will be brilliant.”