The quite frankly hilarious Chuck Wendig has asked everyone to invent a new monster over here, and give it life through a flash fiction piece of 1,000 words or less.
Mine only took 242. Let's hope the thing they say about quality being better than quantity is true...
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Mine only took 242. Let's hope the thing they say about quality being better than quantity is true...
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The Nature of Dust
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Caroline was ready for it to be over. She knew it was
coming.
They all did.
Her colleagues, her husband, her children.
Palm to palm they’d pressed their hands together, separated only
by the triple-thick pane of glass that kept the inside in and the outside out.
Unfortunately, she was on the inside.
Tap.
No one had believed
her when she’d shown them the cuts on her fingers, the deep pocks like pricks
of a pin.
“Wounded by dust? You’re joking. Bits of dead skin and dirt
- How can that hurt you?”
It didn’t matter how – the fact that it did was enough.
She looked at her bandaged hands with cloudy, unfocussed
eyes. The white cotton was marred by green-tinged stains. The wounds were
weeping, they itched and stung. It would be hell when it reached the thin skin
of her face.
Tap.
Tap.
The beaker was rocking, knocking on the table top.
How much more proof did they need that whatever was in there
was alive?
On unsteady legs, she got to her feet and pressed her lips to
the glass. One by one her family kissed her goodbye.
She couldn’t hear the sobs, but she could see their tears.
Tap.
It was gaining momentum.
Tap.
She sunk to the floor, legs curled underneath her body and
her arms wrapped round her waist.
Tap.
It nearly made it.
A silent prayer.
Tap.
She closed her eyes.
Smash.
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I'd appreciate it if you let me know what you thought!
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I'd appreciate it if you let me know what you thought!
Hi! Trying to read all the entries in the challenge.
ReplyDeleteI wanted more of this one!! So many questions. But, I have a habit of writing stories that don't give all the answers, so I understand. Very interesting premise to this story. I have bad allergies so I am already "wounded by dust" but thankfully all I have to do is take nose spray!
Good, original story. And original monster. Sad.
ReplyDelete@fixitordeal, thank you! If you're still wondering, then it means I've done my job properly - and nose spray is a way better alternative to being eaten alive :)
ReplyDelete@oldestgenxter - I appreciate it!
I want more details. What do the people on the other side of the glass see? I feel like I just had literary interuptus. :D But, like often times when stories leave me with what I feel is too many questions -- I write the story in my head. Thanks for what will be some interesting dreams.
ReplyDeleteLike @fixitordeal I'm nose-spray allergy winner. I would hate that I would get eaten by pollen, dander or dust. Ugh!
Keep Writing!
Haha no problem, @whiskeychick! In my mind, flash fiction is only a small fragment of time.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you enjoyed it!