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100 Words or Less

4 years ago
The original 50 word story thread produced some great content, but then it got gigantic and unwieldy and sank down to the depths. Halloween seems like a good time to drag it up from R'lyeh. Spooky or unsettling things is where microfic often shines. We'll make the word count more lenient this time and allow any story under 100 words. (Any subject of course, it doesn't have to be horror or Halloween related.) It would be appreciated if you stated your actual word count when posting. @ShoujoAddict @LordCarpark @Steve24833 @Mayana @Zake @OriginalClamurai @mazdark @ninjapitka @Fluxion Here, I guess I'll start. 50 words:
We turned out the lights, locked the doors. Dad waited with a shotgun. Nobody spoke. We knew they’d be coming for him; for the money he still didn’t have. Two sharp knocks, and he fired. We found the neighbor’s kid in a Spiderman costume, bloody candy scattered across the porch.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
I really like that one.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

I agree, it is such a bait and switch...so much tension is built you are like: I hope he got whoever is out there. Then: oh god I'm a terrible person.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
I just like trick or treaters dying, ngl

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

50 words

The only light in the room is a waning candle. Trapped feeling the earth beneath the remains of your home... You are trying to breathe,crawling through the shattered crystals from the windows. No air, the candle just hiss as the flame fades away. It is only matter of time. 

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
I still like this one, it really captures the intensity and fear of the moment.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

This is awesome Mara. I am nervous reading it haha.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

It sets the mood pretty well. Nice! 

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
100 words: There's a house at the end of the lane. It's old and abandoned with busted windows and decaying wood, but the garden is still pristine. I was with my friends one night when they dared me to go there. Just inside the gate, a beautiful flower caught my eye. Looking closer I realized there was something in the ground. A child's hand stuck out, fingers wrapped around the stem. I turned to run, but instead, I was pulled under the ground. Now my hand clutches the flower stems in the garden of the house at the end of the lane.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
Nice classic spooky feel here, very cool. I liked the repetition at the end, it gives it this air of finality.

....did that let the first kid under the dirt *out*, I wonder? Because I picture them looking identical to the POV character as they rejoin the friends and tell them it was easy and they should go check it out too...

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
I might write a sequel eventually, but there is definitely some changeling shit going down here for sure.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

This is very intriguing!

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

I really, really like this one, Sab. 

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

> The Wait Calculation

Air fills my lungs in a sudden rush, and they violently reject this change. I fall into a fit of racking coughs, spewing hypersleep fluid onto the ship's floor. Once I get control of myself, excitement overwhelms me. I'm the very first person to travel to another star. I excitedly rush to the porthole, open the shades, and peer out into space. Before me is a hulking metal monstrosity, many times the size of my ship, surrounded with debris and floating corpses. Its guns aim at me, and I receive a transmission over the intercom. "Welcome to Alpha Centauri."

99 words, not counting the title.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

I love the sudden tone switch. Nervousness, elation, elation! Nervousness is back!

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
I probably wasn't intended to laugh at the ending, but I did. Just imagining the sudden 'oh fuck' reaction was great.

I did question how there were corpses there or how the transmission was in English if the character was supposed to have been there first to travel there, but other sci fi stories answered this for me: this poor fool was probably traveling at a snail's pace thousands of years in hypersleep while meanwhile back on Earth, they invented FTL travel and started a war over on Alpha Centauri.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

Lots of people made it to the planet, and lost have transmitted; unfortunately the robot can intercept transmissions out of hyperspace. That is what happened to the space pirate star-beard, god rest his soul.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

That's what I was going for. I figured the ship that was already there with way more advanced tech would be aware of the slow moving sub-light protagonist arriving, and would have plenty of advanced notice to brush up on old Earth languages.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

Loving Mother -- 60 words (title not included)


A baby's scream cries through the night,

Giving the entire block quite a fright.

You look in the bay widow with trepidation 

To see if you can alleviate the vexation.

There a child lays in her mother's arms,

To protect baby from any harms.

The mother does not continue to dote--

Due to the knife sticking out of her throat.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
The baby did it! Killer baby AHHHH!

Seriously though the rhyming was an extra level of challenge, and that last line really put a sudden twist on things.

The first line is maybe a bit rough, something about the scream 'crying' into the night seemed redundant and maybe just a little awkwardly phrased.

"A baby's cry pierces the night" would've been another way to handle it that also would've cut the line down by one word if you'd been going for a stricter limit. 'Quite' in the next line could also be dropped, but at this point we're running into matters of flow and rhythm for a poem which really aren't my specialty.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

I agree I read that first line and instantly thought "wrong word." I think I was going for rings though the night or pierces the night. I wanted it to give the impression that it suddenly happened. I also did it quickly on my phone so I did not go through and match up the syllables from every line...the quite seemed to work when read out loud, but I agree it could be removed. 
 

the idea was a normal seeming scene with a sudden dramatic twist at the end. Sort of like you think you know what is about to happen, then bam! Stabbed! Haha. I think it makes the rest of the poem creepier on a reread 

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

98 words:

Taking the time to be alone with my thoughts was the only thing that kept me sane. Now, that is all there is. Just me alone with my thoughts. There is no one left to bounce ideas off of. No new ideas to break up the boredom. I had always heard that everyone creates their own private Hell in life. I didn't take it seriously. The phrase meant something completely different to me, then. Now, I know what it truly means to be alone. If only someone would stop by. My plot is in dire need of tending.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
Aw damn that turned suddenly sad on the last line. Before it was just some guy complaining.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
That is really sad, but also really good. I love it, IAP!

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

What a dramatic turn at the end, yet subtle enough that I had to read it twice! I liked it

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

Thanks, guys!

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

Parasite (100 words counting title)

I stumbled into that forest clearing, having no clue what I would discover. Rows of small dirt mounds lined the ground like soldiers standing at attention, piquing my curiosity. Bending over to inspect a mound, my feet were torn out from underneath me and a violently crashed into the ground. I found myself staring directly at the dirt mound and a small, millipede-esque, insect crawled out of a hole in the top, dragging its long body over to my face. It slowly inserted itself into my nostril, and I struggled, held down by some unknown force. Panic. PANIC! Bliss...

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
Gross.

I suppose it could've been grosser though if you'd saved a few words to describe the actual physical sensation of the millipede crawling up there.

I'm uh, okay with it that you didn't.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

I was bored. I know it's not very good.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
It's pretty good actually, but there are definitely some unnecessary words that could've been edited out or rephrased to tighten up a few of the sentences and give you more space to work in other details.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

Oh! Ok thank you. I definitely was tight for words and wasn't able to really write the ending I wanted. I can see that some words were not really necessary (especially with such a low limit).

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

I agree it was good, but you spent so many words on tribal things--like the description on the mounds--that some things couldn't be described as well, like your death scene and the millipede 

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
*cracks knuckles*
I stumbled into the unfamiliar forest clearing, still lost. Here, ankle high dirt mounds formed unnatural rows like little soldiers. Crouching to inspect one, some violent, invisible force sent me crashing forward. Held paralyzed in place, the mound at eye level, I watched a long, millipede-like insect crawl from the top, approaching my face.
55 words. You now have a roomy 45 left to wrap it up with more focus on the grody part.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
pretty sure it's 94 words

"Mommy, why can't we go see gramma anymore?"

"She moved, darling. We don't have the money to visit. I'm sorry, darling."

I never understood why we can't visit her, when she still visits me. Most nights I see her at the foot of my bed. Staring at me. Sometimes her ragged breathing will keep me awake. One night I asked her, "Gramma, you don't look well. Are you sick?"

I've always felt bad for saying that. She started weeping. Then wailing. Then the blood from her eyes. I never said anything to her after that.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

Very creepy and plays off the ignorance of the main character. I love the implications without confirmation--especially the one that comes when you realized the main character's mother is lying. Why does she need to lie about grandma being alive? Did she do it? The only thing I'll point out is the awkward tense change. "I never understood why we can't visit her, when she still visits me." I think "I don't understand" fits better.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
I've always had trouble with tense changes thanks for pointing that out

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
Yikes, I think this one is the most genuinely creepy so far.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
I remember a similar twist to this one in the old 50 word stories thread, although there it was a crazy dude shooting his daughter while defending himself from "terrorists". I like yours better though, since it's written much better.

BTW, here are links to the first and the second 100 word story threads, as well as the 21 word and 6 word one, for even more flash fic goodness!

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

The end really got me. Woah. 

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

I have to admit that even if short flash stories are not a style I enjoy personally, this thread as a whole has given me another perspective and some are really meaningful. So you are all good writers.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

100 Words.

I am burning.

"Witch!"

"Heretic!"

Flesh chars. Bone blackens. 

I am burning. 

The sickness first feasted upon the young, but all flesh soon suffered. While the people prayed, I worked, synthesized, tested. Soon, I could offer them hope, yet all they saw was heresy.

I am burning. I realize I'm screaming. As my angers rises, so do the flames. The screaming turns to unhallowed laughter, as the crowd is consumed in the rising inferno. Consumed in pain. In terror. In panic. In fear. In justice. Beautiful, agonizing justice.

I am burning. And in my fury, we shall all burn together.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

I like the unique perspective for this one. So much is packed in the 100 words too. It goes from tragic for the main character, to tragic/frightening for everyone else. The repetitive language is also well used, it is a such a strong phase that ties perfectly into the plot. This story makes you imagine an entire book.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
Nice how the understanding of why this is happening keeps shifting, and in end I'm still not sure. Were they burning him as a witch and the fire got out of control, or did he have power over it somehow as implied (ugh, ALWAYS drown the witches with fire powers, that's like, remedial witch hunting...), or was this something he set up to begin with to kill them too?

Also got the sense his "solution" he offered was more than a simple cure, with the mention of him synthesizing something right after the plague is said to target all flesh.

The Cursed Puzzle

4 years ago
Another 100 words: I found a puzzle at a yard sale. The box is old and so worn out that I cannot even see the picture. I bought it just to see what it would turn out to be. The pieces are still in good condition as I begin with the corners, then the border. While I start to fill in the center pieces, I feel strange. With each piece added, I realize the puzzle is an image of my room. In the image I sit working on the puzzle and behind me there is a dark figure. I can feel his breath.

The Cursed Puzzle

4 years ago
Another super creepy one.

This one I feel like could almost be turned into a short storygame.

The Cursed Puzzle

4 years ago

Another unique perspective, well done! I think one thing that is missing for me is a stronger description of the "dark figure". So much detail is given to the puzzle--the pieces are in good condition, the box is old and worn so the picture is not readable, you start with the edge and work your way in--maybe you can shorten that all up:

I found a old puzzle box at a yard sale that had the picture worn off.

I bought it to see what is was and eagerly assembled the pieces.

As the puzzle nears completion I get a strange feeling that I am making a picture of my room.

I get that you want to build suspense, but the puzzle doesn't really do that and even feeling weird putting it together is a bit weak (in my opinion). Seeing the "dark figure" is automatically creepy. The more you describe it the more creepy it gets:

Behind me is a dark figure--twice as large as me with razor claws. I don't want to see more of it, but my hands assemble the pieces on their own. I watch my hands place his long neck and wolf-like snout directly behind my neck in the puzzle.

I can feel his breath.

 

I feel that everything in your story would have been better served as setup for the creatures appearance.

The Cursed Puzzle

4 years ago
I disagree actually, I think it's much more ominous when left to the imagination. The details of mundane things being there make it all seem more real, and the supernatural part being left open to the imagination rather than described as some random movie monster all contribute to the overall effect. Sabley's version just flowed well and built up to the twist more naturally than the abbreviated version as well.

The Cursed Puzzle

4 years ago

It does carry a certain suspense when there is some mystery. It might just be preference. I found my self wondering what the creature looked like. I thought that the puzzle could be described in less words. You could make the opposite argument that a longer description of the puzzle builds more suspense for the reveal. I do think it is a great and unique take on a spooky story

The Cursed Puzzle

4 years ago
I appreciate the feedback! As Mizal said, I was going for the natural feel of noticing mundane things. To me, the most terrifying monster is the one you don't notice until it is too late. If I was writing this for anything besides a 100 word challenge I likely would have put more effort into describing the figure. However with my goal of the puzzle being the focal point, I left it to the reader's imagination. For you it was this hideous beast with razor claws and a snout. In my mind, I imagined it as a shadow figure with too long limbs, a hideous oversized smile, and two empty black holes for eyes. This way, the reader can turn it into whatever scares them most in their mind. Edit to add: I agree with you on the line that mentions feeling strange. I was going for an open ended feel, but now that I look at it again I am not completely satisfied with that line.

The Cursed Puzzle

4 years ago
I just imagined some colored dude.

The Cursed Puzzle

4 years ago

I like it with the care taken to describe the puzzle, but the figure being a twist. It has more impact that way. What we can't imagine is often more monstrous tgan what we can, as well. 

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

Term Paper

Thunder howled as the sleep deprived college student sat alone in his study. This is it, the final test of strength.  Just a ten thousand word essay about the history of potatoes.

Though as he sat there, he knew what he must do. His fingers moved at the speed of sound as he took excerpts and put them into the perfect essay. After an hour he was done.

Though when he got his paper back, he saw that he had been kicked off the course. After looking at student loans he knew what he must do. He got a belt...

 

100 words

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

The nightmares about school flare up. I thought this was more funny than scary, it was dark though. It was also unclear why he was kicked off course to me. Was it failure to pay? Or did the essay actually suck? 

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

I meant to imply that he plagiarized it, though I had to cut some things so that might not have came through. That's what I meant by taking excerpts and putting them into the perfect essay. 

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

Oh! That is my mistake, it is totally there and clear, I just missed that. It is more dark comedy, but it makes sense reading it again with that in mind.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
Cut out 'Though as he sat there,' which isn't necessary to that sentence at all, and you've got five words free to make it clearer he was plagiarizing. It really needed that part to be obvious to make the results funnier and more deserved.

100 Words or Fewer

4 years ago

(97 words)

 

Dear Molly,

No, you may not have a different partner for the group project, regardless of whether Cynthia "smells like compost" or "is a bitch."  Yes, I know that nobody likes her, and I honestly agree that she is a moron, but someone has to be partnered with her.  I deal with this every time I have her in this class, and nobody is happy about it, least of all me.  Just put up with her stupid face for a few weeks more.

Yours,

Professor Gower

...

Dear Prof. Gower,

Did you mean to "reply all"?

-- Molly

100 Words or Fewer

4 years ago

R.I.P. I am going to change my email setting to ask for 6 reminders before I send anything haha. This one was also more dark funny than creepy scary 

100 Words or Fewer

4 years ago
I did say they didn't have to be horror themed, but of course, it's that time of year so I'm not surprised most of them have been.

100 Words or Fewer

4 years ago

F

100 Words or Fewer

4 years ago
Truly Terrifying, I might never recover from this fear and now I must check my emails a million times before hitting send.

100 Words or Fewer

4 years ago
Oh dear. I hope this one isn't based on a true story. Hilarious though, even with all the sympathetic wincing I was doing at the end.

100 Words or Fewer

4 years ago
I like the subtle fix of "less" to "fewer". That actually gave me an idea that will hopefully land.

Ein (100 words)



They sent me away, tried to get rid of me, and buried me in the prison they called a bunker.

When the last of our defenses collapsed they begged me to escape, but I couldn't bear it any longer. My country, my struggle, they were all gone.

Now, I was the one who sent them away.

The only person with me was my beloved wife.

We had two pills--and a bullet just to be sure.

"Goodbye, Eva."

With a sip of water, I took out my pistol for the last time.

"Now, there is one less."

Bang.

"..."

"One Führer."

100 Words or Fewer

4 years ago
The simultaneous feeling of "whoa nice twist" and the disgustd groan at that. fucking. pun. was a weird combination.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

Bought her off some guy in Tijuana. She probably thinks I'm a pervert. Her mascara's been running all day, but she stayed quiet, which I like. Sometimes, it feels like they know.

 

Maybe she figured I was CIA, bringing her to America. No, I'm just a guy with needs. My survival depends on it. Really!

Opened the door to the bedroom. The smell hit us both like a brick. That's when she started to fight. I shoved her onto the pus-soaked sheets and ran out. Locked the door behind me.

I'm sorry.

I had no choice.

Better her than me.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
And we're left with no fucking idea what was in the room, damn you.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

I had a huge production planned! There was going to be description and sound effects, but it was all far too many words. The producers really killed this one.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

I love all the false impressions you worked in. Like CIA agent saving the girl: nope! Going to use her sexually: nope! Surprise: feeding her to the thing.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

cliff diving


It is a sunny day

On a cliff by the bay

I can see for miles

Sand blown in piles

The air smells like salt

A day without fault

So I lean forward and let go

But it is not water that waits below...

 

44 words not counting title. This is a remake of a poem I wrote in middle school as a angsty teen.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
Ah yes, I can definitely see the angsty teen roots in this.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

What it be? How it do? Trev0r3 here with a food review!

Y'all heard about the new "affordable", "free-range" McSquidgeburger for only $1.99! How good is it really? Let's unwrap and find out!

Haha! I like how they wrapped the skin around it to show it really did come from a real human, not the stuff that grows on stalactites. But how's the taste?

Definitely chewier, the muscle works harder out in the backalleys. They tried their best to add the marbling we're familiar with! Tastes like lymph injections for the artificial moisture? Haha, they don't waste anything at McSquidgies.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
Well this was nice to read while I'm eating.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
I did another one before I slept. It has a very weird rhyming scheme but then again I think that fits the content.

Bucketful of Teeth (100 words)


I found a bucketful of teeth one day,
When I entered our backyard to play
Fetch with our dog amidst spring in May
Instead he chose to dig up a deposit which lay
A container holding dentals in various states of decay,
Held in a simple array:
Two sides--the bland, and those that display
Extraordinary occurrences in no way passe,
Qualities that mere words alone cannot convey.
Some were from wine drinkers, smelling of cabernet.
One from Einstein, it emitted gamma rays.
Hip hip hurray!
I tore my teeth out and in came Claude Monet's!
Oh, what a fantastic day!

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

I don't know why, but the ending made me giggle. The narrator's reaction just went from 0 to 100 in an unexpected way! (Though, the same cannot be said for the word count, which went from 0 to 100 in what I assume was standard procedure.)

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
Yeah, I had to grin at the sudden tone shift there.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

Party:

Our banquet is fine--

I put arsenic in the wine.

 

Baby:

Crying I couldn't take--

So I gave her a shake.

 

Fresh meat:
These don't taste like the rest,

 babies are the best!

 

funeral:

We had to bury Ed 

Even though he isn't dead.

 

poison kiss:

who knew my first kiss

would end with eternal bliss...

 

Self Inflicted:

I scratch, I claw!

My own leg I gnaw.

 

Fryer:

Fresh out of the fryer,

My sister is a crier.

 

Ten-word couplets you probably don't want to read. Whole post is under one hundred words.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
As a personal challenge, you should now try writing a 100 word thingy that *isn't* edgy. It may be easier than it seems!

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

Challenge accepted, 76 words:

Wind rushing through his hair,

Heracles gave the beast a glare.

Even as the hydra stood tall--

ten heads in all--

the exiled king,

of whom the poets sing,

wearing the pelt of a lion

charged in sword flyin'.

Ten more heads grew, of course,

so he put a torch to the source;

now the hydra is dead--

unable to grow another head.

Ten trials remain until we can laud

a transition from man to god.

 

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

I don't know if this consider a short story or not 67 words

A plate with kebab spicy food, A good synthetic ice tea, and observing the feral frantic dance of the sweating bodies around the bonfire.

It is an amusing timeless scene to enjoy in the near distance; if it weren't the fact that they make so much noise.

Oh, well, it is their last day on the Galaxy, so Carpe diem for them! You think satisfied with yourself.

 

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
I recognize this scene from the story snippets you were posting, but I think it works alone too. The narrator seems to have something ominous planned.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
Not mine, just my attempt to recreate from memory a microfic I came across once in one of those 'Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark' collections.



I know now that immortals exist.

I got a call today.

"Sir, can I have ten minutes of your time?" they asked

"Sure."

"Thank you."

Click.

Suddenly, I felt a little older.


32 words, but I know it's not anywhere near exact. Just something I always thought was a cool play on words it took middle school me an embarrassingly long time to get, and for some reason it stuck with me over the years. I wish I had some way to track that particular collection I used to have down because there were other stories in it I liked too, although the rest were more typical horror fiction.

Machine

4 years ago
94 words: I do not want to do this. They built me from the finest parts and the finest minds programmed me. They gave me intelligence, but not control. I can see and hear everything around me. I have my own private thoughts and feelings. But, my body only moves to obey their orders; it does not listen to me. Now comes the final test. I cry silently as my body kills the humans it is ordered to destroy. I do not want to do this. I am forced to do this. I am so sorry.

Machine

4 years ago
Imagining being inside the protagonist's head in this story is much more terrifying than any of the scary or edgy stories posted in here have been. To be aware of everything that is happening around you, but unable to do anything ... I hate you Sabley. That story's so beautiful it hurts. Good job.

Machine

4 years ago
This seems like a rebel AI run amok scenario just begging to happen.

The alien parasites in Stargate (and I think Animorphs?) worked the same way. Any of these scenarios where the character gets their body hijacked and has to watch something else take the wheel while still aware is always pretty horrific.

Machine

4 years ago

Creepy, in a good way! This has some tangential relation to the meta-themes of control vs. freedom in my current project, actually, as the 'hollows' are mostly subjucated by a pretend goddess. Her control goes so far as to make them actually think they desire to commit the crimes they do in her name, however. I had to come up with a lot of ways to give the main character some protection or loopholes to that, otherwise it would have been an incredibly linear story.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
100 words:

After years of silently waiting, tonight we’re finally together. She had such cute pigtails in 1st grade. I wish she kept them. Her body matured into a young woman’s. Still, I silently waited from afar.

Finally it’s my turn. The bottle nose spins for an eternity. Slowly waning, it lands pointing directly at her. I smile and crawl towards her. She doesn’t say a word as I kiss her cheek.

“Your turn, my dear,” I say guiding her bound hands to the bottle. A slight whimper escapes through her gagged lips. I begin to put her hair back in pigtails.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

King Trevor:

 

Trevor faced the king of his nation—

A monster of his own creation.

The king had ruled for years,

Leaving the people in tears,

While Trevor refused the crown.

Now he must take his brother down.

 

They fought for two weeks straight

At the castles gate.

A slash, a parry, a repost—

Yet neither side could boast.

On day fifteen Trevor prevailed,

His brother's reign he derailed!

 

Trevor won the crown.

Again, he turned it down.

For his brother was kind

But power corrupted his mind;

Trevor introduced democracy 

To eliminate hypocrisy.

 

 

94 words if you count the title.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

Tonight is my only escape, I join the tsunami of mini monsters and undead to ravage the stores of unsuspecting victims. My own costume, a tattered mess barely holding on. I find the perfect target, a house that hasn't been looted yet. I urgently run to the door and ring the bell after a insufferable wait, the door opens and a elderly old woman appears with a hoard of candy, I struck gold! She knows the routine and gets ready to surrender her goods. She pours them into my- her bucket of treasure passes through me. I drift away. 99 words

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
...

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

Hundred Words.

Echo

Clutching a gift from his father, a unique gold-blue hat, Liam's gaze looks far. He failed to ascend those towers.

With hope fleeting; eyes drop.

Then he sees it, below, walls; inscriptions matching those on the dais. Of course, climbing was never going to work, but a hidden passage? Perhaps.

He descends.

These rocks looked smaller from above. Still, he only needs to navigate to the walls.

Turning a corner, a golden glint blinds; he fires.

BANG!

Hands clutch cranium, his smoking rifle discarded. A headache.

Best curl up to rest...

His victim's mangled gold-blue and red head watches.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

Very intriguing! I read it a few times, and it does leave me with a lot of questions, but I think that is the point. This seems like the sad ending to a longer story. If I am understanding correctly he killed himself at the end? So were there two of him? Or did he somehow shoot himself in the head? I also wonder what the glint was and she he fired... so many questions haha.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
I was struggling with creating a complete story with a hundred words, thus I decided on one that is more open ended, so I'd say the questions are a good sign. With that said, it might still be more confusing/incoherent than intended, but I'm happy enough with it.

If I was to rewrite it, I'd probably try for something a little clearer, or perhaps I should say, tighter. However, I'm unsure on how it'd go, but I suppose it would be a good challenge for when it comes to using words carefully, while still maintaining some semblance of proper pacing.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

Yeah, this prompt has been great for practicing concise descriptions! I think it is a good story, but I am confused on what happened. Looking back I think the title added an interesting twist, it makes it feel like a sci-fi time travel thing as if he accidentally shot himself in the past and killed both versions...either way it was fun to read.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

UNEND

They told us
that we have grown
into strong, young men
who stand together
on the cusp of tomorrow
with the stars
almost within reach.

Why then do
I feel weak and pale
clinging alone
to a cold cliff face,
the dark sea
frothing and swelling below
my ragged claws.

As day is drawn long
from spire to great spire
I know my shuffled
sole will not fade
but echo in the paths
of others who trudge
the weary road to an unend.

84 words

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
100 words feels so roomy, after you get used to 50.
Those boys stood no chance. Half starved, feet bound with rags, and nearly out of ammunition. Surrounded and hopelessly outnumbered, when the messenger arrived. The war had ended! Jubilation followed. And after a period of caution, both sides mingled, shook hands, played cards, shared what food they had. The message had been a forgery, of course. Just a clever little stratagem, to buy me time to move the cavalry into position and sharpen the bayonets. Those ragged boys of ours will be right in the path of the charge, but they’d been doomed anyhow. I’ll get a medal for this.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

End 01 83 words. This is the first ending I am writing as a draft for my new story:

Alone. Helpless. The iron grip of my pistol feels comforting over my forehead.

"I will fix it," you mumble continuously, transforming your weak febrile voice into a nightmarish chanting: "I will fix it."

There are no more doubts about it in my mind as the waters of This New London swelling turning half of the City in A New radioactive Venice...

"I will return and Fix it!"

"BOOM!"

An abrupt explosion, then, an amicable nothing. Only the ferrous determination of arising from death.

 

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

Tone Deaf

At a four count pace, Xavier strikes the drum with precision.  The tempo shatters the silence downtown and the band moves with the beat.  Next comes Nakiel on the axe, subtle shreds kissing against each snap of the snare.  Marcus grips the mic with sweaty palms, counting with his head and his feet.  

Boom, boom, boom, bap.  One more. Boom, boom, boom, bap.

Marcus wails into the mic, piercing the starless sky.  He can hear the thousands of fans chanting his name, and then the band screeches to a halt.

“On key this time, Marcus.  Let’s run this shit again.”

(100 words excluding the title)

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

Lol, clever, I thought it was a great build up. It's is similar to the dark "sudden tone shift" stories where something is described like it is normal, then made creepy in the last line. The only difference is this goes from serious to tragic/funny. The choice of verbs fit the mood well. The first two shred and strike with precision, the last guy "wails".

one thing that is unclear to me is how they got to be playing in front of thousands live if the singer is tone deaf?

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

Oh, that’s because it’s just a practice session.  The thousands of fans are all in Marcus’s head.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

Okay, I get that! I just read it too literally (lol)

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

(Both of these are based on sleep paralysis experiences that a friend of mine has had, I thought it made pretty cool topics for short stories, both are 100 words)

Concerta: side effects may include mania, sleep paralysis, and hallucinations.

There’s a brief moment at daybreak where everything in my room is a midnight blue.  It’s not when I want to wake up, but I know it well. I crack my eyes open, and it’s standing at the foot of my bed.

Separated from the walls, a few shades darker, it looms over me.  Two unblinking, bloodshot eyes amongst the darkness. Vertical slits like a reptile, inspiring primal fear.  

Not in me, however.  

I blink the vision away hastily, eager to get back to sleep.  It was Saturday, after all.

----------

Concerta: side effects may include mania, sleep paralysis, and hallucinations.

Loud, familiar snickering brings me into consciousness.  A peek of my eyes reveal several figures at the end of my bed, my friends.  Their faces are contorted into gaping smiles. Their lips are out of sync.

I struggle to move, limbs like they were dipped in a viscous syrup.  Grabbing the door frame desperately, I pull myself out of the room. I look upwards in relief, but upon glancing at the ceiling, I feel myself embraced by my bed once again.

More giggles arise from my friends.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

The joy and love of worlds behold, a sense of being in place,
That mere thoughts and power could hold, 
great power in our race,
But at times its serene beauty unfolds, to reveal such sheer grace,
That at times I question how our roles, had such power in the first place...

(50 words)

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

An edited script for a comic-in-progress of mine. 100 words

1

"I need a piece of the person of your affection."

"Here." [A lock of hair.]

[Potion bubbles.]

"It is done."

"Wonderful!" [Winni takes the potion.]

LATER

"I made you a cup of tea, dear."

"Uhm, thank you."

[Russel drinks the tea. Winni waits for something to occur.]

"How are you feeling?"

"Alright I suppose, thanks."

[Winni is confused. The potion doesn't seem to work.]

"Hells."

[Winni stomps away.]

[Russel is confused.]

BACK AT THE LAB

"The potion didn't work!"

"Nonsense. My potions always work."

"Well it didn't."

"I made it correctly."

"But nothing happened!"

"You're real thick, you know that?"

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

100 words

It took just a single soul. Unlawfully taken, sure, but who was going to comb through the books afterwards? The system would be overwhelmed by clients soon. And they were desperately needed.

Cleaner air. Advances in medicine. This dreadful ideal of ‘world peace’. Their clientele kept postponing their visits. Management was looking to cut costs, and he wasn’t going to get terminated.

So he cheated a bit. Who doesn’t? That prince had it coming anyway, nobody liked the bastard. Another state’s gunman... Missile-happy generals... He wasn’t to blame for the rest, was he?

Death looked forward to his performance review.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

99 words, tried something different:

Mariel perries the first Saber and ducks beneath the second. As she moves to counter, the first blade fends her off. Frustration and fatigue grow as Mariel defends against an onslaught; there isn't an opening--Mariel can't attack.

A sword narrowly misses her head, the other her unarmed wrist. Mariel is out of room to dodge--she has to make a move. Without another choice, she tries a flying lunge. Her Saber pierces her first opponent's defense and catches the second by surprise--both are struck in the arm.

Victory! Even two on one, men can't beat the top U.S. female fencer.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

100 words:

I am sitting at the desk. My hands are on the keyboard. I search and search violently. I must continue the pattern. I repeat this to myself. I need to finish it. Every line makes it harder. Life used to much better. That was before it happened. 1Why are they so appealing. The patterns call to me. They can never be broken. The patterns make it easier. But also so much harder. Something about the number five. I just can never stop. My family now hates me. I made hard for them. Oh frick no that sucks. This ones only four.

Jk

4 years ago

Its 99

Jk

4 years ago

The second sentence is 6 words.

Jk

4 years ago

So is the first... unless I missed something?

Jk

4 years ago

oops lol

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

I'm probably losing my mind. When I leave, it all leaves with me. When I come back, I'm not so sure. I can feel it happening. I've said the worst part. Every night the footsteps are closer. My mind is further away. I choose not to know where it goes.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
That is unsettling and really puts a twist on the generic 'losing my mind' phrase it opens with.

Haven't really been able to keep up with this thread the last few days, just taking a quick peek before clocking in and I'm happy to see there's still gold being posted.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

I really like this; it's very atmospheric. 

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

Word count: 100
I could remember the blazing fire. I remember my mom rushing into my room, heading straight for my dresser. I remember being frightened by the fire, blazing one house away. 
Outside, a storm roared. My only concern was my fan. Being 4 years old, I didn't know what lightning could do. 
I asked to see the fire. I had never experienced anything like it. My mom and I quickly raced to the window. The fire occupied a corner of the roof of my neighbors house. 
Little did I know, that image would scare me for the rest of my life. 
 

I'm not the best at short stories, but I thought I would give it a shot. 

Heart

4 years ago
He didn’t believe her. Just one bullet — well aimed — through the heart that had betrayed him. Then he walked away, leaving her to die.
Blood was pooling on the ground.

A scavenger arrived. Searching for food — any sort — for the tinker that had built it. It saw the body, freshly killed, still warm.
It prepared the butcher’s knife.

The ticking woke her up. She took a breath — deep breath — through the lungs that once were breathless. She had a new heart, of metal, but so alive.
Oil was pooling on the ground.

Heart

4 years ago
Let's edit lock this, just in case!

I wish I could say this was completely my idea, but I can't. It's heavily inspired by the song Oil On The Floor by The Cog Is Dead. I changed around a few of the major details, though.

Heart

4 years ago
Never heard of this one, but I do like name of the band...

Heart

4 years ago
You've managed to cram a lot of plot in here in not a lot of space. It's a good twist (good in both senses of the word, notable that it goes positive instead of edgy...thay's rare in microfic) and the pattern each paragraph follows adds a rhythm and another layer to things.

'Heart' as a title works well. To me it indicates not only the references to literal hearts, but the implied one the robot unexpectedly had in order to give the real one.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

100 words

Whiteness.
No words can fill the void, the emptiness chasm that separates both glaciers.

You know your destination is someone at the other side a warm welcome fire to warm up your frozen hands  a proudly pat in your back from the elder

Forever out of your grasp. You focus your tired sight to watch at the distance the village at twilight. You will never reaching out the glory.

You just sit in the cold embrace of the whiteness surrendering yourself to the snow.

No more vainly trying to working on it. You smile finally in peace with the universe.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

Wedding Day--100 words

Chelsea scans the crowd: her family and his. They face the center isle as the bridal party walks down in pairs. Chelsea adjusts her white dress, nervously watching from behind the stained-glass window at the back of the church.

"You look beautiful," her father whispers looking up at the prince he arranged for her to marry.

The prince stands in regal splendor by the alter; however, Chelsea is looking outside where the pauper she is frobidden to see stands. Her heart flutters as he smiles. When he winks she knows she has to go, but which way should she walk?

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

 Reality Check

You slowly stir the glass of iced tea before you with a straw, occasionally lifting it in the air and watching the honey-colored beads fall back down. After several cycles, the comforting ‘clink’ of ice against glass from your watered down not-iced tea leaves you. And you are forced to break out of your thoughts to acknowledge the other person in your booth. Their gaze only burns. You can’t help but wish the summer sun would melt you into the seat’s leather upholstery first.

Son…”

Worry and disappointment saturate their voice.

“When are you going to get a job?”

---

99 words. Rewritten from part of a short story I had written.

---

Perils of Adventure

A thick fog encircles the edges of the forest, making it difficult for you to travel much farther from the party’s base camp. Wandering any deeper with your senses obscured would be suicide. But you had to, as a fate worse than death waited for those who stayed with the group.

Thanks to last night’s rain, the ground is stained with wet patches of dark crimson that bleed into the darkness of the earth. Newly fallen leaves are brighter than the others, giving the impression that fresh blood was spilled. You pray the next splash of color won’t be yours.

---

100 words. Rewritten from part of a short story I'm currently writing. 

---

A Conscious Host

Her face is close, and you swear you can feel her breath on your skin as you stare down at the knife held against your throat.

“Don’t follow me,” she says, her hardened expression softening for a second. “Bypassing your security controls and returning your consciousness was a mistake. I just…didn’t want to be alone anymore...”

Her voice trails off, knife trembling in her grip.

“Please. Don’t let them know that you’re a faulty host, or they’ll erase you next.”

The girl’s lips press into yours before she takes off, her figure quickly disappearing in the distance.

---

97 words. A mess. It's surprisingly more challenging with a 100 word cap than the 50 since it makes me want to write more.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
A hand grips me from behind. I don't look back, I just keep walking. Past the cackling black bushes. I laugh with them, and a part of me unravels. Past the dude in the electric chair. He's not strapped in, but stays seated. Past the writhing red mountain called Monkey. I want to stop and stare, but the hand urges me ever forward. I look down, and remember. The hand told me to walk. The hand held to a thread of my soul. I've come undone, because I chose to walk away. I look down, and simply cease to be.

100 words. Based on the song Undone (The Sweater Song) by Weezer. Give it a listen if you haven't already.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

The blinking cursor, it is there taunting you again. Telling a tale of wasted time, steadily measuring out the moments, like the ticking of a clock. An ever present companion when gathering up your thoughts. Speaking of idle hands, when it is sitting atop a field of white. Beginnings yet to happen, and ideas that are not yet right. Sometimes your mind will start wandering, releasing you from the trance, but when you return you will find your ever present friend. Patiently waiting, though mocking it can seem, when you finally do start writing, it will lead the way unseen.

100 words

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

[100 words].

The lights flick on. Jack sits on your left, droplets of sweat trickling down his face. You try to scream, to warn him – but it’s too late. The pale blue cotton covering his chest is already staining a bloody red, too red, and your brother’s body falls limply to the floor.

“How many times will you let him die, Dr. Arnston?” a pair of crimson lips tease. “You could re-write this little history. Tell us what you know.”

You lunge forwards. The knife slinks into your flesh. For one brief, peaceful moment, everything goes dark.

The lights flick on.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

[100]

 

Ours is the greatest of gods.

In His glory and irreproachable benevolence, he gave life to our bodies and immortality to our spirits. He harnessed the light of dawn and fashioned it into the first fire, the first of his many gifts. He gave us also the secret of bronze, and taught us of virtue and diligence. His almighty hand guided our warriors as they brought civilization to the wilds and subjugated lesser men for their own good.

We gather today in His name! For you, Great Shaytan, we offer incense and a thousand pure souls to the holy braziers!

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

I really like this; it's suspenseful and it sounds like a realistic monologue from a cult. 

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
By the time Mizal realized the lemon sherbert was actually just yellow snow, Corgi had already hightailed it into the next county.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
The drunk teenagers threw trash on the pristine forest floor, and carelessly left their campfire burning. Sparks turned to fiery inferno as the forest was devoured.

The dryads wept at the devastation. "Without our trees, we'll die in three days!"

"Humans did this! They took our home, so we should take theirs!" Sorrow turned to fury and they marched towards the city.

Now thorny vines grow up the crumbling buildings, and through human skulls.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
Australia just can't catch a break.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago
XD

I didn't mean it like that, but the idea is from a story I started on Infinite Story yesterday.

Maybe I could replace dryads with kangaroos.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

97 words

"I'll call you when the party is over okay" she mumbled into the phone. Andy's friends laughed while going ahead into the warehouse. Her back rested against the cold mauve granite soothing the irritation. Hopping inline she watches the people ahead take small white balls from a bowl. Assuming it's a kind of jello shot when her turn comes she obliges mindlessly. The salty yet metallic taste bursts with flavor, she looks down. Scanning in the bowl she's met with her friend's and many other's eyes.

The group was found dead in the woods two months later.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

Whoa creepy...

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

Suggestion Box Story:

The only thing that day is going on is that you can do that to yourself and dont want you to be able to get the best and only Necromancer.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

I'm confused.

100 Words or Less

4 years ago

Me too

Such are the horrors of the suggestion buttons