Friday Fictioneers is hosted by the wonderful Rochelle, the undisputed master of what I call Sound Bite Fiction.
She sets the weekly challenge, and the standard.
This week’s photo prompt, utterly incomprehensible to me, comes courtesy of Jean L. Hays.
The idea, as always, is to write a story of around 100 words based on this picture, below.
© Jean L. Hays
Click here to hear the writer read his words:
Outside
Nothing.
Not a sound.
Not a movement.
I stare out the window, hammer gripped tightly.
Futilely.
But I have no other weapon.
If they come – when they come – it will be hopeless.
But there is no escape.
Nowhere to run to.
I think of what is out there, and I tremble.
I think of my family upstairs, asleep.
I have done all I can to spare them from the horror.
I brush the tears from my cheeks.
I hear the slow drip onto the floor at my feet.
I look at the bloody hammer.
I had no choice, did I?
Ughh, better to be beaten and hammered to death brutaly than what other fate? Hugs
He’s baaaaaack.
🙂
What’s that sharp pain in my neck? It’s whiplash from that unexpected twist! A perfectly executed 180 sir, and a beautifully dark tale
Wow, C! There was me thinking he’d defend his family to the death but has he already done the family to death, sent them into a long ‘sleep’ they’ll never wake from? Love the unnamed threat outside too – I suspect it might be a bit scarier than quail too! Great story
So, I’m thinking I’m going to avoid that kitchen/living room. Whatever. The thought of dripping blood surely leaves a scene of horror in one’s mind! Dang it! And I’ve just begun my day.
Like most horror stories, the fear is from the unknown and an idea left percolating in the corner of your mind – what horror?
Woah! That was chilling stuff!
You never let us down, CE. Another well crafted bit of suspense. You really made me shudder.
Best wishes,
Rowena
C’est bien de mettre sa famille en sécurité .
Ce n’est pas bien de le faire à coups de marteau !
At first I was expecting something in the vein of Daphne Du Mauriers ‘The Birds’. But now I fear that something worse has occurred.
Leaves you guessing. Great piece.
I just hope that his family is really asleep upstairs… when you reached the stage of hearing voices you should be far from any hammers.
I could truly feel the terror
Am i the only one who assumed he killed the quail? It felt like scene from Birds by Hitchcock!
What quail?
Or to put it another way, yes, you’re the only one!
Crazy!
That is all. 🙂
Who is?
Dawn, Go away I’m no good for you!
I’m not crazy
LOL.
Thank you. Rough couple of days here. I needed that good laugh.
Well, yes, I gathered that from your story today.
Have you thought about a cold shower?
I was thinking more along the lines of a cold glass of wine1
Hope you have a better week ahead, Dawn. Just shared a glass with you and I’ll send a chocolate brownie your way once they’re done. xx Rowena
Yummy!
Excellent story!
Excellent comment!
Great misdirection with the dripping. First thought – tears, and then – blood…
Yeah, stick with blood!
I have to wonder what horror, real or imaginary, he felt he needed to spare his family from. Terrifying story C.E.
Mr Orwell’s Room 101, Susan, we each have our own deepest fear.
Happy to terrify!
The quintessential horror story, leaving so many important questions unanswered. Good writing.
Ooh, quintessential, I love it!
Thank you, ma’am.
You’re quite welcome 🙂
Very dark story. Well written.
I do dark occasionally, Jilly, it amuses me!
Gripping one.
Hope there are no more of them.
One enemy is killed and his family is safe.
Stranger Outside?- Anita
Thank you for visiting, Anita
Now that was chilling and grisly in equal measure. I shudder to think where the blood came from!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
Chilling, grisly and shudder – I am so happy!
Superb reveal at the end. Well done. And I like the mods you’ve made to the web site.
Thank you, Sandra, happy you enjoyed.
Incomprehensible to me this week as well. Enjoyed the grisly path it led you on.
Thanks, Iain.
Psst, I don’t even know what a meep is.
Nope, nor me.
OMG!!!!
I don’t think it is possible to craft a better story of the lethal,and violently destructive effects of desperate fear and dread. Warranted or mad paranoia doesn’t matter, it’s all real in the mind.
Hate the plot but applaud the writer.
Now, I’ll go outside and breathe in the blue sky!!
Happy to have brightened your day, Em!
And glad you picked up on all the clues.
Dear CE,
Whether or not he had a choice begs further investigation. It leaves a grisly image in my head and a cold shiver down my spine. Bang bang Maxwell….
Shalom,
Rochelle
You have it exactly, m’lady, thank you.
Quirky and atmospheric as always. I’m not entirely clear who or what is dead on the floor. I thought at first it was his family, but they’re asleep upstairs
‘Asleep’ can mean different things in different situations, Neil.
The drip is from the hammer.
Ah, gotcha. My instinct was right after all
It leaves a lot of questions 🙂
Indeed, Reena. Thank you for visiting.