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.
And this week she also provides her own somewhat austere photo as the prompt.
The idea, as always, is to write a story of around 100 words based on this picture, below.
© Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Click here to hear the writer read his words:
The House
They say the house is haunted.
But who believes that stuff nowadays?
Not a sceptic like me, certainly.
I was always quite cynical, even before that competitive little thug from Marseille put a bullet in my head.
It is amazing what you learn when you are dead.
Like the truth about ghosts.
Do you know there is no limbo as we understand it?
No, there are houses like this one where it seems that the souls of the wicked just hang around, ineffectual, impotent, invisible.
And over a period of time they rot away, quite painfully, until there’s nothing left.
Sound Bite Fiction 
An interesting take on purgatory? Or is that more of a limbo?
Hell?
Definitely a thought provoking tale.
LikeLike
I don’t think the label matters, Dawn, we all have our own personal hell in mind, don’t we?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderfully thought-provoking.
LikeLike
I am please it gave you pause for thought, Lisa.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Really enjoyed this thought-provoking somber tale. My favorite line is, “It is amazing what you learn when you are dead.” Not sure why, unless it’s because we won’t truly know (we only have shadowy ideas) until it happens.
LikeLike
That’s why it’s fun to write about the afterlife, no one can say it isn’t so. And if my story provoked a thought, Brenda, then I am content.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Poor ghosts 😦
LikeLike
Really? They were not nice people.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Quite a character sketch of the narrator. Well done!
LikeLike
Laughing. The narrator is quite a character!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A great tale and really thought provoking, it might just be the truth…
LikeLike
I do hope, my good sir, that you are not suggesting I might be telling untruths?
LikeLike
Quite reasonable to assume that souls would have a half-life. Nicely done.
LikeLike
Thank you, Jo. Who knows what is out there, waiting…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Had me chuckling at the word twists and idea horrors – so word perfectly done and great for all those who are skeptics and perhaps a bit cynical as well; absolutely great tone and flavour in this short but delightful piece; I always appreciate it when your mind runs far and wide from the “predictable” reading of an image ~ Cheers!
LikeLike
I sometimes think, Pat, that your mind is in a stranger place than mine.
But I do appreciate that you enjoy my short meanderings!
LikeLiked by 1 person
actually, my friend, I can vouch, there are times when my mind has wandered a-pace and it’s absolutely beyond odd 😉
LikeLike
The competitive male – nothing but trouble. Sorry you’re feeling rotten, CE! 😉
LikeLike
Thank you for your vote of confidence, Penny!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rotting souls takes it to a whole new level. Nicely done.
LikeLike
Thank you, I kinda liked that image too!
LikeLike
Apparently there is such a thing as self-skepticism, being skepticall about your own existence. Existentialism in ghosts?
Love the fitting punishment, that thugs like him should have to do nothing, cause no mayhem, make no impact at all, for all eternity, or at least until complete putrification sets in.
Competitive thugs–after watching the Netflix series Marseille, I can imagine the place crawling with such people. 😊
LikeLike
Laughing. I don’t think the narrator is sceptical about his own existence, just the whole concept of ghosts and stuff!
And Marseille is a fabulous, beautiful, vibrant city with areas, like most large ports, where the stranger needs to tread carefully.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLike
Now do you believe in a haunted house? You are living in it.
LikeLike
Oh yes, but in fact I am dead in it
LikeLike
Makes me wonder what evil he had done IRL. Skepticism is not in my book, but…
LikeLike
Then I guess you have a British dictionary!
LikeLike
A great potted horror tale, CE. I imagined you wearing a smoking jacket and clutching a brandy while reading it by a crackling fire.
LikeLike
Laughing. I don’t smoke or own an appropriate jacket, or drink spirits, or have a fireplace, but other than that you are spot on!
Glad you enjoyed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s reassuring to know that my powers of deduction are as sharp as ever.
LikeLike
Rotting souls. What a horrific concept. How long does it take, and do the souls know they are rotting away? Ew.
LikeLike
According to the narrator, yes, they know. The duration, like all punishment, depends on the level of sin.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Then I can understand the moaning from my attic… what’s the smell of rotting souls.
LikeLike
It’s a bit like a wet Labrador who has been eating curry
LikeLiked by 1 person
I never thought the incorporeal folk were capable of rotting, unless it’s in some way other than we know of.
LikeLike
Why ever not, Larry?
I suspect that there are many things outwith our ken.
LikeLiked by 2 people
yes that’s true. People refer to rotting in Hell even though souls there don’t have bodies. It’s a flexible expression I suppose
LikeLike
eerie and perfect for October
LikeLike
Thank you! Glad it worked for you
LikeLiked by 1 person
A painfully rotting soul sounds… well… painful. I prefer not to consider that possibility. Well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you are safe, Sandra, it is more for folk like me
LikeLiked by 2 people
Painful indeed!
LikeLike
Not fun, for sure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Spooky tale.
LikeLike
Indeed, m’lady
LikeLike
You did not let me down, for as I said to Neil and Iain, this prompt can offer horrors galore. Rotting away painfully finished the story nicely
LikeLike
Thanks, Michael
LikeLike
Being shot in the head doesn’t sound fun, being a ghost even less so. Haunting, atmospheric take CE, warming up for Halloween nicely!
LikeLike
Parts of Marseille are almost as bad as Dennistoun!
Glad you enjoyed, Iain
LikeLiked by 1 person
Crikey, I may have to rethink my holiday to the South of France!
LikeLike
And when I look again it’s changed from truth to reality via Anita’s comment. I equally love the truth about ghosts. I think both phrases would make good titles for something.
LikeLike
Thanks, Jilly
LikeLike
The reality of ghosts – love that phrase.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haunted home.
When a skeptical person learns about the reality of ghosts and then shares. Never thought they “rot away”…
LikeLike
You have much to learn, grasshopper!
I am surprised you use the American spelling of ‘sceptical’
LikeLike
Loved this take on haunting
LikeLike
Thanks, Neil
LikeLike