30-Day Flash Challenge, Day 20 Other monolith stories I’ve written: Monolith Monolith 2 Monolith 3 – Tammy’s Choice Monolith 4 – Many Miles Away Monolith 5 – Wendy’s Well Part 1 (the prequel to this story) “Yes, sir, the stairs just sort of went away. I can’t explain it any better, Sheriff. I’m… Continue reading Monolith 5 – Wendy’s Well Part 2
Category: Horror
A Tea Party in Hell
30-Day Flash Challenge, Day 19 This is the third story in a series. Charlie Bennett SIRIRI The prince of the third level of hell preferred to hold his tea parties in a different place. That was why today, he was on the second level. The screaming and agonizing and endless complaints from the tortured made… Continue reading A Tea Party in Hell
Mirrors 3
30-Day Flash Challenge, Day 13 Hold it up sternly! See this it sends back! (Who is it? Is it you?) Walt Whitman, A Hand-Mirror At first, it was just a campaign of rumors. At least that’s what most folks told themselves. Some misinformation spread for some reason or another. But then, after enough… Continue reading Mirrors 3
Marty
30-Day Flash Challenge, Day 10 “Son? What son? I have no son.” Sonia can still remember the detective’s words to the policeman and Tony’s expression. His father’s words appeared to hurt the teenage psychopath more than Marty’s stabbing had. An honest cop had learned that his son was one-half a serial-rapist team that… Continue reading Marty
Elsie
30-Day Flash Challenge, Day 9 My head is pounding like a drum. I come to and wish to go away in the same breath. Where was I? Sleeping apparently, duh. But the bigger question is ‘where am I?’ I have yet to open my eyes, yet I feel something is off with this… Continue reading Elsie
Moonglow
30-Day Flash Challenge, Day 8 11:07 PM She was supposed to have gotten off two hours ago, and she is exhausted, as tired as she’s ever been. Suzy pulls her name tag off her Nurse’s smock and places it in the center console. She flicks her smartphone on, unlocks the screen, sees she… Continue reading Moonglow
Monolith 5 – Wendy’s Well Part 1
30-Day Flash Challenge, Day 7 June 1, 1964 (present) – Oswego, New York Sheriff Miller shuts his eyes and prays for strength to carry on. The tragedy has consumed his entire existence like a fire for weeks. Thirteen, that’s how many perished a month ago as Mr. Fluke led his sixth-grade science class… Continue reading Monolith 5 – Wendy’s Well Part 1
Asylum
30-Day Flash Challenge, Day 5 We were supposed to have four solid days of good weather. We got about twelve hours, then the snowstorm hit, and for two hours, we sat hunkering down in one of the shelters along the Appalachian Trail designed for the thru and section hikers. Taylor’s smartphone finally got… Continue reading Asylum
Monolith 4 – Many Miles Away
30-Day Flash Challenge, Day 4 Earlier stories in this series. Monolith Monolith 2 Monolith 3; Tammy’s Choice Many miles away There’s a shadow on the door Of a cottage on the shore Of a dark Scottish lake The POLICE, Synchronicity 2 Folks that lived in the valley swore the sun never shone on… Continue reading Monolith 4 – Many Miles Away
Grandma’s Basement
30-Day Flash Challenge, Day 3 November 11, 1974 The presence of the new door in the basement wall strikes me hard. It shouldn’t be here; it wasn’t here before. At some point, and despite them not getting along particularly well, dad had started delivering coal to our grandmother, his mother-in-law. She kept it in her… Continue reading Grandma’s Basement
The Lobster
30-Day Flash Challenge, Day 1 Once upon a time, it was Priscilla’s doll blanket. Then, looking for a way to help my diving prowess and get a bit more exercise, I took the navy blue cloth and created the lobster. I squint into the water, see it undulating at the bottom of the pool. Under… Continue reading The Lobster
Hershel’s Specialty Meats
A man visits an unusual butcher shop The usual suspects are all there, quail, snake, boar, venison, and even buffalo. Each is neatly wrapped in brown wax paper and carefully sealed shut with strips of white butchers tape. The man’s olfactory senses are on overload. Most people, unaccustomed to the dizzyingly wide array of divergent… Continue reading Hershel’s Specialty Meats
My 100-Day Flash Challenge Part 4
Days 76 – 100 On March 18, 2021, I began a crazy adventure. That was the day I started my 100-day flash fiction challenge. My goal was to write, edit, publish one story per day for one hundred days. Below, I summarize the fourth 25 days of my challenge. The Final 25 Stories The End… Continue reading My 100-Day Flash Challenge Part 4
My 100-Day Flash Challenge Part 3
Days 51 – 75 On March 18, 2021, I began a crazy adventure. That was the day I started my 100-day flash fiction challenge. My goal was to write, edit, publish one story per day for one hundred days. Below, I summarize the third 25 days of my challenge. The Third 25 Stories Clive AND… Continue reading My 100-Day Flash Challenge Part 3
My 100-Day Flash Challenge Part 2
Days 26 – 50 On March 18, 2021, I began a crazy adventure. That was the day I started my 100-day flash fiction challenge. My goal was to write, edit, publish one story per day for one hundred days. Below, I summarize the second 25 days of my challenge. The Second 25 Stories Memory Broken… Continue reading My 100-Day Flash Challenge Part 2
Zach
Flash Fiction Challenge 100 – Day 92 “I told you we need to use the stopper. It skitters away too quickly otherwise. I already regret sharing my affliction with Zach. The instant I approached his bathroom vanity sink, he pulled the plug from the basin and refused to let me have it; he’s… Continue reading Zach
Zeke Vs Zombies
Flash Fiction Challenge 100 – Day 88 Zeke shrugs the backpack off and makes himself as comfortable as he can. He is lying on top of a jungle gym. The zees (Zeke refuses to call them zombies) can’t climb. He’s only seven feet above the asphalt surface of the playground, but he knows… Continue reading Zeke Vs Zombies
Rock
Flash Fiction Challenge 100 – Day 50 My head spins under the hot Texas sun. I drop the rock. His blood on my hands, already tacky and drying. He had wanted my money. My money! What just happened to me? I cannot answer that question. Perhaps it was the accumulation of a thousand acts… Continue reading Rock
Stories by Shawn 