Horror
#91 – Intense
Marbled streams of fire shifted and wound through hissing clouds of acrid smoke. Fissures broke open like wounds, finding each other and melting into flickering rivers before swollen dams of black rock rolled across and cut them from the night sky.
A maelstrom swirled high above, peppering the shifting rock with ashen pumice as forks of lightning shruck at the ground.
The old man looked on, fingers tightening in his palms. Tears fell at the beauty of it. His heart broke as children screamed.
One last toll of the church bell broke the air.
Fire leapt. The screams stopped.
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Image by Yosh Ginsu via Unsplash.
Pompeii sprang to mind when I read “Intense”. There was a man who witnessed it and survived – Plinny the Younger. It’s hard to imagine how terrible it was for him to see.
Today’s story title was donated by fellow blogger and author Angelica Kidd, who is just beginning her submission for NanoWrimo as of yesterday! Follow her progress at https://angelicakidd.wordpress.com/.
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See you tomorrow for “Enslavement”.
#73 – Nightmare
Peter gasped, his eyes flicking wide and searching the darkness above him. A shiver ripped through his body as he fought to grasp reality.
It was so real,…. so very real,…..
Peter could feel sweat dripping over his skin as he span his feet from the bed, sitting and struggling to calm his breath. He could see the silhouette of his wife asleep beside him.
There was no girl in the garden. There were no flames. He smiled.
Peter stood and walked to the window, checking the lawn below. Nothing.
Only the reflection of the dead girl in the glass.
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Promo image by Steinar La Engeland via Unsplash.
Today’s One Word Story title was suggested by Angelica Kidd, author of the Write On Blog which you can find by clicking here. Thanks Angelica!
I’m looking for more words – please feel free to suggest yours. Just pop a word in the comments of this post and I’ll write a story based on that word – simple.
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See you tomorrow for “Mimetic”!
#67 – Attic
“Hey, there’s still stuff up here!”
Peter’s head was poking through the loft hatch, his hand tugging at the light chord.
“What was that, honey?”
“There’s stuff! Boxes.”
Liza watched as her husband lifted himself into the attic.
She sipped her coffee. “Any antiques?”
Peter laughed.
“For your Pop to sell for beer money?”
“I was thinking of renovations.”
Something fell down and clattered at Liza’s feet – a child’s doll, its face smudged with soot. Dead glass eyes stared up and she choked at the sudden smell of smoke.
“Honey,…” Liza’s voice was a hoarse whisper.
“We need to go.”
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Photo by Artem Maltsev on Unsplash.
Today’s word was suggested by Bristolian and avid supporter of the OWOS project “Orignal Tracey”. You can follow her on Twitter @sunsetbeachbabe.
Tracey suggested her word by sending me a tweet – you can too! Tweet me @timaustin2k with the hashtag #onewordonestory and I’ll write a 100 word story just for you!
Don’t forget to vote for the story you want to become an Audio Reading. Click Here to cast your vote now.
See you tomorrow for “Principle”.
#55 – Unknown
It was hard to breathe in the gas mask. It was hard to see the monitor, let alone the Petri Dish.
The white lights glared from the sterile steel of the bench. In the quiet of the lab Susan’s heart thundered. Her hands trembled.
She pressed a sample to the dish, the monitor swarming with a mass of writhing black lines, striking out at the human cells.
A tear rolled down her cheek as Susan looked from the screen to the gallery.
“Doctor?”
“,….. Two weeks. And then,…”
She hadn’t the heart to say it.
“Call the President.”
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Promo image by Jesse Orrico via Unsplash
I’m writing a brand new story every single day for a whole year! Click Introducing One Word One Story to learn more! If you have a word you’d like me to write a story on, pop it in the comments below or tweet it to me @timaustin2k using the hashtag #onewordonestory
Tomorrow’s story is “Trapdoor!”
See you then.
#41 – Foreseen
The red of her nail shone in the glaring light beneath the crystal ball. With a flourish, the teller skimmed her fingertip across the glass, the faintest whine as the nail tripped the gleaming sphere.
Anabelle rolled her eyes, her arms folding in petulant disregard. Silently she counted the crass theatrical fluff of the performance: the costume-jeweled headscarf, the obvious LED light stand under the ball, the vague smell of a smoke machine. She tutted.
The fortune teller looked deep into the ball, her face flickering in shock.
“Lemmie guess: tall dark stranger?” Anabelle spat.
“No,” the teller whispered.
“Cancer.”
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Promo image by Gioia Fabbri via Unsplash.
Today’s story title was suggested by fellow short story blogger RockieRoad276. Thank you so much – I’m looking forward to more fab stories from you. You too can follow them by visiting rockieroad276.wordpress.com/2016/05/06/amber-short-story/
Suggest your one word title and I’ll write a story about it: it’s easy. Just pop the word in the comments or tweet it to me @timaustin2k with the word and the hashtag #onewordonestory.
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#38 -Mortal
The priest stood, frozen and immobile, the chalice hanging limp in his fingers as it tipped against the lips of the kneeling penitent. His gaze trembled, eyes wet with fear.
The man was standing from the bench. He wasn’t moving. He wasn’t talking. He was just there. As he blinked a tear free he saw the child curled on the bed.
There was a sharp jolt as the penitent coughed, wine spat against the priest’s robe. The chalice clattered to the floor, the man still watching as the red soaked into white.
Not again. Never again.
“God forgive me.”
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Image courtesy of Luca Baggio via Unsplash.
Today’s word was suggested by Horror Author extraordinaire Carrie Green. Writer of the fantastic New Blood trilogy, you can discover more about her at http://www.carriegreenbooks.com and tweet her @CarrieGreenBook.
I’m always keen for new one word title suggestions – just pop the word in the comments below or tweet it to me @timaustin2k using the hashtag #onewordonestory
Please hit the share buttons below and like the OWOS Facebook page by clicking here so you never miss a story.
#27 – Crepuscular
The little Goth Girl creeped Steve out. She’d been quiet all through the movie and she was quieter now. But Daisy liked her and tormenting her was fun.
“I Vaaaant to suck your bloooood!” Steve laughed. He didn’t know why Daisy wanted to see such a terrible movie but it meant getting to third base so,…
He punched the Goth Girl’s shoulder hard, throwing her sideways.
“Is that what they think Vamps are like?”
“They do.” The Goth Girl turned on Steve. “But we’re not.”
Both girls were laughing now. Both girls were smiling. Both girls’ eyes were blood red.
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Promo image courtesy of Aurélien Bellanger via Unsplash.
Today’s title was suggested by Farnham Fun Palace – an event that takes place in October this year. Find out more by tweeting them @FarnhamFunPal.
The great thing about writing a whole new short story every day for a year is learning all these new words! I’d never hear Crepuscular before. And now I bet you’re going to Google it,…. yep, I thought so.
Please keep sharing and liking the stories on Twitter, Facebook and beyond! Help me get the word out and lets make this a community for all those who enjoy Flash Fiction. Suggest a word by tweeting me @timaustin2k using the hashtag #onewordonestory.
#24 – Breath
I’m sure my eyes are open but,… No. Oh god, no! Please, PLEASE,.. no! Sadie!! Sadie, where are you?! I can’t,… the water,… shit,… it’s in my mouth,.. SADIE! Don’t talk: stay calm, reach out. God, the water! So cold, Jesus! I wasn’t driving fast,.. just a deer in the,…
The seatbelt won’t unlatch. It won’t,…. There she is,… oh God,… I can’t,… water over my eyes,… sinking,… sinking,…
I’m sorry, Sadie. For so much. I wish you could hear me. Don’t go. Please.
Squeeze my hand. It’ll be okay. I’m with you, Sadie. At least this time,…. I’m here,…
…
..
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
Today’s word, “Breath” was suggested by the magnificent Mel Churcher who’s book, “A Screen Acting Workshop”, is my bible. Thank you for the word, Mel! You can buy the book here and follow her on Twitter @MelChurcher.
My very good friend Lorraine (who suggested “Ache”) is running the London Marathon on Saturday – please offer some support for Shelter, her chosen charity by clicking here: https://www.justgiving.com/Lori-Bannerman.
Please continue to suggest words by popping them in the comments or tweeting @timaustin2k using the hashtag #onewordonestory. Share the story Facebook and Twitter, and come back tomorrow for “Onesie”!
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#18 – Ooze
I don’t know what made me do it. God knows. But it just seemed so,.. natural. Many things do after a few drinks. I didn’t think about how weird it was to see a silver straw poking from an old stone wall. It was the lipstick mark at the tip and the line of sticky syrup that caught my eye. Someone had seen this on the street and puckered up. And if they could,….
The men in white coats are staring at me. I think they want to use the knives again.
….. The syrup wasn’t even that sweet.
(c) Tim Austin 2016
Hey, don’t blame me! This is the kind of imagery I get to some words,… I need a psychiatrist,…
Thanks to Ian Abbot – creative adventurer and artist – for today’s word. You can find him at http://www.thegeometrician.com/ or on Twitter @TheGeometrician.
Please Like the project Facebook Page and hit that follow button. And share the blog: the more readers, the more words, the more stories – I literally couldn’t do it without you! Don’t forget: if you want to suggest a word, tweet them to @timaustin2k using the hashtag #onewordonestory.
Come back tomorrow for “Tendrils”.
Tim.
#14 – Archive
Shadows smothered the vaulted halls of the General Register Office, a handful of grimy lamps spewing dim light into the stuffy air.
Sam Desmond was at home here. In the darkness, he would wander the metal maze of filing cabinets, reading and enjoying each document before slipping them into their allotted draw. In those files whole lives were condensed to dry descriptions:
“Rhonda Jones: Died age 38, Teacher”.
“Charles West: Died age 73, Retired”.
Here they slept in ink and paper, neglected by all but him. Smiling, Sam opened the newest file.
“Sam Desmond: Died age 60, Filing Clerk”.
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Photo by Maksym Kaharlytskyi on Unsplash
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The word for this story was suggested by Dr. Abby Astle: A wonderful person, a trusted friend and a very good GP.
If you’d like to suggest a word for me to write a story on, pop it as a comment below or tweet it to @timaustin2k using the hashtag #onewordonestory.
Don’t forget to follow the blog by hitting the button at the lower right. See you tomorrow for *Breathes* “Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch”
One Word, One Story 