Silently, Deliberately
Jon Olson
Every day, like a moth to a flame, I revisit this spot, eager to see it again. Leaning back against the tree, I gaze out onto the horizon. My eyes scan left to right, right to left. It was here, on this small protrusion of land, I saw it hovering silently, deliberately above the Atlantic water. Mechanical, organic, frightening and alluring all rolled into one. For hours I watched with morbid fascination until it finally disappeared into the sky. Since then, my dreams, every waking moment, have been obsessing over it. So here I sit, waiting, hoping, for its return.
Burn To Your Core
Joseph A. Pinto
And still I survive here; and I am charred; and I am lifeless without ever having died. You surround me with portrait skies my limbs can never touch; only the water to nourish me, delivered by beak of bird and sob of storm. Yes, you planted me in barren ground, but I chose to take root. Strove to blossom. More than ever, I realize I cannot. How deathly I must appear against the backdrop you manufactured, an obstruction to all you’d thought perfected. An eyesore so startling I am beauty in my own right; it must burn to your core.
Rest In Peace
Thomas Brown
Last night I ate with my family for the last time. My brothers and sisters drank, danced, laughing as they have laughed for centuries while gorging themselves to sate the endless void. Let them. I can’t remember ever feeling so full, so monstrously sick of it all. Dawn approaches. Over and over the sea heaves itself against the grey shingles. I was born here; it seems right that I should end here too. Standing on the shore, I watch the waves and the ash floating over them. Birds scream. The sea sighs. I am here, now, and it is beautiful.
Black
Craig McGray
It’s been years since anything has blossomed. Sure, an overly ambitious weed may sprout from time to time, or a sporadic leaf may unfold from the tip of a naked branch, but the inky blackness from the soil strangles any attempt to splash color onto its infected landscape. Mankind and nature alike have been smothered by the rot that has stolen the color from the ground and seas. The sky remains the only hint of color in our decimated world and even that will soon be gone. Each day grows shorter, every night becomes longer. We did this to ourselves.
Duel at Dawn
Blaze McRob
A gentle breeze carries the stench of rot to this seemingly idyllic park. Voices, agitated, from both sides, toss curses at each other, bellowing out that the other will get what is coming to him. They back up to each other, take the ten obligatory paces, turn, and aim.
Lightning strikes the little piece of land jutting out into the river as it has for hundreds of years, ripping through the soil. Both men drop to the ground without a shot being fired.
There will be a duel at dawn once more. Until there is a victor, neither can rest . . .
Rise
Magenta Nero
Finally, a precious moment alone. Staring into the vast emptiness of sky her troubled thoughts churn. The afternoon sun glares in the distance. She frowns as she watches it, an uneasy feeling creeping over her. It is not the sun. It is moving, hurtling towards her quickly. It comes to a sudden halt above her, a huge and gleaming object. She clutches her ears as a deep grating hum fills her head. She thinks to run, to scream, but she can’t move. Her body begins to rise, sucked by a stream of blinding light into the belly of the craft.
Promises, Promises
Hunter Shea
She was hanging from the lone tree by the sea, the very place we first made love, our sweat crystallizing with salt, the ammonia scent of our urgency sticky between us. Her limp body presented a dark silhouette against the setting sun. I saw her clothes in a wrinkled pile beneath her feet, toes pointed to where we once lay, a jumble of limbs and satisfied orifices. The surf crashed, imperceptible flecks of foam plinking into the pores of my face.
Her body jerked.
No!
One cut. She gasped.
Into the sea, my love. I promised you a beautiful death.
Watching Clouds
Tyr Kieran
That was the day our greatest fear came true. A slow build war neither cold nor vigorous. The talking heads had spewed their hype for months, only exacerbating the arrogant, heavy-handed mistakes of the politicians. Cultures clashed causing egos to surge up and trample all over rationale. It wasn’t surprising that international spite and jealously is what pushed the button in the end. When the alert hit the airwaves and our government admitted their diplomatic errors, it was far too late–death was on the way. No sense in running. I just sat down and watched the mushroom cloud form.
Anointed
By Nina D’Arcangela
Raised are the seas that stood calm before me; quelled are those that traveled by wing to mock me; desiccated is all that once grew to surround me – I stand alone. Arms raised toward the heavens, I pulled upon God’s wrath to sear man’s attempt to staunch my avarice, my deserved ferocity. Tarred may be my flesh, but my spirit stands rooted in this land; untouchable. I thrive not for my glory, but for the one I have served eternally. Each leaf bloomed; yet another tear of poison shed. Each leaf fallen; yet another drop of the demon’s blood spread.
Each piece of fiction is the copyright of its respective author
and may not be reproduced without prior consent. © Copyright 2015
Image © Copyright Dark Angel Photography. All Rights Reserved.
Another great collection of 100 word tales from our great enclave of authors. All of us . . . every one, sees something different in the photo prompt so well shared with us by Nina D’Arcangela!
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Yet another amazing collection of tales from the Damned bunch. I look forward to these every time and have yet to be disappointed!
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Fantastic work by all and thank you Nina for continuing to provide amazing images to stoke our imaginations!
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Reblogged this on and commented:
DAMNED WORDS 13 by Pen of the Damned
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Awesome and inspiring work as always. It’s fun and terrifying to glimpse the minds of the Damned! Love it!
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I don’t know whether this exercise is therapy for the motley crew we call the Damned, or proof that we need therapy. Great job everyone!
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You ladies and guys are all sick and demented like me. No wonder I love you. Don’t get teary-eyed or anything though.
Blaze
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Great interpretations, Madam & Gents. I’m filling in the dot next to Hunter’s option B, by the way… 😉
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I like his option B as well, Nina.
Blaze
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Reblogged this on The Road to Nowhere… and commented:
Another collection of flash tales from the members of Pen of the Damned!
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Absolutely sublime slices from all of your minds, Damned! 🙂 And thank you Nina for stirring our muses with such another great pic from your collection! 🙂
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I always really enjoy writing and reading these flash posts 🙂 thank you dear Damned
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These are fun, Magenta! Gotta love them.
Blaze
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Reblogged this on THOMAS BROWN.
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Me too, Magenta. I always feel very proud reading these. Good job, Damned.
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