Thursday, September 4, 2014

#ThursThreads - The Challenge That Ties Tales Together - Weel 134


Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. It's Thursday today, so get your flash ready. Writing a #flashfiction thread! Welcome to Week 134 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Want to keep up each week? You're welcome to join the FB #ThursThreads group where we'll do events and make announcements. Need the rules? Read on.

Here's how it works:
  • The prompt is a line from the previous week's winning tale.
  • The prompt can appear ANYWHERE in your story and is included in your word count.
Rules to the Game:
  • This is a Flash Fiction challenge, which means your story must be a minimum of 100 words, maximum of 250.
  • Incorporate the prompt anywhere into your story (included in your word count).
  • Post your story in the comments section of this post
  • Include your word count (or be excluded from judging)
  • Include your Twitter handle or email (so we know how to find you)
  • The challenge is open 7 AM to 8 PM Mountain Time
  • The winner will be announced on Friday, depending on how early the judge gets up.
How it benefits you:
  • You get a nifty cool badge to display on your blog or site (because we're all about promotion - you know you are!)
  • You get instant recognition of your writing prowess on this blog!
  • Your writing colleagues shall announce and proclaim your greatness on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus

Our Judge for Week 134:


NY Times and USA Today bestselling fantasy romance author, Erin Kellison.



And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

The Prompt:

“Bullets are now ineffective.”

All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!

14 comments:

  1. I'm looking forward to reading everyone's stories! Happy writing!

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  2. It was a night unlike any other. Owls and crickets provided music while a crescent moon danced among the stars. An ocean breeze whispered secrets to the trees who stood as dark sentinels along the high cliffs. Even the wave’s rhythmic caress of the jagged rocks had a lover’s touch to it. All of it combined held the romance of hundreds of nights. Perhaps thousands, billions of nights, extending back to when land first rose to kiss the sky, and people were but a glimmer of tiny creatures darting within the early seas.

    But this was the night Lilith discovered who she truly was.

    “Let’s go!” her companion shouted. “Bullets are now ineffective.” He threw down his rifle, his voice laced with rising panic. From the shadows of the trees red eyes glowed that wanted nothing more than to devour them whole.

    Lilith’s terror vanished as she stared into the eyes surrounding them. She felt the night turn liquid and sink into her pores. There was a shift in her perception, and suddenly she felt a surging ecstasy sweep through her. A pleasure she could barely contain and she howled with it.

    She heard her friend’s screams, and when she turned to him, his wide eyes shone white with fear. “It’s a night unlike any other,” she whispered, smiling. “It’s the night I go home.”

    The ocean made love to the rocks below, the wind whispered, and the moon danced carelessly above as her friend threw himself off the cliff.

    @OliviaStarke
    250 words

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    Replies
    1. Oh, wow. What does going home mean??

      And this line:
      The ocean made love to the rocks below,...

      Gorgeous. :)

      Delete
  3. “Ha!”

    The shout resounded from the boulders before sifting through the maple trees surrounding the longhouse. Thunder Stone tossed his head back, arms outstretched as if to embrace the sun. “Today, we honor Orenda for our triumph in battle!”

    Pumpkin Flower, standing among her sisters of the Turtle Clan, allowed a small smile to tilt her lips. Thunder Stone was the youngest shaman of the Haudenosaunee and her great dream was to be his wife. Not only did he commune with the Great Spirit, but he was a mighty warrior. Muscles rippled under burnished skin, his smile flashed with victory, and his stance was taut with confidence.

    Thunder Stone whipped a tunic off the boulder to his right. Waving it at first, he then held it up so that all eyes could see the holes it bore. “See the signs of our victory! The Français tried to defeat us, but they did not! We slew hundreds of their warriors and the failed to slay ours.”

    With a grin that made Pumpkin Flower open her eyes wide in wonder, so much wonder that she stepped boldly toward the shaman, Thunder Stone poked lean fingers through the holes in the leather. “Their bullets are now ineffective. Powerless. We will keep this shirt before us and take it as a sign of Orenda’s favor into battle.”

    He leapt with the sleek power of a cougar to the ground, landing right in front of Pumpkin Flower. “Today, we will talk to our families.”
    = = =
    Word count: 249
    Sandi Layne
    @sandyquill

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  4. "Mare Bethany, you and the human male will follow us to the Hall of Elders." One of the big centaur guards gestured imperiously toward the center of the village.

    Bethany nodded, saving her energy for the trial to come. Mack fell in beside her, his bearing still familiar.

    "It's great to be identified by my species and gender." He scowled.

    "Be grateful they didn't call you my pet."

    He glanced at her with a raised eyebrow. "Should I start panting and slavering at the mouth?"

    "If you think it will help." Bethany patted his arm at his frown. "Look, they understand men and military. They're trying to break you down before they even get out the big guns. Didn't you ever watch any lawyer shows on TV? Most trials are won by flustering the witnesses or defendants. Just put on your soldier's face and wear your mental body armor." She squeezed the hard muscle under her hand before letting go. "Think you can do that?"

    He tilted his head as they neared the Hall of Elders. "How do you know so much about military men when you choose to avoid them?"

    "My brother is a Navy SEAL." She shrugged. "He was a master of not letting my father's bullet insults get to him. I figure you can't be too much different."

    "Those kinds of bullets are now ineffective."

    "Let's hope you're right."

    232 ineligible #WIP500 words
    @SiobhanMuir

    ReplyDelete
  5. ~~~~~
    You run as fast as a bullet.

    I ride.

    At the river, I reach down behind my back to give you my right hand. You grab it, put your left foot in my freed stirrup, and get up behind me. It’s an old trick we’ve perfected.

    Once across the river, you get back to running. I stay beside you in a gaucho trot. For miles and miles.

    Not a word is uttered during the whole time we’re out. None are needed.

    Run, sweetness, run. Nothing can reach you.

    Bullets are now ineffective. You’re a sharpshooter in this Game of Life.

    ~~~~~

    Word count: 100 on the nose
    Twitter handle: @AnnaLund2011

    ReplyDelete
  6. Staring down a hardened, lined face, I growl. Uncaring brown eyes blinked back, lips curling into a snarl.

    "I'm doing you a favor, kid. If not for me, you'd be in the god damn slammer."

    I scoff. "No, I think I’m doing you a favor, Lt. Michealson. You want these guys off the fucking street? Then listen to me. These guys will be shot before they nark on anyone. Bullets are now ineffective, got me? I'll tell you where they are, you keep me alive and out of jail and you get the big reward."

    The lieutenant stares me down, sizing me up. Finally he snorts, his hand gripping my upper arm. I hiss, trying to pry his thick, stubby fingers off me.

    "You were better off in jail, kid. I'm not saving your ass if there's a fire fight. Now, where the hell do we go?"

    "1501 X Street, South O."

    Michealson laughs. "X Street, South O. Really? Typical." He shook his head. "Fine. We're leaving in an hour. Don't do anything stupid when we get there."

    Don't worry, Michelson, I hate you, too. "I'll be good. Promise."

    I settle into an outdated chair at his desk, as he waddles off. When I'm alone, I pull out my phone. One text to Aaron Brells and I'm either dead or off to jail. 'They're coming in an hour.'

    Pocketing the phone, I lite up a cigarette. Sorry, Michelson, but I’m not going to rat out my boys that easily.

    @Aightball
    249 words

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  7. Running through thickets of deep woods, I found my way to Damian’s secret base. Creeping up the stairs into the building, I listened intently through the door of Damian’s office.
    “How bad is it?” Damian asked.
    His visitor hesitated then answered, “Bad, bullets are now ineffective.”
    “Bullets? You were supposed to handle this without violence. You’re lying she’s bribed you.”
    “She said you’d be on to her.”
    “Leave now,” Damian demanded.
    I hid as the man exited and left. I wanted to come home on my own terms. The door opened and before I could move Damian’s arm snatched out and grabbed me.
    “Got you,” Damian cried.
    I fought back, but Damian’s mouth clamped down on mine with such fervour, that my bones turned to Jell-O. I returned the kiss passion for passion losing myself. He pulled me into his office and before I knew it we were skin against skin rolling on the floor joined as one. After our ardour was spent he pulled away from me and asked, “How could you stay away?”
    “I wanted a normal life,” I answered.
    “There’s no such thing now.”
    “I know that, now.”
    I felt the pain as my limbs elongated and my bones crackled. The pain was intense and then I became a beautiful red wolf and he a grey blue wolf beside me as we ran into the woods and caught rabbit for dinner. I knew now this life was for me. Life only began with Damian by my side.
    @SweetSheil
    250 words

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  8. Destinies are a dime a dozen especially when Fate was acting the bitch. Roman knelt in sorrow amid the ruins of the cathedral. So many of his brethren gone, the renegades leaving naught but destruction in their wake. He glanced at the woman standing nearby.

    “Bullets are now ineffective.” Sade offered a very Gallic shrug of her shoulder. “I’m loaded with high explosive rounds now.”

    “Their magic is strong.”

    “Yes.”

    She didn’t approach him but the understanding in that one word draped over his bowed shoulders like a warm cloak. He pushed to his feet, feeling the weight of his age for the first time in centuries. “This was once a place of peace, of beauty.”

    Sade stepped to his side, laid a hand on his arm. “You were born here.”

    He offered his own Gallic shrug. Gargoyles were not born, not in the human sense Sade would understand. “It was home. Once.”

    Her gaze met his, sure, strong, steady. Pride swelled for the woman the child he’d once rescued from the faerie court had become. Twilight cloaked them in blue silk while the full hunter’s moon squatted on the horizon like a Chinese lantern. How had things come to this? Gargoyle against gargoyle, If his granite chest contained a heart, it would have been ground to dust by now. Together, they stepped outside to be met by fae, dragon, werewolf, and vampire—a motley crew of crusaders.

    “Let’s go kick some gargoyle butt!”

    Typical Sade. “Yes,” Roman said. “Let’s.”

    ****
    250 words

    @SilverJames_

    ReplyDelete
  9. It was a light feeling, one that had Cassidy wondering if she was sick. It had been a weird winter and the apartment wasn’t always heated to the best of it’s capacity thanks to drafty windows and a landlord who didn’t want to do anything. She should get up and go to work. But that seemed like effort.

    The front door opened and she peered at Tyler as he came through. He would make her soup because he was a good boyfriend. She wasn’t sure about the redhead that followed him though. They started to make out when the door was closed.

    “You asshole! I am right here!” She shoved off the blanket and stood up. There was a sense of vertigo. She closed her eyes while her teeth clenched. Fucking asshole!

    Her eyes opened and the room was misty though she could still see them making out. “Dickface. You and your slut can get the hell out of my place.”

    A gentle clearing of the throat behind her. She spun around and there was a shadow in the mist, red eyes gleaming at her. “I’m afraid he can’t hear you. Due to you are no living.”

    “What the hell are you talking about?”

    “He killed you. Dumped your body and now is moving the new one in.”

    “What?”

    “You can do something. Get back at him.” A toothy smile gleamed. “Bullets are now ineffective. This isn’t.” A knife was place in her hand.

    “Have fun.”

    246 words
    @solimond

    ReplyDelete
  10. I jumped through the nearly closed wormhole, snagged the shiny dagger lying on a mutant toadstool, then climbed up the wall of Bloodthorne Castle a breath away from the secret passage leading into the King’s treasure room.

    “I’m almost to the princess,” I gloated, taking a moment to glance over at Kevin as his vice-like grip on the controller turned his knuckles white. His tongue darted out to wet his lower lip and my concentration faltered…for a moment.

    “Fine, I’ll just have to use my infinite ammo blaster when you get there,” he said.

    I clicked the red button and selected an item from the drop down menu, ducking into the dark passageway. “Your bullets are now ineffective, Kev. I put on my resistance cloak. Nothing gets through this baby.”

    “Christ!” Kev threw the controller across the room and scooted back until he hit the couch. “How the hell am I supposed to beat you, Eric? I never win. Never!” He crossed his arms over his chest.

    “Are you pouting?” I asked, hitting pause.

    Kev squinted at me.

    I slid over next to him. “I can only teach you so many tricks to this game. You might have to start getting sneaky.” I grazed my lips over his ear.

    He pulled away and gave me a long, hard look that made my heart beat faster.

    “Take off your pants. We’ll see if you save the princess with your cock in my mouth.”

    “I love you.” I wimpered.

    Kev snorted.

    250 words
    @HunterFrostMM

    ReplyDelete
  11. Cold wind pushed into the room as Dale forced the frozen window open; not an easy task holding a gun. But he wasn’t about to put the weapon down, no sir.
    Footsteps thudded behind him. He knew what was approaching, and it terrified him. Struggling out the window, Dale fell into a foot of soft snow.
    The heavy footfalls subsided.
    Dale’s heart fell into his stomach. He had nowhere to go. Miles around showed nothing but a peaceful white landscape that was actually anything but peaceful.
    Having no choice, Dale turned around to try his luck in any random direction. Anything was better than going back into the building, and certain death.
    Then the heart that had fallen into his stomach dropped into his shoes.
    She was there, awaiting him like a coquettish young lover, with no inhibitions, no shame, and no clothes.
    Suddenly a voice, the voice that had guided him through the dangers inside, rose inside his mind.
    “Bullets are now ineffective.”
    Dale dropped the gun as the svelte young woman took seductive steps toward him, hips swaying back and forth in a mesmerizing pattern. Only one thing left to try.
    Dale shot forward, took her in his arms and kissed her like it was their last day on earth.
    It wasn’t. Because he meant that kiss, meant it because at one time she had been his true love, before her body had been invaded. His kiss, and his love, freed them both from the tyranny of possession.

    @EvenSultry
    250 words

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neat ending--a bit of a sleeping beauty-ish save. :-)

      Delete
  12. #ThursThreads Week 134 is now CLOSED. Thanks to everyone who wrote this week and I hope to see you next week. :)

    ReplyDelete

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