#ThursThreads - Week 44 - Winners

Week 44 of #ThursThreads had some great tales! Thanks to all who entered this week. I'm honored to see all of you and read your stories. It was great to have our returning regulars and some new "faces". Great thanks also goes to judge Amanda Stevens for reading all the tales.

Entries:

• Rafe B | @etcet
• Toni Wyatt | @Toni1777
• Ryan Strohman | @rastrohman
• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
• Veronica Jordan | @RevolutionaryVJ
• Susan Hayes | @capricia13
• Kel Heinen | @Aightball
• Robin Abess | @Angelique_Rider 
• Clare Stubbs | @ClareStubbs2
• Rebecca R Kovar | @RRKovar
• Charles W Jones | @ChuckWesJ
• @LupusAnthropos
• Emily Yenawine
• David A Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
• Rebekah Postupak | @postupak

Amanda says: The stories were all really, really excellent and I enjoyed reading them. Lots of talent there! Here are my results.

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

 

  Rafe B | @etcet

Amanda says: I’m a sucker for a good sci-fi thriller and the surprise ending gave me chills. This story very nearly won for me.

Ryan Strohman | @rastrohman

Amanda says: I can’t get enough post-apocalyptic tales and this one touched on my worst fear: fast, intelligent zombies. Yes!
 

@LupusAnthropos

Amanda says: Brought to mind my favorite Twilight Zone episode “To Serve Man.” Good deeds aren't always what they seem. And the last line was just great!

Week 44 Winner

Veronica Jordan | @RevolutionaryVJ

Amanda says: I love the concept of a soul-washing machine!“Humility is my favorite soap at the moment.” This is just an awesome premise and very well written.

The first time I watched that white glowing energy fill up the belly of my machine I knew what I had to do. With the click of a button and the gentle hum of the engine, I had the power to harvest and re-purpose the human soul. Humanity would no longer be a game left to chance, where money or luck could determine your fate. To think that we had based the world’s economy on things like silver and gold makes me laugh. The only truly valuable thing we have ever had is life.

The churches were the first to condemn me. They painted “No man can be God!” across my office window and set fire to my house. Then it was the rich, who demanded I accept their money as a guarantee their soul could be born again into a life of privilege. Money can do a lot of things, but it cannot scrub sin from your soul. Every bad decision, every self-serving choice is forever emblazoned there; a charcoal streak on silky white fabric. With my machine, my soul-washing machine, I can remove those marks…for a price.

Humility is my favorite soap at the moment. It can clean a soul in a single lifetime if used correctly.

There are a few who continue to fight against me. I can only laugh. Even millions of humans couldn't stop me. The machine and I are eternal, invincible. As far as I’m concerned, we are God.

Congratulations Veronica, Rafe, Ryan, and Lupus! Claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it! :)

Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the stories here. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! :)

#ThursThreads - The Challenge That Ties Tales Together - Week 44

Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. It's Thursday again, so what should you be doing? Writing #FlashFiction, that's what! Welcome to Week 44 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. 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 7 PM Pacific 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 44:

The southern ghost story author and graveyard Queen herself, Amanda Stevens.

Amanda on Twitter

Amanda on Facebook

Amanda on Goodreads

And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

The Prompt:

“Humans couldn’t stop me.”

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! :)