Flitterfic

  1. Captivity

    The fly buzzed like a pager that had somehow grown wings, making soft tink-tink-tink sounds as it rebounded from the dirty dome light. More flies, smaller, baby flies, grandbaby flies, swarmed over the crusted remnants of his last meal. Another flimsy aluminum tray would be shoved through the slot in the door soon. Maybe. Maybe not. It was hard to tell time. He huddled in the corner, plucking at his rags. He tried to remember anything before the cell. He remembered the sudden light,...
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  2. Checking for Monsters

    “Daddy, check again!” Lilly clutched the blankets to her chin, her lip trembling. “There’s no monsters under the bed, sweetie. I promise you.” He knelt down, held her hand. “I’ll leave the light on all night, okay?” “Just look! I know they’re there!” She knew. She’d heard. He sighed. He leaned over, lifted the ruffled fringe. SNAP! He was gone. There was a crunching sound. The monster climbed out, grunting and snuffling. She cast a dismissive glance at Lilly, then turned and...
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  3. Chef's Special

    “It’s not quite ready yet.” “The Lord will not wait forever, cook,” snarled the guard. He brandished his spiked club. “Finish your work quickly.” “This cannot be rushed,” answered the chef. He dipped his spoon in and tasted, considered. “It must be sharper,” he murmured, “much sharper.” He quickly sliced a lemon and began squeezing the juice. “How much longer?” “I think it is nearly ready.” The chef lowered his hand into the steaming pot. He withdrew it with a rapid snapping...
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  4. Construction

    We watched the trucks roll past. They entered into the high-fenced area, and they didn’t come back out. Tony said he’d seen them come out one night, early, after the moon had gone. I never saw it. “What are they building in there?” The gate opened up. The trucks rolled in. There weren’t any walls or construction equipment visible over the top. Tony said he’d climbed the fence and seen an enormous pit. The last truck hit a stray piece of lumber. The tarp jostled loose. A pale hand...
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  5. Dance Club

    They danced frantically, frenetically, writhing like fish, like eels. They leapt and pranced, rhythmic gazelles startled from the savannah of sound. The deejay closed his eyes and made his obeisances to the altar. The lights blinked and shifted, prodded uncomfortably by the twitching electric circuits. He emerged, wiped a hand across his face, sniffed twice. Adjusted his package. Melted into the pulsating throng. She emerged, more slowly. She dabbed at her face, at her running makeup,...
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  6. Dial Tone

    (Forgot to post this yesterday, so today's a twofer!) “Hello?” Jess spread her toes and frowned while Beth answered the phone. The color didn’t look nearly as good now. “Hello?” Beth sighed in disgust and slammed the phone down. “What?” “The phone rings, but no one’s there. Like, every day.” “I read about this one lady who got, like, a phone call every five and they found out it was just some old automatic ordering computer that everyone’d forgotten about.” “Whatever....
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  7. Freedom

    Deep in the secret heart of the forests of Kel, there is a cavern. If a brave explorer penetrates the depths, he will find a spring. It is said that whoever drinks of the spring’s water will become truly free. Next to the spring there is a quiet man with a sword. The quiet man will explain what true freedom means. If the explorer declines to drink from the fountain, the swordsman will quietly cut off his head and mark a notch in his belt. Fifteen explorers have found the hidden cavern....
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  8. Harold Shops Around

    “It’s not,” Harold began, “that I don’t appreciate the offer. I’m flattered, really. It’s just the price seems awfully steep.” The demon shrugged, its massive shoulders knocking cobwebs down from the rafters. “Quality is worth paying for. You could get a knockoff job for pennies on the dollar, sure, cheap imitation stuff. Real damnation is hard to find, these days. It’s all mass-produced, some factory in China.” “How’s the warranty?” “Eternity or ten thousand miles, whichever comes...
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  9. Headlights

    The car whispered against the road. This far out, the only part of the road that was visible was the small segment the headlights touched. In the distance, another car’s headlights shone briefly, and then were gone. “It’s kind of spooky,” Shannon said, lifting her feet and tucking them under her. “What is?” Dan was concentrating on driving. “It’s like there’s nothing but the headlights, and everything else is just inky and dark. Like we’re on a little island over a void.”...
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  10. Hidey-Hole

    Mit eased into the room, keeping one hand on the insulated wall. Moving was dangerous at night. The storage room was dark. Kep and Surcey were already in their bags, wedged between the boxes so they wouldn’t make noise shifting in their sleep. The chem-light slipped in his sweaty grip. Mit slammed a shin against a metal edge. He fell, slamming against the wall. The muffled thump brought the others instantly awake. “What-?” Surcey clamped her mouth shut. Mit gestured sharply. They...
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  11. Inside Frisbee

    “Mommy, why is there glass in front of the TV?” “It’s to keep the little people inside,” she answered sagely, amusing herself. “Oh. What would happen if they got out?” “They’re very bad people,” she told him. “That’s why they have to stay in there and put on shows for everyone.” “Oh.” He stared at the screen, wide-eyed. Later, he was playing Inside Frisbee with his friend Jaron. They weren’t supposed to play it anymore. The Frisbee hit the TV and there was a sharp cracking...
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  12. Laying Season

    “Why are you all so frightened?” she asked. “You’re new here,” replied a plump matron. “You don’t know.” “I’ve heard,” she said. “I’ve heard rumors from the other young ones.” Another female sighed. “I probably have children out there, but I’ve never met them.” “They take our children from us,” said the doyenne. “Thieves. Kidnappers. Murderers.” “Is it truly so horrible? We have food; we have warmth; we have shelter.” Before she could receive an answer, the door slammed...
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  13. Model Trains

    Peter marveled at the intricacy of detail. “These models are amazing,” he murmured at last. “We pride ourselves on our authenticity,” said the shop owner, tossing another handful of jerky bits into his mouth and chewing noisily. “It’s astounding. Do you have any houses under construction? Or more modern trains?” “Sure,” the man pointed. “Wow! How did you do these?” He swallowed his mouthful. “Shrink ray.” “Pardon?” “Just find a real one and miniaturize it. Saves a ton...
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  14. Murder Mystery

    “Thus,” the Great Detective intoned, “the true culprit is… Jameson, the leatherworker’s apprentice!” Everyone gasped. “How can you know for certain?” Lady Altia said. “Elementary. The puncture wounds in the Colonel’s neck could only have been made by an awl, which the lad possesses.” “And the locked room?” “Stood on horseback and climbed in through the window.” “Why did the Colonel not see him in the mirror?” “The boy is far shorter than Colonel Dempser.” “Astounding!”...
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  15. Pot o' Gold

    “I’ve caught you!” cried Jerry exultantly. “Aye, ye have.” Jerry didn’t relax his grip on the little man’s ankle. “Now I get the pot of gold, right?” “Aye.” The leprechaun flipped a page of the magazine he’d been reading – The Economist – and puffed at his meerschaum pipe. “Aren’t you upset?” “Ach, laddie,” the wee man chuckled, “ye have no idea. But ye’ll learn…” When Jerry awoke, the first thing he noticed was the huge pot of shining gold pieces. He picked up his little...
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