Photo Credit: MinorcanMeteorolgist
They sent us into the forest. It’s where we all go in the end—we betrayers, cowards, thieves. The forest swallows all like us. We knew this before we committed our acts. We knew this as they unshackled us and prodded us into that place. No one who goes in, comes out.
None knew how it would happen, only that we would never leave.
A young woman bearing the scars of a turncoat was the first to go. Barely fifty paces into that damn place we came to a stagnant pond. She stopped and stared in a queer way. It was as if she’d been called. She walked, with purpose, straight into that muck. We all watched, sad. It was our fate too. She closed her eyes, shuddered, an began to harden, flake, become wood. In moments, she was a rotten piling standing alone in that water.
She was a part of this place now.
We didn’t bother to exchange names after that. We had no use for them.
We would all be a part of this place soon.
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Oooh, I love it!! A really unpleasant fate, and it sounds like few of them could really have deserved it. The flaking and rotten result of walking into the woods is brilliant. Chilling. Very effective. Brrr.
My entry is just over here: http://joannakneilson.wordpress.com/2012/04/05/flash-fiction-faction-the-shriek-hunters/
Thanks Joanna. And I’m sorry I was so late in posting this morning! Crazzzzy week..and then I overslept. oops.
I’m on my way to read yours now.
Kinda creepy. Great story though even if it gave me the hebejebes a little. Just something chilling about going into someplace and never coming back. I liked the line about not bothering to learn each others names after that first girl went in. Just reinforced how futile it was.
I haven’t worked on mine yet. It might not come until after work today. I’ll swing back by later.
Thanks!
And no worries about not having worked on it yet. We all have busy schedules! I’m looking forward to reading yours though. See you later.
Okay! I’ve come up with something! I think . . . Well, no time for second thoughts.
Here ya go: http://unduecreativity.wordpress.com/2012/04/05/cajuns-and-crawdads/
I was all ready there. And my, my, my…you pulled it off like a pro! I loved it!
You’re quick! Lol.
I just happened to be here when you posted LOL
Excellent! Those pilings do look a bit other-worldly; a great take on the photo. And very eerie too. Well done.
Mine’s at http://castelsarrasin.wordpress.com/2012/04/05/the-illuminati-flash-fiction-faction/
Written in something of a hurry as I’ve just got back from a break in France.
Thank you! And how wonderful! A break in France! I hope you had a wonderful time.
I’m on my way to your site right now.
Great story. A fitting end for the more unsavory folks of the world.
My story: http://authorbrandonscott.wordpress.com/2012/04/05/dont-look-down/
Thanks, Brandon.
I’m on my way to your Flash fiction right now!
This one gave me the shivers.
You should read some of the others in the comments section. Shivers abounds!
So many questions. What are turncoat scars? What exactly was their crime? And would it have been a crime in another society? Tell us more!
Mine is here: http://threedescriptors.wordpress.com/2012/04/05/flash-fiction-19-mirror-pond/
I know! I like this story a lot too. As to where I was going with it, they each had a different crime (they didn’t know each other’s names). And as to whether or not it would have been a crime in another society, that is really dependent upon how large this world gets (if it does). It is obviously not OUR Earth.
I’m off to read yours right now.
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Great story. I didn’t see it coming. At first I had images of POW, heading for their execution going through my head. The ending is very creative. By the way, I had to google turncoat, never heard it before but now I know what is means thanks to Wikipedia.
Here is mine on a much lighter note:
http://366degree.wordpress.com/2012/04/05/flash-fiction-faction-the-excursion/
Cheers!
I’m glad to have introduced you to a new word!
I’m headed your way right now!
Great story, brilliantly narrated and haunting. A very creative ending.
Here’s mine: http://sphrbn.wordpress.com/2012/04/05/all-thats-left/
Thank you so much!
I’m headed to read yours now!
Chilling! Love the last line.
Thank you, Ted!
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I really enjoyed that. Creepy! Sorry I’ve been so late adding mine, it’s been a hectic few days http://johnchild08.wordpress.com/2012/04/01/the-drowning/
Thank you, Laura! And don’t worry! It’s been one of those weeks for all of us!
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