If Only He Knew (I also used this one for The Fiction Dealer today. It was 100 words on the prompt Elegance. This drabble is more suspense than horror…but it is dark).
If only they knew…
Sloan mused.
I could end them in a blink of an eye.
Muted bulbs shimmered above the cocktail bar, shedding little light on the wealthy drinkers below.
The woman sipped her martini—elegance radiating from her. No one would guess in a million years the life she lives after the bars close down.
She signaled for the check. The man to her left said it was on him, making her decision an easy one. She leaned in, whispering an invitation.
They left together, the poor bastard thinking he was about to get lucky.
I enjoy writing drabbles. They’re helpful for getting your creative juices flowing again when you get stuck on a story. Writing one is also a useful way to learn how to not overwrite while setting a scene in longer works.
I always tell people not to download random shit. My family was out of town. I was bored and decided to find a game.
I clicked something called Point_And_Shoot.exe. You picked a weapon and hunted bad guys in the woods. I killed my bad guy after fifteen minutes. It was fun.
I played until I finally got tired. I was about to step outside when I saw words flash on my screen.
“You have been chosen. Run. Hide. Your killer is armed with a rifle.”
I looked out my window at the woods surrounding my house and saw movement.
“Why?” she laughed. Doubling over, she gasped, “Why, Simon?”
He held her up until he too was overwhelmed and they slid to the floor, dropping as one, still embracing and rolling in their joy. He didn’t have an answer for her.
Meeting Clara had brought a spark to him. Til then, his had been a dull impersonation of life, but the second he spotted her, he had known that everything was about to change.
He pulled the knife from her stomach and tried to read her expression. He wasn’t good at that.
My books are moved. Lamp is halfway across the room. Goddamn maid, how am I supposed to get work done?
David moved to the kitchen for a soothing cuppa. The clicking of the burner saved his life from the odorless killer. She’d left the gas on. Moving from sloppy to deadly. Where the hell was she anyway? David didn’t see the flickering loose wire on the nearby pantry floor soaked with spilled cleaning supplies. He did see, with mounting concern, the fresh text from Gladys.
‘Sorry, kids are sick, I won’t be in to clean today, c u next week.’
"Who's that?" asked Rachel, gawking up at the elegant lady in the painting.
The old woman chuckled.
"Why, that was me, if you can believe it. I always thought Harold made me too pretty in that picture, though. She looks a bit like I did, but more like--well, someone else. But I always kept her up because she reminds me of him. And because I'm a bit scared to try taking her down."
"I could, if you want. It doesn't look very heavy."
"No, best not to, dearie. You seem like a nice girl, but I'm afraid she is not."
Through the hiss of the shower she heard it again.
Despite the near scalding water washing over her--about the only thing nowadays that made her feel anything at all--she was struck at how cold she suddenly felt when she heard it.
Lisa shut off the water and listened.
Scratching.
Squeaking.
Rustling, from behind the wall next to the mirror.
She poked her head out of the shower and waited for the steam to dissipate.
When it did, all was as it should be. Until she saw the jaundiced eye staring at her through the hole in the wall.
Be Not Afraid
‘There’s no need to be scared, honey.’
‘I’m not scared, Daddy. I’ll be with the angels tonight.’
‘Gilda Payne! Don’t say that. It’s a big operation but Dr Gabriel is the best. You’ll be fine.’
‘I know, and the angels said they can take me once I’m perfect.’
‘Hush now, silly. Here comes the nurse.’
*****
‘What the hell do you mean, she’s gone? Don’t you idiots have security?’
‘Yes, and cameras. Nobody saw anything Mr Payne. Does Gilda sleepwalk?’
‘It’s the fourth floor for God’s sake. How…’
A feather floated over the floor in the breeze from the window.
Nice! Angel horror is underrated.
Thank you 🙂 And I agree
If Only He Knew (I also used this one for The Fiction Dealer today. It was 100 words on the prompt Elegance. This drabble is more suspense than horror…but it is dark).
If only they knew…
Sloan mused.
I could end them in a blink of an eye.
Muted bulbs shimmered above the cocktail bar, shedding little light on the wealthy drinkers below.
The woman sipped her martini—elegance radiating from her. No one would guess in a million years the life she lives after the bars close down.
She signaled for the check. The man to her left said it was on him, making her decision an easy one. She leaned in, whispering an invitation.
They left together, the poor bastard thinking he was about to get lucky.
If only he knew…
I like it. Nicely done!
Thank you! I think it’s my favorite flash fiction I’ve done yet. Such a fun exercise!
I enjoy writing drabbles. They’re helpful for getting your creative juices flowing again when you get stuck on a story. Writing one is also a useful way to learn how to not overwrite while setting a scene in longer works.
Yes! I had to cut 30 words from this one originally. Makes you analyze your work in greater detail.
I had to cut 10 or 15 words from mine to get it to the requisite 100. But I felt like it made the whole passage stronger in the end.
Do You Want To Play A Game?
I always tell people not to download random shit. My family was out of town. I was bored and decided to find a game.
I clicked something called Point_And_Shoot.exe. You picked a weapon and hunted bad guys in the woods. I killed my bad guy after fifteen minutes. It was fun.
I played until I finally got tired. I was about to step outside when I saw words flash on my screen.
“You have been chosen. Run. Hide. Your killer is armed with a rifle.”
I looked out my window at the woods surrounding my house and saw movement.
That Certain Feeling
They clutched each other tight.
“Why?” she laughed. Doubling over, she gasped, “Why, Simon?”
He held her up until he too was overwhelmed and they slid to the floor, dropping as one, still embracing and rolling in their joy. He didn’t have an answer for her.
Meeting Clara had brought a spark to him. Til then, his had been a dull impersonation of life, but the second he spotted her, he had known that everything was about to change.
He pulled the knife from her stomach and tried to read her expression. He wasn’t good at that.
Wow! That puts the dark in dark drabble. Nicely done.
Ha! I don't do scary halfway.
That’s the best approach with horror. All gas, no brakes.
Gladys’ Day Off
My books are moved. Lamp is halfway across the room. Goddamn maid, how am I supposed to get work done?
David moved to the kitchen for a soothing cuppa. The clicking of the burner saved his life from the odorless killer. She’d left the gas on. Moving from sloppy to deadly. Where the hell was she anyway? David didn’t see the flickering loose wire on the nearby pantry floor soaked with spilled cleaning supplies. He did see, with mounting concern, the fresh text from Gladys.
‘Sorry, kids are sick, I won’t be in to clean today, c u next week.’
(reposted from elsewhere, but freshly written)
"Who's that?" asked Rachel, gawking up at the elegant lady in the painting.
The old woman chuckled.
"Why, that was me, if you can believe it. I always thought Harold made me too pretty in that picture, though. She looks a bit like I did, but more like--well, someone else. But I always kept her up because she reminds me of him. And because I'm a bit scared to try taking her down."
"I could, if you want. It doesn't look very heavy."
"No, best not to, dearie. You seem like a nice girl, but I'm afraid she is not."
I really like that final line. It leaves you with an unsettling feeling.
Thanks! I hope these drabbles become a regular thing. They're fun and short enough that I can actually participate. 😉
This is a 100 word story I did a while back.
https://open.substack.com/pub/jasonduck/p/the-ripper?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=2ja1cw
Ooh, that's a delicious twist. Love it :)
COLD SHOWER
Through the hiss of the shower she heard it again.
Despite the near scalding water washing over her--about the only thing nowadays that made her feel anything at all--she was struck at how cold she suddenly felt when she heard it.
Lisa shut off the water and listened.
Scratching.
Squeaking.
Rustling, from behind the wall next to the mirror.
She poked her head out of the shower and waited for the steam to dissipate.
When it did, all was as it should be. Until she saw the jaundiced eye staring at her through the hole in the wall.
Thanks so much for this
Thanks for the mention John. Really appreciate it 🙏
Thank you for the mention! Looking forward to all the drabbles.
Thanks for mentioning my story. I appreciate that. Loved the drabble!
Asrael strikes again! nice
This one still haunts me... inspired by an all-too-real experience: https://open.substack.com/pub/unspooling/p/sometimes-dead-is-better?r=2gyqr5&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true