Ok, following is a story I’ve written for a flash fiction competition. The rules are that it has to have some sort of faery activity and it has to be less than 350 words. So here’s my effort.
Tim hid under the wharf. His parents stood above, he could see the soles of their shoes through the small spaces between the timbers. He had escaped to this shadowy space, when his parents had started shouting at each other again. He drew squiggles in the sand with a stick, water lapping at his feet.
Venomous words reached him, their hate wringing tears from the young boy. He dropped his stick and pushed his palms over his ears. Staring at the water, but seeing nothing, he chanted quietly, “Please take me away, please take me away.” Almost unnoticeable at first, he heard a flute. The notes enticed him and he dropped his hands. He focused then, and felt the notes brushing against his skin; a warm caress, and then he saw her.
A faery emerged from the water, her skin shimmering silver, her eyes dark pebbles that have lain on a riverbed for millennia. She smiled at him and her voice slipped in between the flute melody.
“Timmy swim with me,
To a life of serenity
Under the sea.
Timmy hold my hand,
I will show you peace
Where your smile will be free
Donna looked at Frank, cursing him under her breath, I hope you have a heart attack and die, right now. Frank shook his head, another out of control fight, another pylon taken out of their relationship; they were about to collapse and he knew he would be the one to lose the most. He would lose Tim.
Frank blinked, “Where’s Tim?” In a moment neither one would ever forget, they realised he was not there. Frank found Timmy’s sneakers under the wharf. When he tipped them upside down, silver glitter floated to the ground.
Flute music haunts their sleep and Tim’s parents dream of a woman, black eyes deep and mocking. She holds their son, his blue face reflected in her silver skin, his hair floats this way and that, with the underwater currents, and his mouth smiles at something only his dead eyes can see.
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Oooh I like this. A fairy story with a great twist and loaded with wonderful suspense. Perfect! Wish you all the best with your entry, Honey. It’s gripping.
Thanks Jane :). You were quick too, how does that happen lol. I’m glad you guys liked it. I’ve never written faeries before, it was fun.
Wow. Dionne omg. I so can’t wait for your book. Great short story babe.
Thanks gorgeous! You were so quick, are you sitting by the computer lol.
Have the phone with me watching tv. I am attached to my phone. Hehe
That’s a lot of story in only 350 words. I particularly Iike the imagery; ‘he could see the soles of their shoes through the small spaces between the timbers’ and ‘her eyes dark pebbles that have lain on a riverbed for millennia.’
Thanks Gayle, it’s so great to get such wonderful feedback :). Thanks so much for visiting me here and leaving a comment :).
There is incredible depth and imagery for a 350 word story. Brilliant and very impressive. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Wow, thanks Natalie. I appreciate you taking the time to visit and comment and I’m so excited you love it, so thanks :).
Really good Dionne…I could imagine it all. All the best…
Thanks V 🙂 How have you been, long time no tweet!
Love this, Dionne. Very eerie. Thanks for entering! 🙂
Thanks for pushing me to enter 😉
Wow! Great story and so very sad. Well done!
Thanks Rebecca. I got into trouble from my husband who always complains he wants me to write something happy ‘for a change’. Why is happy so hard? lol
Really powerful and so, so sad. Evil fairies (just like they should be). So glad you entered!
Thanks Meg 🙂
How very chilling. Fantastic, Dionne! =)
Thanks Cory. Hmm, chilling, I like that 🙂
Thanks for visiting Cory, I’m so happy you enjoyed it – that’s the second best bit next to writing it 🙂
Dionne, I was fascinated and very moved by your story. Beautifully realized and an unexpected journey.
Thanks Jo-Anne, I’m so happy my story has resonated with you. I’m also honoured that you, and so many people, took the time to comment, it means a lot 🙂
Beautiful and haunting. Such a bittersweet entry – well done, m’friend!
Thanks Angela 🙂
A nice tale showing that not all fae are nice and cute, nor is their mischief always innocent. 😉
Thanks Daniel. I’ve always thought they have their own way of looking at things. Maybe they think they’re doing the right thing? lol
Shirens have always frightened me. I wanted to wrap Timmy up in my arms and protect him! Great story.
Aww, thanks Angela.
I don’t know …. was she evil or did she save him from a life that wasn’t really worth living anyway? Very atmospheric – great piece. Thank you
Hi Cameron. Interesting point and I pondered that after I wrote it, hmmm…
A Fairytale feeling, but with a sting of a twist. Great stuff Dionne. : )