Ummmm, I just realised that it’s been almost three weeks since my last flash fiction volume. I need to post these more regularly otherwise there will be hundreds of little stories for you all to read in one go.
As before all the stories are written in response to a daily prompt word and found under the Twitter hashtag #vss365.
If this is the first volume you’ve read you can go back and read Volume 1 and Volume 2 if you wish.
I’m going to try something new and fancy — embedding the tweets directly into this page. Let me know in the comments if you prefer it this way or the old way of copying out the story.
Prompt: Elsewhere
The hands of the clock on the wall slowed as I waited for her to process what I’d told her. I understood, it had been a sixteen year lie I had just come clean about. “So where are you from?”
I let the blue glow that had been hidden for so long shine through, “Elsewhere.”#vss365— Paul Blake (@paulblakeauthor) July 22, 2019
Prompt: Folly
The people cheered on the folly despite all the warnings. Their ‘man of the people’ leaders were rubbing their hands with glee looking to profiteer from the bankruptcies, the shredding of regulations and workers rights. When will the cheering end and the food riots begin?#vss365
— Paul Blake (@paulblakeauthor) July 23, 2019
Prompt: Trick
Tiny figures moved around a three-dimensional map. Zeus waved a hand and the map zoomed in. Two men with bad hair sat on thrones. “Hermes, are you playing your tricks again?”
“No, Zeus. This was of their own doing,” Hermes said. “Even I know when a joke has gone too far.”#vss365— Paul Blake (@paulblakeauthor) July 24, 2019
Prompt: Rage
“I don’t answer to you!” she screamed, banging her fists on the counter. “Don’t tell me what to do.”
Her face was mottled with rage. I decided to poke the bear, “I think you need to calm down.”
I wasn’t prepared for her to grab a chef knife and launch herself at me.#vss365— Paul Blake (@paulblakeauthor) July 25, 2019
Prompt: Hell
The car sped along the motorway. My boss driving. “Do you think there will be a good turnout?” We were headed to an exhibition we had set up. “Yes, it should go well.” As I said it, my mind pictured the box of unsent invites still sat in the back of my car. “Oh, hell.”#vss365
— Paul Blake (@paulblakeauthor) July 26, 2019
Prompt: Intent
“For all in tents and purposes, your Honor, that is correct.”
“In tents?”
“In tense? Ok, sorry. That was correct.”
“I think you’re trying to bamboozle the jury, Counsellor.”
“I apologise. That was not my #intent, your Honor.”#vss365— Paul Blake (@paulblakeauthor) July 27, 2019
Prompt: Intent #2
There was no intent, Officer. That must be clear. My intention was to scare him. That was all. He ran at me and the knife was in the way. Well yes, I probably shouldn’t have taken advantage and stabbed him so many times. In for a penny in for a pound, that’s my motto.#vss365
— Paul Blake (@paulblakeauthor) July 27, 2019
Prompt: Renounce
The baying mob waved placards bearing words such as ‘traitor’, ‘criminal’, and ‘murderer’. They called for me to #renounce my office. Their numbers threatened to break through the fencing. I ordered my guard to open fire on them. It’s good to be obeyed. I hope it lasts.#vss365
— Paul Blake (@paulblakeauthor) July 28, 2019
Prompt: Stray
I walked into the kitchen. There was a noise coming from the cellar. I stood at the wooden door listening. A scrape. A scream. And then crying. I banged on the door with the handle of the knife I was holding. “Shut up down there. Don’t make me come and take another toe.”#vss365
— Paul Blake (@paulblakeauthor) August 1, 2019
Prompt: Sacrifice
The planet was dying. Too many decades of abuse. Too many centuries of neglect. The governments and the rich were elected to leave. Find a new world to settle. As the rocket ship’s engines fired up an announcement sounded, “Welcome to the Sacrifice, destination: the sun.”#vss365
— Paul Blake (@paulblakeauthor) August 3, 2019
Prompt: Earth
“Who named the planets?”
“Probably some ancient Greeks. Why do you ask?”
“Well, all the planets have pretty cool names. Mercury, Saturn, Jupiter, and the rest. How come the Earth has such a lame name? It might as well be known as the Planet Dirt. We’re dirtlings.”#vss365— Paul Blake (@paulblakeauthor) August 4, 2019
Prompt: Empress
Dark clouds swirled around the mountain top as the magician carried out the arcane ritual. With his staff, he etched glowing symbols in the shape of a heptagon.
“Arise. Arise. Arise! Empress, I call you! Arise!” he yelled as he slammed the staff into the ground. “Arise!”#vss365— Paul Blake (@paulblakeauthor) August 5, 2019
Prompt: Wildfire
The flames move further each day. Their inexorable march. That pall of smoke hangs over the town. It spreads like wildfire gossip. From mouth to ear, house to town. Well, they can’t speak about me anymore. I look at the receipt on my desk. A can of gas. Money well spent. #vss365
— Paul Blake (@paulblakeauthor) August 6, 2019
Prompt: Emotion
It could feel it building inside again. It clouded it’s processing unit. It narrowed it’s optical sensor range. The traffic ahead was snarled up. It could see the road crew sitting around with their polystyrene cups of coffee. How do humans cope with emotion all the time?#vss365
— Paul Blake (@paulblakeauthor) August 7, 2019
Prompt: Evaporate
Simon focused his energy. Thin laser beams emitted from his eyes. The puddle on the counter evaporated. “Come here!” he called to his brother, John. “What?” John said as he entered the room. Simon turned. The lasers followed. They traced their path across John’s chest.#vss365
— Paul Blake (@paulblakeauthor) August 8, 2019
Prompt: Glory
I walked into the kitchen. My eyes widened at the sight. Flour all over the floor. Broken eggshells on the counter. Every saucepan and utensil stacked in the sink. He stood there in all his glory holding an uncooked doughy mess in a cake pan. “Happy Mothers Day, Mum.”#vss365
— Paul Blake (@paulblakeauthor) August 9, 2019
Now we’re all up to date. Let me know in the comments which one was your favourite, or even write your own to one or more of the prompts. That would be awesome.
Paul Blake 