Flash Fiction Friday 2024 – Week 37

Flash Fiction Friday continues in 2024. New pieces appear every Friday on my Patreon throughout the year. The minimum pledge to read them before anyone else is $3 per month. and the number of pieces available is tied to the monthly pledge total so the more you support my efforts, the more you’ll get to read. Find out what they’re all about and check out some excerpts from this week’s update in this post.

Again and Again

Luke’s heart raced as he approached his front door, the weight of the world seeming to press down on his shoulders. The evening sun painted the sky with soft yellow and orange undertones, but there was a sense of foreboding in the air that made the hair on the back of his neck stand to attention. With a trembling hand, he turned the key in the lock and pushed open the door, stepping into the dark hallway.
The sound of hushed voices drifted to his ears from the direction of the living room, and Luke’s steps faltered for a moment as he strained to make out the words. As he drew closer, the words became clearer, and a sinking feeling settled in the pit of his stomach.
“…can’t keep doing this, Sarah,” a voice murmured softly, tinged with guilt.
“I know, but I can’t help it,” another voice, his wife’s voice, replied in a whisper.
Luke entered the living room and saw the tangled figures on the sofa. His wife, Sarah, lay nestled against his brother, David, their bodies entwined in a way that made Luke’s stomach churn with a mix of fury and betrayal.

(…)

Obedient Puppet

Erica stood behind Phoebe, her hand resting lightly on the younger woman’s shoulder. Phoebe’s body was tense, her eyes darting nervously around the room. She could feel Erica’s presence, like a looming shadow behind her.
“Relax, my dear,” Erica whispered, her voice soft and soothing. “You have nothing to fear. I am here to take care of you.”
Phoebe tried to calm herself, but her heart was racing. She couldn’t understand why she was so distressed. She had been working for Erica for two months now, and she had never seen anything to be afraid of. In fact, she had been quite happy with her job as her personal assistant.
But lately, things were different. Erica was acting strange, almost possessive. She would often touch Phoebe in ways that made her uncomfortable, and she would whisper strange things in her ear.
“You are my puppet, Phoebe. My willing and obedient puppet,” Erica would say, or some variation of it even if the meaning remained the ease.
And yet, despite her unease, Phoebe couldn’t bring herself to leave. She needed this job, and Erica paid very well, more than anyone else she knew. Plus, there was a part of her that was drawn to the businesswoman’s powerful and alluring presence.
Erica leaned in closer, her lips brushing against Phoebe’s ear. “You want to please me, don’t you, Phoebe?”
Phoebe nodded, her body trembling as Erica’s words filled her mind.
“Good. Then you will do exactly as I say.”

You Are Lost

It was an eerie night, and a pink-reddish full moon hung in the sky. Jasper stumbled through the dense forest, his breaths coming in short gasps as he tried to find his way back to his campsite. He had been hiking all day, so absorbed by the gorgeous natural surroundings that he had lost track of time. Normally, that wouldn’t be a problem because he was used to the wilderness but there was something about that day that made him more wary than usual. It was Friday the 13th.
Unlike his late mother – God rest her soul! – Jasper had never believed in superstitions. He saw them as silly tales designed to scare gullible minds. People created their own luck, and it was nothing that could be affected by a specific date on a calendar. And yet as he trudged through the dark woods unsure of where he was heading, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease creeping up his spine. How unfortunate he had strayed from the path – or should he say, how unlucky? He quickened his pace, hoping to find his camp soon and settle in for the night.
But fate had other plans for Jasper. As he pressed forward through the rows of trees and dense foliage, he came face to face with a striking woman standing in his way. She was tall and slender, with long black hair cascading down her back. Her skin was pale and flawless, and her eyes were a deep shade of red that seemed to glow in the moonlight. Expensive contacts, perhaps? She was clad in a long black dress with a crimson cloak wrapped around her shoulders.

(…)

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