Tag Archives: 100 words

The Infested

hornet's nest

PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson

“You can’t blame my client for these crimes.” Marie’s attorney Michael Caan was the best in the business and even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, the jury and judge felt swayed.

“We’ve provided expert testimony,” Caan continued, “that demonic hornets infested her brain when she committed the crimes. She wasn’t legally responsible for her actions.”

Wearing yellow and black, dozens of self-proclaimed “Hornet Women” in the gallery and hundreds outside continued to cheer Marie on. She was a symbol for all women like them.

Yet, a trio of soft sobbing voices from beyond kept asking, “Why?”

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Afterwards

hotel-frederick

PHOTO PROMPT © Lori Wilson

Glenn trudged up the steps of the old hotel. His overcoat covered most of the signs of battle, a scorched jacket and trousers as well as the blood. His face had a few bruises, but it was late and the light was low in the hotel lobby.

He casually nodded at the young night guy who was glued to his smartphone. Thank God for addictions, at least in this case.

He closed and locked the door to his room behind him and then set up his wards. That he defeated a demon tonight didn’t mean there weren’t others out there.

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Dwindling

nesting cups

PHOTO PROMPT © Lisa Fox

Once I was straight and tall, like an oak tree, like a stone spire. But time has a way with things and with people and I started getting smaller.

It’s okay really. This happens to all of us. That’s why we have children and grandchildren. As we grow smaller, they get bigger. Hopefully, they’ll even become better versions of ourselves but there are no guarantees.

In a way, it’s like what John said about Jesus in the Bible. I must decrease so he can increase. Age has shown me that, too though I wish I would have learned it sooner.

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Peace is a Decision

walkway

PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Aidan had almost forgotten this feeling.

For an hour, he surrendered his need to walk as fast as possible, to keep his heart rate elevated. He didn’t have to rush to the gym or keep track of his calories. He especially didn’t have to fret over the news or social media. Sometimes it was nice to be at peace.

“There have always been trials in life and tribulations in the world,” he said to himself. It wasn’t exactly a quote from the Bible, but close enough.

“I’ve so often prayed for peace, but peace is a decision, not a gift.”

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Magic Mushrooms

mushrooms tree

PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook

Lin came to harvest another batch of Yun Zhi or what most people called turkey-tail mushrooms from the dead and rotting tree in the field behind her house. Her arthritis had been acting up again and the tea always seemed to help.

“What the…?” She took off her glasses and cleaned them but the wee ones were still there, sitting on the mushrooms or sometimes using them like stairsteps. The little folk each had a pipe and were madly puffing away.

“Contains PCP or don’t you know?” said one with a silver beard.

“They’re all getting high.” Lin’s mouth gaped.

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Cancelled

jail

PHOTO PROMPT © Carol Carr

“Come along, Sam.”

Brodie was the oldest guard in the prison, the one who’d slip you an extra cigarette or talk to you some. Sam was glad it was Brodie walking the last mile with him.

“No pardon, huh?” Sam’s last joke was lame but he was terrified. Six armed guards walked behind them and stood as Brodie strapped Sam into the chair.

The audience was filled with social media influencers all with smartphones ready to video his demise.

“Any last words?” Brodie asked.

Sam screamed, “Bad mouthing that lady President ain’t a capital crime!”

They threw the switch anyway.

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Calling Mothership

robot

PHOTO PROMPT © Lisa Fox

It was an obvious trap. The robot was merely waiting for the right time to capture the children who thought it was just playground equipment and take them up to the mothership for experimentation. They might be kept on the aliens’ planet for decades and then be returned aged not at all.

“You watched ‘Independence Day” on the fourth again, didn’t you Larry?” asked his wife, Nan.

“Why do you say that?” he said innocently. “I’m just minding my grandchildren while they play.”

“You’ve got that look,” she accused.

“Wait! I think the robot’s about to launch. Get the kids!”

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One Last Moment of Beauty

flower fence

PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson

Michael stopped, startled not so much by the shocking red, but that something beautiful could exist against the background of ugliness.

It had been so long since he’d let himself see anything in the world except injustice and the need for vengeance and retribution. He looked at the flower and remembered his mother before she died. Then he recalled that all beauty died with her and finished snapping the magazine into his illegal automatic handgun.

Walking around to the front of the house, he rang the bell. A man answered. Michael aimed at the chest of one of the rapists.

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On A Dark Desert Highway

desert

PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

“I’m getting too old for this.” Jack wanted to put on a pair of sunglasses to beat the desert glare as he drove but he didn’t wear contacts anymore and needed his regular glasses to see pretty much anything.

“Up and down this damned freeway,” he complained. “I was raised in the desert.” He eased his car around a curve keeping an eye on his speed. “Buried Dad’s ashes here like he wanted but that was ages ago. Why am I still here when there are greener places?”

“It’s almost over.” The voice in his head was strange yet comforting.

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Summer Vacation

clouds

PHOTO PROMPT © C. E. Ayr

The hiking trail had been a refreshing interlude but he always came back to the same place. Facing the dehumanizing blocks of motel rooms, Richard sagged wishing he could stay among the trees with a roof of clouds and sky.

But she didn’t like to camp, said sleeping bags made her itch, and motels served a free breakfast.

“I can’t face it all again and especially her.” He stopped to glare at the suite of prison cells. “Hell with it.”

He turned around. The sun would set soon and he would be alone. Richard wondered who would find his bones.

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