Tag Archives: Flash Fiction

July 1, 2017

Only the Purest of Hearts

Photo by © Eric Wicklund

Once upon a time, an enchanted tree in an ancient forest was known for granting wishes to those with pure, true hearts.

A scoundrel heard the legend and devised a scheme to fool the old tree into granting his evil desires. He spied a kind old man and overtook him, ripping out his heart, tossing it, still beating, into a satchel. As he approached the tree, it noticed the old man’s pure heart.

“Hello kind sir,” the tree said, “I sense your heart is true. What is your wish?”

“Oh great tree,” the scoundrel replied, “thank you for finding favor with me, a lowly servant. My wish…my wish…”

But before he could utter another word the old tree heaved, unsettling the ground beneath his feet. “What have you done?! Imposter! For your evil deed you shall suffer darkness forevermore!” The old tree’s roots burst through the dust, ensnaring the scoundrel, dragging him into the cold earth.

The tree took pity on the old man. He dispatched the faerie folk to restore to him his heart, granting him a long, happy life. The man continued to bestow kindness, even to strangers, because that is what those with the truest hearts do.

~kat

A 200 Word Tale for Sunday’s Photo Fiction Challenge based on the photo above. This one was quite the challenge and a great lesson in the art of brevity. Truth be told, the first draft of this yarn was over 500 words! Challenges like this help one to become a better writer. You should have a go of it. Click HERE for the details.

10 Comments | tags: 200 words, Challenge, Flash Fiction, Photo Prompt, Sunday Photo Fiction | posted in Challenges and Writing Prompts, Flash Fiction, Life Lessons, Under 300 Words

June 29, 2017

The Lagger

By Kat Myrman

Photo by © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

There was one in every tour group. The “laggers”, he called them. They were the most lucrative marks, Mortie had found, willing to surrender everything of value. After years of working the streets, he was something of a legend.

He and his partner waited in the shadows until the others turned the corner. It would be a textbook block and bump. Easy.

Mortie approached the woman, feigning distress.

She didn’t respond. Instead, Officer Jillian Reed flashed a badge and pistol, “Stop! You’re under arrest!”

In seconds they were surrounded.

“Jillie?” Mortie cried.

“Busted, Uncle Mort. It’s high time you retired.”

~kat
(100 Words)

For Rochelle Wisoff-Fields Friday Fictioneers 100 Word Story Challenge based on her own photo pictured above.

36 Comments | tags: 100 Words, busted, Flash Fiction, Friday Fictioneers, laggers, Photo Prompt | posted in 100 and Under, Challenges and Writing Prompts, Flash Fiction

June 29, 2017

Forever Bound

By Kat Myrman

For Sacha’s “In 52 Words” challenge. This week’s prompt to tell the story of why the room pictured here is empty. But here’s the thing, it is not empty. At least not for Lara…

Photo from Pinterest

Lara was forever bound to this place, condemned, inhabitable, its walls blistering from having witnessed unspeakable atrocities.

The sight of her gray, lifeless eyes, limbs tied with rope to a four-poster, haunted those who found her there.

In life, she had always loved this room. Some souls find heaven in hell’s corridors.

~kat
(52 Words, No More, No Less)

6 Comments | tags: 52 Words, Challenge, Flash Fiction, haunting, heaven, hell, Photo Prompt | posted in 52 Words, Challenges and Writing Prompts, Flash Fiction

June 24, 2017

Guido

By Kat Myrman

It was still there, just as he remembered; that grotesque eagle statue that “looked like it had been spray painted gold”. Her words. She made him laugh. That’s when their eyes met and he found the courage to ask her to join him.

The cafe on the corner was gone. Well, the building was still there, but the space had become a trendy clothing shop.

It was crazy, but he was sure he could smell coffee in the air and a hint of her perfume. “Jasmine”, she had told him, like her name. Crazy.

“Jazz?” He whispered. But there was no one there.

So many things had changed since that day. They’d shared a wonderful life. Made a home, raised three amazing kids. He had always assumed he would go first. Fate didn’t agree.

So now here he was, fulfilling a promise that he would go back, have a coffee and check on their old friend, Guido, the eagle.

He tipped his hat toward the old bird. “It’s all your fault you know. If you hadn’t been so gawd awful looking she might never have noticed me.” Then he laughed out loud. “Thanks Jazzy girl. You knew I needed that.”

~kat
(200 Words)

For Sunday’s Photo Fiction challenge inspired by this photo by our host Al.

15 Comments | tags: 200 words, Flash Fiction, memories, Photo Prompt, Sunday Photo Fiction | posted in Challenges and Writing Prompts, Flash Fiction, Under 300 Words