Flash fiction…

for Friday Fictioneers

 

chic-chak-zubra.regular (4)

“Who’s there?”

“Disguise”

“Disguise who?”

“Disguise in love with you!”

They did it every night when John got home.

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chic-chak-zubra.regular (4)

“Why the funny voice?”  Lea giggled.

“Knock-knock”

“John, you’re scaring me”

She opened the door, just a little. A man in a hoodie barged his way in and thumped the lightswitch plunging the flat into darkness.

“Get out” yelled Lea.

He lowered his hood and shone a torch from beneath his chin.

“I said I’d find you Lea”

What the hell do you want Mike?”

“Stupid question Lea. I’m collecting what’s mine”

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chic-chak-zubra.regular (4)

Nothing.

“Knock-knock”, louder.

“Lea, knock-knock sweetheart!”

Silence.

John unlocked the door.

Lea was nowhere to be seen.

 

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jhc-asylum

Friday Fictioneers is hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo is by J Hardy Carroll

Post 1769

82 thoughts on “Flash fiction…

  1. k rawson's avatar k rawson February 13, 2019 / 14:22

    Novel story-telling. The juxtaposition of the knock knock joke with the horror story really works.

    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings February 13, 2019 / 14:56

      I hoped it might – it’s nothing like my normal style! Thanks so much.

    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings February 13, 2019 / 14:58

      Bit of this, bit of that! Thanks so much, Susan

  2. pennygadd51's avatar pennygadd51 February 13, 2019 / 14:54

    Excellent and novel little chiller, Keith. You did it very well. I wonder whether John is the sort of guy who will go looking for Lea to rescue her.

  3. Sandra's avatar Sandra February 13, 2019 / 15:26

    That’s a cracker of an idea, and structured in a novel, scary but almost amusing way. You excelled yourself this week.

    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings February 13, 2019 / 15:35

      Thanks so much, Sandra, that’s so kind of you. – to be honest, I spent longer fiddling and formatting than I did writing it!

  4. Brenda's Thoughts's avatar Brenda's Thoughts February 13, 2019 / 18:01

    A fantastic thriller. I enjoyed the way your structured it!

    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings February 14, 2019 / 10:54

      I hesitated before pressing the publish button as I was unsure if it worked! Thanks so much Brenda.

      • Brenda's Thoughts's avatar Brenda's Thoughts February 14, 2019 / 16:45

        It certainly did work, Keith!

  5. Dale's avatar Dale February 13, 2019 / 18:57

    Must agree with everyone, Keith. Fantabulous idea of mixing innocent fun with horror.
    Poor Lea! Go get her, John!

  6. Gisselle Hernandez's avatar Gisselle Hernandez February 13, 2019 / 19:18

    Will never see knock-knock jokes the same again…chilling!

  7. Iain Kelly's avatar Iain Kelly February 13, 2019 / 19:41

    Terrifying in its simplicity Keith, very well done, and a refreshing change of tone.

    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings February 14, 2019 / 10:56

      A change is as good as a rest I’m told! Thanks Iain.

  8. Na'ama Yehuda's avatar Na'ama Yehuda February 14, 2019 / 01:26

    Yikes! How scary .. and alas how true a terror for many who live with domestic violence, stalking, and abusers.

  9. Abhijit Ray's avatar Abhijit Ray February 14, 2019 / 06:42

    Chilling! Barging in and kidnapping a human being.

  10. hilarymb's avatar hilarymb February 14, 2019 / 07:39

    Hi Keith – not nice at all … glad it’s a sunny day! I imagine it happens … well told – cheers Hilary

    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings February 14, 2019 / 10:41

      I’m sure it does, but hopefully never in my apartment block!

  11. draliman's avatar draliman February 14, 2019 / 08:18

    I love the way you wrote this. It made it all the more scary!

  12. ceayr's avatar ceayr February 14, 2019 / 08:35

    Knock knock
    Who’s there?
    UX
    UX who?
    You excelled yourself this week, Keith

  13. rochellewisoff's avatar rochellewisoff February 14, 2019 / 12:29

    Knock Knock. Who’s there? S’only me saying, Unusual story, well told, Keith.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings February 14, 2019 / 13:37

      Thank you for knocking on my door once again Rochelle!

  14. Jelli's avatar Jelli February 14, 2019 / 14:30

    Not a knock-knock joke at all… pretty scary little story you have here!

    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings February 14, 2019 / 21:17

      Not the sort we enjoy anyway! Delighted to have scared you Jelli

  15. gahlearner's avatar gahlearner February 14, 2019 / 14:31

    This is creepy on so many levels. That Mike bloke must have watched them for some time. I echo what others said, excellent story telling.

    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings February 14, 2019 / 21:24

      I saw Mike as Lea’s ex who’d been watching her for a while. I’m so pleased you enjoyed it

  16. Nobbinmaug's avatar Nobbinmaug February 14, 2019 / 16:33

    I don’t have anything fresh to say, so I’ll just say well done.

  17. Liz Young's avatar Liz Young February 14, 2019 / 16:45

    Oh dear – that doesn’t bode well for Lea!

    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings February 14, 2019 / 21:26

      I’ve no idea where she is now. I’m waiting for my muse to give me a clue!

  18. Laurie Bell's avatar Laurie Bell February 14, 2019 / 19:55

    Oh no. That is great. So well told Keith. Clever use of the joke, no futher explanation needed.

    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings February 15, 2019 / 00:47

      Thanks so much Laurie, I’m so pleased you enjoyed it

  19. michael1148humphris's avatar michael1148humphris February 14, 2019 / 21:57

    Loved that you are trying out differing styles.

  20. plaridel's avatar plaridel February 14, 2019 / 22:19

    definitely one of your best. well done.

  21. granonine's avatar granonine February 15, 2019 / 15:38

    Oh, Keith! Really, really well done. The introduction of Mike into the story was just terrifying!

  22. lisarey1990's avatar lisarey1990 February 16, 2019 / 00:02

    Chilling write. I love the writing style of it too.

  23. Sascha Darlington's avatar Sascha Darlington February 16, 2019 / 00:23

    Oh! The beginning was so sweet, the middle terrifying, the end sad. Excellent stuff!

  24. Margaret's avatar Margaret February 16, 2019 / 05:36

    Oh what a great approach. As others have said, the juxtaposition of the joke with the horror of the narrative works really well. And there’s a lesson here not to be too predictable.

    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings February 16, 2019 / 10:05

      So true! Thanks so much for your kind words Margaret

  25. 4963andypop's avatar 4963andypop February 16, 2019 / 15:13

    Nice one. It really drives home the danger of predictable public habits.

    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings February 17, 2019 / 09:45

      Very true, you never know who might take advantage. Thanks so much.

  26. Alicia Jamtaas's avatar Alicia Jamtaas February 16, 2019 / 21:11

    Wowzers! This is one of your best. You did a great job of turning the knock knock joke on its ear.

  27. 3rdofthe3rd's avatar 3rdofthe3rd February 16, 2019 / 22:05

    Captured my attention from the beginning. A thrilling read, well done Keith!

    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings February 17, 2019 / 09:42

      I’m really pleased! Thanks so much for dropping by.

  28. Russell's avatar Russell February 17, 2019 / 02:03

    Scary stuff! And well written too!

  29. the dark netizen's avatar the dark netizen February 17, 2019 / 07:42

    Absolutely brilliant storytelling! 😀
    Pure genius!

    • Keith's Ramblings's avatar Keith's Ramblings February 17, 2019 / 09:48

      I can’t thank you enough for your generous words.

  30. deborahsdeliberations's avatar deborahsdeliberations February 17, 2019 / 14:51

    What a terrifying tale, Keith. You took us from lighthearted fun to horror in a matter of minutes. Poor Lea and poor John. Great storytelling!

  31. Björn Rudberg (brudberg)'s avatar Björn Rudberg (brudberg) February 17, 2019 / 20:08

    The past catching up… what a chilling thing… our stories had a lot in common this week

  32. michaelwynnauthor's avatar michaelwynnauthor February 19, 2019 / 15:06

    That was different and very effective. Nicely done

  33. athling2001's avatar athling2001 March 18, 2019 / 21:44

    Scary! She is a smart girl to get out.

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