AUSTRALIAN HORROR AUTHOR

Author: Matthew Tonks

Day 124 – The Roundhead Prelude 6 – Soon, You Will See

**This takes place after chapter one of The Roundhead and before chapter two**

“You don’t get it do you? I can tell Sil, it’s written all over your face,” she says, Sil looks back down at the phone and then back to her and smiles.

“Not really, it’s scary, but it’s not really, my thing, I guess is the best way to put it,” Sil says as she hands the phone to her.

“Then you’re man,” she says with a giggle. “I fucking loved it, I mean, I really fucking loved it, it’s got me so fucking horny after I read it, that I slipped into Mary’s bed, and we made out!” She says excitedly.

“You, and Mary?”

“I know, I know, it’s been like, going to happen for ages, but I didn’t think either of us would ever work up the courage, and then bam! I read the story and was so fucking turned on, that I thought, shit, this is it, this is the time we finally get it on.”

“That’s awesome, maybe now I can finally stop hearing about how all you want to do is hook up with her,” Sil says with a laugh.

“Shut up! It’s so fucking awesome, so yeah, I can’t believe you don’t like the story!”

“It’s not that I don’t like it, it’s just not my cup of tea.”

“Dullsville right here, but I get it, you’ve got to like the genre, and you’ve got to have a good imagination,” she says with a laugh.

“What are you saying?” She says as she throws a pillow at her.

“Nothing sister, you’re just not a book person, but I’ll definitely shout you tickets to the movie when it’s made.”

“They’re making a movie?”

“There’s no way they couldn’t!”

“I guess, if it’s as good as you think,” she looks at her watch and back at her. “Anyway, I’ve gotta go, Doctor Tate’s class starts in ten minutes, and I don’t wanna be late,” she says blushing.

“You’re still banging him?”

“Shut up Steph, its more than that, we’re in love.”

“If the school board found out it wouldn’t be classed as love,” she says as she imitates riding a horse and begins smacking her own butt cheek.

“I’m nineteen and he’s thirty-one, in the eyes of the law we’re both legal, so it shouldn’t matter. Anyway, he doesn’t pay special attention to my grade, he’s fair, and makes sure my marks show that.”

“Whatever makes you happy sister,” she says as they hug. “Just know, when it comes out, and it will, I’m always here for you,” she says, Sil gives her a final smile before quickly exits the room, and Steph turns back to her phone and presses the share button on the story.

“Fucking shazoom!” she says out loud as she throws her shirt off, steps out of her shorts and walks into the shower, it’s then that she gets a tingling feeling running all over her body, she turns her head, looking straight into a set of cold, black eyes and screams, jumping behind the shower curtain.

“Whoever you are, you need to get the fuck out of my room now! My roommate and her boyfriend are going to be back any minute, and he plays for the schools rugby team, so I wouldn’t wanna be here when they arrive!” she yells, she can see the girl slowly, bizarrely move forward and reach out, grabbing the shower curtain, and ripping it away. They stare into each other’s eyes for what seems like hours, and then, the girl’s head tilts to the side slightly, and she beings to speak.

“Tides of blood wash into shore, as its feeds its thirst but still wants more, we cast our vote, we share its name, we deny our fault, we deny our blame, but our sins flow deep, within our soul, for that is what it seeks, that is what it stole, so if you dare, so if you might, call its name, but prepare for a fright, for it’s already here, waiting for you, so say it, so call it, call The Roundhead, The Roundhead, The Roundhead, I do.” Then, she disappears like a light being turned off, and that’s when Steph hears the sound, like fingernails running along a chalkboard.

DO YOU, DARE TO SHARE?

FIND PRELUDE ONE HERE, TWO HERE, THREE HERE, FOUR HERE, FIVE HERE, SEVEN HERE, EIGHT HERE, NINE HERE AND TEN HERE.

All artwork by Yazgar, check his stuff out when you can!

September 13, 2016
Day 124 – Change – Short Story

His sits, staring at the four glasses in front of him and blinks his eyes several times before reaching out in an attempt to pick one of them up, he fails miserably and crashes to the floor in a heap.

“Shows over Macready, go home!” A voice says from above him, he slowly and awkwardly pulls himself to his feet using the stool and the bar, he looks at the barman and sways from side to side, trying to focus his vision on him.

“Fuck you Joe, I’m still good,” he slurs…

If you want to read the final version of this short story, and thirty others, follow the link below, or join the mailing list and get a copy for free!

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September 13, 2016
What Sights We Have To Show You… Welcome To Month Five

Welcome my friends, let us take a seat, as I have many words to tell you and only time for some of them to sink into your wretched skin…

Is it true, have we really managed 123 days of mayhem and insanity?

Yes, yes it is true, somehow I’ve managed to fight my way through this journey that has, at times, become more of a monster than any of the stories I could ever hope to write.

So, without too much fucking about, what are the things you should expect to see from this point on as we move into September and towards October….

First things, first….

ROUNDHEAD is coming, ROUNDHEAD is coming!!!

With the preludes almost halfway through, and the beast itself making a surprising cameo in a 50 word story, we are of course dragging our heels terribly well, as we try to build the excitement and frustration, for our October 25th release of the first Roundhead chapter, which by the way, all these preludes take place after, not before, and then on the 26th Chapter Two will wrap up all the insanity of the preludes in one nice box, and drive you all the way until the 31st, for a Halloween ending of insane proportions. So if you haven’t had a look, you can find preludes

Prelude One HERE

Prelude Two HERE

Prelude Three HERE

Prelude Four HERE

and

Prelude Five HERE

And once you’ve done all that, the sixth prelude is released tonight, I hope…

I know, a lot of fucking work just to be a prelude, but it all helps you hit the floor running, without hitting the door.

Secondly….

YouChallenges will continue as a Wednesday only thing, while the idea of doing more is there, I’m finding challenges that are more on the spot situations instead of, oh, I’ll do that one when I get inspired, which, in some cases is a month or more.

So, instead we’re going to attack your senses you with more 50 Word Stories. I know, they seem to have become a mini addiction of mine, one that’s causing me no end of torment, as I’m adding them to the list, but, strangely, outside the normal days challenge. That may change eventually, but for now, you’ll get a 50 Word Story in the morning, and then, sometimes in the evening, you’ll get a 50 Word Story Expanded version. I think, these work, I’m not sure, what do you think? I am enjoying them anyway, so you’ll see more, and, as always, you’re welcome to expand any of the 50 word shorts if you like. Above, is the first attempt at a 50 Word Story, called Eyes.

Thirdly… Or, if you like, Lastly….

Sometime during the last month I was presented with an award from a fellow blogger, upon reflection of it, I realised the opportunity to do something more with this monthly blabbering moment of insanity, something like sharing with you a gimps of the world around me, so each month I’ll share a few blog posts for blogs I follow, posts that I enjoyed over the last month and think others should read, not that others aren’t, but really, just so I can say aloud, to my readers, this was great. I don’t really know how many just yet, and honestly, don’t care it’s my space to use as I like, so if I want twenty, I’ll post twenty. Anyway, without any more pissing around, I’ll say welcome to month five, now, lets strap on, or strap in, and enjoy the ride….

Blog post I’ve really enjoyed over the last month.

Boston’s Bad Day

This story, it, was awesome, really raw, gripping, a fantastic tale.

When I Get You Alone

I really liked how this one dragged you in with the imagery, the feel, great stuff.

The Year Of Heddagth – Chapter 1

I know it’s older than the last month, but you really need to get on the ground floor, well, not really, you can enjoy each piece separately, but, the story calls you to read it from the start!

Me and Buzz and Skinny Dipping!

This story, was awesome, it just drags you in, forcing you to want more and more, worth a read.

Splatter

A tale handled so well that you would think this was the writers bread and butter, a first smash attempt at the thrilling genre, I’m sure we’ll see more.

The First and the Last Chapter One: Morning

An adventure into a world of medieval fantasy, with darkness and light, you can taste the blood, feel the pain, a great read, get on now if your into this sort of shite!

Wicked Grin – Chapter 9: The Vampire Urge

A brilliant read, read them all, but read this first or in order, but it doesn’t matter, because once you read one, you’ll read the rest, great stuff!

Wow

By chance I came across this blog, and I was happy I did, the beginnings are always so interesting to watch, and what a great one this was.

The Line For Cock Starts Here

Way too many I like here, if you enjoy a bit of wrongness, you’ll really love this!

The Other White Meat

So much to look at over in The Deadman’s Tome, and this one was a stand out!

So, there we have it, 10 blog posts that I really enjoyed over the last month, and there are plenty more, more than I can remember, out there to read, I’ll make sure, next month, to post another bunch of great stuff, until then, keep weird, and if you have a great blog post, smash it in the comments and I might throw it in next months list, unless it sucks, and then well…..

Matt

September 13, 2016
Day 123 Daily Prompt – Stump – 50 Word Story Expanded

She spins the baseball bat in her hands like a baton, and slowly walks around him in a circle, “I fucking warned you Kevin, you should’ve stayed away from her, you should’ve listened to me. Now I’ve got to break some bones, I’ve got to teach you a lesson about listening.”

“What? are you off the boat? I haven’t gone anywhere near the bitch, not since she went running to you anyway. So why don’t you just fuck off before I teach you a lesson of my own,” he says with a wry smile.

“Bullshit, she told me what you did, what you made her do, you scum head,” she says as she swings the baseball bat at him, he swerves and ducks, she swings again, this time he pivots and jumps, the third time however, he’s unprepared for the backhand swing she surprises him with, and the hollow sound of wood hitting skull reverberate throughout his head as Kevin crashes to the dirty, wet concrete footpath in a heap, his whole word spinning. She grabs him by the hair and slams his head into the ground not once, but twice, then digs a knee into his left arm, pinning it to the ground. “You made me do this, all you had to do was be cool, understand the message, so don’t go running to anyone and telling them who did this, otherwise I’ll let everyone know what you really are!” She yells, he catches the light reflecting of the metal blade, he feels it connect as she brings it down, onto, no, not onto, into his arm, the pain shoots through him, and he screams as she winds up for another chop, which is quickly brought down. His body begins to burn, as if she had set him on fire, the pain from his arm is all consuming, and, as she gets to her feet, releasing her hold on his arm, the pain intensifies. He looks over to the bloody mess, at his hand, which lies severed from his arm, a few feet away.

“Oh my god, y-y-you cut it off, you fucking cut it off!” He yells out in agony as blood spews from the stump where his arm once was.

“I warned you Kevin, I told you what would happen if you touched her again, what I’d do to you,” she says.

“You didn’t say you’d cut my fucking hand off you crazy bitch, you said we’d have words!”

“I warned you, that was enough, now, go, you slimy maggot, before I cut something else off, that will upset you even more!”

He slowly struggles to his knees, and hugs his arm, as he frantically tries to grasp the situation and what he should do.

“For fuck sake Kevin,” she says, knocking him to the ground. “If you sit there you’re only going to bleed to death, you fucktard,” she says unhooking his belt and quickly looping it around his arm and tightening it, then pulls him to his feet. He looks at her, his eyes glassy, confused, lost almost, she grabs his hand from the ground and shoves it into his chest. “Don’t just stand there brainiac, go, take your fucking slimy hand and go, before I change my fucking mind.” she shoves him backwards and he stumbles out on to the road and off into the darkness, “Fucktard,” she says as she pulls her mobile phone from her jacket as it vibrates incessantly with purpose, signaling an incoming call, she smiles as she looks at the number and places the phone to her ear. “You timed it well, I just finished talking to the local handyman Kevin… Yeah, Kevin, the touchy-feely guy from the bar, the guy who couldn’t take no for an answer… Scott? Who the fuck is… Oh shit,” she says as she looks out, into the darkness. “I’ve got to go… Why? I just chopped Kevin’s fucking hand off that’s what!”

END

You can read the original 50 Word Story here, I’d be interested in what you think of the full story that came from the short.

Stump is today’s Daily Prompt

September 12, 2016
Day 123 – Right Hook – Short Story

“It’s not about whether you think you can do it, it’s about if we believe you can,” he says with a smile as he slaps his son, Theo on the back.

“That makes no fucking sense at all old man.”

“Of course it does, it makes the only sense, it’s not you winning this fight that matters, it’s getting the people, us, everyone out there, getting them to believe you can win, if that happens, then you’re halfway there.”

“How the hell does that make any sense, halfway there? I’m nowhere there,” he says as he launches himself up from the bench and starts throwing jabs into the air as if he was fighting an invisible opponent, he ducks and weaves, throwing a few more punches before he turns back to his father and begins to bounce from foot to foot, looking at his father the whole time. “The only way I’m going to beat him, is to be faster than he is, know what he’s going to do, and to outsmart him, no amount of people believing in me is going to make any of that easier.”

“You’ve got the right idea, but you need to come at it from a different angle, you see it’s all about outsmarting him, you’ve got that right, but you don’t need to outsmart him in the ring, you just need to get him off balance. You get him there and then you have a better chance of taking him down, he’s all about the people, the money, the talk, you get him worried that you’re good enough to put it down and he’ll make mistakes, he’ll start to doubt himself, and he’ll leave himself open for you to sneak in and take him down.” His father says enthusiastically.

“A guy like Wheatland ain’t going to let some other people’s opinions matter to him.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, trust me, you go out there and you ooze confidence, you get the people behind you, you don’t show any fear and he’ll start worrying, he’ll start making sloppy mistakes and you’ll have the chance to take him down and remove his crown, you just got to believe boy!” his father says with a big grin on his face.

“You’re crazy old man!” he says as the doors open and three men walk in, “It’s time kid, you ready?”

“I guess,” Theo says.

“No guessing, you’re either ready or your dead, either way, Wheatland will mop the floor with you, so don’t get too excited, not like your old man.”

“Fuck you Leroy, my boy is going to put that sack o’shit in his place!”

“Sure, and right after the show, Britney Spears is going to realises I’m the one she truly wants to be with and she’ll drop the restraining order. In other words, it ain’t going to happen, so move it, everyone is waiting!” he says as they lead them out of the change room, down a hallway, and out into the arena. As they head out towards the ring, the people cheer and scream, Theo feels the nerves kick in and he looks to his side and his father smiles and squeezes his shoulder and leans in to his ear.

“Remember son, ooze confidence, and you’ll win this fair and square, and if it helps, I drugged the fucker too!”

END

September 12, 2016
Day 123 Daily Prompt – Stump – 50 Word Story

“Oh my god, y-y-you cut it off, you fucking cut it off!” He yells out in agony as blood spews from the stump where his arm once was.

“I warned you Kevin, I told you what would happen if you touched her again, what I’d do to you,” she says.

Stump is today’s Daily Prompt

Go HERE for the 50 Word Story Expanded version of this story, or, if you’re feeling game, try to extend it yourself….

September 11, 2016
Day 122 – Understand – 50 Word Story Expanded

“Do you think they’ll understand everything that happened tonight?” She asks, looking up from her glass.

“I don’t fucking understand, and I was there, so no, I don’t,” he says as he empties the contents of his glass into his mouth.

“Then what’ll we tell them?” She asks.

“We lie, it’s the only thing we can do.”

“Isn’t that just going to make everything worse than what it already is?”

“How can it? How can it really make it worse?”

“I don’t know, I mean, we know the truth, we know what really happened, and who really did it, why don’t we just tell them?” She says.

“They’re going to think we’re stark raving mad, and then we’re suspects, no, I say we just lie, keep our mouths shut and get the fuck out of town, both of use, together, separately, I don’t really fucking care. But whatever we do, we get the fuck out of here before it’s too late.”

“No, that’s crazy, I’ve lived here my whole life, and I’m not about to run away because of a possibility.”

“Are you serious? A possibility? Really? We both saw it didn’t we? I wasn’t the only one, I mean, I’m gathering you did, because you sure as hell looked like you saw something, and the fact you pissed your jeans tells me you fucking saw something, so don’t be a cock.”

“I’m not being a cock, and I don’t mean possibility, as in I didn’t see anything, I mean possibility as in, do we even rate as potential targets?” She says.

“I’d say we fucking do, that thing, whatever it is wasn’t too happy we escaped, and I’d bet my life on that son of a bitch coming for us just as soon as it can,” he replies.

“Wouldn’t you think it would’ve already made its move? It’s been six hours, I don’t think it’s coming, so maybe we frightened it off, or better yet, killed it.”

“How in the fuck would we have done that? Last I saw that thing had Thomas Darby in its busted arsed clutches and was swinging him around like he was nothing. So tell me genius, how the fuck would we have managed to kill it?”

“Fuck, okay, maybe we didn’t kill it, but maybe we frighted it off.”

“How? Eighteen people in the twelve hours have gone missing, EIGHTEEN, and we’re lower order shit compared to some of those, god, Jerry Velcher’s place was shot up like a war zone, he got off three hundred an seventy two separate shots, and nothing, not a drop of blood, not a speck of anything, including Jerry. So I don’t see how you screaming and pissing yourself and me crying for my mum would have scared this thing off.”

“Okay, I’m just throwing out suggestions, don’t take it out on me.”

“I’m not taking it out on you, I’m just saying, you’re not thinking, you’re frightened, a little on edge, and that’s why we lie, because right now, the truth is better left off the table, trust me.”

“I’m still not sure, but I do know I need to go home, I need to sleep, and then we can talk about it tomorrow, when we’re both rested and level headed,” she says as she gets to her feet and pulls her jacket from the chair.

“I won’t be here Suzie, I’ll be long gone, I ain’t waiting around.”

“You do that, if you have to,” she says as she quickly pulls her jacket on, her sheriffs badge reflects the light into his eyes for a moment, “I’ll do what I have to, because no matter how shit scarred I am, no ten foot Netflix wanna be monster is going to scare me away from my town.”

END

You can read the original 50 Word Story here, I’d be interested in what you think of the full story that came from the short.

September 11, 2016
Day 122 – Sideways – YouChallenge Short Story

“So Sammy comes into the room and says, ‘hello nurse’ and then proceeds to try and dry hump all of the actresses who were there to audition for the roles of the triplets, before we even had the chance to get in and find the right girls, the right way. So just picture it, there I am, trying to quickly work my way through the applications so I can make sure I get something good and Terry is out there trying to fight Sammy off the girls, because she knows, once Sammy gets hold of them they’ll be worthless. That’s when I hear someone scream from the other room, so I run out to see Sammy standing there, his twelve inch cock hanging out, with Terry of all people slobbering over it. I grabbed Terry by her hair and tossed her into my office and told Sammy to get out, he waved his cock around, towards the girls like it was a flag, and said he was doing a live show in twenty minutes and the more girls the merrier. Half the girls ran out the door behind him, leaving their wet patches and I was left with these three,” he says as he nods towards the three girls.

“Does it worry you that none of them look anything remotely alike, and the script calls for triplets?”

“Sometimes you’ve got to ask the viewer for a little bit of leeway, this is one of those moments, but honestly, porn doesn’t really matter, people don’t care for the story, they just want good, wholesome, fucking, as long as they have good in and out bits, no one cares.”

“This isn’t what we started this company for, we said we were going to be different, stories, acting, and then fucking, now, it’s like you don’t even care, you just want money and nothing else.”

“That’s not true, we started this with one vision, and sure, over the last few days it’s changed a little, I mean, seriously, have you seen how fucking stupid some of these people in this industry are?”

“It doesn’t matter, we said we were going to change it all, make it worth something, maybe even do some legit movies, now your just throwing anyone who’ll open there legs and suck cock in front of the camera, I-I-I, it’s just not what I envisioned us doing, that’s all.”

“I promise, once we have all this shit down, once we have a system, and a good assortment of good, smart, intelligent, actors, we’ll do what we planned, but right now we’ve got to work through the dumb ones, just to begin with, okay?”

“Okay, fine, let’s just get started and we’ll pick it up later on, when we’re not so, busy,” he says as he looks over towards the girls. “Okay everyone, we’re going to go from the top again, so can you all get in your places!” he yells out, as he looks through the camera lenses. “And ACTION!” he calls out, he moves the cameras lens up along the candle and captures the stone walls of the dungeon in the candles flickering flames, the three naked girls lay shackled against the wall as a chainsaw crashes to the floor, covered in blood and the dirty, blood covered man drops his pants.

“Who’s first?” he growls.

END

The challenge was, ‘the flickering flames illuminated the dungeon.’

September 11, 2016
Day 122 – Foot Hold – Short Story

The ground cracks open like an egg, and a thick, hot, red substance pours out from within and runs down the valley, burning through whatever gets in its way, leaving only a trail of ash behind it. Slowly it makes it’s way towards the motionless body of Ricky Darville, as the liquid hits his body, it doesn’t burst into flames, he doesn’t jump in the air screaming in pain, and it doesn’t turn him into ash, instead, Ricky opens his deep, red, molten lava eyes and slowly raises himself to his feet. He looks down the valley, towards the small town of San Dumarce and smiles to himself.

“Daddy’s come home my little pets, soon we will all be wriggling and writhing in ecstasy as we make the next coming of your god!”

“Get out of him!” a voice growls, he turns to face a naked woman, she holds up a cross, her face twisted in anger, he runs his eyes up and down her body and smiles.

“Drop it child of Eve, you need not care for what is about to be done.”

“I care because I am not like you demon, I am a protector of this world and all who reside in it, you will go back to where you came from…” he is quickly at her, he knocks the cross away and grabs her by her throat and pulls her close.

“Shut up, do you know how many times I’ve heard pathetic wenches like you blabber on about the word of god, this and that and the other. Shit that I could not give a good god damn about, shit that means nothing to me, you are just another whore who needs something inside her otherwise she does not know how to feel, when it’s not a hand or a cock it’s god, jazzing up inside your sweet pussy. Well honey, I’ve got a something that can fill you up inside and then some, the junk on this piece of trash may not be my usual style but this ain’t my usual trip. That town down there, there’s a bitch by the name of Susan Everton walking around, acting like this place is hers, but it’s not and you’re going to help me see to it that she understands who really holds the power around here.”

“N-N-No, I won’t help you!” she screams, he buries a finger deep inside her and she moans loudly as she orgasms on his hand, he bites deeply down onto her left nipple and licks all the way to her mouth, where they kiss passionately.

“That’s just a starter, you help me and I’ll give you the main meal, you see child of Eve, I know what you want, I know what pushes your buttons, so don’t try to fool me. I’m here not just for Susan, I’m here to soil you with my kind, you will bring into this world the next coming, the next antichrist, all you’ve got to do is bend the fuck over and I’ll do the rest of the work.”

She bends over and press herself against him, “Take me then, make me yours.”

“Like I said, I’ve got to…….” He stops mid-sentence as he feels pain unlike anything he has ever felt before, he lifts his hand into view as it disintegrates in front of him. “What the fuck?”

“Not what, but who!” She says as he looks up, staring down the barrel of a shot gun, “Don’t worry honey,” she says. “What I’m about to unload inside of you will make all the pain go away!” she says as she pulls the trigger.

END

September 11, 2016
Day 121 Daily Prompt – Sandwich – 50 Word Story Expanded

“This is it, this is the one,” he says as he slams the sandwich down in front of her.

“Sure, like you haven’t said that at least fifty times in the last three days.”

“This time I mean it.”

“You’ve said that as well,” she replies as she rolls her eyes in their sockets.

“Just try it, trust me, this one will take out first place for sure, and then, we’ll be set for life.”

“It’s just a sandwich competition for christ’s sake Jeremy, it’s not like they’re going to pay you a millions for it. The winner just gets their sandwich on the menu for a few months, that’s it, you spaz.”

“Trust me, this sandwich will turn heads, fill stomachs, and most importantly, be our ticket out of this hole!” He says as he shoves it in her face. “One bite, I swear this is the last time, if it isn’t as good as I know it is, I’ll stop.”

“Okay, okay, but this is the last time, after this, I don’t want to hear about this stupid competition again?”

“I promise,” he says as she takes a bite and begins to chew, her eyes grow wider and wider, her cheeks glow as blood rushes into them and her heart pumps faster and faster in her chest. “Its good right? Best sandwich you’ve ever tasted?”

“This isn’t a sandwich, this is two pieces of bread with heaven shoved between them! How did you, a never has been, come up with a filing so mouthwatering?” She asks as she takes another enormous bite.

He smiles as he leans in towards her, “First, I cut Jerry’s throat.”

Her mouth drops open, “Y-Y-You k-k-killed Jerry?”

“I know, I know, it was an accident, bu….”

“How in the hell do you make an accident like that? For fuck sake Jeremy, what the hell are we going to do?”

“It’s okay, no one needs to know, we just don’t say anything and if we’re asked we act like we don’t know anything, in the end it will seem like he just took off.”

“Are you insane? Do you really expect me to lie to cover your arse? I won’t be a part of it, I just won’t,” she yells as she throws the sandwich onto the table and rushes to the sink, grabbing a glass and filling it with water. “I can’t believe you Jeremy, I just can’t,” she says as she greedily swallows the water and fills the glass again.

“Mickey, you’ve got to understand, by the time I realised what I’d done it was too late, and I didn’t want to waste the meat. So I did the only thing I could think of, and really, what better way to dispose of the body, than sticking it in the mix,” he says as he stares at the half eaten sandwich, before looking over at his wife.

“You could’ve at least told me before I had a fucking bite, you jerk!”

“I know, but you would’ve tried it, and I needed you to,” he says as he walks to Mickey’s side and clutches her hands in his. “I’ll throw out the rest of the mix, I’ll make a new one, I’ve got the formula now, it’ll be okay, I promise. You just have to keep this one little secret for me.”

The door to the kitchen crashes open and a little girl runs in, tears streaming down her face, “Mummy, Mummy,” she yells, grabbing her Mickey by her legs. “I can’t find Jerry, he’s not in his cage, you have to come help me find him, he might be hurt or worse,” she says, Mickey looks at him, as she strokes her daughters hair, he feels her anger rip at him like a knifes blade.

“It’s okay honey, I’m sure he’s fine, lets ALL go out and see if we can find him.”

END

You can read the original 50 Word Story here, I’d be interested in what you think of the full story that came from the short.

Sandwich is today’s Daily Prompt

September 10, 2016
Day 121 – Listen – 50 Word Story Expanded

“I really need you to open your fucking ears and take in what I’m about to say. Do you think you can do that Betty?” He says as he leans across the desk towards her. She slowly nods her head, as the remainder of the class quietly giggle to themselves. “Are you all finding this funny?” he asks loudly, the giggling stops and he storms to the front of the class room. “Let’s see how funny you think this is, by the end of tomorrow, I want a ten page essay on the rigors of cheating, what the benefits and negatives are, and an in-depth discussion on one or several lies you have told over the last three years. Failure to complete this assignment will see you fail this class.”

“You can’t be serious?” a voice yells out from within the students.

“I’m serious Mister Wilkinson, deadly serious, if you all think that this is all about joking, all about relaxing, well then, I have news for you, this is about learning, not what you want to learn, but what I want you to learn. Now, I suggest you all get started, and Mrs Tyson, I’ll see you outside,” he says as he marches towards the door, she quickly scrambles out of her seat and rushes out the door, he follows her once she is out, slamming the door behind him.

“What in the hell do you think you’re playing at?” He growls.

“Sorry?”

“Don’t you fucking do that to me ever again, do you hear?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about sir, honestly.”

“Don’t stand there and lie to me like that, do you take me for a fool, we had a deal, an arrangement that was mutually benefiting, or so I thought, if I realised all you were after was wiggle room, I would never of put myself in such a position.”

“I still have no idea what you’re going on about, what deal?”

“The deal, you’re the one aren’t you, you and that piece of slime you call a boyfriend, you’re the ones who sent me the video, don’t play stupid, I know it was you.”

“I think, whatever’s going on, you’re barking up the wrong tree, I d…”

“Don’t fucking lie!” he yells as he shoves her against the wall. “I know it’s you Vanessa, I recognise your voice off the video.” He watches as the blood drains from her face and he smiles. “I fucking knew it, I fucking knew it was your voice, you and that rat bastard Bender.”

“Fuck you, you want the whole school to see what you do when you’re not standing in front of a class room of students? Do you want the principal to see you and his wife?” He takes a step back, and she smiles this time. “All hot air are we sir? Why don’t you remember who has control of the strings, before you find yourself out on the street, sir,” she says with a wry smile.

“You don’t understand, you couldn’t, you can’t kee…”

“I’ll keep doing whatever I want, and next time you try to bite back doggie, I’ll punish you,” she says as she spins around, opening the door and marching back into the class room.

END

You can read the original 50 Word Story here, I’d be interested in what you think of the full story that came from the short.

September 10, 2016
Day 121 – Retrospect – Short Story

Steve stares at Jason for some time, before he finally says something that could be understood as words.

“So let me get this straight, just so I know what you’re saying I understand, you’re a cybernetic android that was sent back in time from the year twenty forty-nine with the task of protecting me from an impending attack that would happen sometime in the past, or my future, am I with you so far?”

“Yes, yes, we have already agreed upon that part, several times in fact,” Jason says.

“Okay, don’t blow a fuse, literally,” Steve says with a giggle. “Now this thing sent back to kill me from the future, you don’t know when it will attack, you just took a guess and came back as early as you could in the hope you had enough time to stop this, whatever it is, from killing me?”

“That’s correct, without the proper equipment we could not pin point the exact time that the line diverted from the original time line, all we could confirm was that you had been killed and so I was sent back, to ensure your survival.”

“Right, so, I’m a pretty big deal to the whole future and shit? Like John Conner from Terminator? I mean your no Arnold, but you are anatomically correct, I’ll give you that, and you can use it all, but, do you have cool lines, like ‘I’ll be back!’?”

“Your importance to the future, is, in my opinion, is not that sort of importance, you are important, but not to the survival of the world or anything.”

“What? You mean I’m not the saviour of the human race, I’m not John Connor?”

“No, in fact, you’re quite annoying, to the point that Ronald jumped into the time stream just to remove you from the picture.”

“What? What the hell, who’s Ronald, before you said it was some unknown assassin, now you’re calling him by a name?”

“Yes, I may have lied to you a little, you see, the truth is you’re not that important, but Benny thinks you are, to him anyway, that’s why he sent me back, to stop Ronald from killing you in the past, before you two meet.”

“Okay, so who the hell is Benny?”

“Benny is who you refer to as, John Connor, he’s the leader of the human resistance, a great man, a visionary, without him the human race would be extinct by now, and he’s the reason I’m here, saving your arse.”

“I must be important if this great leader of the human resistance seems to think so.”

“Yours his lover Steve, some trashy, obnoxious piece of trailer trash he took a fancy to and apparently can’t live without, that’s why he sent me back to stop Ronald from killing you, but unfortunately he made one mistake when he sent me.”

“What was that?” Steve says nervously.

“He didn’t realise that we were lovers as well,” Jason’s says as he grabs Steve by the bare arse cheek and squeezes it.

“I thought you were going to say you wanted me dead as well,” he says with a sigh of relief.

Jason laughs, “I said were,” he says with a wicked smile.

“Oh fuck, did we have a messy break up?”

“Not as messy as it’s going to get from here,” Jason says as he pushes Steve off the bed and onto the floor.

“What are you going to do?”

“Well, right now, I think it’s time to take out the trash once and for all.”

END

September 10, 2016
Day 121 Daily Prompt – Sandwich – 50 Word Story

“This isn’t a sandwich, this is two pieces of bread with heaven shoved between them! How did you, a never has been, come up with a filing so mouthwatering?” She asks as she takes another enormous bite.

He smiles as he leans in towards her, “First, I cut Jerry’s throat.”

Sandwich is today’s Daily Prompt

Go HERE for the 50 Word Story Expanded version of this story, or, if you’re feeling game, try to extend it yourself…..

September 10, 2016
Day 120 – Strength – 50 Word Story Expanded

“It’s not fair, it’s not the way it should’ve went down, I could’ve done better,” he yells as he drives punch, after punch into the bag, his knuckles split open, bloody, his face, bruised and swollen.

“There’s no shame in defeat,” a voice says from the shadows.

“I should’ve won!”

“But you didn’t, he knocked you down, five times in the second round, and you didn’t get back up that last time. But there’s no harm in that, use it to make you stronger, let it eat at you, let it define your existence, and then, when you step in the ring with him again, let it out.”

He grabs the bag and lightly head-butts it, trying to catch his breath, he looks out, into the darkness of the shadows, his eyes tighten as he searches for movement, “Want to stop hiding in the shadows for a while, there’s no one else around, it’s just you and me,” he says, seconds later the older man steps from the darkness, he smiles broadly and lets out a raspy laugh.

“I’m not hiding in the shadows boy, I’m standing behind the projector, watching the images play before me, reliving memories.”

“You are one crazy old man, no matter how much you play it up, I know I’ve taken some good hits around the head, but it’s still solid up there, I’m not stupid.”

“I never said you were, and I’ve never treated you that way, but I’m telling the truth, like it was told to me, when…”

“I know old man, you told me before, how you were down and out, just like me, and then one day this old guy showed up and everything seemed to start making sense. He spoke to you like he knew what was really going on in your head, he helped you focus the rage, harness the gift you had, and made you into the man you are today. Which, I might add, is old and crippled,” he says motioning towards the cane in his hand, the old man frowns for a moment, and looks to the ground, centring all his weight on the cane.

“I too, like you, felt confused, arrogant and self-righteous. I gave the old man a serving, even after I had accepted his help, and he still stood by my side, he still helped guide me, no matter how much I pushed him away. And then, one day, he was gone. I never had the chance to thank him for what he did for me, or ask him why, not that I cared, but, one day, not long before I came into your life I realised what I had to do, realised why he had come to me, and knew, it was my turn to pay it forward,” he says, as his eyes well up with tears.

“I get it all old man, I really do, and I gave you my word I’d give your way a try, but don’t try to preach to me about passing shit on, because I’m all about being number one, not the fucker holding number ones bucket,” he says as he barges past him, and out into the locker rooms, the old man turns and smiles to himself.

“God I was such an arrogant brat when I was young.”

END

You can read the original 50 Word Story here, I’d be interested in what you think of the full story that came from the short.

September 9, 2016
Day 120 – Cut And Run – Short Story

“It’s not your fault Benny, you didn’t know he wasn’t to be trusted,” Jacob says to his son as he places a hand on his shoulder.

“I should have known, I should not have trusted that scum bag, I knew there was something wrong with him and now, now he’s run off with everything, to who knows where!” he says as he begins to cry in his hands.

“It’s okay, we’ll be fine, it was just money he took anyway, nothing we can’t get again,” he says as he looks at his other son and nods his head. “Now Patrick, you go out to the barn and you do your chores as well as Benny’s, I’ll be out to help you in good time,” he says, Patrick nods his head and quickly heads out the doorway, he looks up at his wife and smiles a uneasy smile before he turns back to his son.

“Now boy, when you told us of your life choices we found it hard to accept at first, for you to be abandoning your god given mission of procreation, to instead have sexual relations with another person of the same gender, it broke me, but you know that, because I’ve never lied about the way I’ve felt. But we accepted you for who you are and that the changes you made in your life are not due to anything we did wrong when we raised you, these changes are your changes, your desires, and are a part of who you are. Now you’re going to hurt for a little while, we all do when love is taken away, its worse when we realise that the person we thought we loved turned out to be nothing but a piece of shit. But you get it from all sexes, so you just take it easy for a few days and then, you’ll see, once you have got all the crying out of your system, that life ain’t too bad anymore.”

“T-T-T-Thanks Dad,” He says as he leaps up and grabs his father in a bear hug, crying profusely, he hugs his son back tightly as his wife watches on, smiling at the sight of the boy and his father, and a tear runs down her cheek. After a few moments he makes his way out of the house and onto the porch and lights up his pipe, taking several tokes on it before he grabs an umbrella from the side of an old couch and makes his way across the field, towards the barn where Patrick waits, chewing on a piece of hay.

“So, what are you going to do?” Patrick asks as they walk into the barn.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, that son of a bitch hurt Benny and stole from us, so what are you going to do to him?”

“Patrick, my boy,” he says as he takes another toke on his pipe and places a hand on Patrick’s shoulder. “Why don’t we just see where the night takes us,” he says as they both look over to the gagged young man whose hands are bound and tied to the rafter that runs through the centre of the barn.

END

September 9, 2016
Day 120 Daily Prompt – Elegant – Short Story

He looks over towards her, how beautiful she is, he thinks to himself as she catches his wandering eyes and smiles, her cheeks flush as they get hit by a rush of blood, he returns the smile with his own and picks up his glass and walks over to her.

“Do you mind?” He asks, motioning to the empty seat beside her.

“No, please, company would be a grand adventure,” she says, playing with the straw in her drink.

“I’m Derek, and you are?”

“Do we really need to know names?” She asks with a laugh.

“Names are given to us so we not only know when we are spoken to, but to also allow others to know what to call us when they are in fits of ecstasy.”

She laughs again, “Sure of yourself,” she says as she twists the straw around in her glass, stirring the liquid into a whirlpool like state.

“I’m neither sure, nor unsure, but it always helps to be prepared,” he says with a broad smile.

“Jessica,” she replies, as she places a hand on his, he feels a coldness rush through his body from her touch, he nervously smiles, as he feels his foot begin to jiggle up and down sporadically, as if someone had just turned on a jackhammer. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, sorry, I don’t know what’s come over me,” he says as he grabs his leg with both hands and pushes it to the ground firmly.

She smiles and laughs, “How long?”

“Sorry?”

“How longs it been since you’ve been out here, in the real world?”

“Is it that obvious?”

She laughs once more, “Very, I’d say a few years, six maybe?”

“Eight.”

She smiles, “Divorced?”

“Separated.”

“You or her?”

“I caught her screwing our next door neighbour three weeks ago, apparently they’d been doing it for some time, so I’d say me.”

“Kids?”

“Two, Kevin and Sally, you always this thorough?”

“Only when I’m interested.”

He smiles, “So how about you?”

“All of the above, a year ago I discovered my husband had been sleeping with my brother, when I say discovered, I mean I caught them fucking in our bed. I’d been away for work and came home early, with all intentions of surprising him, and well, found them doing the deed. So, I left, moved out here and started a new life.”

“How’s it working out?”

“Honestly, some days it’s the worst decision I made, others, it’s the best, how about you? Regret anything yet?”

“Not hitting the neighbour, that’s a big regret,” he says with a laugh.

“There’s still time for that, believe me.”

“Nah, I wouldn’t give either of them the satisfaction, I’m after the be happy bullshit, that always seems to be the winner.”

“Ah yes, be happy, otherwise called, lie your arse off to them and hope they get jealous.”

“Something like that.”

“So Derek, now that we know each other a bit better, do you want to get out of here and find somewhere a little more elegant, so we can continue getting to know each other? This place is a total dive.”

“You’re the one who picked this place not me.”

She smiles and slaps him on the arm, “Stay in character honey.”

END

Elegant is today’s Daily Prompt

September 9, 2016
Day 119 – The Roundhead Prelude 5 – Stench – 50 Word Story Expanded

**This takes place after chapter one of The Roundhead and before chapter two**

This takes place after chapter one of The Roundhead and before chapter two.

“That’s total bullshit, I like to read, but this is bullshit,” he yells as he tosses his tablet on the bed and quickly rushes to the toilet. “Are you listening to me?” he yells out.

“No, I’m ignoring you because you’re just ranting again.”

“Ranting? Seriously? Have you even read this shit?”

“I don’t need to, you read half of it to me already, and it sounded okay by the way, but your running commentary ruined it.”

He flushes the toilet and sticks his head out of the doorway, “What? My commentary would’ve made it. I swear to god, the next time I come across some wannabe Stephen King, I’m going to pass. I can’t wait to talk about this on the show tonight.”

“What, you’re going to talk about it on the show?”

“Of course, why do you recon I read it all the way through?”

“But don’t you think that will defeat the purpose of you disliking it?”

“What?”

“Well, if you go and talk about it on air, won’t that get people interested in reading it? And thus, possibly putting yourself in the firing line of those same people if they enjoy it?”

“No one’s going to like this piece of shit, honey, no one.”

“How can you be sure?”

He walks out of the bathroom and picks his tablet back up from the bed, “Let’s see, I’ll throw the challenge out to my listeners to read the story before the show starts, then we’ll see who’s right and who’s wrong,” He says as he opens up a new post and beings typing away.

“I think you’re only going to embarrass yourself, it’s been liked and shared by a few million people already, and that tells me it must be at least okay.”

“Fuck them, and anyway, maybe it might help the show get bigger rating tonight,” he says with a smile, as he tosses the tablet back onto the bed once more.

“You shifty fucker,” she says as he jumps onto the bed with her.

“Honey, I’m all about the listeners,” he says with a smile as they kiss, the lights in the bedroom begin to flicker and flash, exploding around them, followed by silence.

“What the fuck?” she says as she pushes him away.

“A fuse maybe?”

“Fuses don’t blow fucking lights like that, maybe a power sur-r-r-r……” she screams as a pale, boy stands at the foot of the bed, his eyes black pools of nothingness, they both leap up and he quickly grabs a baseball bat from beside the bed, holding it up towards the boy, while she clutches his shoulder, taking shelter behind him.

“What the fuck do you want?” he yells

“Tonight it comes to take you in, to cover you soul with its sin, it slithers its way across the night, burning the world with its light, it calls for blood, it calls for you, and you’ll fear its name, before the night is through!” and then he flickers like a waning candle, and, then, is gone, leaving them both standing there terrified. Neither move for a minute or more before she begins screaming, and tumbles backwards, through the on-suite door and smashes her head on the toilet, he frantically reaches out for her, but, his attention is drawn behind him, as he hears a low, inhuman gurgling noise coming from the darkness of the room. He scans the darkness several times before he finally sees it, as it moves forward, towards him. His eyes, wide with fright, watch its distorted, unnatural movements as it steps closer, and closer towards him. His nostrils burn, as its stench wafts into his face, he feels the contents of his stomach surge from within and out onto the floor, as the beast now stands before him.

“W-W-W-What the f-f–fuck are you?”

“I am the beast underneath your bed, I am the thing that will devour your soul, I am what you called forth when you shared my sin, I am death,” it says in a deep, gravelly voice, like fingernails along a black board. It’s dark, black, soulless eyes stare at him, it’s teeth, sharp, and plentiful, it’s jaw, strong, and its form large and powerful.

“P-P—Please,” he sods and falls to his knees. “Please,” he says softly once more as it lunges forward and grabs his head in one of its huge hands, and squeezes.

You can read the original 50 Word Story here, I’d be interested in what you think of the full story that came from the short.

DO YOU, DARE TO SHARE?

FIND PRELUDE ONE HERE, TWO HERE, THREE HERE, FOUR HERE, SIX HERE, SEVEN HERE, EIGHT HERE, NINE HERE AND TEN HERE.

All artwork by Yazgar, check his stuff out when you can!

September 8, 2016
Day 119 – Straws – Short Story

What is in a word, or a story, or for that matter a song, when you slowly begin to hear less and less of everything, when you slowly feel a wall begin to build itself up around you and the only control you have is to either build the wall quicker or just accept it. It was six weeks ago when I first started having the problems with my hearing, nothing terrible at first, although it fucked with my balance, vertigo they call it, and I got it fucking bad. Emptied my lunch and whatever else I had eaten that day over the next door neighbour’s cat, Yoshi, and as I hit the dirt, he ran inside, yowling. An ambulance arrived a short time later, they shot me up with some shit, stemetil or something like that, and twelve hours later I felt better, not fantastic, but better. The doctor said it was something pretty unusual, not unheard of, but for him, unusual. The inner drum of both my ears had slowly, over the years become more and more unstable, I’d probably been suffering for with it for ages but never really noticed it that much, it just so happened on this particular day I was listening to music through headphone and somehow this had been the main escalator of all the shit. I looked at the headphones as though they were some sort of evil monster who had just killed most of my family, and threw them into the ground, crushing the small speakers underneath my boot. The doctor said it would’ve happened eventually, and it’s going to get worse, to the point that my hearing would one day completely disappear. I was like what? You can’t be serious, surly there was some sort of operation that could be performed, that could reverse the damage, or at the very least stabilise the deterioration. He shook his head and said there have been some tests, grommets and what not could be fitted, a hearing aid even, but the damage had become so advanced that there was really nothing anyone could do. I got up and stormed out and drove to Hybridge lookout, I really didn’t know what to think or do, so I told the world it could go fuck itself. I was only thirty-six for god sake, how could this be happening, I didn’t get an answer, not right away, it came later.

I did shit loads of research, listened to as much music as I could, I started to noticed how the music felt less like it had once before, I was of course losing certain levels, or tones first up, but I vowed it would not get me, I would not become some disabled fucker who could not hear, I was not going to let this crazy thing beat me. And that’s when he turned up, this weird little man and his contraption, said he could repair all the damage that’d been done to my inner ears, I would be perfect again, but, for all this to happen he just needed one thing from me to make it possible. I said no straight away when I saw the device and what had to be done. He made a few arguments, some valid points, but I just didn’t want to believe him, just on principle really, I just didn’t want what had to be done, done, plain and simple. Eventually, a few weeks later, when I was almost completely deaf, I called him back and said I’d do it, and that’s how we ended up here, watching this weird little guy thrust his unusual size cock into my ear canal, and all I can think, he better be telling me the truth.

END

September 8, 2016
Yazgar’s Daily Doodle 73

Yazgar was all inspired by tonight’s YouChallenge, think he hit a home run 👍

Daily Doodle 73 Inspired by today’s short story from Twisted Roads Of Madness great read👍🏻 #dailydoodle

Source: Daily Doodle 73

September 7, 2016
Day 118 – Passion – 50 Word Story Expanded

“Please, please, just let me go, I swear I won’t tell anyone, please!” she yells, her arms bound behind her back, she looks up at him as he stands over her, his face calm, his eyes soft, and the faint traces of a smile beings to creep out, from underneath his moustache.

“It’s easy, just put your lips together, and blow, the melody will follow in time,” he says with a smile, she looks up at him, as tears run down her face.

“Please, I-I-I can’t.”

“There’s no such word, as can’t,” he says as he slowly begins to sharpen his knife. “Just put your lips together, it’s easy, watch me, I’ll show you again,” he says as he places his lips tighter and creates an ‘O’ shape with his mouth and blows, the tune that begins to sound is a melody, full of sadness, with deep, low, notes, that soars upwards, like wind blowing through trees, and then he smiles. “See, that wasn’t hard, now you try?”

“Please…” she doesn’t get to finish her sentence as he thrusts the knife to her throat.

“I said, there is no such word, now try, you will find it’s not that difficult, I have faith in you, so, please, try.” He says through gritted teeth, saliva spraying out, onto her face, she pulls back momentarily and he slices the blade lightly across her throat, and faint droplets of blood run from it, she sucks in a breath, praying for salvation, for anything. “Do not try my patients girl, your boyfriend should act as a warning, I will not give you another chance, now blow,” he says, she darts her eyes towards the lifeless, pale body of Jeremy, the pool of darkened red liquid has stopped growing. She looks back up into his eyes, sweat running down her brow, she closes her lips and blows, but no sound comes, she tries again, and still nothing. The slap he delivers across her face sends stars of black and white exploding in front of her, the room rings violently and for a brief moment she hears herself scream, but, she’s not screaming, and then the floor meets her face, the pool of blood splashes onto her like tar, sticky and warm, she screams again as he pulls her back to her knees and grabs her by the jaw.

“Not good enough, try again!” He grows.

“I-I-I-I c-c-an….” He slaps her again, the whole room spins violently, she feels her stomach heave forward, throwing up whatever was inside onto the floor, he grabs her by the hair and spits in her face.

“Do it bitch or I’ll slice you open, don’t think I’m fooling you, because I will, so god damn whistle, do it!” he yells, she fights to keep her eyes open, she struggles to stay conscious, and once again places her lips together and blows, her eyes shoot open in surprise as a high pitched whistle breaks through. She tries again and another out of tune, raspy whistle escapes as he release his hold on her face and she collapses to the ground once more.

“Now, what did I tell you, I knew you could do it,” he says, a broad grin upon his face.

“Y-Y-Y-You’ll let m-m-m-me go now?” she asks softly, fighting through the tears of salvation she now cries.

He laughs as he kneels down beside her, “When was that ever an option dear child?”

END

You can read the original 50 Word Story here, I’d be interested in what you think of the full story that came from the short.

September 7, 2016