July 2014 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- VICTORY TO BOWLER1

[Juliana]

Rules:


Write a story inspired by the chosen theme and genre in no more than 75 words, not including the title.

One entry per person



All stories Copyright 2014 by their respective authors,
who grant the Chronicles Network the non-exclusive right to publish them here





The complete rules can be found at Rules For The Writing Challenges

Contest ends at 11:59 pm GMT, July 23 2014

Voting Ends at 11:59 pm GMT, July 28 2014


You do not have to submit a story in order to vote --
in fact, we encourage all Chrons members to take part in choosing a winner


The Magnificent Prize:

The Dignified Congratulations/Grovelling Admiration of Your Peers
and the challenge of choosing the next month's theme and genre




Theme:


FAMILY




Genre:


Science Fiction or Fantasy



This thread to be used for entries only. Please keep all comments to the Discussion Thread.





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[Droflet]

Re: July 2014 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!!

A Different Point of View

“Mrs. Robinson, are you trying to seduce me?”

“Don’t be silly, doctor.”

“Danger, danger.”

“Silence, you meddlesome booby.”

“High mom, what’s for dinner?”

“You’ll know when you get it, William.” Gosh, I’d love to deep fry that little –

“Okay then. Come on robot.”

“Danger, danger.”

“Shut up!” The two adults shouted.

“Hey honey, what’s for … is that a new outfit?”

Sometimes Mrs. Robinson felt so lost. Thank goodness for –

“Danger, danger.”

“Shut the *&^%*up.”

 

[Ashleyne]

Re: July 2014 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!!

Son of a Demon

Grace's baby, Isaac, spat at his dummy out before saying, in a deep voice, “Dan’s in trouble.”

“Where?”

“Garhotowhurlar forest.”

Grace cradled Isaac, ran outside, grew red wings, then flew to the bright sky.

From above the fuchsia Garhotowhurlar Forest, Grace saw her son, Dan, being pushed around by some larger kids. She landed whilst blasting fire from her eyes, screaming in fury.

The larger kids ran away, crying.

Dan roared “Mum, you’re so embarrassing.”

 

[Flyerman11]

Re: July 2014 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!!

SLUMBER​

In the darkness of his crypt, He slumbered. Asleep yet aware, He could feel the stars lining up and slowly his powers return. Beside him He could feel his wife slowly regain her powers. She and He would soon be awake and together once more, hand in hand, take domain over the land.

The devout were dreaming, chants rising ever louder,

Nyeh, Nyeh Ph'nglui. Nyeh, Nyeh, fhtagn.

Stars aligning, power returning, Wife stirring… Soon!

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Re: July 2014 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!!

​

For Her Family​

The girl clung to the knight. She stammered that the creatures were just beyond, in the cavern ahead. The knight drew his sword, his face grim.

​The knight was immediately set upon, getting spun into a cocoon by a horde of massive spiders. The girl laughed in cruel delight as a smaller spider skittered up. She hugged it, patting its head.

​Sure, she had tricked him. But she had to feed her family.

 

[Mouse]

Re: July 2014 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!!

My Daughter Wants a Unicorn
​

At work, I stare at spreadsheets. Numbers move on the screen in my glazed vision, arranging themselves into the shape of a unicorn.

I bought Bella a pony. She cried. She said, Sophie's dad bought her a unicorn!

I hate Sophie's dad.

The rest of the day drags. I devise a plan.

That night, I kill Sophie's dad. And Sophie. The look on Bella's face come morning will be worth the memory of their screams.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Re: July 2014 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!!

The cost of perfection.



The doctors say Baby isn't perfect. They'll take care of him and allow me a re-allocation - they'll kill Baby, and I'll start again.

I stroke my swollen belly; Baby kicks. Jay's hand tightens on my shoulder: this is his only allocation too. He doesn't deserve a damaged Baby, not when perfection's the norm.

But.... I wait; hope.

'No,' Jay croaks, his voice the husk of a lost dream. 'We want Baby. He's our family.'

 

[Bowler1]

Re: July 2014 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!!

The Beach is our Happy Place


Blinded by broken eye units.

Legs flagging and dragging.

Oil leaking and joints creaking.

NannyBot keeps going, pushing a precious cargo in a rusty and crusty
shopping trolley.

Through deserted streets choked with weeds.

Down roads where abandoned cars sit on rusted wheels.

Across a land silent and still.

Heading for the coast, with happy memories on faulty hard drive of family days by the sea.

‘Soon now,’ croaks NannyBot, to rattling and clanging bones.

 

[johnnyjet]

Re: July 2014 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!!

The Family Tree

There is a tall oak tree in our backyard that dwarfs all the other trees: the apple trees, the maples, the sweetgum. It has been here through many generations of our family. Generations of children have climbed that tree. Now I know its secret.

The further up you go, the further back you go in time. Each branch is a leap to a new generation.

Tomorrow I will play with my great great grandmother.

 

[ratsy]

Re: July 2014 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!!

Family Time

He opened the cellar; his lantern cast shadows on the dirt wall. There sat his wife and children around the wooden table. Their bodies were propped up, clothing covered their wasted forms. They didn't move or speak anymore, but he still had them. The sickness took their lives, but not their spirits, he told himself.

He sat at the table and talked about his day, smiling through the tears. This was his family.

 

[Aun Doorback]

Re: July 2014 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!!

Plug + Jack Incorp(se)orated



My sister ran the corpse mills.
Plug and Jack, they called us.

But we were professionals.

Father owned the mines and mother pushed pure Virillium across five galaxies.

Biggest automatic meat workforce on Xanadu.

Deadbeats drilling out empires for the rich to gorge themselves.
I dealt with admin, killing the ethical agitators before re-employing them, along with the saps who flew in to trade a second life!

They were dying to get into our family.

 

[Khayos]

Re: July 2014 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!!

Mothership

I hear something.

"Dad!" I cry, but he's already there.

"It's Mum!" He pulls apart the makeshift barricade.

"Don't-"

She grapples for his flesh; biting, slicing.
I stumble, reach for the gun, one bullet left.

Into her chest.​

The Parasite bulges in her skin, it's looking for a healthy Host.
Shaking, screaming, I smash my legs with the butt of the gun. Bones crunch.

We cannot destroy the Parasites, but we can destroy the Hosts.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Re: July 2014 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!!

Sister

The man who came home with me that night was pale, thin, and quiet. When we reached my apartment I asked him to leave the lights off. He helped me remove my shapeless dress. His questing hands found my sister. Slender fingers growing from my shoulders, blind eyes beneath my breasts, silken hair on my abdomen, fragile bones beneath my skin. I expected him to leave. Instead he kissed me. "It doesn't matter," he said.

 

[BigJ]

Re: July 2014 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!!

Sins of the Father

The beast thrashed against the chains, snarling, teeth and claws dripping blood, rain-soaked fur matted against its hide. The soldiers stood well back.

There was no moon tonight. What soul the beast once had was lost, beyond redemption.

I thrust the silver-tipped spear into its heart and watched as it howled and died. The soldiers gasped as it changed back into a man; the resemblance was clear.

I hoped mother would understand.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Re: July 2014 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!!

Devotion

“It’s lovely...peaceful.”

“Thank you, Sister. Our parishioners find great solace in the cemetery’s lakeside setting. Many come simply to meditate. Ah, there’s faithful Vladikusz…they say he’s been attending his parents’ graves for 60 years. He burns incense daily, and intones devotions. Poor soul never married. Let’s stop--he sings beautifully, though I’ve never placed the language.”

“Sakramentsky za vraždu…”*

(*“Damn you for murdering my Dejana. I will torture you again someday in Hell…”)

 

[martin321]

Re: July 2014 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!!

Do Matryoshkas Dream of Wooden Sheep?

Tried to return them to the curio shop, but it's gone. Not closed-down gone but never-existed gone. Threw them in a skip, but they found their way back. Somehow. Now, they are sitting on my shelf, watching me.

The Russian dolls are a family of sorts. The grinning one reminds me of my brother. Haven't spoken to him in years. I smash it.

The phone rings. It's my father with bad news...

 

[Glen]

Re: July 2014 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!!

Taboo

“No! I’m your sister!”
“Everyone on board is my sister or brother!”
“Think about something else.”
“It’s a ten year trip!”
“Wait! A starfleet communication...code red staffing error...crew all same DNA batch...explosive situation...blah blah...they’ve sent an experimental formula for DNA modification...agonising transformation...then no longer part of the clone family...could lose mind and...soul. No one in their right mind would do this.”
“Sign me up!”

 

[alchemist]

Re: July 2014 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!!

Leaving The Nest


"...it's just that you're always travelling, and you've been so cold and distant lately."

"Like you care!"

"We do, we worry. See these rings around my eyes? And your father's broken out in a big red spot."

"Yeah, right. I knew you preferred the others. They're so big, and interesting."

"That's not true –"

"I'm done with this family! I'll hang out with my small, boring friends instead!"

"Wait, come back! Oh, Pluto, don't be silly..."

 

[David Evil Overlord]

Re: July 2014 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!!

McDarkElf’s Is A Family Restaurant​

‘You thought I would not hear of your plotting, traitor?’ cried Akkaris.

‘Really, dear brother?’ drawled Crioch.

‘You shall never be the King of Burgers!’

‘And you shall be fed to the Hungry Jackals,’ replied Crioch, drawing his sword.

‘As eldest born of the CEO, I am the heir.’

‘Only if you live.’

Swords clashed. Blood flowed. And from the shadowed rafters, Shirrakai watched her two older brothers kill each other. Her plan all along...

 

[Remedy]

Re: July 2014 -- SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITING CHALLENGE -- READ FIRST POST!!

Cherished Memory

We used to be bipeds. Ancient beings with solid form and deliberate motion. Now we are the Sea of Amoeblings.

Oozing slowly amongst my siblings, we remember. Our glorious history protected in the nanoscopic reactions passing between our membranes. The story of our civilisation, repeating.

One fleeting image is stronger than most. Her face, the product of a trillion versions, yet undoubtedly we know her.

Warmth and kindness. Love, care and devotion. We remember mother.