It’s time for the first campaign challenge! Here are the requirements:
Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “Shadows crept across the wall”. These five words will be included in the word count.
If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), do one or more of these:
If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), do one or more of these:
· end the story with the words: “everything faded.” (also included in the word count)
· include the word “orange” in the story
· write in the same genre you normally write
· make your story 200 words exactly!
· include the word “orange” in the story
· write in the same genre you normally write
· make your story 200 words exactly!
Here is my entry, “Green with Envy.”
Shadows crept across the wall, a black echo in the orange glow. Hundreds of avocado green leaves peeled from the vines like foil off of kisses. Minnie’s plants were growing too fast, but they weren’t beyond her control. Yet. Tendrils slithered across her desk, engulfing her laptop. Her fingers hovered above the light switch; darkness would stop the stalks in an instant.
Minnie gulped down the sweet, thick air. Her toes curled with the strength of it. The scent almost overpowered the apartment’s metallic bite.
“Minerva!” Mother called. “Come, tell me what you think.”
Minnie’s hand paused on the doorknob. She swallowed and walked downstairs, leaving the light on and the door open. Mother had installed her latest babies, an updated processor and another flatscreen.
“Delicious, Mother. Truly.”
“The world at our fingertips.” Mother smiled. Her fingers danced across the keyboard. She didn’t waste a glance on her daughter.
Mother was right. Minnie had ordered the porthos and roridula seedlings and learned how to cross-pollinate the species online. Adding bits of electronics to their food had been her only creative touch. Minnie couldn’t wait to see the look on Mother’s face when her vines invaded the room, before everything faded.
This was so much fun! I can’t wait to read the other entries! Click here to check them out.
This is great, especially the line "foil off of kisses" – love that! I can't believe everyone is able to dash these off so quickly! It's amazing!
Oooh, kinda creepy! Clever with the electronics and the plants…
Yes I agree! Very creepy! You had me with this line "a black echo in the orange glow". Really great job! Following along!
I'm entry #19
This is really interesting. Great job!
Mutant avocados! Well done:) I'm loving the variety of flash fiction.
Very nice, Laurie! 😀
I love the descriptions, (I'm a sucker for brilliant adjectives!) and the light and airy approach to the prompt. 🙂
Just wanted to let you know that you've moved on to the second round of judging. 🙂
This was a refreshing read – well done!
Interesting.
Wow! What an honor!
Thanks to everyone! I'm going to make the rounds now!
Very interesting! I love the line where you say: "Hundreds of avocado green leaves peeled from the vines like foil off of kisses." Very nice descriptive language! 🙂
I'm #37
Great piece of work! Enjoyed very much! New follower, look forward to reading your posts.
Very unique! I'm intrigued. Nice job.
Well!! good thing is not garden season or I would look at my plants with alarm – nice!
I'm #103 by the way
This is a fun piece!
#83
Nice! I enjoy that all of this is happening indoors – it gives it just that much unnerving. Vines freak me out and I definitely would not want them inside my house. 🙂
You painted a great word picture!
Laurie Buchanan, entry #92
Deliciously evil.. I loved it.
Interesting! Evil plants – what a great idea. Seems like a pretty antagonistic relationship between the mother and daughter, I would like to know more.
Oo, I loved this idea!
#109
I loved the creepy mood and the descriptive language.
I'm #123.
"Feed my Seymour, feed me!"
Great story – entertaining and pretty creepy at the same time.
New follower!
That's what I was going for! Thanks for following, Jay!
An ingenious approach to the prompt. I'm heading over to vote. Really enjoyed it!!
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Such interesting imagery of the "plants," and the mother and daughter- I could see this story in a painting.
#124
Creepy! So are the plants going to eat them as they eat their dinner?
Thank you all for stopping by! I envisioned them as carniverous plants bred to eat electronics.
Dear, dear. Mom's in for a surprise, isn't she?