Week 728 of #ThursThreads was a success, a remarkable feat for 14 solid years. Thank you to everyone who writes each week, especially in the Mountain Year. You are why we’re still doing this. I’m truly grateful for all y’all!
I appreciate your patience both with the event and with the winners post. The last few days have been personally intense.
If you’ve just found us, welcome to the crew! May you come back again and write more great flash. Follow Siobhan Muir on Bluesky or check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction server on Discord to keep up with news, etc.
Entries:
- Bill Engleson
- David A. Ludwig
- Alex Minns
- Mark A. Morris
- Silver James
- Siobhan Muir
- Eric Martell
- Miranda Gammella
Genre Winners
Most Funny: Silver James | Website
Siobhan says: OMG I spit out my drink when I read this tale. The women screaming and throwing the cat – I LMAO.
Best Horror: Mark A. Morris | Website
Siobhan says: I am NOT a fan of AI, so to see it pout and cajole gives me the heebie jeebies. Plus, it gives subtle voice to the underlying belief about those who take personal service positions. Creepy all the way around.
Best Fantasy: M.L. Gammella | Website
Siobhan says: Magic, like a drug, catching people and holding them enthralled. Oooh boy, that had my attention from the jump. Add in a family member causing the problem? Oh yeah, I want to know more.
winner announcement
Week 728 Winner
Siobhan says: Oooh, this tale was spooky in all the best ways. It set up the problem and brought your attention right to it. Then the ghost started speaking to the narrator out of time, and brings the real problem to a sharp conclusion. Great tale.
The candles flickered on the table as a breeze fluttered through the room. Eyes darted around but no one broke the circle. The medium kept speaking, calling on the spirits to talk to them. Luc glanced around the room, becoming more and more convinced this woman was not the real deal.
Time was running out and they needed answers. If this woman couldn’t actually contact Claude, then they needed to get going.
“Didn’t you hear me?”
He looked up at the medium, but her eyes were still closed, murmuring to herself as she put herself into her supposed trance. Mike and Sally sat either side of him, both staring at the woman before them.
“Over here.” It was a man’s voice, oddly familiar. A girl sat in the corner, the medium’s assistant, twenty years old if that. She had her hands folded in her lap and her eyes were fixed on Luc. Her mouth opened and the strange voice came out again. “This is strange.”
Luc’s head swivelled but still no one else was reacting.
“Oh, sorry, it’s just you that can hear me.” The girl’s mouth moved again, like a twisted ventriloquist dummy. “Turns out, this one is a real medium. Woman over there has no idea.”
“Claude?” He mouthed, not wanting to draw attention.
“Hey.” The girl smiled, cocking her head just like his friend always used to. “I don’t have long. I’m sorry, about everything. But it wasn’t the Lurchers that killed me. It was Mike.”
~~~~~~~
Congratulations Two Time Winner Alex, and Genre Winners Silver, Mark, and M.L.! Don’t forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it!
The overall Winner will receive a $10 gift card to the retailer of their choice, and the genre winners will receive a $5 gift card from the retailer of their choice. Just contact Siobhan directly to get things situated.
Pass on the great news on Facebook, Discord, Bluesky, Mastodon, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the original tales HERE. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! 🙂
