Welcome back to the home of #ThursThreads for Week 699. Year Lucky 13! The last year of the cycle, the Moon Year. To those who keep coming back, I’m delighted to see you again!
Today is Thursday and that means it’s time to start flashing on #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Want to keep up each week? Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Discord and the Group on MeWe.
Need the rules? Read on.
Here’s how it works:
- The prompt is a line from the previous week’s winning tale.
- The prompt can appear ANYWHERE in your story and is included in your word count.
- The prompt must be used as is. It can be split, but no intervening words can be inserted or tenses changed.
Rules to the Game:
- This is a Flash Fiction challenge, which means your story must be a minimum of 100 words, maximum of 250.
- The story must be new writing, not a snippet from something published elsewhere with the prompt added.
- Incorporate the prompt anywhere into your story (included in your word count).
- Post your story in the comments section of this post
- Include your word count in the post (or be excluded from judging)
- Include your social media handle or email in the post (so we easily notify you)
- The challenge is open 7 AM to 8 PM Mountain Time US.
- The winner will be announced on Friday, depending on how early the judge gets up.
How it benefits you:
- You get a nifty cool badge to display on your blog or site (because we’re all about promotion – you know you are!)
- You get instant recognition of your writing prowess on this blog!
- Your writing colleagues shall announce and proclaim your greatness on Bluesky, MeWe, Discord, and Mastodon, etc.
Our Judge for Week 699:
Writer at Arms, Writer with Arms, and Pre-Published Romantasy Author, Jacob Summers.
And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.
The Prompt:
“Do you know what chaos is?”
All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Comments do not represent the views of the host and the host reserves the right to remove any content. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads in the Moon Year. Good luck!
The Calm One
“You understand, its been nuts around here. Getting our team back from remotely working has been a struggle.”
“I understand that. I resisted for quite a while.”
“We appreciate that. You were very clear that leaving your house after Covid was a…challenge for you.”
“You bet your butt it was a challenge. Still is. Man, I masked up just walking to my car…and it’s in a garage attached to my house.”
“That seems extreme.”
“Extreme or not, I took precautions. Still do. Probably always will.”
“Fine. Precautions are fine. But we appreciate that you have returned to the work fold. But others of your workmates are still…antsy…”
“Antsy is a kind word. But I know what they are thinking. Sleep an extra hour, nibble while you work on line, feel at home in your work space…no commute…that’s huge…”
“HUGE is a problem. Do you know what chaos is? Chaos is having employees who won’t come to work. Who knows what the hell they’re doing. How can you supervise someone at home in their jammies? Can’t be done…so we’ve create a new position. A Post-Covid Truant Officer. Hooky is out the window. And we want you to fill that position. A PCTO Level 5…Are you game? “
“Wooo…what would I be doing? You can’t force people to come to work…can you?”
“These days, yeah, we can. You’ll lead a small team of Truant Officers…well trained…two weeks of training…Press Gang stuff really…”
“Let me think on it.”
“Think quickly.”
250 Words
@billmelaterplea
@sterlings-son-2.bsky.social
Titania erupted from the chair where she’d been lounging and stalked across the room. Everyone there was a predator in one form or another. Werewolf. Dragon. Vampire. Human FBI agent, who was armed and dangerous. It was Sade the fae queen stopped in front of.
“Do you know what chaos is?”
Sade snorted. “I’ve lived in the middle of chaos since the day I was born.” She angled one finger toward Titania. “My turn. Chaos happens every time one of you meddles in my world. When the Veil ripped and gave your kind free access to my world, everything went to shit. That is the essence of chaos.
Titania flushed, her eyes sparkling with angry magic. “Your world? Who died and made you queen?”
A slow smile curved Sade’s lips but her green eyes were as hard as broken bottle glass. “I could ask you the same question but you slept your way onto the throne.”
Before anyone else could move, Titania had her long, spidery fingers around the human’s throat. Then, inexplicably, her grip loosened and she released Sade.
“They don’t cost as much as silver bullets but I have a full magazine of iron.” She glanced down at the small round hole smoking in the silk of Titania’s blouse. “I’m done with you, your majesty. Your bitch sister has Ariel and the girl. You can help me get them back or get the hell out of my way.”
Titania growled. “Then why are we still standing here?”
****
250 Penumbra Papers #6 WIP words
Silver James
https://silverjames.com
“Long ago when I was at these crossroads, no one was there. I floundered and found the dark path for years. I’ve found my way and are paying those who I’ve wronged back. That will take a lifetime but I will do it.”
“You’ve never wronged me!!”I protested.
“I have I gave you the chaos that plagues you. I gave you to my sister to protect you. but it really protected me from being responsible and good,”
“You are my mother?”
“No, you only have one mother. I bore you, but my sister loved you and raised you, selflessly.”
I grew angry they’d both kept the truth from me.
My aunt/ mother sensed my inner turmoil, “Do you know what chaos is?”
“Complete disorder and confusion?”
“Don’t be snippy you control it; it does not control you.”
“I am Chaos!!”
“You are at a crossroads. In our family at your age; you can choose the dark or the light. I chose first the bad ,then the good, We can’t be perfect, can we?”
“I don’t want to seek the bad; what do I do when the chaos takes over?”
“Strive for good, fight against the dying of light in the darkness. Help the weak and the needy.”
“You make it sound easy!”
“Ahura it is never easy, but if you try you can succeed, and I will be here to help you,” Auntie Angra.
“You will?”
“We begin the ritual of good now!!”
So began my venture into Carte Blanche.
250 words @sweetsheil.bsky.social