Week 434 of #ThursThreads had many fantastic tales. I’m honored to see all the writers come to tie a tale as we start our ninth year. If you’ve been doing it a while, thank you for sticking with us. If you’ve just found us, welcome! May you come back again and write more great flash. Thousand thanks to Lizzie Bella for judging this week. Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the #ThursThreads Group on MeWe to keep up with news, etc.
Entries:
- Silver James | @SilverJames_
- Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
- Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
- Daniel Swensen | @daniel_swensen
- Lyra Lane
- Catherine Ducourau | @cathducourau
- Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea
- David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
- Katheryn J. Avila | @katheryn_avila
Honorable Mention
Silver James | @SilverJames_
Lizzie says: James’s shifters in uniform, is a reader’s dream come true. The officers are men of the law and yet one of them is scare of the principal? Then, fate stepped in and Beau found his match. Over the moon and struck by the moon—it paid to go to school on this venture, at least for Beau.
winner announcement
Week 434 Winner
Daniel Swensen | @daniel_swensen
Lizzie says: Swensen spins a shivering tale of suspense while igniting the sense of touch vividly with the freezing temperature and the cold hand of death wanting answers and retribution for a wrongful death. Nat’s frozen fear translates to the reader with compelling intensity.
“Oh God,” Nat whispered as she heard the tapping on the window. “Not tonight, please, not tonight–”
The tapping again, slow and deliberate, but insistent. She opened her eyes as she lay in bed and looked to the window, keeping her body still. Winter cold frosted the glass, rendering the outside world invisible, save for the tiny half-moons of recent fingerprints — and the vaguely humanoid shape lingering outside.
Nat wanted to believe it was someone else. Anyone else. But it couldn’t be. The bedroom lay on the second floor.
It was her husband.
Shivering as she slipped from bed into the chill air, she approached the window slowly, putting her head against the wall next to the glass. She didn’t try to open the window. Even if it wasn’t frozen shut, she didn’t want to see. Not again.
A splayed hand, dark with decay, thumped against the window. Slowly, she placed her own hand next to it. Only glass prevented their touch.
“Nats,” a gravelly voice rasped from the far side. Something like eyes gleamed pale blue in the dark.
“Clint, please. If you love me, leave me alone. Please.”
“Help me… find him, Nats. The one who… killed me. Help me find… him.”
“I can’t,” she whispered, clenching her teeth to keep the tears back.
“Someone has to do it. I’m… far gone now, Nats. Almost out of… time.”
Nat closed her eyes. “I’m sorry.”
After a long moment, the hand slipped away.
“Nats. I’ll ask… again… tomorrow.”
~~~~~~~
Congratulations Eight Time Winner Daniel, and Honorable Mention Silver! Don’t forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it!
Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, MeWe, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the original tales HERE. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! 🙂
