Thursday, October 28, 2010

Heel…......Flash Fiction

The wind howling through the window broke into my sleep and replaced the ghastly sounds of tearing flesh. Panicked; I replayed the dream in my head, laughing a bit as I realized I was warm and snug under the covers.

In the dream I was dancing. My body too warm, the room off kilter. My brain seemed to itch where my neck met my spine. I left the dance floor, disgusted with a partner taking liberties. Outside it was cool and sharp. The full moon beautiful in the clear night sky. He followed me out. Running, running in the woods, branches tearing at my clothes, twigs slashing at my tender skin. Ragged breath, pounding heart. Prey and predator.

He should have kicked off his cowboy boots. That's the first thing they tell you to do when you're running for your life. Barefoot is best. Of course, I'd had the advantage once I was on all fours. They're unlikely to find the bits of him that were left.

I'll have to go back this morning before his car is discovered. Searchers would find the tatters of my red dress covered in blood at the edge of the ravine. They'd think the worst. But they'd be wrong. I'm safe. Safe and snug in my bed.

Ravenous again.





Go HERE to MadUtopia where you'll find Jon Strother's master list of the week's 83 #fridayflash offerings.

41 comments:

Eric J. Krause said...

Wicked! Excellent werewolf tale, perfect for Halloween!

Karen from Mentor said...

Thanks Eric! I have something a little darker for Halloween, that's why I posted my fridayflash early.

*looks gleefully toward Saturday*

shannon said...

MMM...perfect morsel of mutilation to wet my Halloween appetite! :-)

Laurita said...

How deftly you turned this around, what seemed to be prey was actually predator. I loved this line - "My brain seemed to itch where my neck met my spine." Gret stuff.

Man, I am famished...

Karen from Mentor said...

If you get out your anatomy book Laurita, you'll see that that's where the lycanthrope switch is.

[x marks the spot]

Rachel Blackbirdsong said...

Yum..I was tempted to just write that, but I'll behave. I love that this is so short because it feels like the thoughts someone would have before bedtime. I also love the way you've told this story. At first I thought she was a victim. Now I'm going to avoid women in red dresses I think.

Karen from Mentor said...

morsel of mutilation isn't that just a delicious phrase?

You crack me up Shannon. Especially how you retweeted this. It's a perfect bookend. He's a heel, she's a b*tch.....grinning ear to ear

Karen from Mentor said...

You snuck in there while I was answering Shannon, Rachel.

I think if you don't get fresh with women in red dresses on the dance floor you'll be ok....

KjM said...

This one rewards multiple readings, more and more of the clues appear.

Nicely constructed, Karen. A good, sharp flash - exactly how they should be written.

Alan W. Davidson said...

Yikes! That was a dark, dark tale Ms. Schindler (though totally appropriate for this holiday season). Remind me never to go dancing with you...especially with my cowboy boots.

Marisa Birns said...

Great switcheroo! Partners taking liberties should know that karma is a ...werewolf.

Wait a minute! Don't you have a red dress? *gulp*

John Wiswell said...

Some definite dream-like thoughts, particularly the advantage once she was on all-fours. I can see that working in sleep.

Sam said...

Eek! Wickedly wonderful. I like a good werewolf story, and this was a great one.

Cat Russell said...

Oh, how I love reading about bad ass women! *applauds*

Anneke said...

Brilliant! I love using dream images in stories, not knowing were reality begins or ends.

Laura Eno said...

Great turnaround on this! I hope she found all the pieces of her dress...

Unknown said...

Excellent, as usual. And really, a fun read! What I really like is the snarky undertone -- so subtle, and really well done. (Safe in my bed, NYAH NYAH!) Heh.

Karen from Mentor said...

*grins at Netta*

There's lots of undertones here Netta. Glad your fiction radar picked that one up. But hey...he has a bed of leaves...and soon a bed of snow...

Thank you for the excellent.
*basks in that for a bit*

Karen from Mentor said...

Well, once she ditches his car the dress won't matter Laura.

Especially since it's been raining heavily every day this week...

Karen from Mentor said...

Kevin- There are layers within layers here. I like doing that with flash just like with poetry. I'm so pleased that you took the time to read it more than once and let the creepy factor build for you. This was a very visual write for me. Glad you took the time to "see" it.
*BIG SMILE*

Karen from Mentor said...

Alan-you can wear fuzzy bunny slippers instead. They'll go great with your fez

Marisa- I do! I do! -*goes off to send you an email* [emails can't be subpoenaed can they?]

*Smooches Sam* -Thank you m'dear

Karen from Mentor said...

Anneke - nice to see you - thanks for the very kind comment [I love a "brilliant"] and for spreading the word that you liked it. Much appreciated!

Cathy - women who kick ass rock. And this guy wouldn't have been prey had he kept his hands off hers....

John...why do I get the feeling that the word you meant to type wasn't "sleep"?

Karen from Mentor said...

I really appreciate everybody taking the time to read and to leave such wonderful comments. Support of my creative endeavors is not something I ever take for granted.

Thank you all for stopping in.

*happy sigh*

Mike Robertson said...

Ravenous again. Fine final line, Karen. If a little odd, seeing as how she's just feasted.

Couldn't agree more with the consensus: wonderful, sharply told, complete, and totally satisfying! Nice work.

Karen from Mentor said...

Thanks Mike. So sweet of you to say.

Oh and to answer your implied question...she has a really fast metabolism.

*grins at you*

Anonymous said...

I love this story. I have a soft spot for 'shifters. :)

Karen from Mentor said...

Re: your soft spot...ME TOO! hey, a few of us are getting together this weekend...

Um...maybe I'll email you...

Anonymous said...

Oh, early Halloween at your place too :) Loved this Karen, such a great werewolf tale!
I loved her comment about him kicking his cowboy boots off ;)

Cat Connor said...

LOVE it!!

pegjet said...

"My brain seemed to itch where my neck met my spine."
I loved that line too, and in the comments I see why. Creepy and irreverent, and always, that sense of humor. Fun read, Karen.

Karen from Mentor said...

Thanks so much Peg. It's really hard to scratch that itch. [or so I've heard]

Hee @ Cat... thanks luv!

Yes, Estrella, the things you learn in high school sometimes just don't stick with you in a panic situation.
*stop, drop, roll-- and kick off your heels when being chased by a monster*
[how hard is that?]

AJ-laughing..I took your comment down because I couldn't make heads or tails of it...Are we blaming it on lack of sleep or too much halloween candy?

Thanks for stopping in guys. Much appreciated as always!

Christian Bell said...

Nice werewolf tale! This one builds up quite well.

Anonymous said...

Great story! I wonder why the red dress is so perfect for a werewolf tale- it reminded me of a werewolf-themed music video by one of my favourite bands.
Kari @ The Best Place By The Fire

Pamila Payne said...

So compact, yet rich with detail, suspense, a great twist and a satisfying end.

Karen from Mentor said...

Ok, that settles it. Pamila is writing my next book jacket blurb. Thanks for stopping in and leaving those lovely words!

Karen from Mentor said...

Kari I went out last week in a red dress. The tale is loosely based on my night out.

*wonders if what she just said would be admissible in court*

The dress: http://catconnor.blogspot.com/2010/10/interrogation-of-karen-schindler.html

Karen from Mentor said...

Thanks Christian!
Karen :0)

Steve Green said...

I found this a blend of dark chill, and humour, the line "He should have kicked off his cowboy boots. That's the first thing they tell you to do when you're running for your life." came over as very darkly comical to me. Good story.

Karen from Mentor said...

Thanks Steve.
Little known fact: Werewolves have a droll sense of humor.


*goes off to make a list of other little known facts-they always get it wrong in the movies*

Harry said...

Note to self: Don't step on dance partners feet or run from a werewolf in cowboy boots!

Howling Halloween story Karen!

Karen from Mentor said...

Thanks Harry. *grins*

I like a man in cowboy boots...and in most situations they're practical footwear. But it does behoove [ALWAYS wanted to use behoove in a sentence] a cowboy boot wearing man to take them off in --how shall we say-- some of the more delicate situations he might find himself in.....