As it it both October, and the thirteenth, I’m honoring two of my favorite things with another installment of the Halloween Horror Flash event, sponsored by the one and only Charles Gramlich. Our charming host has two stories up with more promised soon. Head over to Charles’ site and check out Goodnight and Spot. The ever-twisted (and your future president) Stewart Sternberg, has offered up Fat Man. Read it and see if you think our protagonist is evil, or if you’re like me and think he just might not be all bad. Sidney has channeled his inner angst and presents us with, Having His Say, a good read for all you resentful youngsters out there. Laughingwolf gives us, Flight–don’t let the lightheartedness fool you; darkness lurks in this wolf’s soul. Miladysa gives us, Twisted, a dire warning to those of you inclined to take shortcuts. If I’ve missed anyone on the rounds, drop me a line and I’ll be sure to scurry over and read your flash, and add your link here.
As for me, I had a traumatic incident this past week. Well, three, exactly. And they all boil down to the same horrible conclusion; I’ve become Damian. I didn’t really want to be, what with the responsibility involved and all, but it has happened all the same. The first incident was last Friday. I was raking the yard and came upon a young mauled dove sprawled on my back patio. Then, on Saturday I went to a friend’s house on the river. We kayaked in the sun, and then headed back to the house to get some wine. On the walkway, right at my feet, was an injured bluebird. Then, yesterday, as I watered my garden, I noticed a large group of flies around my pot of mint. I peeked in, and, sure enough, another dead dove. It seems my former avian friends are dropping from the skies wherever my feet touch the earth. So, if you’re trying to avoid me and my new sinister career path, just go out and buy yourself a yellow canary like the miners of old. If it drops dead, beat it out of there, because I’m sure to be on the way over.
So, with no further jibberjabber, here’s the next flash:
Problem Child
The creature stopped twitching, and immediately she wished she could take it back. She held her daddy’s hammer tightly in the palm of her shaking hand and stared at the mess that had not too long before been a head. The insides of her stomach twisted into a dozen tight balls of string. There was no taking this back. No putting life back into the small form.
She gazed at the ruined body in contemplation. It had been so small, so weak. When she had picked it up, the thing squawked and squealed in panic, but had been helpless to do anything more. Surely that meant something? Her young mind gnawed the problem, chewing it like tough meat. She gazed at the lifeless shell, and the bits of swirling emotions settled, locking in her mind as a much more logical, concrete outlook.
Because it had no chance against her, the creature deserved to fall under her control. With no means to defend its life, its death became hers to decide. She hefted her daddy’s hammer in her hand and felt a surging swell of dominance. The young monster gazed down at the rest of the tiny, scurrying humans, and smiled.
Hell and Wheels 
October 30th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Good story! We “humans” have done this so many times to others that we certainly deserve it…
October 30th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Will — Thanks. As for the rest of the blog, it’s hit and miss, depending on how the renovation of my house is coming along. There is a good bit of useless fluff resting between a scattering of decent posts, so don’t kill yourself trying. (I am such a good salesman, aren’t I?)Thanks for the add, I’m putting you on mine, for pretty much the same reason. 😉
October 30th, 2008 at 3:24 am
Wow. Awesome bit of flash here.I don’t have the time at the moment to read through the rest of your blog, but rest assured that I will. I have added you to my blog roll for easy access. 🙂
October 21st, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Steve-O — Not in your head! You have to sing it. Out loud. That photo is my Halloween contribution. It was last year’s getup. Malice in Wonderland. I just wanted to make a dead bunny purse.As for your issues with my email, I’m sure it’s Homeland Security or something. I’ll send you an alternate address.Miladysa — I love the term gobsmacked. It has an onomatopoeia feel to it. Fortunately for you, my yard has a six-foot stockade around it, so you won’t be caught unawares.Lana — Thank you. I always aim for wonder in the dread department.The two doves were mauled–one was still alive, the other, who knows? It could have been alive when I found the first, but it was hidden in one of my planters and I didn’t see it. I think they were nest-mates either blown down and eaten or eaten and knocked down. We have cats roaming the neighborhood and hawks and turkey buzzards flying about. No plague this time, but thanks for looking out.
October 20th, 2008 at 6:29 am
Yeesh! That’s wonderfully dreadful.You may want to report the dead birds to your local nature authorities. If it’s not a matter of physical injury, it could be an outbreak of disease…
October 18th, 2008 at 5:28 am
Yoo hoo… Ms. DeBow….I keep trying to reply to your email, but Comcast has decided to block me as spam. Is there anything you can do, or must our communication remain forever one-sided?(single tear, violin)
October 17th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Sorry to hear about the doves and how your sad news lured me into the wicked web you have woven below!Ever heard of *gobsmacked*? Well that is what I am now. I hope no one takes a short cut through your yard…hee heewicked woman you!
October 16th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Oh, and cute new pic, too!
October 16th, 2008 at 7:11 am
From now on, I shall play the Carmina Burana at utmost creepy-volume in my head when I read your blog!Me, I’m more the ‘Hello, Clarice’ type…
October 16th, 2008 at 3:35 am
Crazycath — I do try. ;)L.A. — After just reading your flash, that’s a huge compliment. HUGE. Thanks.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
All the mastication references make it especially wicked. Loved it, nice job:)
October 14th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Suitably gory….
October 14th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Charles — I don’t know what’s up with the avian death around here, but it’s got to let up. I’m getting seriously traumatized by it.Thanks for the link–again. I’m having a great time doing this.
October 14th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Sorry to hear about all the lost birds. We’re missing some here as well. There’s not as many coming to our feeders as there was before Gustav. Hopefully they simply got blown off and are still alive.Great horror piece. “In those days there were giants in the earth.” I linked it to my today’s post. Thanks for keeping up the horror.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Laughingwolf — Usually serial killers like this start with animals, but I guess you’re safe this time around.
October 14th, 2008 at 1:17 am
two cents inserted… :O lollove it… and good thing wuffs are NOT human! 😉