Category: Story Telling

This is the 110th in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

Changes, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 21st March 2013

Word count: 740

The story:

“The world wasn’t always so simple and dire,” the old man said, “Before the war there were hundreds of nations. Not just the big ones I’ve told you about before, but countries of all shapes and sizes.”

“I know Grandpa,” the young man said patiently. “Do you think this world will ever change back?”

“I’m an old man, the prospect of change frightens me, it took so long to get used to this world and make a place in it after the war,” he paused thoughtfully, “Besides there’s no going back. The war, and the night of the leaders has burnt the bridges to the old world.”

“If it can’t change back, what can it change in to?”

Continue reading “Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 110: Changes”

This is the 109th in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

Down Below, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 20th March 2013

Word count: 460

The story:

“Its over,” navigator Presley said into the comms.

“You’ve done well. We’ll be there in a few hours, keep everything locked down tight until then,” Josef said.

“Yes Captain,” Presley said.

They ended their communication there.

“You didn’t tell him we don’t have control of the lower decks,” Wolf said, “What are we going to do?”

“Get control. We had a plan, Arsene and I, the day he left he told me he prepared for this. There’s a nerve agent suppression system on each deck, it won’t affect anyone holed up in a cabin, but in corridors and essential areas they’ll be out cold,” the navigator, now acting Captain said grimly.

“That sounds like a good solution what’s up?”

“Well it has side effects, it could kill someone, so far this coup d’etat has only cost us a few officers. They made their choice, these are crew members, some of whom are simply caught up in events. Doesn’t sit well,” Presley replied.

“And we can’t give warning, it might negate the goal. I got you,” Wolf became silent for a few moments, “The Breachers are sealed in, and we can’t trust them. Even if we did, there’s still going to be casualties, probably more. If we send our guys in, there’ll probably be more still. It’s the only choice,” the man said finally.

“Yes it is,” Presley said.

“If it’s a problem pressing the button, I’ll do it. I dare say I’ve done far worse in my time,” Wolf said. He was relatively new to the crew, he had been brought in by the previous captain who had seized and held the ship for nearly a year. He had switched sides when the moment was right, and he wasn’t edging his bets, though with the previous captain killed during a mutiny led by Presley there wasn’t much room to edge.

“No, Arsene charged me with retaking the ship when the time was right. I should do this,” he lifted up his portable computer, brought up the application that had been installed for this purpose, and typed in his code. “Its done, the effects should be quick. Gather up a team in environmental gear – there should be some in the med deck storage from a job a couple of years back. Go down, and lock them all up for Erme being.”

“Yes, sir,” Wolf said crisply and went off to see to it.

Presley sank into the captains chair and sighed. He wasn’t an ambitious man, he might chastise himself as being greedy, hungry, contrary, and violent, but he never sought this kind of power, and it didn’t sit right. Still, he trusted his old friend, saviour and mentor, he would do whatever it took to put the world straight again.

This is the 108th in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

Bowling Brothers, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 19th March 2013

Word count: 333

The story:

“See, your problem is just like this game,” the solicitor said as he approached the lane.

“What? I need to line up my opponents and smash them with something heavy?” Charles Hewes said sarcastically.

“We’ll call that plan two, shall we?” the solicitor John Henry said.

“Let’s,” the client said, still sarcastically.

“Okay, listen bowling metaphor might help. Your problems are many, and your resources relatively few. Those pins are your problems, you’re best solution is to get as big a solution as you can handle. Then line up and commit.” The solicitor took a step back, lined up and dashed forward, leaning into and then releasing the ball, which spam smoothly down the wooden lane.

“You split,” Charles said.

“That’s the rub,” the solicitor said heading back to the ball return rack, “You have to line up just right, hold the potential just right and release just at the right time. And if you miss one or two, you can always clean up in the second round.” The solicitor lined up and threw the ball again, knocking over one of the pins.

“I get what you mean,” the client stood up and picked up a ball, “Timing and execution.” He calmly ran forward, threw the green ball he’d picked up down the lane. He took out all but one pin. “I’m just worried about that one stubborn problem.” He lined up and threw again gaining a half strike.

“Even stubborn problems get wiped out with enough effort,” the solicitor said.

“So that’s your advice,” Charles said.

“Just an observation,” John said, “You know I can’t advise you formally on this. I can’t be involved in the seedy side of your enterprises.”

“Who said this was anything dodgy?”

“Isn’t it?”

“I can’t answer that,” Charles said with a smile. “Its you’re round I’ll get the beers in.”

“You do that, I’ll beat your arse while you’re drunk,” the solicitor laughed.

“John your a great solicitor, but a lousy big brother,” Charles said laughing.

This is the 107th in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

Strangers in the Woods, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 18th March 2013

Word count: 686

The story:

“Fortune came down and slapped him in the face,” Ryan said laughing by the fire.

“Oi!” Harold said from across the fire.

“Oh you know it’s true,” Ryan said, raising up his glass. “The Gods had to smile upon you, a gifted soldier, a scholar, a hero prince in all but name.”

Harold held his silence, he knew full well his squad would just keep needling him, but they were loyal, and that’s what counted in the heat of the fight.

“Is he really a prince?” he heard Eric ask, incredulously. Eric was the newest member of the squad, barely old enough to shave, some rich merchants son. He had been foisted on Howard, but he earned his keep.

“Oh yeah,” Thomas said sarcastically, “Grew up with a silver spoon up his arse, and a golden sword just for practice.” Thomas the Huntsman lived up to his name, an expert tracker, and a marksman with a bow, but his solitary nature gave him a generally foul temper, and strange humour. The boy Eric looked up to him more than any of the others.

Suddenly a bird cry rang out through the air.

“On your feet,” Harold said, his men knowing this was the call to arms gathered themselves.

Continue reading “Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 107: Strangers in the Woods”

This is the 106th in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

Mutiny on the Bounty, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 17th March 2013

Word count: 569

The story:

“Do your duty,” the captain said menacingly.

“Listen,” the navigator said, his gun pointed firmly at the captains head, “This man has betrayed Arsene, he has threatened us, he has led us to slaughter, and he has led us to murder. Profits are down massively, and the ship is in a bad way. If we don’t take back our ship, he’ll doom us all.”

“Don’t listen to him, shoot him. Arsene was a weak fool, as were his officers. I did what I did for the cause. Everyone gets a bigger share now, and today I’ll double it.”

The crew in the conference room remained seated no one daring to move.

“Arsene doesn’t care about you, he has a lofty position. Josef is only trying to chase is down to take the ship. He’ll kill everyone remaining behind as traitors. I can beat him,” Captain Andrew Chivenor said. “We’re all in this together, now arrest this traitor.”

Two men at the end of the table stood up, their hands on their guns. They were new officers, brought in by Chivenor, the navigator noted as he turned and fired, burning a hole clear through the shoulder of one.

Continue reading “Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 106: Mutiny on the Diligent”

This is the 105th in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

The Accidental Astronauts, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 16th March 2013

Word count: 957

The story:

“I may have been the only man in the world who is in space, but doesn’t want to be here,” Simon, the young scientist stated, “Bring us back.”

“Prometheus, we unfortunately at this stage a return is not possible. You’re going to have to dock with the International Space Station until we have the problem resolved. Houston out,” the man in ground control disappeared from the small monitor.

“Great now you’ve pissed them off Simon,” Mike said.

“I pissed them off? I? They’ve kidnapped us and put us in space!” Simon shouted, knocking a bottle of coke which subsequently released a few drops of its contents, which floated around and bothered the young scientist.

“Okay calm down, we’re all safe, there’s no need to panic,” Carol said soothingly.

Twelve hours ago they had been visiting the commercial rocket, Simon had won a competition. As they were looking around the cramped capsule it had all gone very wrong. Mission Control would just say that there had been a computer fault.

“Its kind of cool really,” Mike said playing about in zero gravity.

Continue reading “Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 105: The Accidental Astronauts”

This is the 104th in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

Zombie Versus Assassin, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 15th March 2013

Word count: 850

The story:

“Stay together,” Juliano urged, his whispers carrying untold menace.

The small group tightened up, and together they edged their way forward.

“Over there!” Max Smethwick pointed, “The doors look closed on that building.”

“Okay, be quiet,” Juliano warned, “Everyone keep an eye out, I’ll go check it out.” The Italian broke away from the group, but stopped after a few yards and turned back, “If anything happens make a run for it. Stay in the open, they can’t jump you that way.”

Max and the others nodded. The Italian carried on to the warehouse. He skirted round the place as quietly as he could, his revolver in his hands ready. All the doors were shut.

The Italian stepped back into the street and gestured the ten people he had somehow become responsible for.

“See those steps,” he pointed to a fire escape on the side of the two storey warehouse, “We’re going up there. Higher is better, fewer points to defend, good visibility, okay?”

The pale white faces of the terrified looked back at him.

Max sighed, “Okay.”

“Take this Max and bring up the rear,” Luciano handed over his only weapon at present with regret, and worry, but getting in was more important, and whomever brought up the rear would be better being armed.

Continue reading “Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 104: Zombies Versus Assassin”

This is the 103rd in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

Deal with the Vampire Plague, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 14th March 2013

Word count: 1,000

The story:

“Come in sit down,” the old merc invited the officers that had gathered at the door. “Come on, I don’t have all day, and you guys certainly don’t.”

The police officers of Speck upon Thames entered and took seats.

“I know some of you probably find this menace hard to believe, some of you have seen one and maybe doubt your ability to deal with an enemy so strong and so fast,” the mercenary said standing while the dozen police officers were seated. “Well both views are wrong, the urban vampire is very real, and it isn’t unbeatable.”

“I shot one,” one of the police officers stood up, a bit shakily, “It just got up and kept going.”

“They’ll do that,” the merc said, taking a seat. “Listen you guys have a problem, there have been three sighted in your area, you’ve faced one already. This is a real and dangerous threat. So tell me what you know about vampires.”

“They’re strong and fast,” one of the other officers said from the back of the room.

“They feed on blood, they prefer virgins, and they turn people,” another near the front said.

“That’s what the papers report,” the merc replied, “Reality is a bit different from that. Yes staking them through the heart will kill them, but that’ll kill anything. It’s also a quick way to get yourselves killed, at all costs avoid getting in close with a vampire, they hold all the advantages in close combat.” The merc got back to his feet again.

Continue reading “Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 103: How to Kill a Vampire”

This is the 102nd in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

The Demon Tyranny, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 13th March 2013

Word count: 1,000

The story:

“Damn that fool, I warned him never to come here,” the tyrant said to thin air, then he addressed the soldier, “Mobilise the army, have the reserves man the castle. I want their heads now.”

The soldier clasped a closed fist to his chest/ The soldier hurried out, yelling for the generals, and other officers.

The tyrant sat back in his throne, looking into space, “Who cares? I have an army, I will become a God. They have nothing but a tame ogre.”

He sat in silence for a few moments, as if listening.

“No, it won’t come to that. I will succeed,” he said white with fear.

Continue reading “Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 102: The Demon Tyranny”

This is the 101st in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

The Brideless Man, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 12th March 2013

Word count: 632

The story:

“She loves me!” Jackson shouted at the top of his voice.

Neither the universe, or the house he was shouting at answered. Undeterred the tempestuous youth parked himself on the opposite curb and waited.

Just moments before he had told the object of good affections father of how he felt about her, and asked the fathers permission to marry her.

The reaction hadn’t been what he expected.

“No,” he said with finality.

“We love each other,” Jackson had protested.

“Come near her and I’ll kill you,” the man had said with a cool anger that had scared the young man, but it would take more than that to break Jackson’s feelings, and the father saw that, “I will rip your still beating heart from your chest, remove all your bodily organs, starting from the outside and working in, if you so much as come with a hundred yards of my daughter, do you understand? Now get out before I get angry.”

Jackson wasn’t dejected though, he was scared, and he was angry, but most of all he was still determined. He’d been through so much to get here, and he knew Sarah loved him. If facing down her oppressive father, and beating all the odds thrown at him he would.

Sarah was his childhood sweetheart, and he wasn’t about to let her go easily. He still remembered that first day at school, when he was very lonely and she had given him a sweet, and said “I’ll be your friend.” He’d loved her ever since.

Down the end of the streets blue flashing caught his eyes, he’d not noticed the sirens, but now he couldn’t help but here their cries.

Continue reading “Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 101: The Brideless Man”