Empty Streets No More

Candia Urban Lounge

Slow down, she cried. The streets were empty. A strict curfew was in force. We can't slow down, he whispered. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her forward. He couldn't leave her behind. She was his world. She had taught him to believe that everything could go back to what it was. That's when he saw them. The three red orbs, scanning the alleyway. He instinctively covered her body with his, right before they fired. Years later, she told their child, now the leader of a democratic country, the story of that day when they had to run and hide.

100 Word Stories

Bubble Wrap

Milk Wood

 The bubble wrap, he said, we must make sure this book is well protected before we ship it off. Everyone hurried around, mostly just trying to look busy. Where's the bubble wrap? Finally, someone said that they had none left. Go buy some more?! They all ran out of the room. He waited, and waited. The book mumbled. He was startled. The book mumbled some more. What? I can protect myself, it said. He was stunned. How?! That's when everyone came rushing back. Bubble wrap! The book sort of sneezed and tragically everyone collapsed. The book clearly didn't like plastic.

100 Word Stories

The Noisiest Place in the Universe

 

Edo Japan Kitamachi

This is the noisiest place in the universe, he said. There was absolutely no sound in the tunnel, except for their voices. She winced. You can't hear it? He's nuts, she thought. Look! Two small figures appeared. Who?! He pointed up. They said that this is the noisiest place they have visited. They had to hide in this tunnel. They were going nuts out there. Let's go for a ride. And they all did, to the quietest place in the universe, where everyone waved. She wasn't sure whether they waved hello or goodbye to the noisiest creatures in the universe.

100 Word Stories

Dear, Everyone...

 

Milk Wood

"Dear Everyone, I..." And that was it. The letter was never completed. The police tried to figure it out. Everyone? Who? What statement would follow that lonely "I"? And where was the author of the letter? The police searched the house. They searched around the house. They canvassed the entire neighborhood. They opened emergency phone lines. The tips were worthless. After a month, the police gave up. A year later, a neighbor received a letter saying "I remember now." No sender address, no fingerprints, no DNA, no clues. Just that one line, written in the unmistakable handwriting of his neighbor.

100 Word Stories

Twist

 

BCC

Write the story of your life, they said. It'll be a success. And she wrote the story. It wasn't fine and it wasn't a success. Why? Because the story had one character. She was the main and only character. Her story wasn't that interesting, she thought. Born to a family of crazy people. Small town, crazy school. Moved to the big city and got a fancy job that paid well. Then, she decided to write her story. The intrusive thoughts took over and she was done. The moment she jumped off the bridge, she thought "I'm crazy enough to fly".

100 Word Stories

It Stings

 

MOSP 10

It stings. How about this one? It stings too. But what is happening? All the dresses sting? The whole supply is ruined. Who bought the fabric? Some obscure assistant took a step forward. Where did you buy the fabric? Where?! The assistant spun around, and laughed demonically. This is revenge, she said, I should be the head designer. Now, everyone will die. She spun around again and ran away. Everyone looked stunned. The fabric was disposed of by biohazard teams. Everyone was checked at the hospital, and no one died. The financial hit was catastrophic. And that was the revenge.

100 Word Stories

Experiment

Betelgeuse 3

Magic, he said, neon blue small creatures swimming in the garden lake.

So many, she said.

They will stay small like that.

And how many do you have?

He grinned. A lot. To breed them, he had added a few "ingredients" and look, a ton of cute little neon fish!

But isn't it dangerous? What if...?

He laughed. I know what I'm doing!

The next day, the city faced an infestation of beautiful neon highly poisonous tetrapods reminiscent of Komodo dragons, just lighter and faster.

I guess he didn't know what he was doing, she thought, hiding in her attic.

100 Word Stories

Vanishing Point

 

Blue Crystal

"Draw a circle. And another inside it. And another, and another. The vanishing point is a full stop. A full stop inside an O. The circle is gone, it has no meaning as a circle anymore. It became an O with a full stop in the middle."

“What?!”

"Perspective. Interpretation. Meaning."

"Excuse me, Professor, but..."

"You don't see it? You draw a circle and it vanishes into an O! It's extraordinary!"

They didn't see it.

The Professor was forced to retire, but he smiled. Why hadn't he thought of it before? He could finally sail away, vanishing into the horizon.

100 Word Stories

Fancy

France Portnawak

 A ship docked at the cruise terminal. The luxury included a VIP meal, a VIP ball, and a scare. The previous events had been so much fun, they heard. The meal was scrumptious and the ball was a lot of fun until the hall was invaded by armed men in balaclavas. Everyone laughed. It was the scare! So much fun! And then, the black tie event became a whole lot more expensive. When they were finally freed, millions had been transferred away, and the armed men were long gone. "Well, we sure got a lot more than we bargained for."

100 Word Stories

Heartbeat

 

LEA26 Resonant Osmosis

“Hush,” he said.

“They are coming.” The fear was palpable in her voice.

They could hear her, the interceptors. They could hear her breathe. They could hear her heartbeat. The vibrations of their humming resonated on the walls.

He covered her with his body. He used to be like them, intercepting to drown the resistance.

But she'd changed everything. Her eyes. Her smile, despite everything. And in a heartbeat, he wanted to protect her, to keep her alive.

The humming became distant.

"We're safe for now".

And she smiled that smile that almost made him believe he had a heartbeat.

100 Word Stories