Welcome back, everyone! Can you believe it’s already Microcosms 7? I sure can’t…
I thought we’d divert from time this week and talk about love. February is the month of romance, after all, is it not? My sister is getting married on Saturday; Sunday is Valentines Day; and this is National Weddings Month.
February also happens to be National Heart Month – which can be taken a few different ways. So while most of our prompts will be wedding-related, there are a few wildcards in there, as well. 😉
As usual, our contest will begin with three things: character, setting, and genre.
We spun, and our three elements are character: serial killer, setting: wedding, and genre: comedy. Okay… Let’s see what you do with that. lol
Feel free to write a story using those or spin a new set of your own. Be sure to include which three elements you’re using.
- bride
- groom
- clergyman
- baker
- limo driver
- matchmaker
- newlywed
- maid of honor
- best man
- photographer
- videographer
- alien
- jeweler
- florist
- flower girl
- musician
- cannibal
- organ donor
- surgeon
- cardiologist
- serial killer
- vampire
- werewolf
- ghost
- blind date
- house of worship
- limo
- kitchen
- Hawaii
- Paris
- Japan
- Greece
- Bahamas
- Niagara Falls
- restaurant
- coffee shop
- flower shop
- the moon
- spaceship
- garden
- mansion
- courthouse
- hospital
- crime scene
- wedding
- deserted highway
- castle
- Transylvania
- haunted house
- forest
- horror
- sci-fi
- steam punk
- mystery
- fantasy
- romance
- drama
- comedy
- poem
Judging this week are two of last week’s winners, Craig A and Firdaus Parvez. 🙂
All submissions should be 100 words in length, give or take 10 words (90 – 110 words). You have until midnight, New York time to submit.
by KM Zafari (currently available in the US, the UK, Australia, and other territories), or a similarly priced book of their choosing; alternatively, winners may elect to have the monetary equivalent donated to World Reader or another literacy-related charity.If you like, you may incorporate the following photo prompt (not required).
Home Body
I finally had to get down on my one good knee.
“Will you,” I beseeched.
Eleese turned her back.
“I don’t know,” she teased. “I’m not sure you really want to.”
“But I do, I really do,” I confessed.
In my line of work, well, it’s more a trade considering the tool kit I carry,
slogging away on the road, l don’t always make it home.
Each project takes careful planning.
I was finding it necessary to be…grounded.
Plotting, scheming and murder can be…murder on your health.
A man needs an appreciative wife, a clean house, three squares a day…when he’s home.
She eventually said yes.
I’ve never been happier.
Serial killer; wedding; comedy
@billmelaterplea
110 moments of wedded bliss
Little Girl’s Dreams
The ringing in Ken’s ears caused by the gunshot hadn’t yet subsided. The crimson bud above the groom’s navel began blossoming into a full bouquet. The groom held it tightly against his ivory vest and fell to his knees.
“Why?” he asked.
“You were at death’s gate. You just didn’t know it,” the Wedding Murderer said, knowing it was the truth.
The groom fell on his side, and the petals pooled on the floor around him.
***
The bride’s eyes brightened at the sound of the shot. Ken had beaten her to the first kill. She smiled. Now she would be able to enjoy her wedding.
Serial Killer. Wedding. Comedy
105 words
@goldzco21
On the last sentence can I have the first “she” (after the word “now”) changed to the name Barbie. Thank you Moderator(s).
Bless Him
He got down on one knee. My heart leapt. But it wasn’t a proposal. His shoelace was undone. He stood up, realised just from looking at my face, then knelt back down and asked. Bless him. Our wedding was a month later.
So considerate. When he comes in late he’s careful not to wake me. He puts his clothes in the machine, remembers to buy flowers on our anniversary. Fifty years today.
I had no idea what he was up to. A complete surprise. Of course I visit. Got to send a Valentine’s this weekend.
Sure, he killed twenty-three women but he’s always treated me like a Queen, bless him.
Serial killer – wedding – comedy
@SalnPage
110 Words
#FlashDog
Sparse but neatly told tale, Sal. Looks like a winner!
(“But it wasn’t a proposal. His shoelace was undone.” HA!)
Sweetly told!
Wedding Killer
@hollygeely
110 words
Elements: wedding, serial killer, comedy
Another wedding was about to be ruined.
Not even Ronald himself knew why; whether it was the pretty white dress or maybe the dancing.
He was like those people who cry at weddings, except his urge was to maim and destroy. The need to rend flesh bubbled up somewhere between “Do you” and “I do.” The newlyweds kissed, everyone applauded, and Ronald went berserk.
Blood dribbled down his chin. Horrified guests stared at him. He couldn’t stop.
None of the others had a chance.
“I told you not to invite the Wedding Killer,” said the irritated groom.
Ronald murderated every meat the buffet had to offer, until nothing was left.
“Murderated”, Holly? Peter Mark Roget must be turning in his grave… 🙂
@AvLaidlaw
108 blows to the heart
Serial Killer / Wedding / Comedy
The Valentine’s Day Massacre
We call him the Valentine’s Day Massacre. Twenty years hunting this sicko and the bile rises in my gut whenever we find another victim. The profile is always the same – a wedding guest found with a precise incision down the chest and their heart shredded.
He can strike anyone: the groom’s ex-girlfriend, an obsessive fan at celebrity nuptials, the bride’s friend with his letters, tear-stained confessions of love, unrequited, never sent. Didn’t stand a chance against this killer.
Remember, if you dream of someone, if your pulse quickens when you see them smile, call our hotline now.
Don’t be the next victim of the Valentine’s Day Massacre.
@GeoffHolme
#FlashDogs
Word Count: 110
Elements: Musician / Restaurant / Comedy
We Don’t Talk Any More
“Waiters, waiters, everywhere! And not a drop to drink.”
“It’s ‘Nor any drop to drink’. Another misquote.”
“Wh-why’re they called waiters? We do the bloody waiting!”
“We need to talk – about us.”
“We’re fine. You’re fine, I’m fine… or I will be, once I get another Scotch!”
“You’ve had enough to drink. Have some Perrier.”
“English, eh? I’ve had enough to drink… you offer me water!”
“You think we’re fine, but you always say there’s room for improvement; or is that just those damn lyrics you tinker with?”
“You’re vitriol is wasted… As am I! …Oh! Leaving? Love you too, sweetheart! …Where’s my notepad? I feel a song coming on.”
A Hot Bath
A.J. Walker
The girl, who could be Jill, took off her ring and put it in the box with the other six before manourvering Dave towards the bath.
Dave was urgently trying to recall whether he’d dropped some acid the night before.
He looked at the ring on his finger. His mother would have been proud. Briefly.
“Mrs Crosby,” Jill said, “It’s got a nice ring to it.”
Dave’s face was crimson.
“Mr Crosby, meet Mrs Hydrofluoric Acid-Bath,” she said.
Dave’s crimson morphed to white as the vapour above the bath burnt his nose hair.
Dave’s dad decided it was time to interject. “So, you’re not going for the traditional vows then?”
—
WC 110 words
Serial killer/ wedding / comedy
No spellchecker, AJ? It’s “manoeuvring” according to the OED.
That’s the problum with tiping up these stories on the fone Mr Home.
Still, yu got the jist!
I always want to spell it Man-hoovering. Call the police, Geoff! 😉
Man-hoovering? Would that be Henry, perchance? 🙂
Wedded Miss- A Sonnet of Sorts
On the day I was to finally wed,
my stunning bride turned up awfully dead,
flattened like glass by our wedding cake,
a tad under cooked, an immense mistake.
Three hundred pounds of chocolate fudge,
had buried her deep in soggy cake sludge.
As I scrambled to be close to her side,
the breath gurgled from my dear dying bride.
I scraped the goop from her fudgied face,
her dress tarnished tan, such pleasing white lace.
I cradled her soft in my toffeed arms,
recollected her droll pre-bonbon charms.
The cops swooped in, said, “Tough luck, old bean,
Please leave the room. This is our crime scene.”
107 moments of love tragically underbaked and overwrought
@billmelaterplea
Groom; crime scene; poem
My Gothic Valentine
@voimaoy
104 words
bride/blind date/horror
We have never met, but I have dreamed of this day, and my dark lover, his back toward me as I walk down the aisle in my long white dress. I carry a bouquet of black roses. The thorns stab my fingers, drops of red pearls.
My pulsing heart beats in time to the music–a pipe organ playing, a rising crescendo. The aisle stretches infinitely. Faces in the crowd follow me, beaming smiles. He turns toward me, and I recognize him now. He is the death of me, waiting, waiting. I feel the needles of his kiss, the poison blooming like a flower.
Last minute edit–could you swap needles for burning? If not, that’s okay…
My Memorial Diamond
110 words
Elements: jeweller, flower shop, horror
@el_Stevie
#FlashDog
The furnace was at optimum temperature, the gem’s setting burnished by its reflected glow. All that was needed was the jewel itself. Henry allowed his eyes to wander from his work to the flower shop across the road. Maria was working late.
She looked up as he entered, the blush he had cultivated creeping readily over her.
Ninety minutes for a human to be turned to ash, he thought, nine months to birth a jewel.
“A rose by any other name,” murmured Henry, allowing his finger to trace her cheek, her jaw … her throat. “A diamond in the rough.”
He pressed harder. Soon she would be his for eternity.
@stellakateT
#FlashDog
Serial killer, Wedding, Comedy
108 words
The monk stood before the altar. Marlon wondered if he was on Cheryl’s side, no one remotely religious in his family unless you counted Uncle Bob who always called on God when he placed a bet. Cheryl was wondering the exact same thing perhaps he was Auntie Sadie’s guest, she had a real weird taste in men.
Brother Luke eyed up the bridesmaids, four of them in sickly pink. By the end of the day maybe two would go home from the reception. The other two would get to see God, two funerals and a wedding not bad for the start of the year, could break his record.
whoops forgot to include the title…… lets call it ‘ The Monk’
@KreskaFiction
109 stabs
Elements: wedding|serial killer|comedy
Title: A Cutting Remark
‘They said ‘I do’ and that was the last I saw of ‘em.’
‘Someone said they look different now, yunno, incognito’
‘Not surprised, everyone would recognise their ugly mugs!’
‘Who’da thought that those two would marry?’
‘Do you think they both kill separately or together?’
‘Together I reckon. Yeah.’
‘Lucky bastards.’
‘One could hold while the other cut…’
‘Stop it. We’ve all been doing so well – we shouldn’t…’
…
‘OK – could everyone take their seats please – now – who’d like to go first this week?’
Ted stood up, fiddling with the key-chain on his trousers.
‘My names Ted; I’m a serial killer, it’s been five years since I last killed someone.’
oh – that’s wedding/serial killer/comedy (I put it wrong way round)
Damn! I mean serial killer/wedding/comedy (don’t hate me)
Stupid Cupid
My brother gets all the credit, especially this time of year. No-one appreciates my work. Relationships have a habit of lingering long after the love is gone. I’m the one that kills them swiftly, to end the suffering.
Weddings are my nemesis. Love is in the air, enough to bolster even the worst couples. I spot my targets at the bar. He’s sleeping with his secretary and she’s banging the tennis coach. So cliche.
I take aim and loose my black arrows. They hit their mark and the shouting begins.
On the way out I spot someone’s husband eyeing up a bridesmaid. The work of Dipuc is never done
110 words
@todayschapter
Elements: wedding|serial killer|comedy
“Dipuc”! HAR! HAR! But I thought “TIME is a straight black arrow”. (Very appropriate given the recent anthology launch by Flash Dogs…)
Er… aren’t you co-judging this round, Craig? If so, I assume this entry is “just for fun”.
Yes absolutely – sorry should have made that clear in my entry!
Wedding Day Tradition
He’d reviewed the checklist on the way to the Chapel O’ Love, but he swore something was missing. He scanned the crumpled paper as his bride drunkenly stumbled down the aisle.
Something old. . .
The locket from the dead waitress in Des Moines. Check.
. . . something new . . .
The wedding bands from the smash and grab in Phoenix. Check.
. . . Something borrowed. . .
He supposed his fiance’s blood-flecked pumps from the massacre in Tulsa were loaners. Check.
. . . something blue.
Hmmm. That was the one. He scanned their officiant Elvis. The impersonator’s turquoise ring would have to be good enough. Edgar readied his knife to carve the thing off.
wedding/serial killer/comedy
104 words
@BradyTheWriter
Black comedy, Brady. But if the bride follows the Wedding Day Tradition of the title, she would be female, therefore a financée. 😉
Rats. Perhaps I can use the typo to my advantage.
@WarwickDaisy
Words – 110
Jeweler/ Deserted Highway/ Fantasy
‘Trade Hazards’
Aqil grimaced as his first customer of the day parked their malodorous camel just inches from his display of shiny treasures.
“Good Afternoon! How can I help you?” he asked, whilst a troll with only three teeth dismounted the wretched, noxious smelling creature.
“I need to buy a genie,” the troll said.
“For?” Aqil wasn’t surprised, it was a fairly common request.
“Me want Herga to marry me,” grunted the troll.
“I see. Well, forget the genie.” Aqil said, holding out his most impressive diamond.
The troll cocked his head as the camel farted.
“Perfect!” he said, making a grab for it as Aqil clutched his throat and lost consciousness.
@danafaletti
Serial Killer/Wedding/Comedy
Words – 110
The Groom Gunner
“Here comes the bride, all fat and wide.” Tommy snickered, as his mom gave his ear a good yank.
Ow
“Smells like gunk in here,” he complained.
“Tommy, if you don’t shush your mouth, I’m gonna call the boogey man.”
Big whoop. The Boogey Man. That guy doesn’t make appearances at weddings.
Tommy shoved a fat finger inside his nose to dig for something more interesting than his cousin in the dumb white dress. Boring.
The moment he found the perfect booger, he heard someone scream.
“The groom gunner! Run!”
Near the altar was a masked guy in a baby blue tux, toting a big gun.
Crap! The Boogey Man!