Fiction Friday: [Bedtime Story]

[This week's Fiction Friday was my submission for Scene Stealers #25. Scene Stealers is a fun writing prompt exercise from Write to Done. They provide the first two sentences to be used as written, a specific writing exercise, and it can't be longer than 350 words. Click the link above if you want to give it a try. In the meantime...enjoy!]

 

Lightning flashed just as he reached the house. Had he been discovered?

Counting on the element of surprise, Charles scrutinized the front of the house. Blinds drawn and curtains unmoving, he was satisfied that the plan was still a go. 

He crept up the stairs of the wooden porch and paused to listen at the front door. The sound of distant thunder served as cover while he worked the lock. Easing through the threshold, he was momentarily mesmerized by the long shadows stretching and dancing around the entry from the flickering candles. 

The rest of the first floor was blanketed in darkness from the power outage and he could hear her soft tones wafting toward him from upstairs. Hands behind his back, he tiptoed his way to the second floor. Her soft s’s and muffled notes forming solid words as he drew closer. Standing outside the door he heard her reading a story to the children. 

They have no idea what’s coming, he thought. 

He pushed the door open and his ears filled with satisfying screams and his eyes relished in their startled expressions. 

“Don’t move,” he said. “Stay right where you are.” 

They did as they were told and it was easy to see their hearts beating wildly in their chests. It took everything in him to suppress the smile fighting its way to the surface. 

He pulled his hand from behind his back for the big reveal and they screamed. Just like he knew they would. 

“Puppy!” the twins squealed in unison. 

His wife, on the other hand, seemed less than thrilled.

Perhaps he should’ve limited the element of surprise to the kids.  

[Scene Stealers #25 exercise = Plot Twist]

Fiction Friday: [Disobedience]

[This week's Fiction Friday was my submission for Scene Stealers #22. Scene Stealers is a fun writing prompt from Write to Done where they provide the first two sentences and limit your word count to 350. Enjoy!]

 

It was pitch dark outside, and driving at night made me nervous, but I picked up the car keys anyway. I opened the door – and stepped into blinding sunshine.  

After almost getting caught last time, Aunt Flora made me promise to never use my powers again. But, what choice did I have now that she was in danger? Especially when my using them was what put her there.

I shrugged at the neighbors pouring out of their homes as if I were just as confused as they were. Hands used as visors, they craned their necks upward as if they’d be able to see why the sun was in its noon time position at 9 o’clock at night.

With no time to dwell, I jumped into Flora’s car and turned the key. Resting my hands on the steering wheel, I closed my eyes. My thoughts zigzagged at the speed of light down a straightaway anchored with flashes of color whizzing by on either side. 

As the vision slowed, the edges took shape. The dock. A warehouse. Flora was tied to a chair and gagged. Her eyes focused straight ahead, unblinking. She was trying to tell me something, but I was too far away to hear. 

Throwing the car into reverse, I peeled out of the driveway. As I drew closer to the docks I could feel Flora in my head.  The words weren’t clear, but her feelings were. She was worried. 

I eased the car to a stop on the outskirts of the mammoth warehouses lining the water. Opening the door, my mind swirled at a dizzying pace. 

It’s a trap mija. Do not try to save me. It’s a trap, mija. Do not try to save me…

Flora! Her voice was such a welcome relief despite her words.

Fortunately for her, I was known to be stubborn. Unfortunately, for her captors, there wasn’t a trap built stronger than the bond of family. I made my way toward her prison, preparing myself for the lecture Aunt Flora was sure to give me for disobeying her…again.