Moving on Up!

So I finally got chosen to be one of the finalists in the Flash Fiction competition.  This competition gives you a writing prompt then asks you to write 250 words either incorporating the prompt or based upon it.  This week, after the voting dust cleared, I was standing in 3rd place.  Not too bad in my mind, considering I was actually tied for 2nd, but of course ties go the first person to submit their entry...and that was not me  :(

Anyway, check out out the voting and the prompt (to get the context of the story).

Without further delay, here is my story:

All was dark except a steady flashing cursor in the upper corner of the screen. The right audio sensor, still online, could detect movement like footsteps heading off to the north. It was probably Flynn, but with his visual display still suffering the effects of the round, Avery had no way to be sure. His hand twitched as routine diagnostics began. With a flash his eyes came to life:

REBOOTING…


Core Processor          – ONLINE

Audio Sensors     (L) – OFFLINE
                            (R) – ONLINE

Visual Display          – ONLINE

Weapons System      – DISABLED

Avery slowly rose to his feet still getting his bearings. He could not understand why Flynn had made him participate in such a barbaric activity, but he was beginning to understand the emotion behind it. For the first time since he was created he was feeling anger,

…no even anger didn’t compute. This was rage!

He stared for a long time at the Weapons System prompt, vaguely recounting each component that was installed. He cycled through each item in the inventory till he found exactly what he was looking for. Never in his life cycle did he feel a need to use such archaic tools, but now as he eyed Flynn’s sandy imprints heading off into the woods he wanted nothing more than to taste each one’s power.

The display before him turned blood red.

Weapons System – ENGAGED

A Key to Murder

Here is another attempt at a short story contest, but this time for 750 words or less.  Didn't make the finals, but Rome wasn't built in a day either.  Hope you enjoy it and again, I would love to hear your comments.

Ron rubbed the back of his head trying to massage away the pain.  

What the heck, he thought, staring at the red goo on his hand.  

Bewildered and disoriented he began to do an inventory his possessions.  Franticly he began searching his coat pockets, then his pants, and finally his bag.  His house keys were no where to be found.  

Darn, he thought, where could I have left them.

He stopped and turned to head back to???  Oh yeah, the coffee shop.  Looking around as he entered the shop, his head dropped as he realized it wasn't there either.  

He opened his phone. There was a text from his wife - I have to stop by the house real quick before dinner.  See you at Tony's...order me a Long Island.  

He pressed the redial button and waited to hear his wife's sweet voice; something to overcome this chronic pain.

String Theory

Well this was my first attempt at Flash Fiction and I have to say I am a bit saddened that I didn't make it to the voting round.  Oh well, since you're here - take a look at the link above to get the context of the story, then read mine and leave comments on what you think.  Enjoy!

Todd arose with a start - chest aching from where Mandy had just jabbed it to awaken him from his snoring slumber. 

"Did you hear that," she whispered yet again.

"Huh...What! Hear what," Todd half stated half mumbled.

The shriek startled them both. Todd leaped from his bed and flew up the stairs.

Forging Ahead

Hello and welcome to the Story Teller's Forge! 

The birth of this blog is simply an attempt at getting my thoughts and ideas out there for others to read and review.  See...though I have been writing off and on since high school, the urge to really do anything with it has never been such that I felt a need to act.  Whether assignments for school / college or just free style poems and short stories, I continually received exceptional grades or compliments from teachers and friends...but in the end I didn't see this as a gift.  Now with 40 years behind me and a bit more life and wisdom to draw upon, I feel it is time to share a bit of the chaotic rants from this seasoned mind.  Hopefully you will find these stories, poems, and other artistic expressions enjoyable enough to frequent this site.  Feel free to share your views, critiques, and other words of wisdom.  Thanks for your time and enjoy the site!