Every Wednesday we get a new picture prompt for the Friday Fictioneers, a writing challenge graciously hosted by our Fairy Blog Mother Rochelle Wisoff-Fields.
The task of the challenge is to write a story: beginning, middle, and end, in 100 words or less. You can find all the Fictioneers’ stories when you click on the Froggy. Please read, comment, and if you like, join the fun. Everyone is welcome.
Image © Dale Rogerson Used with permission for this Friday Fictioneers Challenge only. Any other use of this image requires Dale’s permission.
Whispers
Glass is an integral part of many fairy tales and legends. Glass slippers, scrying mirrors, portals into other worlds—naturally I dismissed these as stories for children or the simple-minded.
Then she began whispering to me from inside the mirror. Her words were evil, and addictive. I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t eat, and I couldn’t stop thinking about them.
“It will stop when you set me free,” she said.
I broke the mirror.
Last night twenty-one bloodless corpses were found in the woods.
Today I woke up with blood-stained hands.
I must get that mirror fixed. Maybe tape will help.
(100 words)
I’m cheerful, I’m cheerful… I just can’t seem to come up with cheerful stories.
Chilling! I love what you did with the prompt! Broken mirrors have such creepy connotations, where suddenly your reflection is scattered in all directions: I can see why they inspire so many spooky stories.
And I know what you mean, sometimes the most depressing or sinister or sad stories come of out me even though I’m feeling perfectly fine in real life. The story just wanted to come out that way!
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You were commenting faster than I could adjust my header image, LOL. I’m not usually online during the week, but I got some spare GB to spend, so here I am…
Thank you, I love that you find it chilling. And other than my protagonist, I do love fairy tales, especially the glass mountains and mirrors. I must be one of the simple-minded. 😉
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If so, then that’s my favorite type of “minded”!
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Oh… methinks she is in deeper trouble than she can imagine and no amount of tape will save her…
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Thank you Dale, I’m afraid you’re right. 🙂 And thank you for that interesting picture.
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You are most welcome… for both!
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Wow! A whooping shiver went through me. Not only is it a clever tale, with how you’ve arranged that final line. It’s also strong in its style. Compelling. I triple like it. 🙂
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Thank you! Your comment makes me grin from ear to ear. 🙂
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Mind you don’t get cramp! 🙂
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Now that was chilling! Nice take on the photo prompt. 🙂
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thank you! I’m glad you were chilled. 🙂
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Goodness! A blood-soaked chiller!
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Bloody chiller-killer, yup. 🙂 Thank you Iain.
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Oh, I love this!!! Creepy and very smart. Well done.
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Thank you Alicia. I’m glad you liked it.
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You built the tension perfectly in this. Well done.
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Thank you.
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Tape? Too little, too late, methinks. Nice one!
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Thank you. That mirror should never have been broken, but in hindsight we’re always smarter. 😀
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Oh dear. Now what? Clever little story.
(Scrying is new to me. Thank you.)
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Trying to stuff the evil spirit back into the mirror, or there will be more bodies. Where is the police? I’ve learned the word recently, too.
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Twenty-one corpses? She’s been busy. Chilling story.
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Yes she has. I’m glad you found it chilling. 😉 Thank you.
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i guess she’s doomed. once broken it can no longer be unbroken.
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I’m afraid you’re right. Thank you.
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Brrrrr! Shivering here, terrific tale!
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Heh. In this context, shiver is good. 🙂 Thank you.
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Holy heck this is fabulous. Love this piece !
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I’m glad you do. Thank you. 🙂
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Brrrrr. … I am not so sure tape will suffice … garlic, perhaps? 😉
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You may be right about the tape, but I doubt garlic will help much. She isn’t a vampire, more of an evil mirror spirit. 🙂 Thank you.
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Oh well. I thought perhaps even evil mirror spirits don’t like garlic breath … 😉
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Perhaps you’re onto something here… 😀
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🙂 If all else fails, Halitosis! 🙂
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You solved the problem. 😀
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21 corpses? She’s in huge trouble it seems
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🙂 Looks like it, yes. Thank you.
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Dear Gabi,
Chilling tale. This doesn’t bode well for her. Love your descriptions.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle, I’m glad you like it. Thank you.
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Wash those hands before someone sees them!
Click to read my FriFic tale!
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That would be the first step. 🙂 Thank you.
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Oh I don’t think she can put the fiend back in the mirror with a bit of tape. This is going to get nastier than it already is
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I bet it does. But tape is the only thing she can think of. Thank you.
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This was super good – loved it!!
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I’m glad you think so. Thank you.
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Oooh now this is a suspenseful start to a thrilling story! I’d love to read more and find out the truth behind the voice.
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Some kind of mirror evil spirit. 🙂 Thank you.
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Who needs cheerful when you can have plenty of dark? Oooo I loved this!
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I usually don’t write quite as dark, I like a bit of hope. But of late, I find going darker is fun, too. Thank you.
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That was so good. Chilling. In a lot of ways I like that it’s only 100 words but I also want to know more.
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Thank you for your kind words. I think it could go many ways.
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Oh, what has she unleashed! Some demon that was residing in the mirror! Quick, the tape please!
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Yes exactly. 🙂 Let’s hope the tape helps. Thank you.
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Creepy. One should never listen to whispering mirrors – no good ever comes of it. I think she’s going to need more than tape here.
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Absolutely. Mirror whispers are suspicious. 🙂 Thank you.
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A great take on the prompt!
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Thank you.
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So creepy! Something tells me that tape is no match for whatever evil has been unleashed here.
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I think something tells you right. 🙂 Thank you.
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I think she need something way stronger than duct-tape… lot’s at “stake” with those without reflections caught on the wrong side of the mirror.
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Thank you. Heh, “at stake”. You’re the second commenter who refers to vampires… and they do indeed have a connection to mirrors, I forgot about that. Hmmmm….
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I fear she has contracted a case of multiple personalities–and all of them evil. Scary tale.
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I’m glad you found it scary, I would have been scared if you had found it funny. 🙂 Thank you Russell.
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Oh dear, a kind of Jeklly and Hyde and evil spirits going on here. Chilling. By the way, I love your header image. Gorgeous, pensive cat!
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All my header images are from pixabay, yes I love that cat, too. Thank you for your kind words.
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Ha! I’m the same as you – I’m a happy person, honestly, it’s just the stories of mine … Love your sinister twist on the image Gabi. Something wicked this way comes 😉
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Dark stuff is always intriguing to write, I find. It’s fun. Thank you Lynn.
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My pleasure
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Holy Crap (lol)
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Heheheh. Thank you.
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Gah! Gory, scary take. Fascinating! And I know what you mean. People are always so surprised when I come up with something from the darker side. I guess that’s a good thing, though, really. I wouldn’t want people to think, “Well, yup, that’s just who she is. Dark and bloody!”
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Thank you Linda. Yes, writers have to be able to twist to all sides, I think, it’s half the fun. As long as no one who reads the murder plots and horrible deeds we describe in first person takes them serisouly… :O
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