Second Campaigner Challenge: The Nova

I'm posting twice today because this is important. hehe

I've been participating in the I'm a Platform-Building Campaigner Challenge hosted by Rachael Harrie. She opened up her Second Campaigner Challenge. For it, I've written a 200 word flash fiction using Prompt 5 (the picture above my flash fiction). And I wrote it in a genre not my own. Sadly, I missed the first challenge, yet still posted what I wrote for it after the challenge closed. You can find it here.

Anyway, for the rules, click on this link (the rules are lengthy--easier to have you find them through the link). :D

The contest closes on Friday, March 9, 2012 at 11:59PM. Feel free to like mine on the linky list. I'm #54!

Without further explanation, here's my flash fiction:

The Nova by Julia King

 

The drug seeped into my human veins. My thoughts relaxed into The Nova. It swirled with shades of amber, crimson, and sage. After waiting thousands of years in multiple life-forms, my last reincarnation allotted me rest in this blissful heaven.

For some reason, the misted form of The Nova disappeared. My desire to reach this existence dissolved into blackness. Panic rose and made me quake. I exerted all my power to bring the peaceful whirls of light back, but nothing happened.

With a rush of adrenaline, my eyes flicked open, back in human flesh.

“What’s happening?” I howled at the doctors, as the heart I never wanted to feel again rammed against my chest.

His face spread with guile. “Since you’ve been to The Nova, your intelligence carries its force. Fueled by all those who die, we, your gods have the power to go back.”  

“You lied!” Angry tears flowed from my eyes.

With brute force, the other doctor dug a syringe into the flesh of my arm, stinging me with heavy, hot fluid.

“Goodbye, River. You’re no longer needed.”

My intelligence drifted into the air, being breathed in by the doctors.

No rest in The Nova. No thought. Gone…

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Good luck to all who enter! *hugs* Check out what they've written, too!

Writing. Jewels.





And The Winner Is... Flash Fiction Style

I hosted my very first Flash Fiction Contest. To sweeten the deal, I'm giving away a $25 Amazon.com gift card. It's time to announce the winner and share their flash fiction with you.

I enjoyed reading them all and appreciate those who entered. You all did a fabulous job and are talented writers. Unfortunetely, I can only choose one person.

So the winner is...

Patricia Marquez 

Congrats!!! I'll contact you with details on how you'll get the gift card.

This short story seaped into my blood, causing my chest to become heavy and my breath to slow. I felt like the world had faded away, leaving me alone in the thick of the words.

Without further adieu, I share it here:

Hunter's Moon by Patricia Marquez

Once upon a time the citadel had been a place of life. High marble arches, winding roads filled with stalls and every fruit under the sun a sweet scent in the air. The cherry blossom trees had peeked from above the tall walls that sealed its citizens safely within.

But the Hunter's moon changed all of that.
 

They'd watched their protector, the knights. They'd all been lined up along the great wall, ready to become the final barrier into their city, if she didn't make it.

But it was all for show. If it got past her, that would be it. The end. They knew it. She knew it.

Her cape, the vermillion that only one of her station wore, had covered her small frame. As always, she looked deceptively small, vulnerable even. But not her companions. They stood at her side, yellow eyes and snarling mouths, tamed by nothing but a touch of her hand, bodies alert and waiting just like Little Red.

Under the moon, a pale, pearl like globe in the night, the Shadow had stretched up and up, covering the forest in black, determined this time, to finally wipe out the spark of wilful strength that defeated it over and over.

But not tonight.

It was under the Hunter's moon that Little Red and her army walked into the shadowy lines of the trees, her head held high, wisps of golden hair escaping her hood. Her most trusted friend was at her side, always at her side, predatory tread matched to her steps, the others following just a little behind.

That was the night Little Red didn't return from the battle.

That was the night the darkness hooked her heart, a sinuous thread of poisonous malediction that infected her.

And Little Red said yes.

________________________________________________________________

Congrats again! Patricia, I will contact you shortly!

Writing. Jewels.

Belated Campaign Challenge Flash Fiction

Last week, Rachael Harrie, the host of I'm a Platform-Building Campaigner, gave us a challenge to write a flash fiction under 200 words starting with "Shadows crept across the wall..." Last week was super busy for me. Thus, I didn't know about it until it was a day too late to enter.

Well, I wrote one anyway. It's a few words over 200 but close enough. Enjoy!

A Father's Love
by Julia King

Shadows crept across the wall as she crouched, awaiting her father’s return. She’d been there two weeks now, trying not to let anxiety overcome her. But it had set in after five days. They needed food so he left, hugging her tight, saying he loved her more than anything in the world.

But the world had changed. No one was safe anymore, least of all healthy men like her father. Even though he was on the emaciated side, he could still fight if he were caught. Inside, she knew he was gone—a machete in his hand to slaughter the enemy, if not the enemy himself. Years before an epidemic infected the land driving some people insane—cannibalistic.

He’d told her if he wasn’t back in two weeks she should leave. It was time. She picked up her scant belongings and trudged out of their hiding spot. Upon leaving the alleyway, she tripped over something. Picking herself up and dusting off her pants, she found her father’s zombified form holding a knife, a jagged slit across his bloodied throat.  

He’d killed himself to save her, humanity still a part of him in some way. Tears trickled from her horrified eyes. She was alone now. But her father’s love would carry her through whatever lay ahead. 

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Creepy, huh? I hope you don't have to sleep with the lights on tonight... 

PS: Don't forget to enter my flash fiction contest to have a chance to win a $25 Amazon.com gift card. The contest ends today, Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 5:00PM MST. For more information, follow this link.

Writing. Jewels.