Down and Dirty – 100 Word Flash Fiction

He should’ve returned by now.

Megan used her dirty t-shirt to rub the window pane. Outside, a wren struggled against the blustery wind. Overburdened clouds would soon spill torrents onto the parched landscape. She hadn’t seen anyone but him for months.

A rumble of thunder rolled across the valley. The smell of rain wafted into the tiny cabin through the open door. 

She lost time again. 

Flashes of memories taunted her. The realization shattered her mind into a million pieces. She collapsed onto the bloody bathroom floor.

While raindrops pattered on the shallow grave, an outstretched hand burst from the muck.

~~~

~~

Do you like cliffhangers, or do you prefer clear-cut endings?

Photo by Susie Lindau

For more 100 Word Flash Fiction stories check out Madison Wood’s blog here

95 thoughts on “Down and Dirty – 100 Word Flash Fiction”

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  2. Reading your post was just like someone jumping out at you and yelling–startling! Loved you title–it set the tone.

    BTW–thanks for visiting my site.

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  3. Very good! The atmostphere was set very well, and the action is crisply dealt with. Though perhaps not intended, I was amused by the fact that an unmentioned but definite flash appeared in the story, to add emphasis!

    Conclusive endings, and happy endings, are not easy to do in flash fiction. I believe a cliffhanging conclusion to be cheating, though. As a story rather than a serial, it should have an actual ending of some sort.

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  4. Very creepy indeed! I always try to put a cliffhanger in my short stories but I’m not sure if its more so that I can potentially revisit them at a later date and write an extended version. As a reader I love them, however if you are really attached to a character and invested alot of time in reading a novel it can be a little unsatisfying. Unless it’s set up for a sequel!

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    1. Exactly! Sometimes the story ends too soon and that can be just as bad. I have read some where the author took a ton of time in the beginning building up to the climax and then and rushed through the best part to the finish like he/she were under a deadline.
      Thanks Emma!

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  6. That really was down and dirty! LOL, got a good laugh out of the body coming out of the grave, but I’ll bet she wishes she’d done a better job next time….::shudder:: Creepy, really when I think about it, Susie.

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    1. I don’t know where this came from except that it was a cold dreary day here. I don’t think Megan is prepared for what happens next!! Whoa…
      Hahaha! Thanks Madison!

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  8. This is great. It leads me in several directions and then kind of tells me something, without telling it? Well, maybe that answers your question at the end of the post. I much prefer cliffhangers.

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    1. Thanks Cayman! I agree to wanting somethings left to my own interpretation. I don’t ever feel bad about leaving my flash fiction readers hanging when they have only invested one minute to read!
      I hope you’ll stop by again soon!

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  9. I’m glad I read this in daylight!! It would have given me nightmares:) And I love a more clear-cut ending.. so if you feel the urge to keep writing… Maybe you should begin a book?

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      1. I apologize, Susie. I am busy, but everybody’s busy, and it’s not a good reason. I think of you often.

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  12. I like that you give us snippets to go on, then kick back to see if we can figure out what’s going on. I have my theories, but I’ll keep ’em to myself for now. What I will say is if this is representative of your extended work, then I… am… intrigued.

    Regarding cliffhangers, I’m very fond of them and use them frequently. They’re a great way to keep your readers/viewers interested. Of course, a lot of their effectiveness depends on whether whether you can come up with a satisfying resolution. Assuming you want to resolve them.

    PS: While I haven’t entered this week I did last, but I’m sorry to say I never got to your entry. I’m heading there now but in the meantime, here’s mine from last week.
    http://jaykayel.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/breaking-the-surface-100-word-flash-fiction/

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    1. They just come off the top of my head. This one came from the mood in the chapter of the book I am finishing, but it isn’t about zombies. The nasty day added to he motivation behind the story as well. Thanks Jake!

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  17. So well realized. But. This really – really – needs a part two. 😀

    I usually love cliffhangers, I should say. Like anything, of course it depends how they’re done.

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  18. I like cliff hangers at the end of chapters, but I like to know what happens and have everything tied up at the end of a book. This is a great cliff hanger. Love your writing, Susie!

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