I.
Joanne finished typing the last line of tomorrow’s post, saved it, and closed her lap top. She rose from her desk in the now empty office. So seldom was she ever there alone with only the quiet humming of the overhead air filtration system.
The lighting seemed queer tonight, shining a pale shade of green. She nervously looked over her shoulder while waiting at the elevator. When it arrived, she entered. As the doors began to close, a hand gripped one side of the door and it reopened. The blonde handsome man towered over her with a knife and lunged.
II.
Springing up from her sound sleep, the rolling chair banged the cubicle wall behind her. “What a nightmare!” She gazed around the empty office, grabbed her laptop, and headed for the elevator. She took a deep breath when the door closed behind her. She entered the basement parking lot and sprinted to her car. Once inside she locked the doors and drove home.
Her black Labrador Rex laid down outside the shower while she soaped up. She heard him growl and then bolt out of the bathroom. “Is someone there?” Searching for a weapon, only shampoo bottles lined the shelf.
III.
He crept up the stairs, hearing the water pounding in the shower. He smiled knowing she wouldn’t see him enter. He took care of the dog and then stepped onto the tile floor.
Her mind flashed to the movie Psycho. She tried to keep looking through the glass shower door as she rinsed off and couldn’t help visualizing Rex lying in a pool of blood. She stepped out of the shower, swung around, and gasped.
Her husband Richard handed her a bouquet of white roses. “Congratulations! Sliced made the best seller list! We’re celebrating!”
“I need a vacation,” thought Joanne.
Have you ever woken up from a dream that completely unhinged you?
Have you ever dreamt you were running away, but your legs felt as though they were under water?
Hi Susie,
Your use of the dream taps an experience common to us all. How many times have we ignored one only to have it come true down the road?
And were I to look, would I find a stilletto among your shampoo bottles from this point on?
Nice story. Loved the roses.
Aloha, D.
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Thanks Doug! Yep I have a red stiletto at the ready!
Now that I see the Aloha I make the connection! Welcome to WP! I really enjoyed your flash fiction too!
My story is really based in fact. The other night I got completely creeped out in the shower when my dog ran out of the bathroom. My husband was out. Of course my imagination went wild!!!
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You’re welcome, Susie. And thanks for including me in the #FlashFriday fold. I look forward to reading more of your work.
A Hui Hou,
D.
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Haha, as soon as I saw the shower photo, I thought ‘Psycho’. I’d have to start locking my bathroom doors if that ever happened to me.
Great story! I like how you do various viewpoints of the same scene like that.
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Thank you!
I have been finding that it adds drama to a short story with only a few words….
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Can’t go wrong with a scary shower scene! I really enjoy your different points of view, and especially liked the ending!
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Thanks Jan! I wanted a happy ending on this one, but still include a twist!!
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Nice story, I like how you have it in parts like that. Def thought of the Psycho shower scene.
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Thanks JJ! I just tweeted you! Thanks for stopping by.
I actually had thoughts of Psycho the other night when my dog started freaking out and I was in the shower…Hahaha!
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I like that ending! Didn’t see it coming. LOL
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Thanks Sonia! I was determined not to be so dark this week so I gave it a “light” twist!
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I like the way this is put together and really enjoyed he twists.
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Thanks Tim! I am glad you came be to read!!
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Heh, wasn’t expecting a man with a knife to be in the elevator!
“He took care of the dog…”
I was both sad and worried for a second, haha. Nice twist ending.
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Thanks Tiyana! I missed your flash today! I will be gone tomorrow, but will check when I am back!
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Very good, you had me fooled there! I liked the way you split the flash up into 3 100 word section, it worked very well. Great twist at the end that had me laughing out loud.
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Thanks Helen!
My mind works just like that. I hear a noise at night and if I am home alone I start freaking out. Especially f I have seen a scary movie or have been writing a scary scene! Hahaha!
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The only thing that may be scarier than this story is the real-life ‘Psycho’ moment that inspired it! Yikes!
Great story (as usual)!
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Thanks John! I will check your out too!
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“He took care of the dog”
You had me fooled…
I thought he really did… ‘take care’ of him. 🙂
Lovely writing.
Have a nice weekend!
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Thank you Lilith for reading. I am glad I fooled you! I think he put the dog away so he could surprise her. Good thing she wasn’t armed with her own weapon! Hahaha!
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Loved the twist! The “Psycho” music was already playing in my head. 🙂
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Thanks Diane!! I am so glad you came by! I will check out your blog….
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“Took care of the dog” — nice! And yes, I’ve had some very unsettling dreams. I wrote about one here: http://wp.me/pVu4P-YI
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Thanks for stopping by to read Laura! Dreams can seem so frighteningly real.
I just posted another similar 125 word flash…
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Pingback: Ice Sculptured – 170 Word Flash Fiction | Susie Lindau's Wild Ride
Oh, yes, I’ve had dreams like that. But my main reaction is that it’s just as well she couldn’t find anything in the shower to use as a weapon!
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Exactly! Creepy though…
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Thanks for reading it by the way!
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