Megan glanced out the window pane at a wren struggling against the blustery wind. Over-burdened clouds would soon spill their contents onto the parched landscape. A rumble of thunder rolled across the valley. Its vibration could be felt deep inside her. The smell of rain and mildew wafted into the tiny cabin. He should be back soon.
As Megan wiped up the bathroom, flashes of memories began taunting her. The realization shattered her mind into a million little pieces and she collapsed onto the bloody 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
Susie Lindau's Wild Ride 
You are so good with flash frictions Susie they are just awesome and such delighful reads
Love cliffhangers they keep you guessing wanting more
love n hugs 🙂
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Thanks Soma! I am so glad you have enjoyed them.
I am watching this video for about the 10th time!
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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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Hey! Thanks so much VL! I am so glad it surprised you. I always try to include a twist in my Friday Flash. I hope you will stop by again soon!
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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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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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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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I had a completely different story in mind when I read the title. Very spooky, and lots more story to tell with that one! Good one!
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It is such a BAD pun Jan, but I just couldn’t help myself once I thought of it! Hahaha!
Thanks Jan!
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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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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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Oh, I love a good cliffhanger–and flash fiction is an excellent place to play with it! Well done, you. 🙂
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Thanks Kathryn! It’s good to see you.
I do too especially with a little twist and a “what?!!”
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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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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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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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I am almost finished with a paranormal fiction. Hopefully it will be out by late summer!
Thanks Smidgen!
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Very cool!!
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What the hell happened to Megan?
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I don’t think life was very pretty before or after this scene for poor Megan.
Thanks for stopping by Ted~
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I kind of got that impression…
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a wren struggling against the blustery wind.
I like that very much.
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Thanks Ray! I haven’t seen you much lately…You must be a busy man.
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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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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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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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Awesome work, Susie! Very cool balance between cool and creepy!
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Thanks Hook! I love writing creepy stories. I found my inner Mary Shelley with this one…
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Here’s my effort susielindau… I even added a cliffhanger just for you…
http://tedeley.wordpress.com/2012/03/04/friday-fictioneers-1-semi-precious-gememoirs/
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There is a brand new award in the blogosphere and I have just nominated you to be among the first to receive it! Congratulations on receiving the Creative Chaos Award! Check it out here: http://onemindmanydetours.wordpress.com/2012/03/04/check-this-out-creative-chaos-award/
Enjoy and have fun!
-Cindy
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Hmmm could this be Megan: ” a wren struggling against the blustery wind”?
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Hahaha! You got it!
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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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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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Thanks Lynn!
I am trying to get my nerve up to write something a little more sexy since I am at that point in my book….we’ll see if I dare press “publish.”
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You must…
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Wow, I just came across your blog in a search for 100-word flash to see what’s out there nowadays! I’ve been posting my old stories to my new fiction website at ruralfantasy.com. Are you still writing any 100-word stories? I need to link to you as one of the founding members of our old FF group in my reminiscing write up on it.
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Ha! Great to “see” you, Madison! I’m not writing flash fiction anymore, but lots of other Wild stories. Thanks for the linkage! I’ll check out your site. 🙂
Hope all is well!
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