The branches whipped my arms, legs, and face but still I ran. Glancing behind, side to side. Dark, so dark. Run! I slammed suddenly into the ground, shooting pain, my breath forcefully expelled. Gasping for air, panic growing, I tried to rise but was snared by the roots of a fallen tree. Sliding my hands down my leg I began feeling for the breaks in the roots, tugging and twisting to free myself. The pounding of my heart was deafening. Quiet! Closing my eyes I strained to take slow breaths. Hide! Crawling behind the root ball I wrapped my tunic around my curled body. I reached to my pocket grasping the round, glass flask. Still there. Not broken. Working it free I cradled it in my shaking palms mesmerized by the white, shimmering, iridescent liquid. Drink! I removed the stopper and inhaled a waft of the sweet-scent. As I lifted the unicorn milk to my lips, the wood nymph appeared. “It won’t bring your child back to you, my Queen.” Shaking, tears sliding down my eyes. “Not to me, but it will bring him back and break the curse.” “There is a cost.” “A willing sacrifice, please keep him safe.” Quickly, one, two, three swallows. As my spirit drifted away, I heard the wail of my son and the King’s voice, “Here!” I watched as he fell to his knees and pulled our son from behind the roots of the fallen tree wrapped in his mother’s tunic. This is my first round submission for the 250-word NYC Midnight Microfiction Challenge 2021. My assigned genre was Fairytale/Fantasy, action was drinking milk and the word was heart. I placed 8th in my group and was able to move on to round 2.
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The case was long closed but he never stopped searching. This was the one stuck in his craw. Finally retired, it became an obsession. On this tiny Bahaman Island, a weathered old boat perched atop the roof of The Absent Skiff. He laughed, “Hiding in plain sight.” The boat was reported missing the same night of the disappearance. It never turned up; no connection was ever made. He entered taking a slow look around. Locals, not too crowded, the type of place a stranger would stick out, like him. Three burly men stationed around the perimeter. Seemed excessive. He seated himself at the bar. He’d wait. She materialized behind the bar, eyes on him as she deliberately made her way over. “It’s nice to finally meet you Victoria James.” “I’m Marina,” her eyes held his. He passed her a picture, “This is Victoria and Vincent James. They went missing in Miami long ago. Never heard from again. He was worth a fortune, evidence pointed to him running from a gambling debt; he fled with his daughter.” “Interesting story,” she was placing an umbrella into a glass of blue-black liquid. “Where’s your father, Victoria?” “He went fishing for marlin. Have you ever?” I shook my head. “You can join him tomorrow. Have a drink,” she handed him the glass, lifting her own, “Cheers.” He took a long swig. “Not bad. What’s it called?” “Morte della notte, my specialty; and my name is Marina, Detective Mueller.” This was my second round submission for the 250-word NYC Midnight Microfiction Challenge 2019. My assigned genre was Suspense and/or Thriller, action was using an umbrella and the word was absent. I didn't place within the top 5 in my group and therefore didn't make it into the final round.
He paused seeing her lying under the old oak. She closed her eyes and blew the seeds off a dandelion. He smiled. “Mac, what do you say we meet a pretty lady today?” With that he launched the tennis ball and with horror watched as it smacked right into her face. One hundred pounds of gentle giant was off. “Mac, NO!” The muddy-pawed Burnese bulldozed over the top of her, grabbed the ball, and proudly sauntered back dropping it as his feet. There was nowhere to hide. “I’m sorry that one got away from us.” She started laughing, her yellow dress covered in mud, holding the side of her reddened face. “The dandelion….what did you wish for?” With a look of surprise, “A dog. I didn’t think a human would be part of the bargain.” This was my first round submission for the 250-word NYC Midnight Microfiction Challenge 2019. My assigned genre was Romantic Comedy, action was making a wish and the word was bargain. I placed 4th in this group and was able to move on to round two.
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