Last Ten FLASHSHOTS

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LAST TEN FLASHSHOTS

ASHES TO ASHES
By A. W. Gifford

Thud. Thud. Thud.

The sound repeats; the heartbeat of a giant.

Thud. Thud.

The air is thick and damp, smelling of decaying earth. Opening my eyes, I find only darkness.

Thud.

Trying to sit up, I bang my head just a few inches above the pillow. I feel around, then realize I’m lying in a narrow box lined with silk.

I pound with my fists as hard as I can, but the limited space keeps me from making much noise.

The giant’s heartbeat has stopped. I scream, but I doubt that anyone will me, not through six feet of dirt.
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A. W. Gifford is the current President of the Great Lakes Association of Horror Writers and the editor of the group’s dark fiction magazine Ghostlight. Both can be found at www.greatlakeshorror.com
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© 2010 A. W. Gifford

Dark Worlds #1-4 now on sale http://www.lulu.com/ragemachinebooks featuring J. F. Gonzalez, Justin Gustainis, Joshua Reynolds, Joel Jenkins, Derrick Ferguson, Ken Goldman, C. J. Burch and Jack Mackenzie. New issue Summer 2010.

PESTS
By Hal Kempka

“The rats returned,” Lola said.

“When ?” Mickey asked.

“A couple of days ago.”

“I don’t understand ,” Mickey replied. “We’ve tried almost everything; including poison.”

“What now?”

Mickey grabbed his shotgun, and trudged upstairs. Lola heard two shots. Mickey returned, smiling.

“It’s done,” he said. “You’re no-good brother and sister-in-law won’t bother us anymore.”
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Hal’s stories have been published in magazines and ezines such as Fiction Flyer, Flashshot, Dark and Dreary, Twisted Dreams, Flashshot, Flashes in the Dark, Microhorror, Long Story Short, Shine Journal, and Black Petals, as well as The Beaches of Belmont anthology. A number of his Flash Fiction stories are currently scheduled for 2010 publication in Ascent Aspirations, Black Lantern, Twisted Dreams, Blood Moon Rising, and 52 Stitches. He is a former Marine and Vietnam veteran, and live in Highland, California with my wife and son.
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© 2010 Hal Kempka

Now on sale! NO GHOSTS NEED APPLY - Fantastic Mysteries, fourteen stories selected by G. W. Thomas and featuring A. Conan Doyle, Grant Allen, Anna Katharine Green and many others. Available in paperback and hard cover. http://www.lulu.com/ragemachinebooks

PIZZA GUY
By Pavelle Wesser

The doorbell rang and the thing raised its bulk off the couch.

“Who is it?” the thing asked, though it already knew.

“Pizza guy,” came the tired voice on the other side.

The thing opened the door and the pizza guy screamed.

“It’s too late,” said the thing, opening its cavernous mouth and sucking down the delivery boy.

The thing belched and sat back down to watch the evening news. In spite of suffering a touch of digestion, it had to admit that ever since the pizzeria had opened down the block, life had become so much easier.
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Pavelle Wesser is a previous contributor of Flashshot. Her writing has appeared in various ezines, such as Alienskin and Sonar4. While she writes mostly horror and science fiction, she is open to reading pretty much anything. Originally from New York City, she currently resides in New England with her family.
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© 2010 Pavelle Wesser

In the tradition of Lin Carter's FLASHING SWORDS--on sale in trade paperback! SWORDS OF FIRE, four Sword & Sorcery novellas by David A. Hardy, C. J. Burch, Jack Mackenzie and G. W. Thomas. Cover and illustrations by M. D. Jackson. http://www.lulu.com/ragemachinebooks

ADOPTION
By Liz Haigh

I’ve decided they’ll be better off with someone else.

I’m sure there’s a wonderful family out there who can handle them much better. I’ve run out of patience.

Last Sunday they complained I put too many peas on their plates. This Sunday I gave them one spoonful each and they accused me of trying to starve them to death.

When I talk, they never listen, so I keep quiet, then they complain I never tell them anything.

I thought it’d get easier as I get older but it hasn’t.

The decision’s made. I’m putting my parents up for adoption.
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Liz Haigh lives in the UK. She writes to escape. What she is escaping from she is unsure. She has had work published in, The Legendary, Linnet’s Wings, Foundling Review, Blink, Bewildering Stories, Delivered and other places.
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© 2010 Liz Haigh

KINGS OF THE NIGHT a free webzine of Sword & Sorcery fiction, featuring a new story "Easy Money" by Greg Hall. http://www.gwthomas.org/kingsofthenight.htm

BOY FIEND
By Matt Larsen

Aaron and Monica were drifting apart even before the zombie apocalypse. When Aaron was bitten, conversation took a nosedive:

"How was your day?"

"Braaaains."

Zombie activists dulled his teeth and made Monica special suits from her cloned organs, letting him gum her to satisfaction.

Still, she ended it when she came home to find Aaron's teeth smashed into sharp points, in the kitchen gnawing on a blonde in a tube top.

"What's she got that I don't?"

"Braaaains?" Aaron innocently nibbled an organ at Monica's bicep.

She sighed. "This is what happens when you wear your heart on your sleeve."
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Matt Larsen is a writer and performer whose work has been published previously in Flashshot, Sonar 4, Golden Visions, Static Movement and With Painted Words. He can be seen on stage with improv juggernaut International Stinger. His most recent work, his daughter Simone, arrived November of 2009 and can be seen in limited edition in the Chicago area. Look for him online at http://larsenopolis.blogspot.com/
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© 2010 Matt Larsen

THE COLD PHENOMENON
By BJ Bourg

“Why’s it so cold?” asked Buddy.

“On January 24th, 2010 at about 9:20 PM our instruments indicated a rapid reduction in temperature down here. It could be instantaneous global cooling.”

Buddy and the scientist stepped from the shuttle. Buddy gasped when he saw the body. “Is that…?”

The scientist nodded.

“Is he dead?”

“He’s solid ice. I wonder what happened.”

Realization set in as Buddy surveyed the bodies of Satan and his demons. “People always said hell would freeze over if the Saints made it to the Super Bowl…I guess they were right.”
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BJ Bourg wishes Buddy D had been there to witness the amazing phenomenon called the “2009 - 2010 New Orleans Saints”. This is dedicated to his memory.
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© 2010 BJ Bourg

IN HELL
By Jerry Gaither

Jacks was crouched on the floor, holding the gleaming Sword of the Angels as Demons approached, bodies distorting with sickening pops. He trembled as Lucifer, approached. The sword twitched in anticipation in his hand, ready for demonic flesh.

“Jacks, it doesn’t have to be like this. Just give me the sword…willingly…and you can be done with this foolish quest. The Angels shouldn’t have recruited you, a mere boy, to do their dirty work.”

Lucifer whispered, “Give it to me.”

“No!” He swung the sword.

And smiled as the darkness left.

He heard the echoing whisper.

“This isn’t over, boy.”
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Jerry Gaither is a Christian author who writes horror, sci-fi and any other genre he can get away with. He is online at http://jerrywgaither.tripod.com. He also practically lives on Facebook.
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© 2010 Jerry Gaither

WUXNID THE MAGNIFICENT
By Francis W. Alexander

"Get a real job! You stink!"

"And now ladies and gentlemen," Wuxnid the Magnificent proclaimed. "I shall put the next subject in two places at the same time."

"With your mom and grandma!" the heckler shouted.

Wuxnid clasped hands and looked around the room. "Who'll volunteer?"

"Well, loser," the heckler shouted, "Pick someone!"

"How bout you sir," Wuxnid pointed at him.

"Ok." The heckler stood and walked towards the stage, determined to show up the magician.

"Bilocate," Wuxnid commanded.

The heckler stood simultaneously on stage and in the aisle wandering aimlessly as he tried to decide which body to inhabit.
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Last year Francis Wesley Alexander’s poems were nominated and included in the Dwarf Stars and Rhysling Anthologies. Sometimes he wishes he could be in more than one place at the same time. He’d get more done that way.
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© 2010 Francis W. Alexander

KINGS OF THE NIGHT a free webzine of Sword & Sorcery fiction, featuring a new story "Easy Money" by Greg Hall. http://www.gwthomas.org/kingsofthenight.htm

TIME FOR TWO PIECE LOIN CLOTH WITH SLEEVES
By Mike Whitney

The velvet storm front moved across the sky, crushing the sunlight like cream cheese in a mixing bowl when chocolate is beaten in. Mongo looked up at the fudge sky as the locomotive wind roared in his face.

Behind it, he heard laughter. He stood on the promontory with unlimited expanses of valley and mountains beyond. When the wind died down, he headed back to the cave.

The wind began to howl. Bev sidled nervously to Mongo's side and they bent together over the fire while the storm outside raged.

"Mongo hate winter," rubbing his bare arms.

"Yes, dear."
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Mike Whitney was born in Chicago. He lives on a hillside in western North Carolina with only implanted memories of how he got there. http://mysite.verizon.net/earth2mongo/
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© 2010 Mike Whitney

MEAT ME AT NINE
By Eugene Gramelis

Dean was supposed to meet her by the abandoned abattoir.

“No later than nine,” Elisha had warned. “Or I might change my mind.”

He was careful to delete her number from his call-log. If his wife saw it she might ask questions.

Elisha wanted a ghost tour; he had other things in mind: “Only if you promise to wear that skimpy strapless you wore at the office Christmas party.”

On arrival, he found a blood-soaked dress on the floor.

His wife emerged from the shadows, pointing a .44 at him. She motioned toward a rusty, old meat-packing machine: “You’re next.”
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Eugene Gramelis is a barrister and dark fiction writer from Sydney, Australia, where he lives with his beautiful wife and two gorgeous daughters. His fiction has appeared, or is scheduled to appear, in publications such as Crime and Suspense Magazine, Flashes in the Dark, The Daily Tourniquet, Midnight Echo, AfterburnSF, House of Horror, The New Flesh and Twisted Tongue Magazine. Eugene invites you to walk with him and explore his blog site at http://gramelis.blogspot.com.
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© 2010 Eugene Gramelis

THERE’S NO CURE FOR THAT
By Diane M. Davis

Wanda gasped as another pain squeezed her pelvis.

“It started this morning?” the doctor asked, probing her distended belly.

“Yes.”

“Any tenderness in your breasts?”

“Yes, but I thought menopause—”

“Last period?”

“December. Why?”

A gush of fluid burst from between Wanda’s legs.

“You’re having a baby.”

“What?” She shot upright, but pain flattened her to the gurney again. “I’m fifty-three! And a grandma!”

“It happens.”

“What do I tell Hank?”

“Congratulations?”

“How about ‘surprise’?” the nurse suggested.
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Diane is a middle aged mother of two who recently rediscovered her writing passion. In April 2008 she joined FanStory, a writer's site where she's honed her craft and learned how to write flash fiction, a form that appeals to her minimalist tendencies.
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© 2010 Diane M. Davis

KINGS OF THE NIGHT a free webzine of Sword & Sorcery fiction, featuring a new story "Easy Money" by Greg Hall. http://www.gwthomas.org/kingsofthenight.htm

RETRIBUTION
By Mary Ellen King

On the way to the gallows, Blackie Bigalow swore he didn't kill his mistress, that it was his wife, Elsa, who took an axe to the woman's head. But everybody said Elsa wouldn't step on an ant in the garden.

After they hanged Blackie, they found Elsa lying on the ground in the backyard, forehead split open, the axe firmly planted in her head. They couldn't blame Blackie this time. Apparently, when she carried the weapon back to the toolshed, she tripped to avoid stepping on a potato bug.
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Mary Ellen King is a retired nurse who will avoid squashing tiny life forms at any cost, except, of course, for murder.
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© 2010 Mary Ellen King