What's in a Rule?
Spooky Microfiction Challenge entry.
There was only one rule: don’t open the door.
tick
…
tock
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tick
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tock
A clock ticking in an empty room.
tick
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tock
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tick
That was all we could hear from the other side of the door with a lion’s head knocker: my wife, Alia, and me.
tick
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tick-tick
For hours, we sat. Carefully listening for... anything. With just the wind howling quietly and the clock ticking.
ti
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tiiiicrack
“The thing is,” I broke the silence. “We’re focused on the rule because we were told it was a rule.” “Now we’re thinking of nothing else. It’s like if someone said, ‘You must start your story with the line, “The river ran backwards on the day the Queen vanished.”’”
…
“It sounds like a challenge but could stifle creativity. All you’d think about is the Queen vanishing and the river running backwards, distracting from telling a good story.”
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…
…
…
“When did the clock stop?” asked Alia, ignoring my philosophical musings. It was a fair question, as I had failed to notice silence behind the door during my musings. “What should we do?”
…
As the howling wind picked up, blowing Alia’s brown locks and whipping against the door, I looked at her silently with a knowing smirk and then to the door, “Don’t panic”
Silence fell. Then—
Knock-knock.
Knock-KNOCK
…
All she could do was panic.
…
It was clunky— made by something large, fist-like
…
Knock-knock—
Each strike reverberated.
…
“What…was that, Hank??” Alia whispered between quickened breaths; darting looks at me then the shuddering door.
Knock-KNOCK, KNOCK-KNOCK
Like a loud, intense march.
“Hank?” turned to me again, her pupils dilating.
“The Beast Will Rise and Feast”, I whispered soothingly, tenderly pulling her close as screams became silence.
About the Creator
Paul Stewart
Award-Winning Writer, Poet, Scottish-Italian, Subversive.
The Accidental Poet - Poetry Collection out now!
Streams and Scratches in My Mind coming soon!
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How, Too
Many people wonder how, too. You are not alone, and I am an expert. I will teach you how, too! First, you need to remit a small application fee and fill out an application describing the nature of your financial situation and how often payments will be made, as this will have great bearing on how well I teach you how, too.
By Harper Lewis7 days ago in Fiction
Comments (11)
Paul...... I just can't even. First you pulled me in with the intensity of the ticking clock and then the insightfulness of you "poking fun" at our recent Vocal challenges.... then you went and pulled the rug out form under us with that horrifying ending!! Bravo!!!!
The tik tok tension coupled with clever comedic relief was pure gold!! Loved it, Paul!
Hahahahahahahahahaha I love what you did here! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Great build up, Paul and you had me chuckling at a few lines you added, lol.
Just had to pull the lion's whisker didn't you! Loved the pacing and the build up even if you interrupted it with a dig at Vocal! You are definitely original, Paul!
You monster!! You know how I love twists!
This was quirky and highly original, Paul.
Nice dig at the judgey things with must have the first line dumbass rules. Also, this was intense. Well done.
The twist at the end was cleverly done!
Their curiosity killed the cat. Tick tock. Good work.
Now that was fucked up. I make you cry and you make me, what, piss my pants?? Ok, I did snicker a bit at the first line jab, lol. The tick tocking definitely amped up the tension.