Shiver - 5 Sentence Fiction

I've been a bit distracted by an online Creative Writing Course I've just started through the Sydney Writer's Centre. I've been loving "just writing" for 5 Sentence Fiction and Write on Wednesdays and thought it was time for me to learn a little about theory and technique. Thoroughly enjoying it so far!

So here goes for Shiver - as requested by my lovely commenters, I've continued my story from Hunger and Poison.

As she slowly drifted toward the surface of her consciousness, her throbbing mind tried to understand where she was. Pitch black had stolen her sight, she had to make sense of this without her eyes. Reaching a trembling hand sideways to feel the dampening walls, she slowly began to comprehend. She knew she was on an island, a tropical island, so why was it so dreadfully cold? Feeling braver, she stretched further and at the moment her seeking hand reached an immovable handle she realised to her horror that she was on the inside.

from motomorinsport

Poison

I decided to follow on from last week's Five Sentence fiction piece "Hunger"

Trapped in the cage of her chest, her heart hammered, birdlike, as she scrambled backwards. Was it the berries that killed them, or something else, something more sinister? Consciously slowing her breathing, the tingling round her lips receded, and her eyes darted around the jungle floor as she tried to work out what to do. She just had to get help by whatever means she could – perhaps a fire would alert others to her presence. She reached out for a piece of dead wood, a sudden sting spread up her arm and as her sharp cry split the air, the world started to spin.

Hunger - 5 sentence fiction

Lillie's 5 sentence fiction word of the week is Hunger.

She wandered, footsore, along the jungle track, her eyes scanning for edible fruit. She felt so alone and confused, having woken from sleep to find him gone, and that was three days ago. The reality was that there was no-one else on the island, no-one else to help her, no way of summoning help. Spying pink berries along the side of the path, she instinctively reached out to grab them and shovel them into her mouth to fill her gaping need. But she stopped in fright as, from the corner of her eye, she saw the moonshine white of a skeletal hand.

berries

Nineteen

I'm still going with trying to link my pieces into an ongoing story starting with Sacrifice , then Secrets  and next...

Nineteen

She’d  been in labour for 16 hours and had tried her  best to relax and go with the flow, but the agony in her back was unrelenting, even when the contractions relaxed. The knowledgeable ones had stolen concerned glances at the tracings of her baby’s heart beat and with the rustle of a white coat, a decision was made. Nineteen was the last number she remembered counting before she slid under the heavy influence of the anaesthetic, like an exhausted sailor unable to keep himself afloat.  As Ella slowly drifted to the surface of her awareness, she could hear a baby’s snuffle and mewl as she groggily opened her eyes.  She watched her mother next to her, entranced and counting tiny digits, “my darling, she’s so perfect, so just like you”.

photo from http://curiousphotos.blogspot.com

Secrets

I'm trying to take Gill's good advice from Inkpaperpen and draw out some of my work into longer pieces by running stories together, so here goes - this follows from Sacrifice which you can read here

“They’ll always catch you up”, Ella's Grandma had said. Wiping her hands on her checked apron, she turned and shook her head at the 5 year old licking the mixing spoon – “they’ll always catch you up , secrets and lies”.

She gently smiled at the memory as she considered what to do, to keep it a secret or to tell? No-one really knew, they had their theories of course but no-one knew who the father was, not even him.  For the moment she could hold her knowledge close, it didn’t matter, it had no bearing on today or tomorrow or the next day.

Sacrifice

Link here to Lillie's blog to participate!! Five Sentence fiction
What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

This week’s inspiration word is: SACRIFICE

Ella sat at home alone, eyes fixed forward and her mottled skin lit up by the screen she faced. She scrolled through the pictures of longhaired girls in formal dresses, pink black blue, towering heels, on arms of pock faced laughing boys. A tear slid the length of her cheek as her blurred eyes read through the comments, the tags, the joy and the fun. As she straightened her spine, sighed and awkwardly stood , she told herself again  – my life will be different. She caught her breath as she felt the kick inside and instinctively cradled her belly – yes, I have made my choice.

Five Sentence Fiction - Delectable!

Go to Lillie's blog to participate FSF delectable
As a cat-lover, this one came to mind this week - light and fluffy !!

Fred had been looking forward to it since breakfast – a day spent lolling around had only added to his feline gustatory expectations.  His Mum had taken to buying him treats since Fluff had gone to the scratching post in the sky, and he guessed she was feeling sad and maybe a little guilty.

As he stretched his paws  in an impressive yoga move he rewound the memory – the bang of the front door, the Lexus flying out of the driveway backwards, the screech and ominous crunch.

Here she comes, he thought, as he leapt up expectantly to see her lay the bowl gently at his feet.  He inhaled the aroma briefly, before tucking in blissfully, savouring the jellied fish mousse and licking his chops  - “Thanks Mum, that was delectable”!

FSF - Bewitched

Five Sentence Fiction - Bewitched

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful 
punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then 
anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on 
the inspiration word. The word does not have to appear in your five 
sentences, just take your inspiration from that word.

This week’s inspiration word is: BEWITCHED

He couldn’t take his eyes off her as she giggled and stretched her coltish legs, flicking her hair over her shoulder. She didn’t even know he existed as he watched her from under the trees, a lone satellite shadowing the popular crowd.

Head thrown back, she laughed from her belly at a joke unheard as he edged closer. He could see the penned inky hearts on her arm but they were not for him. Oh, for the courage to speak to her - the thought of it alone stopped his breath as he turned away downcast.

Five Sentence Fiction - Horror

I don't read, watch or write horror, but who's to say there can't be a first time.? I have been playing Plants vs Zombies on my iPad, so maybe that's where this humble piece came from!
Don't forget to go to Lillie's blog for FSF! http://lilliemcferrin.blogspot.com/

Jake had had a rough day – crashing off his skateboard had left him scraped and sore and just a little embarrassed. His parents out for the evening, he wearily dragged himself to bed with his black cat, Frizz, for company.

A vague sense of unease tugged at his senses as he slid under his covers, did he actually latch the back door? As his mind struggled with sleep, the creatures swarmed and lurched up the staircase. Slathering excitedly, the zombies jostled for space on the landing as their leader opened Jake’s door and greedily pounced.

Shenanigans - Five Sentence Fiction

Five Sentence Fiction

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the inspiration word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just take your inspiration from that word. 

My first try at Five Sentence Fiction  - here goes!

Nanna had the best legs in the family, always encased in perfect hose. I inhaled the smell of lamb roast as I read, for the hundredth time, the Disiderata on her wall.

Grandad clomped in the back door from the garden, placed grubby hands on her aproned waist and spun her around. “Oh you and your shenanigans”, she giggled, flicking spilt salt over her Irish shoulder.

As he left the room, she turned to me and dropped her voice, “I never could resist a man with a twinkle in his eye”.