Tuesday, April 22, 2014

S is for . . . SACRIFICE

Welcome to The Blogging from A-Z Challenge April 2014! This year, I’m offering up a story – each one 100 words or fewer - for each letter of the alphabet.

Some are heartfelt, poignant, sweet. Others are…not. 

I hope you enjoy them.


*****

SACRIFICE

Lena thought Mark was chivalrous, heroic. She felt protected, a lit match cupped inside his palm.

Now Mark says her lot in life is to be his. Their son cries, clings to her, alert to his father’s jealousy.

Mark slams her down, slaps her, beyond caring about the neighbors. She’s thankful the baby is far away, safe.

He whispers, “You’re the light in my darkness. You burn only for me.”

But Lena’s not the only flammable one. Pinned beneath him, she flicks the lighter she hid earlier. She smiles even as Mark screams, even as her own skin sizzles.

*****

33 comments:

  1. Wow. Now that's going to extremes to escape.

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  2. Wow, it's amazing how much power you pack into just 100 words. After the false security of the first line, it felt like a really fast rollercoaster. Great job!

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  3. Alex - sometimes people don't see any other way out but the extreme.

    Nick - thank you!

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  4. Seriously chilling, scary, and well-written. Very powerful piece.

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  5. Ouch. I guess if you're desperate...dang.

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  6. Another disturbing piece that packs such a punch! I love how the first line was such misdirection.

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  7. That was a dark and chilling ending.

    ~Patricia Lynne~
    Story Dam
    Patricia Lynne, YA Author

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  8. Jay - she was definitely desperate.

    Julie - I do "disturbing" well. :)

    Patricia - glad the ending chilled you. :)

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  9. Hi Madeline..these are very powerful words."Pinned beneath him, she flicks the lighter she hid earlier. She smiles even as Mark screams, even as her own skin sizzles." These two lines gave me goose flesh.

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  10. Wow. Oh my goodness, that was tense. You are a master. *bows*

    True Heroes from A to Z

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  11. That is very dark and very desperate. She saves the baby but sacrifices herself. Striking.
    Sophie
    Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles - A to Z Ghosts
    Fantasy Boys XXX - A to Z Drabblerotic

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  12. Madeline, I was just catching up on the last few days. You DO do disturbing well!

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  13. Rachna - they give me goosebumps, too. :)

    Crystal - hardly! But thank you. :)

    Sophie - that was the trick. She had to make sure the baby wasn't around.

    Rebecca - thank you!

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  14. Just catching up with your blog today. I'm really enjoying these! You pack a punch in very few words.

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  15. Lynda - I'm happy to hear you're enjoying the stories. :)

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  16. Catching up on blogs. Great short, disturbing, sinister, leaves lots to the imagination.

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  17. Oh, creepy, in a well written draw the reader in kind of way!

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  18. I think he's about to get what he deserves....unfortunately she will suffer as well.

    I'm in awe of your flash fiction skills.

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  19. Very visual, very disturbing, but hard to stop reading. You are brilliant. Seriously.

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  20. Very vivid and powerful flash fic. Great job!

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  21. Quite chilling and powerful! Good job. Visiting from the a to z challenge.
    #theawsomedish.blogspot.com

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  22. Patricia, Susan, Lexa, Phoenix - thank you!

    P - thanks for stopping by!

    Tasha - definitely.

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  23. Very powerful. I love your writing. I just ordered your collection of stories, The People We Used to Be. I can't wait until after this challenge, when I'll have time to read it. :-)
    Deb@ http://debioneille.blogspot.com

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  24. Debi - thank you so much! I really hope you enjoy the collection. :)

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  25. This one is extremely powerful! (I'm really enjoying your flash fiction!)

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  26. Another amazing story. So impressed! I don't know how you do it!

    Also, so glad the baby is safe.

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