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A Fatal Nod
A Competitive Microfiction
The stench of rotten meat wakes her. Desperately, she tries returning to her nightmares, but sleep again mocks her with its flight.
She presses an ear to the wall separating her bedroom from the bathroom.
Splashes. An occasional wail. She whimpers.
Pain lances up the inside of her arm. The track marks no longer faded scars but hundreds of tiny scabs.
Karma. Utter torment every night because he'd drowned after she'd popped a vein and nodded off.
The bathroom door swings open. The toddler standing in the tub is bloated, his pale, marbled skin peeling away from reddened tissue.
“Mommy?”
***
A/N: Thank you so much for reading! This piece was originally submitted to NYC Midnight's "100-Word-Microfiction" competition. I won't know the results until June, but I'd love to hear feedback from you! Comments are always welcome.
Update: This story did well! I've made it to the second round, woohoo!
About the Creator
Kenny Penn
Thanks for reading! I enjoy writing in various genres, my favorites being horror/thriller and dark/epic fantasies. I'll also occasionally drop a poem or two.
For a list of all my work, and to connect with me, go to www.kennypenn.com
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Comments (19)
Great (and terrifying) imagery! Congrats on Top Story!
Congrats on Top Story!
Urghh! it's HORRIBLE! I LOVE IT!
Love to see some great horror on here!! Amazing work!
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Wow! This is such a haunting micro, Kenny! You really evoke all the senses with your vivid imagery. It's a disturbing but realistic story. Congrats on the Top Story! 🎉 P.S. Did you make it to the second round in the Short Story Challenge?! I would love to read your story (or stories) if you've posted them here or on the forum!
Chilling and intriguing to say the least 😳 wow Congratulations on top story!
WOW this grabbed me in the heart, very well done! I was just asking myself what a micro fiction looked like and of course you would deliver!
I enjoy a nice horror piece. Congrats on T.S.!
Horror at its best. because it is a true possibility, unfortunately. Well done, Congratulations
Back to say congrats on TS!!
Hideous. Not yet writing, that's great. The content...well done.
Hehehehehehehe this made me giggle. Thank you so much for this delicious piece! It made my day. All the best for that competition. Keeping my fingers crossed for you 🤞🤞✨️❤️
Wow, Kenny!! So many well placed and well chosen words. Emotions were all there and investment in the scene was immediate for me. Awesome work, good luck!!!
Oh wow Kenny! Sad, horrifying and packed a powerful punch! Great writing.
Oh yowza, horrifyingly haunted.
Chilling….great entry
Holy Ship!
Oh my gosh, Kenny, chilling and evocative and sad and horrifying (and, and, and). I LOVE IT. Fingers crossed for you!! Have you watched the Apple TV show "Servant"? This piece really reminded me of it.