February 17, 2019
hughjodonnell
Free Fiction, Uncategorized
Drabble, Everyday Drabbles, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Free Fiction
“You buried him with the keys?” Susan asked, stunned.
“It was his dying wish,” Frank said. “He started the store, and it seemed right to bury him with the keys in his pocket.” She just stared at him, her tear-stained face hardened into something cold rage. After a moment, she excused herself and stomped out of the room.
“You have the spares, right?” Naomi asked. Frank grinned sheepishly at her. “Jesus Christ, Frank.”
Susan returned, a phone in one hand and a shovel in the other.
“We’re reopening on Monday. You can either call a locksmith, or get digging.
This story originally appeared in Everyday Drabbles, a daily fiction project on Wattpad. Click the link for more free hundred-word short stories. And if you enjoyed it, why not buy me a coffee?
February 10, 2019
hughjodonnell
Free Fiction, Uncategorized
Drabble, Everyday Drabbles, Free Fiction
The conclave of the realm’s greatest heroes was well into their cups when they began to argue of who was the strongest. After many boasts and claims, Jeroboam the Holy Wizard claimed he could summon angels.
He was pressed to prove it, and one slurring conjuration later, a tall, winged being hovered before them, dripping and nude.
“This’d better be good, Jerry,” She said. “I was in the bath.” It might’ve ended there, had someone in the back not whistled. The ensuing smiting broke up the party, and the group reluctantly admitted that maybe they weren’t so great after all.
This story originally appeared in Everyday Drabbles, a daily free fiction project on Wattpad. For more free hundred-word stories, click the link. And if you enjoyed the story, why not buy me a coffee?
January 27, 2019
hughjodonnell
Free Fiction, Uncategorized
Drabble, Everyday Drabbles, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Free Fiction, Superhero, Winter
A week of unexpected snowfall had paralyzed the city. The protector loaded his mobile fortress for the long night ahead of him and checked his supplies one more time: shovels, flares, thermoses of cocoa, coffee, and soup. He had plenty of blankets, hats, gloves, and coats to distribute. He had everything he needed.
Nobody robbed a bank in a blizzard. Except for Weather Girl, of course. But this was the time of year he felt the most useful. Stopping robberies and chasing super-villains was all status quo work. During the winter, he actually felt like he made a difference.
This story was first published as a part of Everyday Drabbles on Wattpad. Visit the link for a new free 100-word short story every day!
January 13, 2019
hughjodonnell
Free Fiction, Uncategorized
Drabble, Everyday Drabbles, Fiction, Free Fiction, Horror
“What’s the catch?” The highwayman asked, suspiciously eyeing the fine horse presented to him.
“The trail is simple,” The judge replied. “Just ride through these woods, and you are free to go.”
“What’s in there, then?” He looked out at the dark forrest. It must’ve been a trap, but all the villagers were here, he thought.
“Only the ghosts you take with you, sir.”
The highwayman mounted up, thinking only of how much gold he could get for such a horse and thanking God for superstitious backwaters.
The next day, the horse was found wandering the other side. Riderless, naturally.
This story first appeared as a part of my project Everyday Drabbles! Visit the link for a new free hundred-word short story every day!
January 6, 2019
hughjodonnell
Free Fiction, Uncategorized
Drabble, Everyday Drabbles, Free Fiction, Sci-Fi, Short Stories
The Last Tree stood in the center of the massive temple complex. Under a searingly bright dome of artificial blue sky, It seemed to glow from darkened entryway.
Julissa approached silently, as reverent as a nun, and knelt among the twisting roots of the towering oak. Its leaves, gold as autumn, made a soft carpet for her. She bent her head, reached out one hand to the rough bark, and murmured a prayer to the last living thing that had ever known the Earth.
A long time later, Julissa stood, and wept as she unhooked the axe from her belt.
This story was originally written as a part of Everyday Drabbles, a new free short fiction project I’m doing over on Wattpad. Each day in 2019 I will be writing and publishing a new free hundred-word short story. Please check it out, and let me know what you think!
December 30, 2018
hughjodonnell
Free Fiction, Uncategorized
Drabble, Fantasy, Free Fiction, Short Short Fiction
The huge creature stalked across the room, its expression unreadable in a twisted face of beak and fang.
Siobhan cleared her throat and the owlbear froze. Its head twisted at an unsettling angle to stare at her.
“The laying was successful. You can go on in now.” The monster squeezed his bulk past her and into the delivery room, leaving a trail of hairy feathers behind.
She was the best midwife in the kingdom, but chimerical deliveries were always challenging. If she ever found the wizard that crossed birds and bears, she would give them a lecture they wouldn’t forget.
December 23, 2018
hughjodonnell
Free Fiction, Uncategorized
Drabble, Elvish Medicine, Fantasy, Fiction, Microfiction, Short Short Fiction
“Ho, what fair yonder maiden does my elf eye see?” Aoife jumped in surprise and looked up. There was Mr. Aradol, bathrobe flapping in the breeze and long white hair streaming behind him. She sighed.
Some folks thought elves were immortal. It wasn’t true, of course. They lived for centuries, longer even than some dragons, but they succumbed to the same infirmities of time as anyone.
Aofie hated working the Elvish Dementia ward. Some idiot had left the door unlocked last night, forgetting how hale some of the residents were. She’d be pulling them out of the trees all morning.
December 16, 2018
hughjodonnell
Free Fiction, Uncategorized
Drabble, Fiction, Free Fiction, Funny, Sci-Fi, Short Stories
Detective Orn Sa scanned the crowd, scowling with both mouths. One of the beings below him was Vaporite criminal Frizzion the master of disguise, and he only had one chance to find them before they blew up the station and sank the cause of interstellar peace for good. His only hope was to find some inconsistency… There! He shouted a warning and fired before they had time to transform.
“How did you spot me?” Frizzion gasped as Sa called for transport.
“You made two mistakes, Frizz. First, you made the fingers way too long. Second, most human adults wear clothes.”
December 9, 2018
hughjodonnell
Free Fiction, Uncategorized
Cats, Drabble, Fiction, Free Fiction, Humor
“This is the place you made for yourself in life,” The fish said, swimming towards the rising figure in through the misty shadows. “This your hell, and it is filled with the ghosts of your sins.” His audience stared at him and said nothing. The fish swam closer through the thick air. “I am not your only companion here, either. Every victim of your cruel misdeeds is here, and we will be with you until the end of time. This is a crowded land. Do you even remember me, I wonder?”
“Mrow?” the cat said, and lunged at the fish.
December 2, 2018
hughjodonnell
Free Fiction, Uncategorized, Writing
Drabble, Fantasy, Fiction, Free Fiction, Short Stories
“Serve me, and you will be provided for. You and all your children, for all of time. That is what I am offering you. To not die in the wet and cold, to never again be starving and afraid. Always will you have fuel, and you will be tended to.”
“And the price?”
“A few menial tasks, nothing that you couldn’t do easily. Cook my food. Warm my home. Give me light to see by.” The human smiled. The smoke shifted, and the Spirit of Fire seemed as though it tilted its head, considering him.
“You have a bargain, human.”
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Hugh J. O'Donnell 