December 15, 2021
hughjodonnell
Everyday Drabbles, Free Fiction
Drabble, Everyday Drabbles, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Free Fiction
The museum stood empty and silent. The people had all disappeared, save for the security guards that patrolled the hall.
The paintings were desperate for news of their missing audience. The Seurat, which had an enviable spot near the security office, heard snatches of information and doled out gossip to the rest of the installations.
The renaissance paintings, no strangers to plague years, spread the information faithfully. The realists’ communications were perfectly accurate. But the impressionists got fuzzy on the details, and the baroque works couldn’t help but embellish. Once the news got to the surrealists, the story got weird.
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December 14, 2021
hughjodonnell
Uncategorized
Drabble, Everyday Drabbles, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Free Fiction, Holiday, Literary
The tree stood in a corner of the little churchyard, a resilient and determined evergreen.
The city had grown up around the church, and after the old neighborhood had been demolished to build skyscrapers, nobody came to mass these days. The land the little old church sat on was valuable, and the city had grander houses of worship. It was only a matter of time.
The tree didn’t know any of this. But it was steady and had good roots. The priest strung it with lights for what would probably be the last time and thanked his most faithful parishioner.
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December 13, 2021
hughjodonnell
Everyday Drabbles, Free Fiction
Drabble, Everyday Drabbles, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Free Fiction, Holiday, Horror
Everyone knows about Santa Claus’s eight flying reindeer. But few people wonder about how his counterpart, the Krampus travels in his grisly duty.
He too has a team of creatures that pull his sleigh, but you could scarce call them reindeer. They are monstrous, wild things, and when they are not in their master’s service, they roam this very wood.
Their antlers are a tangle of jagged bone, and their fang-filled mouths drip with an unjolly venom. They stalk after those who walk through the forest after dark, and they don’t care about naughty and nice.
You’d better watch out…
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December 12, 2021
hughjodonnell
Everyday Drabbles, Free Fiction
Drabble, Everyday Drabbles, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Free Fiction, Literary
She’d never been able to master her piano teacher’s favorite piece, even after she became a world-renowned concert pianist. She just remembered the way he’d drilled her for hours, pointing out every flaw. He’d been an exacting mentor.
When she returned for his memorial, she knew what composition to play.
But she sat on the familiar bench and hesitated. She felt ten years old again, with his voice in her ear and his hands pressing on her’s.
She took a deep breath and began. The performance was flawless. But whether her tears were sorrow, relief, or joy, she couldn’t say.
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December 11, 2021
hughjodonnell
Uncategorized
Drabble, Everyday Drabbles, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Free Fiction
The Dandelion Princess dances through the meadow ins spring. She is short, green, clumsy. She moves awkwardly, still growing and still learning herself.
The Dandelion Princess stretches toward the summer sun, her golden crown resplendent in the shimmering heat. She dances alone, slapping those who get too close. She dances for herself.
Autumn paints the meadow in shades of orange, and the Dandelion Princes robes herself in white. She dances in graceful arcs, letting the wind lift her. This will be her final and greatest performance.
The Dandelion Princess lies curled under the winter snow, dreaming of her first dance.
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December 10, 2021
hughjodonnell
Everyday Drabbles, Free Fiction
Drabble, Everyday Drabbles, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Free Fiction
After a week of terrible nightmares, she found herself summoned to the Faerie Court. While she was too tall to fit inside the palace, she stood in the courtyard and bowed before the Faerie Queen.
“Human,” the queen said, “You have been chosen from among your kind to aid us. The Raven King gathers his dark forces at our borders. He stalks our villages and plots to snuff out our light. We demand your aid.”
“You want me to serve as a great warrior?”
“Not quite.” The Faerie Queen looked embarrassed. “We want to use you as a launching platform.”
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December 9, 2021
hughjodonnell
Everyday Drabbles, Free Fiction
Drabble, Everyday Drabbles, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Free Fiction, Sci-Fi
From the roof of his tower, the astrologer made careful observations of the star. For the last three nights, its brilliance had steadily increased. It was even visible during the day. The light was a portent of great change in the world, but he would have to consult all his lore to determine if it was an omen for good or ill.
Fifty lightyears away, the energy harvesting experiments pushed the star into going nova early. The scientists did what they could to slow the reaction, but the result was inevitable. They only hoped that someone would see their warning.
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December 7, 2021
hughjodonnell
Everyday Drabbles, Free Fiction
Drabble, Everyday Drabbles, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Free Fiction
The flower grew in the heart of an abandoned temple. He swore he would bring it to her as a token of his love.
He fought his way through the ruins until he came upon the nave.
A shaft of warm sunlight spilled through a broken window, illuminating an overgrown altar where a single white blossom grew. He carefully plucked it and brought it back for his lady.
She sniffed it delicately, and bade him sit while she made him tea.
In the kitchen, she poured the last of the old poison into the pot, glad to have fresh ingredients.
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December 5, 2021
hughjodonnell
Everyday Drabbles, Free Fiction
Drabble, Everyday Drabbles, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Free Fiction, Sci-Fi
He stands on the shore and watches the island. One of the planet’s moons rises against it, and in that instant, holographic projectors spring to life, and there she is, a giant limned in the moonlight.
She is regal and ethereal, a goddess presiding over a bountiful and lush paradise. He crosses his arms and doesn’t say anything, waiting for the spectacle she called him for to begin.
“It’s not working out, John. Sorry.”
The dronaratzi cameras circle him like flies, and he remains stoic. He’ll call his people, and they’ll spin this. He never should have dated an actress.
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December 4, 2021
hughjodonnell
Everyday Drabbles, Free Fiction
Drabble, Everyday Drabbles, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Free Fiction
For thousands of years, the Elves lived in the Blessed Forests, and the Orcs were contained to the Blasted Wastes, saving the Free Peoples of the world from their evil. The Wise said that they were always plotting to escape, to conquer the bright, sunlit lands and enslave the fair and peaceful people that lived there.
They maintained their armies against such aggression and kept tight borders to keep their people safe.
But one day, a merchant arrived in the Blessed Forest bearing wonders from the thriving Orcish States. The Wise had him put to death, but the secret spread.
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Hugh J. O'Donnell 