October 27, 2019
hughjodonnell
Free Fiction, Uncategorized
Drabble, Ficiton, Flash Fiction, Free Fiction
Nobody ever went out on the ring.
It was technically accessible, and vital to the generation of air, power, and gravity on the station, but the processes were all better handled by AI, and the vats weren’t friendly to humans.
That never stopped kids on the station from daring each other to approach the transition locks and whispering ghost stories about it during night cycle.
Stories of rogue malevolent AIs and kids found dead in the algae tanks were popular fodder. But nobody believed they were true.
Station AI always made sure that the disappearances were thoroughly explained, after all.
This story originally appeared in Everyday Drabbles, a daily free fiction project on Wattpad. Visit the link for more free stories. And if you enjoy my writing, support my work by buying me a coffee!
The first collection of Everyday Drabbles stories, Winter, is now available as an eBook from Amazon! Enjoy over 90 short stories for less than two dollars!
September 29, 2019
hughjodonnell
Free Fiction, Uncategorized
Drabble, Everyday Drabbles, Fiction, Free Fiction
The invaders took the capital that spring. The first thing they did was commission a statue to their victory.
The sculptor worked for months under heavy guard, and she made it exactly as the General demanded, with one change. She depicted him as a hero, with sword and shield pointed to heaven. It stood on a plinth so tall, the tip was the highest point in the city. He was enormously pleased by this.
It glared down all summer at the occupied citizens, until autumn’s low clouds moved in and completely obscured it.
It would topple under winter’s harsh winds.
This story originally appeared in Everyday Drabbles, a daily free fiction project on Wattpad. Visit the link for more free stories. And if you enjoy my writing, support my work by buying me a coffee!
The first collection of Everyday Drabbles stories, Winter, is now available as an eBook from Amazon! Enjoy over 90 short stories for less than two dollars!
September 22, 2019
hughjodonnell
Free Fiction, Uncategorized
Drabble, Everyday Drabbles, Fiction, Free Fiction, Ghost story
The violin had been left behind by the latest tenants.
Like most, they only stayed a few nights in The House before fleeing. The House liked its quiet, and it didn’t mind dripping blood from a few walls in order to get it.
But the violin, absent its owner, fascinated The House. With flexing floorboards and trailing cobwebs, it held the delicate instrument. It had been so long since it had heard music.
Folks in town said the house at the end of Pine Street was haunted. But it wasn’t until the horrifying noises started that it got national attention.
This story originally appeared in Everyday Drabbles, a daily free fiction project on Wattpad. Visit the link for more free stories. And if you enjoy my writing, support my work by buying me a coffee!
The first collection of Everyday Drabbles stories, Winter, is now available as an eBook from Amazon! Enjoy over 90 short stories for less than two dollars!
September 15, 2019
hughjodonnell
Free Fiction, Uncategorized
Drabble, Everyday Drabbles, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Free Fiction, Horror
The pilgrim brought her daughter, limp and coughing, in the last paroxysms of disease, to the underground pool.
The priests said the pool had healing powers, which came at a terrible price. Looking into the inky black water, she believed.
She placed her daughter in the water. The girl barely moved, and the water sucked her down, down down. A cry caught in the woman’s throat. But she believed. She waited.
Moments later, an eternity later, her daughter rose from the water, whole, and well. Her little girl smiled with row on row of sharp, sharp teeth in the darkness.
This story originally appeared in Everyday Drabbles, a daily free fiction project on Wattpad. Visit the link for more free stories. And if you enjoy my writing, support my work by buying me a coffee!
The first collection of Everyday Drabbles stories, Winter, is now available as an eBook from Amazon! Enjoy over 90 short stories for less than two dollars!
September 8, 2019
hughjodonnell
Free Fiction, Uncategorized
Drabble, Fantasy, Fiction, Free Fiction, Horror
On a long brass pole, a dish was piled high with gold and black seeds that glistened in dappled sunlight. A cardinal circled the feeder, a flash of red wings flitting from branch to branch.
The cardinal didn’t remember this feeder, and they heard no crashing human footsteps. It paid to be cautious, but…
It hopped closer. The feeder was empty. It called, a question on the morning air that went unanswered. Throwing caution aside, it landed on the lip of the feeder and pecked at the pile of seeds.
The mimic snapped its jaws shut and swallowed the bird.
This story originally appeared in Everyday Drabbles, a daily free fiction project on Wattpad. Visit the link for more free stories. And if you enjoy my writing, support my work by buying me a coffee!
The first collection of Everyday Drabbles stories, Winter, is now available as an eBook from Amazon! Enjoy over 90 short stories for less than two dollars!
September 1, 2019
hughjodonnell
Free Fiction, Uncategorized
100 Words, Drabble, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Free Fiction
The picnic had been laid in a field, on a pallet set with fine china, rich food, and sparkling wine. Four cushions, one for each guest, ringed the spread.
“We don’t have time for this,” the first said. She was the oldest of them, and all business.
“Nonsense, my dear,” Said the second. “They won’t start without us.”
“I can’t believe you’re hungry at a time like this,” said one of the twins, his face thin and waxy. His pale sister sat down beside him.
“That makes our whole party, Shall we begin?”
“To Armageddon,” Death said, raising her glass.
This story originally appeared in Everyday Drabbles, a daily free fiction project on Wattpad. Visit the link for more free stories. And if you enjoy my writing, support my work by buying me a coffee!
The first collection of Everyday Drabbles stories, Winter, is now available as an eBook from Amazon! Enjoy over 90 short stories for less than two dollars!
August 25, 2019
hughjodonnell
Free Fiction, Uncategorized
Everyday Drabbles, Fiction, Free Fiction
“So we’re agreed,” the wizard said. “You’ll take my place at the academy, and I’ll replace you on the space colony.”
The pilot opened the hatch on his mecha. He stepped into the dusty plain and handed his companion his aviators. They could’ve been twins. “If you’re sure about this.”
The wizard grinned and slipped them on. “That’s the thing about alternate realities. Since we’re the same person, there should be no problem.”
The pilot watched the wizard launch and accelerate his humanoid robot into space. He was finally free of the war, free to live a life of adventure.
This story originally appeared in Everyday Drabbles, a daily free fiction project on Wattpad. Visit the link for more free stories. And if you enjoy my writing, support my work by buying me a coffee!
The first collection of Everyday Drabbles stories, Winter, is now available as an eBook from Amazon! Enjoy over 90 short stories for less than two dollars!
August 4, 2019
hughjodonnell
Free Fiction, Uncategorized
Drabble, Everyday Drabbles, Fiction, Free Fiction
She went to The Old Churchyard every night. The old graveyard was long abandoned, and most townsfolk stayed well away, even in daylight. But she would go, and dance with the ghosts under the moonlight. She would listen to their songs and stories. She’d ask them questions. She wrote things down.
The ghosts were hungry, but the thing they most wanted was news. Were their relatives doing well? What became of their descendants? She answered their questions where she could.
She was not a witch. She was a historian, who believed in primary sources, even if it made publication difficult.
This story originally appeared in Everyday Drabbles, a daily free fiction project on Wattpad. Visit the link for more free stories. And if you enjoy my writing, support my work by buying me a coffee!
The first collection of Everyday Drabbles stories, Winter, is now available as an eBook from Amazon! Enjoy over 90 short stories for less than two dollars!
July 21, 2019
hughjodonnell
Free Fiction, Uncategorized
Drabble, Everyday Drabbles, Fiction, Free Fiction
“JACOB KAZDY, YOUR TIME HAS COME.”
He expected dying. His doctors had told him the cancer was going to win in the end, and he made his peace. He was ready.
He hadn’t expected to actually meet Death, but there he was, larger than life, skeletal and black robed, holding a… wait.
“Is that a wicker basket?” Death sighed, a sound like wind moving through winter trees.
“THIS IS A CORNUCOPIA, SYMBOLIC OF LIFE AND FERTILITY. YOU WILL NOTICE IT IS EMPTY.”
“Where’s your scythe?”
“BUDGET CUTS,” Death said, and whacked Jacob with the cornucopia, a bit harder than necessary.
This story originally appeared in Everyday Drabbles, a daily free fiction project on Wattpad. Visit the link for more free stories. And if you enjoy my writing, support my work by buying me a coffee!
The first collection of Everyday Drabbles stories, Winter, is now available as an eBook from Amazon! Enjoy over 90 short stories for less than two dollars!
July 7, 2019
hughjodonnell
Free Fiction, Uncategorized
Drabble, Everyday Drabbles, Flash Fiction, Free Fiction, The Freelance Hunters
Glory Bywater, freelance hunter and consulting mage, listened to the heiress’s request with some confusion.
“If I understand correctly, you require a mansion-sized fireproofing charm for your new pet?”
“That’s quite correct. She’s an adorable little thing, but she breathes fire, you see. I just can’t bear the thought of keeping her outside.”
“I recognize that it may be considered cruel, but have you considered simply removing her flame sacs?” The woman looked at her with contempt.
“I’m afraid that’s out of the question. I require the enchantment.”
“Might I ask why?”
“Because the poor devil will suffocate, obviously!”
This story originally appeared in Everyday Drabbles, a daily free fiction project on Wattpad. Visit the link for more free stories. And if you enjoy my writing, support my work by buying me a coffee!
The first collection of Everyday Drabbles stories, Winter, is now available as an eBook from Amazon! Enjoy over 90 short stories for less than two dollars!
Older Entries
Newer Entries
Hugh J. O'Donnell 