May 25, 2025
hughjodonnell
Everyday Drabbles, Free Fiction
Drabble, Everyday Drabbles, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Free Fiction, Horror
The personal assistant looked over her boss’s latest health report. She managed every aspect of the billionaire’s life, from his diet and exercise regime to making sure he received regular massages.
Everything looked good, although he was starting to complain that he was gaining weight. She would say ‘nicely marbled.’
She made a mental note that, like her previous clients, he should have an accident soon. Death by adventure was common in his tax bracket: Helicopter crashes, skiing mishaps, sports car wrecks.
And before she started looking for a new job, she would host one of her famous dinner parties.
“businesswoman walking isolated” by brungilda.golden is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.
Everyday Drabbles © 2025 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
October 18, 2024
hughjodonnell
Everyday Drabbles, Free Fiction, Uncategorized
Drabble, Everyday Drabbles, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Free Fiction, Horror, The Devil
Each day Eugene found a little more hair in the shower drain. He’d expected it. His grandfather had been as bald as an egg. But he thought he had more time.
He did everything he could to the hair loss. He tried scientific treatments, then quack treatments, and finally expensive hairpieces that didn’t fool anyone.
When the Devil came with an offer, Eugene signed on the dotted line. He sold his soul for a thick, luxurious head of hair with no regrets.
But there were a pair of cowlicks on either side of his head that he could never tame.
“<div class=’fn’> German advert for the treatment of hair loss</div>” is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
My very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Have a fabulous day!
October 10, 2024
hughjodonnell
Everyday Drabbles, Free Fiction, Uncategorized
Crime Scene, Drabble, Everyday Drabbles, Fae, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Free Fiction, Horror
The grisly crime scene was the worst I’d seen in twenty years of work as a forensic investigator. A dozen fae lay restrained and exsanguinated. Golden blood lay in shiny pools and dried patches all over the room. The Court would have a fit when they found out.
Faerie blood has potent magical properties. We were likely dealing with a wizard trying to take a shortcut or a vampire looking to get high. It would be a difficult case.
But as I surveyed the crime scene I couldn’t help but think: They’re never going to clean up all this glitter.
“Gold Glitter 4” by megforce1 is marked with CC0 1.0.
My first very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Have a fabulous day!
October 7, 2024
hughjodonnell
Everyday Drabbles, Free Fiction, Uncategorized
Drabble, Everyday Drabbles, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Free Fiction, Horror
It was not the sort of house people whispered about or looked away from when they walked by. It was a beautiful cape cod, with spotless white siding and an impeccably manicured lawn.
If you asked the neighbors, they wouldn’t be able say who lived there. But lights went on and off inside at the correct time. Smoke came from the chimney, and the garden changed with the seasons.
Sometimes, someone would ring the doorbell, and the front door would open on a dark and silent foyer. If they stepped inside, the house would snap the door shut behind them.
“house with striped awnings” by striatic is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
My first very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Have a fabulous day!
October 5, 2024
hughjodonnell
Everyday Drabbles, Free Fiction, Uncategorized
Drabble, Everyday Drabbles, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Free Fiction, Halloween, Horror, Vampire
The Vampire came, and the men of the city were powerless to stop him. There was nothing in them that was strong enough to resist his influence, much less his power.
They had grown weak, distant from one another. He wriggled in through the cracks and took what he wanted, which was everything.
The men hid behind symbols that stood for nothing now but their own avarice, carrying mystical weapons that were mere superstition.
From his new throne he laughed at the weakness of men. But when he called their women to him, they had stakes hidden behind their backs.
“Study of a Vampire Bat” by Samuel Howitt shared under a Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
My first very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Have a fabulous day!
October 1, 2024
hughjodonnell
Everyday Drabbles, Free Fiction, Uncategorized
Drabble, Everyday Drabbles, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Free Fiction, Halloween, Halloween Drabbles, Horror
He sat in the corn maze ticket both and watched the customers line up. They’d gotten a lot of buzz this year and he’d worked extra hard on the design to make it the scariest maze yet. It was going to be a great Halloween.
Suddenly, he heard screams from deep within the maze, and something else, chilling but unidentifiable. The crowd stampeded back to the parking lot trying to escape the figures emerging from the waving stalks.
He sighed. Everyone said they wanted a terrifying maze, but you add one eldritch summoning rune, and suddenly you’ve gone too far.
“Inside the Corn Maze” by mastermaq is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
My first very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Have a fabulous day!
September 18, 2024
hughjodonnell
Everyday Drabbles, Free Fiction, Uncategorized
baking, Drabble, Everyday Drabbles, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Free Fiction, Horror
The cake was the most beautiful, perfect baked good I’d ever seen. It rose in tier on tier of perfectly balance order. The white icing sparkled like fresh snow, and the piped rosettes were as red as blood.
“Go on,” the baker said, wringing his hands. “Don’t you want to take a slice?”
It seemed like a crime to cut into the cake, but I raised the triangular server and brought it down with just a moment’s hesitation.
I screamed as I felt the blade slice into my own stomach instead. I heard the demonic baker laugh as woke up.
“Cheese cake time” by Alwinphoto is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
My first very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow, is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Have a fabulous day!
September 12, 2024
hughjodonnell
Everyday Drabbles, Free Fiction, Uncategorized
Coffee, Drabble, Everyday Drabbles, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Free Fiction, Horror
In the bleary light of rain-soaked dawn, I yawn and trudge into an unfamiliar kitchen. I don’t really remember much of the night before, but I wouldn’t have these holes in my memory if it hadn’t been a good time.
What I need now is coffee. The stronger, the better, to really feel alive. I find the machine. It’s a beautiful, high-end gleaming steel monstrosity that takes up most of the counter.
But when I open the pantry, it’s filled with row upon row of cans, the word ‘decaffeinated’ printed in bright red letters. Somewhere, I hear a demonic laugh…
The image in today’s post is by Alan Levine, shared under a Creative Commons, Attribution, 2.0 Generic License.
My first very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Have a fabulous day!
September 7, 2024
hughjodonnell
Everyday Drabbles, Free Fiction, Uncategorized
Drabble, Everyday Drabbles, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Free Fiction, Horror, hugh
We took a Ghost Tour through New Orleans’ French Quarter, but it was a disappointment. Our guide Philippe rambled, trailed off, and nearly got us lost. And his bloody stories were short on actual ghosts. Still, we followed him through the moonlit streets and tipped generously, all the while grumbling to ourselves.
My wife was content to let the matter rest, but I wanted to give the tour company a piece of my mind. When I called them up, the woman who answered almost hung up on me.
“Is this a prank call?” she asked. “Philippe died three years ago!”
Image in today’s story is by Ken Lund, shared under a Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike 2.0 Generic License.
My first collection of drabbles, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Thanks for reading, and have a fabulous day!
September 5, 2024
hughjodonnell
Everyday Drabbles, Free Fiction, Uncategorized
Drabble, Everyday Drabbles, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Free Fiction, Horror
Mother Brewer stood before her cauldron and stirred the mash. She was the product of five generations of ale-wives, and her beer was the best in a hundred miles.
She had made a good living until the innkeepers and merchants scared off most of her customers by spreading rumors that she was a witch. She still needed to feed her family, so they ‘generously’ agreed to buy her stock at half the usual price.
The brew was ready. Mother Brewer grinned wickedly as she poured the glowing amber liquid into kegs. Those fools would regret just how right they were.
Today’s image is “Antique Wooden Beer Mug” by Thomas Quine, shared under a Creative Commons, Attribution 2.0 Generic License.
My first collection of drabbles, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!
Thanks for reading and have a fabulous day!
Older Entries
Hugh J. O'Donnell 