Posted on October 25th, 2019 by Koji Dae

Very Short Serial: October

Very short story (#vss365) is a hashtag on twitter. Each day the host gives a different prompt and people write a tweet-sized story containing the word. A group called Flash Dogs started it, and it has a different host each month. October 2019’s host is Bert Edens.

I’ve been watching this tag (along with the #vss tag) for some time and debated jumping in myself. The other day I saw that some people take this idea a step further by linking the stories together into a monthly serial, and I knew I couldn’t resist that challenge.

I started October a bit late, but here goes:

Image by Jonny Lindner from Pixabay

I was looking for a whirlwind to take me away from a humdrum life. I didn't care if a wizard or witch engineered it. When sparks flew from that dust devil and my childhood home went up in flames I realized I draw the line at #demons. #vss #october
— Koji (@KojiADae) October 6, 2019

The fire wasn't his fault. His eyes held #music, and I couldn't help but dance when our gazes locked. My jig sent the first sparks. Then he took me in his arms and we spun, my depression the perfect counterweight to his unrestrained vigor.

Those flames held freedom.#vss365
— Koji (@KojiADae) October 7, 2019

He took me to his homeland—a place of new sights and scents. As we walked down the street, he bought me a vial of #perfume. So what if I'd never worn orange blossom or Bulgarian rose? For him I could start. I dabbed the amber liquid on my neck and blended into his world. #vss365
— Koji (@KojiADae) October 8, 2019

I applied the scented oils to please him. And every day, my #bones grew weaker until I couldn't stand without them threatening to break.

"Forgive me, I'm not what you thought I was," I said from his sofa.

He pinned my weak body with a kiss. "Just what I wanted."#vss365
— Koji (@KojiADae) October 9, 2019

Image by Efes Kitap from Pixabay

I melted away until I was only a part of him.

I clung to his strong, whole body for support and wondered: We're #lovers. With an s. Doesn't that mean there's supposed to be two of us?

It was a question I couldn't pose to him, which made me realize I had to get out.#vss365
— Koji (@KojiADae) October 10, 2019

He stretched my #skin into a cover for his couch. Moisturized, baby-soft for the ass that sat upon me.

I started with my toes: peeled them up and wiggled to get the blood flowing. The rush of life was painful.

But tingling was better than his poisoned anesthetic. #vss365
— Koji (@KojiADae) October 11, 2019

I stood as a jumbled patchwork of anger and hatred. Rage surged through me like electricity.

"Everyone thinks the #monster was named Frankenstein. But it was the scientist. The one that made the creature was the true evil."

His eyes went wide.

"You made me this."#vss365
— Koji (@KojiADae) October 12, 2019

Image by Lars_Nissen_Photoart from Pixabay

As I opened the door, a #pearl dropped from the corner of his eye—wet with pain, milky with love.

"I never meant to hurt you," he cried. "Forgive me?"

"Forgive and forget." I stepped onto the busy street and closed the door. I stroked the handle in a final goodbye. #vss365
— Koji (@KojiADae) October 13, 2019

The orange sky held hints of sulfur. Blood filled the once charming merchant stalls. Freedom was #worse than his tame prison.

"It's not safe for a girl." A man gestured me to his side, licking his lips.

I tucked my chin and walked on. I'd had enough of being rescued.#vss365
— Koji (@KojiADae) October 14, 2019

I walk out of his town, away from his people. I thought I'd feel safer. But the wind howls through leafless trees and echo in my soul. A beast moans at the fading light.

His hands were strong. Against me? Yes. But also against others.#Alone I am vulnerable. #vss365
— Koji (@KojiADae) October 15, 2019

The moon rose, lighting the silhouette of the wolf on a hill, a #chunk of its last meal at its paws.

I fought the urge to run. The barren land offered no cover.

Slush ran in my veins as I met the wolf's gaze.

It howled. There was nothing else to do except howl back.#vss365
— Koji (@KojiADae) October 16, 2019

Image by Pezibear from Pixabay

The wolf padded in widening circles until its back brushed my trembling fingertips, its electric fur on end. #Darkness closed around us.

Its solemn solitude made my heart ache. I fell to my knees and pressed my head to its side.

The untamed beast growled.#vss365
— Koji (@KojiADae) October 17, 2019

When a wolf growls, you can either growl back or howl. The beasts sharp teeth stole whatever growl I had. I drew back and let out a high, mournful moan. #Ghost s dripped from my throat.

The wolf hesitated, then joined my song. We filled the sky with patchwork pain.#vss365
— Koji (@KojiADae) October 18, 2019

Image by Kristendawn from Pixabay

Our mournful music painted the sky. Pops of color burst from the seams of the universe. Only a solemn circle remained white.

I remembered such a bright orb from another world—without magic.

I touched the back of my howling companion. Together, we'd #devour the moon. #vss365
— Koji (@KojiADae) October 19, 2019

My howling turned to tears, and I collapsed to the cold #dirt. The wolf's heart beat out a temptation: Be. Wild. Be. Wild.

It lulled me to sleep.

In the morning, stiff and cold, I set off with my companion. Do two make a pack? The strength of his heartbeat said yes.#vss365
— Koji (@KojiADae) October 20, 2019

A day became a month of lifetimes. There was an intoxicating #oblivion to that era.

But one day the sharp lines of a city met the desert.

My companion nudged me forward asking: Remember how to be human?

Depression. Desire. Pain. Need. I didn't want to remember.#vss365
— Koji (@KojiADae) October 21, 2019

The wolf chased me from his wilderness. My body scurried from his teeth, but my #soul hung back.

He bit off a chunk of memories. The rest of my soul jumped to the safety of my self.

The wolf slobbered over pieces of me. How had I gotten so close to something so wild?#vss365
— Koji (@KojiADae) October 22, 2019

Each step took me further from a vibrant, violent world of color—back to my life of repetitive doldrums. Gray seeped into the edges, bled inward.

But my adventure had inoculated me. My heart beat red, a machine #invincible to the monotony that had dulled me. #vss365
— Koji (@KojiADae) October 23, 2019

Photo by Designecologist from Pexels

Things I learned:

Writing micro flash is a lot of fun. It is freeing to let a story exist in a few sentences.
Having a daily flash makes me happy. It is a low-investment and reminds me how fun writing can be.
Turning each scene into its own story tightens a larger story immensely.
It’s hard to tell when a story will end. I only made this one until the 23rd. But I think I fell on a nice, bittersweet note. So I decided to end there.

You can look for another very short serial at the end of next month, or follow me on twitter to read the stories as they unfold.