March 12, 2020, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story that includes tapping. You can play with the sound, make it an action, or create something unexpected. Tap a story and go where the prompt leads!
Doug watched as Clarice tapped her long fingernails onto the cover of a hardback book she carried. He could tell she grew impatient with him while waiting for his response.
***
Two floors below, Mike froze to the spot. He’d not heard the name Clarice mentioned for years. The faint sound of tapping broke his concentration.
***
While Sophie wondered who Clarice was, a tapping noise behind her forced her to spin around. Her eyes met the rear view of a woman who tapped her fingers on a book while standing over the body of a man Sophie thought she recognised.
Click here to read the first part of this story and follow the links back to this part.
Written in response to the 99-word flash fiction challenge hosted by Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch.
Click here to read the next part of the story.
Click here to join other writers participating in the challenge.
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Hugh's Views & News 
Tapping, then twitching rabbits. I wonder what’s coming next.
Only Charli has the power to lead this story with her prompts. I think she’s doing a splendid job.
She is. It certainly seems to be working out just fine for your characters, or perhaps their author.
Looking forward to reading everything all at once, Great flashes!
Thank you, Susan. I have now created a document with each episode. I’m looking at a way to publish it on my blog so that people can read the whole thing rather than each blog post. I think I’ve found a way of doing that.
Just read the other parts. They build tension. Wonder what will happen next.
Thank you, that’s excellent feedback about the episodes building tension. Thank you for reading the earlier episodes.
This three-way gaze creates a unique pace, Hugh. Good job continuing to move the story and suspension forward!
Thanks, Charli. I started putting the whole series into one document. If it becomes a book, I’ll self-publish it (with credits to you, of course).
I love the evolution of this story, Hugh. You are a master of saying more with less!
I’m a big fan of flash fiction, Donna. It’s an art I knew nothing about until I started to blog.
Keep them coming!
No worries about that, D. Just so long as I can work Charli’s prompt into the story.
I had to go back and read the ones I’d missed!
I hope you enjoyed them and that all the links worked, Teri? I’m putting the whole thing into one document which I am considering publishing as a page on my blog. From there, readers will be able to read the entire story so far, rather than each post.
Brilliant, dear Hugh! I absolutely love your writing! To be able to stir up some of the ‘fraidy-cat’ in me with only 99 words is great! Well done! Cher xo
Wow! Such lovely praise, Cher, thank you so much. These weekly episodes seem to be popular with some of my readers. It’s great to know.
You are a wonderful writer, Hugh! Crafting a story in 99 words wouldn’t be something I could do, I’m certain of it! But you have clearly mastered it! Cher xo
Fantastic, Hugh! Great sequel!
Thanks, Erika. I’m glad you’re enjoying the series so far.
Sure, Hugh 😄
Well done, Hugh. Again. Looking forward to reading the entire story again, in its entirety, once it’s finished! Thanks for adding the prompt description. 🙂
Thanks for the idea of adding the prompt description, Liesbet. I now have the ongoing story in one document. Currently 1,043 words. I made a few slight changes to some of the episodes from the blog post, but it doesn’t change the story at all. Once it’s finished, I will publish it in one go (unless it’s become a book).
Awesome, clever!
Thank you, Priscilla.