February 6, 2023, prompt: Write a story as a love letter to nature in 99 words (no more, no less). You could reach back to more pastoral times of writing or enter into the future. Who is writing the letter — an ant or an aunt? Is it a lifetime of love or aeons? Go where the prompt leads! Click here for details.
Natural Ways – by Hugh W. Roberts
Written in blood, the script of the love letter was unsteady.
Addressed to ‘Nature, my one true love,’ the writer spoke of a deep, abiding affection, a need to be near the earth and its creatures.
As the police read on, chills ran down their spines. The writer spoke of desires to be one with nature, to shed their human skin and live as wild things do. It was clear the author was unstable. The authorities feared the worst.
Searching the woods, they found a campsite, abandoned but for a single, chilling clue: a neatly arranged pile of bones.
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Written for the 99-word flash fiction challenge hosted by Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch.
Click here to view last week’s entries.
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Enjoyed this piece of flash fiction? Then you’ll love ‘Glimpses.’
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Glimpses
28 short stories and pieces of flash fiction take the reader on a rollercoaster of twists and turns.
Paperback – £4.99
Kindle – £0.99
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Intriguing ending, Hugh. I was thinking serial killer!
You’d make a great dective.
Thank you!
Very chilling. Not sure how he arranged his pile of bones though.
Was it he/she who arranged those bones, though? Were they his/her bones?
Good questions, Hugh. You’re the best one to answer though. :)
It’s so interesting that you see those bones as the bones of the writer of the letter, Norah. I love how readers interpret these pieces of flash fiction.
The responses to the stories are as varied as the story responses are to the prompt. Always amazing.
That’s the twisty Hugh I know! You’re a great storyteller but I think your mind is full of kindness.
People who know me, I hope, will confirm that, Terri. I can’t help but allow my mind to wander down the dark path when writing many of these flash fiction pieces.
Well I guess the writer got his wish – to be one with nature!
He/she did.
I always enjoy your short fiction, Hugh. It’s hard to tell a story in so few words, yet you always manage. Well done.
Thanks for the great feedback, Dan.
I wonder at all that blood… such a sticky mess. You do have recesses that are deep and chilling
Yes, I surprise myself sometimes with what comes out of my head and through my fingertips. I had to dig very deep for this story.
😱 You have such a way of writing, Hugh!!
Thanks so much, Erika. That’s so lovely of you to say.
Simply how I see it 😊
Chilling, indeed. Still some human capacities left (must have been an organized person), before the human skin was shed and he became one with nature, living and killing like animals do. Good one, Hugh!
Glad you enjoyed it, Liesbet. I’m pleased the chilling element came through. I found it rather tough to write because I went deeper into my mind. It does worry me, sometimes.
Loved this Hugh … it’ll keep the police perplexed for a while
Thanks, Brenda. If Mother Nature has her way, it’ll remain a case unsolved. Forensics may have other ideas.
So who arranged the bones….? So many questions.
Intriguing Mr Roberts!
Thank you. I’m thinking Mother Nature arranged those bones, Paul.