Steven Paul Watson, Author

I won an award for my entry (Night in Vegas) in Emmie MearsEnd of the World Flash Fiction challenge…

I’m not sure it is one I want to brag about or anything, but there it is.  I will admit to having bad habit of waiting until the last minute sometimes to get my flash fiction entries done.  Something I guess I need to work on.  Be sure to swing by and check out all the other entries (and mine can be voted on as a reader’schoice award).

Blog Flash 2012 Day #5:  Frustration

“Crazy ass old man.”  Miranda’s frustration showed as she ran a hand through her dark hair.  “You busted up your own cabin, why? To prove some twisted point?”

“That puppy would be the death of you, if I were anyone else.”

Miranda could see clearly, turned to look at the man, his grey hair, and a weapon just as weathered.  “You said I’d be safe here.”

“Does not mean you let your guard down, I could have been them.”

“They could have followed you here.”  

                                                             

The old man moved in for an embrace, “I was worried about my niece.”

Blog Flash Day #4 – Busy

Miranda leapt around the table, Blue in one hand, she reached with the other only to have the katana fall from grasp.  The sound of it hitting the floor was deafening.  To her knees she released the wailing puppy and franticly fought to raise her weapon in defense. 

“Who’s there?”

To her feet she held the sword in front of her but still she could not see for the thick air in the room.

“You let your guard down.”

She turned to the direction the gruff voice originated as she felt the sharp edge of the blade at her throat.  

(100 Words)

Swing by  Blog Flash 2012 and check out all the wonderful bloggers who are participating in the event and show their entries some love.  

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Blog Flash Day #3:  Color

Lost in Blue’s big brown eyes;  he whined until she finally lifted him from the dark floors, and stood holding him against her black t-shirt as he tried for a kiss.  His spots looked blue in the bright sunlight of the room.

“Want a treat?”

Blue yelped, not yet able to bark.  Setting her weapon on the counter she pulled the drawer of multi-colored soft treats open. 

“Sorry things have been strange, Blue.”

Glass shattered, bright colors filled the room, and she heard the intruder’s soft steps but still could not see him for the blindness.

(96 Words)

…….

We will see how long I can keep this up, I’m going to try and have all 30 entries one story…

The absence of thought, only reflex, she spun to her feet with the katana lifted high and ready to strike at her opponent’s.  She took a deep breath removing the blindfold and dropping to one knee twirling the long blade behind her back in the process. With a big grin her brown eyes met another’s.  “Dangerous game you are playing Blue.”

The small puppy released a small anxious growl; its head twisted to one side and began to wag its tail.  Tiny legs began to fidget in excitement at Miranda’s out reached hand before it lunged forward to her knees.

(100 words)

Thinking –

                                   

She had not moved from her meditative state for hours, her legs crossed and her hands rested on her knees.  The sun beat through the unobstructed windows, but she could not see for the dark blindfold over her eyes.  Lost in her thoughts, the katana sat just in front of her free of its sheath waiting.  The scent of fresh roses from the garden outside filled the room as she took another deep breath, listening to the shadows.  Miranda had lost much in her life, having never known her father but still his enemies were coming for her.

(99 words)

(482 words)

Swing by Emmie Mears “End of the World” flash fiction page to see all the great entries.

“I’m not going to apologize…”  It was the only time the southern came out in that one word, and she didn’t say it often.  She so rarely had a reason to apologize.  And this was one of those times she had nothing to be sorry for, it was all on him. 

“Come on talk to me…”  Her blue eyes pierced through him and all he could do was smile.  “It’s a simple question; what are you thinking?  I just want to know what is going on behind those eyes.”  Frustration was building in her voice; her smile was less evident and more serious now. 

Again he smiled even looked away from her for a moment before he brought his own eyes back to meet hers.  It was anything but a simple question, and she knew that.  He had let her in, past all the walls he thought he had built up to keep people out only to find others constructed. To keep people from knowing the person he truly was, because to let people in was to give people a way to hurt him. 

“You’re right,” he said, with his smirk of a smile as she looked away, instantly his hand found her chin raising her gaze back to his own.  “There is always something going on up here, I am never thinking about just one thing, at times it borders on a dozen or more things running circles around my head.”  He stepped in closer to her and smiled.  “I have never met anyone like you.  I never planned to feel this way, to let you in.  I even tried to find a way out, to not feel this way.  I am never going to say truer words to you.  I love you.  When we are apart, you are always there on my mind.  But when I am with you, looking at you, talking with you, you are the only thing on my mind.”

Five Sentence Fiction – Scarlet

                    

Her jeep sat in the same place it had when he left for work that morning;  he knew something was up as normally her days off are spent on the beach, the local café absorbed in her laptop writing, or at the bookstore seeking the latest mystery novel.  He walked through the door and straight into the kitchen where his eyes drifted to the stack of congratulatory cards; they were still arriving though the wedding was four months past.  When he made his way to the second floor he immediately saw the paint cans cluttering the end of the hallway outside their office; the room where they spent many hours, where one wall was covered in book shelves, another with trinkets and mementos of their past and dual desks centering the room.  Entering he was greeted by newly red walls, a woman with as much paint on her clothing as the walls, and his favorite thing in the world, her smile, “You like?”  He instantly noticed her eyes, the deepest of blue as they drifted off from him telling him all he needed to know, she hated it, he quickly replied the best way he knew how pulling her tightly into his arms and a simple kiss on the forehead.

For more Five Sentence Fiction swing by Lillie McFerrin’sblog!  (She is also a rockstar editor)

Visual Dare:  Gutted

“Patrick!”

A hood covered his head; cuffs bound his wrists and panic set in.  “Patrick!” Nathan yelled, trying to sound more confident.  He remembered the truck, nothing else.  The air smelled and it clung to his lungs with each breath.  Pushing his back up the wall, a step forward and the floor beneath him creaked. 

    

“Pat!”  

Unable to hide his fear, two quick steps forward and he tumbled to the floor shaking the hood free.  He saw his friend’s cold stare and immediately realized why Patrick had never answered.  An old woman’s cackle echoed throughout the decaying home…

(97 Words)

Check out all the other entries for this week’s Visual Dare!