A Rather Dark Christmas Story

My first book, Druid’s Portal: The first Journey will be out in March 2017.

In the meantime, I thought I would share some of my flash fiction. This one came as a prompt from my writer’s group, a never failing source of inspiration.

The Bottle

I shook the bottle harder and the water bubbled, going a murky green. A queasy green, like public toilet splashes after St Patrick’s day. I swallowed hard, it had been a long time since my last drink, even longer since my last meal. ‘Please be a genie,’ I whispered. The stuff in the bottle settled, and I wondered what it was. It looked better than the last bottle of rotgut I had stolen from the old man. ‘He didn’t need it, he was close to death anyway.’ I sniffed and wiped my nose on his jacket. He hadn’t needed that either when I had finished with him.

I cracked the top of the bottle off, smashing it against the skip. If it was a genie, I wouldn’t have to sleep in there again. ‘ No sirree mister, its gunna be soft beds and a bathtub of booze for me.’  The bottle grew warm in my hands, and an awful smelling mist came out, swirling around my head. When I stopped coughing the mist had cleared and a tiny ugly creature stood in front of me. He was dressed what looked like a red Santa suit.

‘My first wish is..’ I started.

‘I am not a genie of wishes, fool.’ He snarled, showing green fangs.

‘What are you then? I want what’s coming to me, I released you.’ He wasn’t going to get away, I grabbed his skinny arm. ‘Three wishes, or I will stuff you back in that bottle in little tiny pieces.’

‘I give three things, not what you wish for but what you deserve.’ He licked his lips with a long forked tongue. ‘So, have you been naughty or nice?’

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