Non-Breathers - FLASH FICTION CHALLENGE: ANOTHER ROLL OF THE DICE

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Photo credit: Raymond Larose / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND

I found this Flash Fiction challenge via a friend of mine, Thanks Gary!  Here are the rules this week:

Once again, get out your d20s and d10s (or just click on over to the random number generator) because it’s time to randomly choose the aspects of your flash fiction. The instructions are as follows:

On the subgenre table below, pick two subgenres. Mash them sonsa-bitches up into one story. Then, roll once from the subsequent two lists (Must Feature and Must Also Feature). Then, write 1000 words or so of your flash fiction story. Post at your space. Link back here.

 

I chose the following genres

Post-Apocalyptic
Paranormal Romance


My dice rolls oblige me to incorporate the following.


A disturbing diary
A massive feast


Here is the someone creepy results.

The Non-Breathers

Journaling my thoughts keeps me sane. I keep in close to my heart, literally. That’s where they like to attack first, the heart. We call them non-breathers but it’s not quite accurate. Some call them zombies but they are still alive, breathing through slits on their backs. The disease a result of chemical and nuclear warfare. We claimed victory but everyone lost.


“Paul, stop writing we have to get out of here.”


Abby pulls me back to reality. We are being hunted. We gather our supplies and sneak out of the destroyed lab facility where we once worked. Bones and decayed carcasses of animals and humans create a foul stench. The remains of a massive non-breather feast and a harsh reminder as we pick our way through to a tunnel leading home. We pause as we hear the howls and scratching claws of those once human lurching above us and sensing our closeness. I feel Abby’s fear in the enclosed space and clutch her hand, pulling her through as the sounds grow louder and more urgent.


We slowly emerge from the tunnel into the wide open spaces separating us from our home, hidden deep within the stately mountain before us. No moans or howls reach our ears so we break into a run and head for home. The only vegetation growing wild product prickly vines and spurs. They snag our clothing as we run and scrape against our bare arms. Soon the moaning starts behind us as it always does. We don’t slow but an infected man suddenly appears before us. No longer in fear, Abby releases my hand, snatches the rifle strapped to her back to the ready and fires one shot catching our foe between the eyes. She never stopped running.


We reach the mountain, leaving the non-breathers behind. Weaving through tunnels and caves we reach our home. I work the lever and release the lock on the boulder keeping our home hidden. Once inside I secure it and leave a knife by the rope in case to seal us in, just in case.


Abby goes to check on Angel. I watch from the door of the make shift room. Angel appears to be sleeping in her cage. The slits on her back open and close to a soothing rhythm. Abby keeps another book close to her heart. She’s reading the last entry again. A disturbing diary of a young girl fighting against disease and insanity. I look over her shoulder as that the last sentence our daughter wrote.


“Mommy and Daddy fear me now. I don’t blame them. They toss chunks of raw meat into my cage and I greedily eat it like an animal. I can’t seem to stop myself, I’m becoming one of them. I’m scared.”


I reach over and close the book.  I don’t mention the tiny slit forming on her back.  I can’t bear to.  ”We’ll find the cure,” I insist and I kiss the crown of her head.”


“Are you sure?”


“You bet your ass.”


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Non-Breathers - FLASH FICTION CHALLENGE: ANOTHER ROLL OF THE DICE