First Campaigner Challenge – A Killer Sound
February 25, 2012

I wasn’t sure I was going have time to write something for Rachael Harrie’s First Campaigner Challenge, but I had so much fun last time I really wanted to give it a whirl.  Here are the rules in Rach’s words:

The monster's orange eye

Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “Shadows crept across the wall”. These five words will be included in the word count. 
If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), do one or more of these:
end the story with the words: "everything faded." (also included in the word count)
include the word "orange" in the story
write in the same genre you normally write
make your story 200 words exactly!
 
So pushing up against the deadline as usual, here’s my entry.
 
A Killer Sound 
 
Shadows crept across the wall, as Daisy cowered under the bed.
She strived not to make a sound, while squeals of terror rang ‘round her head.
 
Her younger brother crouched in the closet, the door not quite shut;
Far too late to push it closed without risking the monster’s cut.
 
The beast stalked into the room, his feet leaving smears of blood;
And as he peered around, she prayed he’d not hear her heart thud.
 
Just when he turned away to leave, they both heard a frightened squeak;
Her brother had betrayed his hideaway as his terror reached its peak.
 
The creature’s orange eyes grew round, full of predatory glee,
And though Daisy was devastated, she knew this was her chance to flee.
 
But her parents had taught her better than that: they were mice not lowly rats.
It was her duty to protect him, even from brutal tomcats.
 
So she scurried from her safe haven to capture the killer’s eye,
And donned a courageous face to prove she wasn’t scared to die.
 
As her brother scampered to freedom, she had no regrets for the life she’d traded.
Then the feline’s teeth sank deep, and Daisy smiled as everything faded.
 
 
When I started this one, I thought it would be in the same vein as my entry for the first challenge from the last campaign – sort of a companion piece from the POV of a new victim rather than the kitty villain.  So I decided to try my hand at writing a poem to push myself and also set it apart from the first one.  I planned to have a light-hearted, funny ending like the earlier one, but as I was writing, that’s not the direction it took.  Since I was determined to use the “everything faded” ending, it seemed like Daisy had to die, and if she was going to die, I wanted it to be a noble self-sacrifice.  I hope reading this wasn’t too much of a bummer for your day; and if you thought it was worthy, you can go here and vote for #204.
 
I started and ended the poem with the challenge words.  I used the word “orange.”  I usually write YA thriller/horror/suspense, so I think this qualifies.  And it’s exactly 200 words (although meeting that part of the challenge ended up bungling the meter in a few of the stanzas *sad face*).  
 
So are there shadows creeping across your blog wall?  If so, leave a link to let me know where to find your entry.  And if you have any feedback on my entry, please let me know.
 
Photo credit to darkwallz.com

I wasn’t sure I was going have time to write something for Rachael Harrie’s First Campaigner Challenge, but I had so much fun last time I really wanted to give it a whirl.  Here are the rules in Rach’s words:

The monster's orange eye

Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “Shadows crept across the wall”. These five words will be included in the word count. 
If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), do one or more of these:
end the story with the words: "everything faded." (also included in the word count)
include the word "orange" in the story
write in the same genre you normally write
make your story 200 words exactly!
 
So pushing up against the deadline as usual, here’s my entry.
 
A Killer Sound 
 
Shadows crept across the wall, as Daisy cowered under the bed.
She strived not to make a sound, while squeals of terror rang ‘round her head.
 
Her younger brother crouched in the closet, the door not quite shut;
Far too late to push it closed without risking the monster’s cut.
 
The beast stalked into the room, his feet leaving smears of blood;
And as he peered around, she prayed he’d not hear her heart thud.
 
Just when he turned away to leave, they both heard a frightened squeak;
Her brother had betrayed his hideaway as his terror reached its peak.
 
The creature’s orange eyes grew round, full of predatory glee,
And though Daisy was devastated, she knew this was her chance to flee.
 
But her parents had taught her better than that: they were mice not lowly rats.
It was her duty to protect him, even from brutal tomcats.
 
So she scurried from her safe haven to capture the killer’s eye,
And donned a courageous face to prove she wasn’t scared to die.
 
As her brother scampered to freedom, she had no regrets for the life she’d traded.
Then the feline’s teeth sank deep, and Daisy smiled as everything faded.
 
 
When I started this one, I thought it would be in the same vein as my entry for the first challenge from the last campaign – sort of a companion piece from the POV of a new victim rather than the kitty villain.  So I decided to try my hand at writing a poem to push myself and also set it apart from the first one.  I planned to have a light-hearted, funny ending like the earlier one, but as I was writing, that’s not the direction it took.  Since I was determined to use the “everything faded” ending, it seemed like Daisy had to die, and if she was going to die, I wanted it to be a noble self-sacrifice.  I hope reading this wasn’t too much of a bummer for your day; and if you thought it was worthy, you can go here and vote for #204.
 
I started and ended the poem with the challenge words.  I used the word “orange.”  I usually write YA thriller/horror/suspense, so I think this qualifies.  And it’s exactly 200 words (although meeting that part of the challenge ended up bungling the meter in a few of the stanzas *sad face*).  
 
So are there shadows creeping across your blog wall?  If so, leave a link to let me know where to find your entry.  And if you have any feedback on my entry, please let me know.
 
Photo credit to darkwallz.com

Jocelyn Rish

Jocelyn Rish is a writer and filmmaker who never imagined her cheeky sense of humor would lead to a book about animal butts. When she's not researching fanny facts, she tutors kids to help them discover the magic of reading. Jocelyn has won numerous awards for her short stories, screenplays, short films, and novels and lives in South Carolina with her booty-ful dogs.