With all the preparations for making the new movie, this past month has flown by in a blur.  I almost missed the deadline for the Third Campaigner Challenge – Show Not Tell, but I wanted to make sure I participated in all three challenges, so I’ve thrown something together to squeeze in right before the deadline.  Here are the rules:

Write a blog post in 300 words or less, excluding the title. The post can be in any format, whether flash fiction, non-fiction, humorous blog musings, poem, etc. The blog post should show:
     • that it’s morning,
     • that a man or a woman (or both) is at the beach
     • that the MC (main character) is bored
     • that something stinks behind where he/she is sitting
     • that something surprising happens.
Just for fun, see if you can involve all five senses AND include these random words: "synbatec," "wastopaneer," and "tacise."   (NB. these words are completely made up and are not intended to have any meaning other than the one you give them).

I showed all the elements, involved all five senses, and included the three made-up words.  And even though it wasn't a requirement for this challenge, my story clocks in at exactly 300 words.  My entry is number 128, so if you like it, please go here and vote for it.  Thank you!

Party Girl

Deena sighed and took another swig from her silver flask.  She almost gagged as the bitter coffee invaded her mouth, but she needed the jolt to stay awake - the constant shushing of the synbatec waves had numbed her brain.  The flask failed to keep the coffee warm, but was part of her cover, along with the short, clingy dress and forced drunken giggles.

Two days ago, a fourth party girl had been discovered under the pier, stabbed and mutilated.  Deena and her partner Bill were the best in the department, so the police chief had ordered them to stakeout the scene using her as bait.  But the sky had transitioned from black to purple to pink with no appearance from the killer.

The wind shifted, and her nose twitched as Bill’s body odor drifted from where he hid behind the dunes.  She called out, “He’s not going to show.  Go on home to be with your family.”

“It’s not safe to leave you here.”

Deena bit back a tacise retort.  “He only strikes at night, and besides, I’m armed.”

There was only a slight hesitation before Bill’s wastopaneer voice rumbled, “Fine, I’ll see you tonight for round two.”

A few minutes later, Deena sensed someone approaching from her left.  A silky voice enveloped her.  “Hello, beautiful.”

She rewarded him with a wide smile.

He wrapped a warm hand around her arm and pulled her to her feet.

She reached into her purse and curled her fingers around the handle of her weapon.

He leaned down to whisper in her ear, his hot breath making her shiver.  “I’ve got a silly blonde ready and waiting.”

She kissed him.  “Thanks, Tony.  Now we can finally get this party started.”  She yanked the knife from her purse and strode towards the pier.

So did you participate in the beach party?  Let me know where to find your story so we can all wastopaneer together!

Photo credit to Jason Nelson