FLASH FICTION:-- HORROR, SCI-FI, HUMOUR, CRIME, SLICE OF LIFE, ETC.

Friday 3 January 2014

In Finkle woods


Daniel had heard the story of the Finkle woods monster many times, the tales of horror and disappearances, mutilations and partly eaten victims. All codswallop as far as he was concerned. Oh, the monster existed alright, he was absolutely sure of that, just as sure as he was of the gold and diamonds that were hidden in the woods, the riches that were protected from treasure-seekers by the horrific tales.

Daniel had done his research, had read all the books and documents concerning the Finkle woods monster, the truth was there for anyone who could interpret the words. He had nothing to fear from it, the creature relied on the folk tales and superstitions to protect itself and its hidden hoard.

For several days now Daniel had been combing the woods, digging at likely spots, at tree bases and rock formations, and eventually his perseverance paid off.

There was a loud metallic CLANK as his spade glanced off something just beneath the soil surface. A few minutes more earth clearing, and Daniel pulled out a large steel chest, which he prised open to reveal a fortune in gold coins, diamonds and jewellery.

“You must put that back, it belongs to me.”

The gravelly voice had come from behind Daniel.

Daniel rose and turned to face the speaker, a rather frail looking, wrinkly old man wearing an ankle length grey robe. He almost laughed out loud when he saw the pathetic figure that was the Finkle woods monster. “Or what?” He said.

“Or I will just have to eat you.” Said the man, a trickle of drool dripped from one corner of his mouth.

”You won't eat me.” Said Daniel. “I've read my stuff, that's just bluff and bluster, you couldn't possibly eat me.”

“What makes you think that?” Came the reply. Daniel thought it must be his imagination playing tricks, because the old man didn't look quite so wrinkled now, or quite so old, or frail, he looked slightly taller too, and heavier set.

“I know for a fact that you're either a vegetarian or a vegan, and so you couldn't possibly eat me.” Said Daniel. As he spoke the man seemed to grow even taller and heavier looking. A yellow glint tinged his eyes, his teeth seemed longer and sharper, his mouth drooled faster.

“A vegetarian or vegan? What on earth gave you that idea?”

Daniel stared at the man, starting to feel a little unsure of himself now, his confidence draining from him at around the same rate that the man was growing.

“It... It said in the book of lore that you wouldn't eat anything that has a face.” Stuttered Daniel. By now the creature loomed over him, emanating a stench of pure malevolence, its mouth a grinning cavern of needles.

“Yes, the book states the truth, but I fail to see how that knowledge alleviates your predicament.” Snarled the creature as it produced an extremely vicious-looking curved knife from the depths of its robe.

“Well... I have a face...” Spluttered Daniel.

The creature grabbed Daniel by the neck with one of its massive clawed hands, and lifted him several feet into the air.

“Not for much longer you won't.”

Daniel screamed and screamed and screamed as the sharp blade sank deeply into his forehead and began slicing its way down towards his chin.


©2014 Stephen. J. Green.

20 comments:

  1. You had me at codswallop. Nice one, Steve, although I did resemble, a bit, your last name after that dining experience...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Cathy. Yes, it being one my flashes you wouldn't have expected that beginning to portend a good ending for Daniel, would you? :-)

      I do hope you weren't eating when you read it. :-)

      Delete
  2. Something nice and grim to start 2014 with! Nice one :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Laura, I may balance that out by posting a humourous one next week... maybe. Mwuhahahaha!! :-)

      Delete
  3. Greed has a way of seducing men to check their common sense at the door, doesn't it? Men think they have it under control, that they've thought through all the variables, but there's always one detail that escapes their attention. Too bad Daniel couldn't make the cognitive leap to see where his actions might lead. A fine story, Steve.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Stephen. Yes, greed does tend to distort a person's thinking and logic, a bit of lateral thinking on Daniel's part may have convinced him of an alternate meaning to the words in the book of lore.

      Delete
  4. Daniel was pretty screwed from the opening paragraph. Rest in peace, skeptics in fiction!

    ReplyDelete
  5. assumption is the mother of all .... yep. He shoulda seen that coming :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It certainly is. I would like to say that Daniel will now have to face the consequences of his assumption, but I couldn't say it with a straight face... errr neither could he now. :-)

      Delete
  6. Wow Steve, this is so well described that I'm now sick to my stomach....or is that the cake? :) I just thank goodness I was eating it While reading this!
    Great work!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Deanna, sorry about your tummy, probably not caused by the cake either. :-)

      Delete
  7. Ha! I meant thank goodness I WAS NOT eating the cake while reading! Sheesh!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha! I guessed that was what you meant Deanna, I hope your tummy has recovered enough to enjoy your cake now. :-)

      This story even makes me cringe when I visualize the ending.

      Delete
  8. I really love stories where the protagonist is so very clever about some things, but so very clueless about other things -- things they should be paying attention to.

    If this doesn't come from a real folk tale, I think it should be made one! Everybody tell it to a child when they get the chance.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Katherine. Many people will just read into something only what they want to believe, quite often to their detriment.

      I think probably many children's folk tales start out something like this, and so many of them are quite frightening to children too, but I would have to do a bit of tweaking to this before telling it to any children, it scares me enough as it is, even though it was written a bit tongue-in-cheek.

      Thank you for the wonderful comment. :-)

      Delete
  9. codswallop - love the use of this word. LOL

    Well now he'll believe, won't he?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha! It's not a word I use myself, only in my writing when I'm being frivolous, and instead of using a stronger alternative, but it does have a certain "Something" about it doesn't it?

      As for Daniel, I think by the time that blade reached his chin he would have been a staunch believer in the dangers of the Finkle woods monster. Bwuhahahahaha!!

      Delete
  10. I liked how the monster grew and grew. I wonder if the monster would've let Daniel go if he'd agreed to just leave the treasure alone after being caught in the act?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wouldn't have thought so Richard, when he first found the hoard he was still certain that the "Monster" was just bluffing, and by the time he realized the truth it was far, far too late.

      Delete