My latest 250-word entry for Flash Fiction Friday is “The Terror Within”—or, rather, the beginning of a story by that name. I was inspired by this week’s challenge to write a full-on short story, but to keep the entry within the word limit, I only wrote the introduction. Will I finish it? I don’t know. I’d love some feedback, and if it’s positive, I might just go ahead and write the rest.
For the record, the three wildcard words provided this week at the Supplicium Post Mortem blog were “restraint”, “tidal”, and “koozie”, and I managed to use them all—though I took great liberty with the word “koozie”, which, according to Wikipedia, is actually “a fabric or foam device that is designed to keep a beverage can or bottle cold.”
As always, I hope you enjoy.
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THE TERROR WITHIN
(Introduction)
Colonel Brightman stood outside a cavern beside a black sea that roiled violently beneath the tidal pull of three moons above. He was unsure what to expect, but he knew he must proceed. There was a war, and this planet was at its frontline. His people needed local support. He had to meet with the Tribal Council, and the only way was to prove himself worthy by confronting the entity known as the koozie.
“Are you ready, sir?” asked Major Ellison, the advance troop leader. “Few return alive.”
“I’m a colonel in the Coalition Expeditionary Forces,” Brightman replied. “I’m ready for anything.” His voice wavered only slightly.
“Remember what our local contact said, sir. The koozie is under restraint. The energy of the marda crystals that grow in the cavern keeps it confined, but it’ll do anything in its power to lure and devour you—or make you run. It can read your mind, change its shape. It can become what you fear most, or it can appeal to your innermost weaknesses. It can alter your perception of your surroundings.”
“I remember, Major. Avoid the koozie, bring back a marda crystal as proof that I went in.”
“Yes, sir.”
Brightman thought of the things he feared. There weren’t many, and he’d faced them all before with little trouble. “I’m going in,” he said.
“Good luck, sir,” said Ellison, and she saluted.
“Thank you, Major,” Brightman replied. He returned the salute and stepped inside the cavern….
(To Be Continued…?)
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The koozie is a great name for a monster. Also alluring – this character’s basic confidence. You gotta hope he’s walking into something that will blow his head open!
Definitely – keep going with it!
[...] Travis King [...]
Wow, you must go on with this story, and I did titter a bit over the liberal use of the word Koozie but by the end of the story I could believe it was an entity. =D