He sat there, day after day with his yellow cap, green jacket, colorful socks, and sneakers. At the beginning, passerby would sit down next to him, asking him if he’s okay, where’s his family, and all those relevant questions. He would shake his head or smile and reply no thank you. After a week, the passerby stopping by his bench lessened and a month later, everyone ignored his presence like they would when they encounter a statue. Then one morning, after a snow storm through the night, a jogger passed by the bench. She didn’t notice anything strange until she was several steps passed the bench. She stopped, pulled her earbuds from her ears, turned, and screamed.
********
Ice crystals covered the man’s purple face. His eyes were wide open, staring up at the sky, not blinking while a small trail of blood ran from the bullet hole in his forehead to above the bridge of his nose.
(~156 words)
Sorry for the horrifying take on this week’s picture. I’ve been binge watch crime dramas most of the week (first Elementary then Bones) that my fantasies have morphed into the horror and crime drama genre.
I am participating in Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writer, where we write a piece between 100 and 150 words (more or less 25 words) in length inspired by the photo prompt above.
Don’t apologize for the gruesome take on the prompt. I loved it!
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I thought it might scare some of the readers. 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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Not this reader. 😉
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I enjoyed it as well.
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Thanks.
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i like suspense and gore….good one Yinglan!
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Thank you.
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Oh no…now I wonder what happened to him. Who’s responsible for the bullet hole? Gruesome take yes, but such a great story!
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It makes me wonder too like how long has he been dead. I hope the police can solve this one. Thanks for reading.
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Well if there are ice crystals forming on his skin that would suggest a period of several hours not to mention then that rigor would begin to set, but the blood is an interesting take. If is still running or not dried it would imply the bullet hole is fairly recent, so could the man have been shot after he died?
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Actually, the blood had already stopped but it might had been due to the cold temperature overnight but I don’t think he was shot after he died.
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Interesting… what gives it a way I think way to much about different murder stories
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Poor guy! Sitting peacefully on a bench and someone shoots him dead! Great mystery/crime story!
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Thank you.
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Great visuals on that! I like the way it started off a sweet local story type thing and then bam! went way off that track.
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Thanks. 🙂
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I thought you had stopped at the scream because the jogger had recognized his absence. Actually I liked that ending in which it would show how we accept people until they are gone. Do I make myself clear? Anyway I liked it better up to the gun shot. 😀
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Stopping at the scream? That wouldn’t be fun and you know I like fun endings. 😀
Anyway, I get what you’re saying. I was planning to write that version but it seemed a little sad.
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And a gunshot to the head is not so sad! Oh, Yinglan, iI enjoy you. Keep ’em coming! 😀
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Haha! I think for once, I like my readers to scream instead of cry. 😀
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Surprising twist at the end! Begs to be asked why he was there, but he can no longer answer!
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Yeah, it does begs the question. Perhaps he was waiting for someone who never showed but got ambushed instead? And now, we’ll never know.
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How creepy but well done. I like how he became part of the scenery until the was shot.
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Thank you. 🙂
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This is quite a thrill.
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Thank you. 🙂
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My pleasure
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Reblogged this on Artsy Jolie Girl.
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What happened?
Maybe an angry passerby shot him?
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I believe it’s someone with a vengeance for this man.
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