Making Camp
Thank you for reading!
It had been a homestead, once. Now only the skeleton of the house remains, choked by weeds. It's as good a place to sleep as any, I suppose – hard to find someplace safe these days. There's too much danger in the world now. Too many dogs around.
Tonight I am not alone. Her empty eye sockets stare reproachfully at me as I pull apart the children's table to make a fire. “What?” I ask. “I’m only trying to survive.”
I hear them in the distance, baying like the animals they have become.
She gives me no reply.
About the Creator
Ash Taylor
Lover of fantasy and all things whimsical. Currently studying Writing and Publishing at UNE in Armidale, Australia. Living on Anaiwan land.
he/him
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Easy to read and follow
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Compelling and original writing
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Mason’s closet was little more than an old, dusty relic. It was the sort of relic unbecoming of a well-off middle class Texan family, according to Mama. She absolutely hated the thing. She hated it for reasons Mason could not even begin to understand. It was just a hunk of wood, after all.
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Comments (9)
Wow, this is chilling but very creative. congrats on runner-up
Ash, this is a really impactful story! You really packed it full of tense, morbid imagery. I'm impressed with your ability to create such an eery and tension-filled scene in such a small word count! Beautiful work! Also, it looks like congratulations are in order! Well done on your placement on the challenge Ash!! 🎉
Great work. Congratulations. ☺️💙👍
I must have missed this announcement Ash! Great news. Congrats on your placement. ☺️🎉
Congratulations, great story
I love the detail about pulling apart a child's table to make a fire. Great imagery here. Congrats to you!
This was good and gave me a sense of worldly depth in such a short time. Quick question, was this "It's a good a place to sleep as any" supposed to be "It's as good a place to sleep as any"?
Congrats on your win! 🥂 I hearted this when you published it, but didn’t comment. So let me say now I love how mysterious this is. You used the constraints of microfiction impeccably. I can see this scene so vividly in my mind, and feel the desperation and despair… yet, I’m left with questions. As a reader I get to fill in the blanks, and that’s so enjoyable. 🩷
Yikes! You have been busy, now I get your fb vocal post! I love the dystopian feel here in your micro-fiction piece.