Short Fiction Blog

A chill was in the air, trash blowing onto the sidewalk added to the grime. Watching where she stepped to avoid walking on the derelicts lining the alleys, Rissa headed home.

 She was staying in a house on the north side of town, alone this time. There had been others in the home. Two young Stalkers were sharing the place when Rissa found it.

“You can’t stay here,” one of them told her when she walked in the door late one morning.

“Yeah, this is our place. We killed the old lady to get it,” the other added.

“You killed an old woman to get her house, did you?” Rissa inquired.

“Damn straight. She had one foot in the grave anyway.”

“What if it had been your grandmother? You do have grandmothers, right?” Rissa demanded.

“Not anymore we don’t.”

“Tough guys, are you? Well, since you’re so tough, you can go out and find another place to stay. I’m taking this one.”

The two Stalkers looked at each other, then back at Rissa. “Don’t even think about it,” she snarled. “You may think you can take me, but I’ll beat you to a pulp and leave you hanging on the fence outside to burn.”

Something in her eyes must have convinced them she meant what she said, because they started gathering their things, saying, “Whatever, bitch, we got friends we can stay with. This place is cold and drafty anyway. We were going to move on soon anyhow.”

Rissa only watched, waiting until they finished packing, and then escorted them to the door. Before leaving, they turned and told her, “You’ll be sorry for this one day. You can’t come on our turf and cause trouble without facing the consequences.”

“What are you gonna do? Kill me?” Rissa chided before slamming the door in their faces.

Exiting the airport in New York, Rissa hurried into the night. Shaking and sweating, she went in search of food. It wasn’t long before she came upon the perfect subject.

The man was jimmying the car door. Looking over his shoulder, he noticed Rissa watching. Dropping the screwdriver, he smirked and asked, “What you doing out here all alone, pretty lady?”

“Looking for you,” Rissa replied seductively.

Stepping away from the car, stringy hair swinging in the breeze, the man swaggered over. Rissa cringed at the stench preceding him. Why can’t any of these assholes take baths, she thought with disgust.

 “You new around here?” the man inquired. “I know I would remember you.”

“I just flew in. Thought I’d check out the neighborhood. See what was on the menu.”

“Huh?” he said, scrunching up his face trying to figure out what she was talking about. “There ain’t no restaurants open this late.”

“Oh, I believe I’ll be full in a little bit. Looks meaty enough, even if it smells a little rotten,” Rissa said before pouncing.

Rissa couldn’t stay with the Stalkers at the apartment complex any longer. After the carnage she witnessed the night before, she had to move on. She decided on New York as her next destination.

I always wanted to go to New York, she thought as she made her way to the airport. There has to be a lot of scumbags there that need killing. They should put me on TV. I’m sure helping the crime rate wherever I go.

Rissa had broken one of her rules last night. She stole money. She didn’t take it from an Outsider though. She stole from the other Stalkers. I will not feel bad about this, she thought while searching through their belongings. Not after what they did to those poor homeless people.

Entering the airport, she looked around curiously. She hadn’t been around this many people since Julia turned her. I can do this, she thought, fighting the urge to take. I have to get on that plane and make it to New York.

After purchasing her ticket, Rissa sat in the waiting area. An elderly woman sat beside her. Pulling her knitting out of a bag beside her, she remarked, “I sure am glad you’re here, young lady. I’m scared to sit beside just anybody at the airport.” She shook her head before continuing, “There are some bad people in this world. You can never be too careful.”

Even the Stalkers celebrate Thanksgiving!

Rissa couldn’t believe what she was hearing. The Stalkers in the apartment complex were planning an attack. They were talking about it like it meant nothing. “They’re easy pickings. Just wait and attack as soon as they leave the building,” a burly Stalker said to Rissa.

“You can’t do this. It’s not right,” Rissa replied.

“Not right. Who cares what’s right or not. They mean nothing to us.”

“There are others you can take. You don’t have to do this,” Rissa pleaded.

She could see her pleas were falling on deaf ears by the expressions on their faces. They were looking at her as if she were crazy. She tried to change the women’s minds. “Please, you know this isn’t right.”

“I know I have to feed. They’re life isn’t worth anything anyway. We’re doing them a favor,” one woman snapped.

She was still trying to change their minds while the group walked down the street. The closer they got to their destination, the more determined she became. “I know where there are people to feed on. People who deserve to die. Let’s go there,” she urged the group.

“Where are you talking about?” one of the Stalkers asked.

“Over on Vine. There’s a gang who hangs out there. They sell dope to little kids. They need to die.”

Shaking his head, the man replied, “They’d put up a fight. This is Thanksgiving. I don’t want to work for my food tonight.”

Rissa didn’t know what else to do. The building was in sight. She was trying to think of a more persuasive argument, when the burly Stalker shouted, “Now!”

The group rushed around the corner, pouncing on the people leaving the soup kitchen.

Let’s play a game. I offer this story for your consideration. It’s not just any ole story though. It has something unique about it. Read the story, then see if you can tell what’s different about it. Are you a discerning reader? Do you pay close attention to detail?

I’m curious to see how many people figure out what makes the story unique. I hope lots of you will play! It’s a short story, so won’t take up much of your time. I would love to know what you think of the story also, even if you don’t figure out what makes it different.

I made comments moderated for this post. (Hopefully) That way if the first person guesses right, others won’t know right off the bat.

So, who’s first? Let the games begin!

Dawn Break

Dawn slipped over the horizon. An orange hue colored the meadow, bringing new life to the wild flowers riotously growing there. Beth loved watching the sunrise over Lower Meadow. It was the literal bright spot of her day. Her way of making the drudgery easier to deal with.

Sighing, she continued on her way to Hearst House. She would have to hurry. Mrs. Atchison would skin her hide if she were late again. “Punctuality is a virtue, young lady.” Mrs. Atchison pronounced the last time she was late. Right before handing her a toothbrush, instructing her to clean the bathroom from top to bottom.

I will be out of this life soon, Beth thought. Cornelius promised it would be any day now.

Upon entering the side door, she heard Mrs. Atchison talking with someone. Recognizing Cornelius’s voice, she rushed forward. His next words stopped her in her tracks, however.

“The wedding will be on Saturday, June first. You are to send the invitations no later than next Monday. We want everything to be perfect. Alicia is finally home from London, ready to go ahead. I have assured her all is well. She is secure in my devotion,” he emphasized. “There will be no reason for her to postpone this time. No reasons! Do I make myself clear, Mrs. Atchison?”

“Yes, Sir, I understand perfectly.”

“Very good then, I leave it in your capable hands.”

Beth could not believe what she had just heard. Cornelius was getting married. To Alicia, no less. The woman he swore he wanted nothing more to do with. “You are the only one for me, Bethy, you know that. Alicia is in the past. She was too complicated, always wanting more. I need a girl like you, one who knows her worth without all the trappings,” he had told her on one of their early encounters. Right before I tumbled on the bed with him, she groaned to herself.

“Oh, there you are,” Mrs. Atchison said, nearly running into Beth when she rounded the corner. “You need to return home to pack,” she said, looking away uncomfortably.

“Pack? Why do I need to pack?”

“You are going to Cromwell House in Wales.”

“But why? Why am I being sent away? I do not understand,” Beth implored.

Shaking her head sadly, Mrs. Atchison replied, “I know, child, I know.”

***

I guess he kept his promise, Beth thought, watching Hearst House slowly recede as the carriage carried her to her new destination.

Rissa laid the baby on the church steps. Running across the road, she then threw a rock at one of the stained glass windows. She heard someone inside say, “Are you alright, Father?” before heading back into the night.

Right before rounding the corner, she heard the heavy church doors open. She knew the baby would be fine. Probably better off than he would have been with his crack head mother, she thought sourly.

“I have got to be more careful,” she muttered to herself, thinking about the close call. “I’m not taking no babies! I have to make sure none of these scumbags have kids.”

A tear rolled down her cheek at the thought of the baby. He was so precious, she thinks, all soft and warm. Just another thing that’s been taken away from me.

“Quit feeling sorry for yourself. You know you’ve never been mother material,” she mused angrily. Who would want to bring a baby into this world of scumbags anyway?

“I would,” she whispered to the night as another tear slipped out.

Rissa found that it wasn’t hard to find other Stalkers, or for them to find her. The first night she was on her on, she walked around the city. Twice, Stalkers jumped out at her. When they offered up their fangs for view, she just smiled in return. Some were receptive to meeting a new person, while others told her to go back where she came from. “Sorry, can’t do that, sugar,” she told one particularly obnoxious girl. “Things got a little too hot there. I thought I’d try a new town; see if the people were friendlier…and tastier.”

She didn’t enjoy the living arrangements. Julia’s house was much nicer than the abandoned apartment building she was living in now. She could do better if she were willing to rob from the dead like Julia and Mark. “It’s not like they need the money any longer,” Mark told her one night as he was lifting a guy’s wallet. “The cops will just keep it for themselves.”

Rissa didn’t know if this was true or not. She did know she wasn’t prepared to steal from the dead. Not yet, anyway, she thought, remembering that night and looking around the dingy apartment.

The three huddled together while the ferry crossed the muddy river. Once on the other side, they silently made their way across the parking lot. Each had been lost in thought throughout the journey. Now decisions had to be made.

Rissa knew what she had to do. It was time to move on. “I can’t handle this anymore, Julia,” she said, waving to encompass the group. “This three way relationship isn’t for me. I told you before that I’m not good at sharing.”

Julia slowly caressed Rissa’s cheek, a sad smile on her face. “I understand. I will miss you, but I do understand.”

Mark didn’t bother to say anything. Turning, he gave the two of them some privacy.

Rissa pulled Julia close, kissing her one last time. “You could come with me,” she whispered in Julia’s ear. “We could start over some where new, just the two of us.”

Julia pulled away, shaking her head. “I can’t do that, Beautiful. Mark and I are tied together.”

Rissa knew that would be her answer. After the scene she’d witnessed when coming home early the other night, she knew a lot more about their relationship than she wanted to.

“I can’t say it’s been fun, but it has been interesting. I haven’t figured out if you ruined my life, or set me free. Either way, you made an impression. I won’t forget you,” Rissa told Julia.

“I won’t forget you either, Beautiful. I doubt anyone who ever met you has forgotten you.”

“Goodbye, Beautiful.”

“Goodbye, Julia,” Rissa replied before walking into the night.

Rissa ran as quickly as possible toward the river. Julia and Mark were close on her heels. The sirens blazing in their wake were deafening.

“What were you thinking?” Rissa screamed at Mark. “How could you be so stupid?”

Stopping to catch his breath, Mark replied, “Shut up, bitch, you were having fun too.”

“Yeah, until I found out it was a cop, you idiot!” Rissa howled, shoving Mark to the ground.

Jumping up, he charged at Rissa, pulling her hair and jabbing his fist repeatedly into her face. Rissa scratched his eyes, gouging as hard as she could.

Screaming, Mark released her. Crouching, Rissa lunged, knocking him to the ground. Once there she began to pound his head into the ground.

“That’s enough!” Julia shouted.

Rissa stood up, wiping blood on her pants. Mark sat dazed, collecting himself. Julia looked around, and then glared at them both. “We have bigger things to worry about than your problems with each other,” she admonished. “We have to figure out what we’re going to do now.”

“We sure as hell can’t stay here,” Mark muttered, slowly getting to his feet.

“No shit, Sherlock,” Rissa snarled.

Sighing, Julia stepped between them. “Come on, you two, stop already!”

Rissa stepped away, giving Mark and her some much-needed space. She couldn’t believe he had been so stupid. Attacking a cop was so crazy she wouldn’t have even thought Mark capable of it. Now they were homeless and on the run. Their home overrun with cops, and their lives uprooted.

A foghorn sounded in the distance. All three looked at each other. Smiling, Julia said, “Looks like Fate’s on our side,” before heading in the direction of the ferry station.

Come on, girl, get a grip, Rissa groaned. You can’t be in love with her! She’s a blood-sucking vampire with no conscience, she thought, watching Julia take a young boy.

No matter how much she admonished herself, Rissa knew she had fallen hard for Julia. They spent almost every waking hour together: stalking, feeding, or having sex.

The first time Julia pulled her into the bedroom, Rissa was shocked. “I thought vampires couldn’t have sex, they just sucked people dry,” she remarked as Julia started nibbling her neck.

Laughter tinkling around the room, Julia whispered in her ear, “Don’t believe everything you see in the movies, Beautiful.”

Slowly unzipping Rissa’s pants, Julia winked, adding, “We can even read the bible. Not that many of us want to.”

Rissa knew Julia was only with her because it was easy. Julia had made no promises or declarations of love. “It’s all about sensation, Beautiful,” she said lightly biting Rissa’s neck. “Nobody else can make you feel like another Stalker. The pulsing, throbbing call of blood adds excitement that no mortal can match.”

“Come on, let’s go home,” Julia said, snapping Rissa out of her reverie.

Sighing, Rissa fell into step beside her.