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Ravenous

·300 words·2 mins
Flash Fiction Deadlines For Writers

Rosina walked back and forth across her front yard, scattering bone meal in an even pattern. The sun was hot, but her lawn was thick and luscious. The bright green blades of grass clumped close together like snuggling puppies. She found the thought amusing.

“What’s going on over there?”

Looking up, she saw her neighbor, Frank, looking across the street, his hand resting on her white picket fence. She felt a low growl rumble in her belly.

He turned, and she flashed a toothy smile, saying in a sing song voice, “I have no idea. My vision’s not so good anymore.”

“There are police cars over at the Hansen’s.”

“Oh?” Rosina said, her eyes fixated on Frank’s fingers. They looked like tiny sausages hanging over the side of her fence. She ran her tongue across her teeth, stepping forward.

“I’m going to go see what’s going on,” Frank said.

Rosina stopped, struggling to slow her breathing. Regaining her composure, she resumed scattering her bone meal. Frank returned moments later, quite upset.

“You should go inside. Something terrible’s happened over there!”

She watched the vein at the side of his damp neck pulse as he spoke. With a distracted drowsy voice she said, “How awful.”

“Are you okay, Mrs. Leckermaul? Come on, let’s get you out of this heat.”

Rosina drifted towards her porch as she watched Frank open the gate. Arriving at her side, he placed his hand gently at her elbow. It took all of her self control to maintain her calm.

Frank opened her front door, and coughed as a putrid stench poured from the house. His eyes grew wide as Rosina stretched open her mouth, her jaw unhinging. A lamprey like proboscis shot out, engulfing Frank’s face.

Pushing him inside, she kicked the door closed behind her.