In honor of the presidential election, Apex Publications is offering its Annual Halloween Short Fiction Contest, titled “Election Horror” to be guest judged by Jay Lake. Write a flash fiction story (under 1000 words) based on this year’s theme, “Election Horror,” and submit online to Apex Digest by 12 midnight, October 15, 2008
Prizes:
- First—Publication (10 cents a word)
- Second—Publication (5 cents a word)
- Third—Choice of Apex Book Company Hardcover
- Fourth—Choice of Apex Book Company Paperback
For the official guidelines and updates, visit: Election Horror
Drip. Drop.
“Every Halloween,” the children’s grandfather whispered, “vicious animals come out. They are fierce, with endless rage. Listen to me, kids. Listen! Stay away.”
The children hardly heard him. They twiddled their thumbs and waited for the old man to shut up. They, therefore, didn’t heed his warning. Days later, he was reported missing to the police. He was never found.
Then Halloween rolled around; bleak, black, and bland.
The moon sent shimmering beams of silver, pale light. It splattered down, covering everything with a sickly color. The trees cast down unforgiving shadows, masking people in the darkness.
“Come on, Jackson,” Alyskia moaned, picking at a hole in her dress. “At this rate, they’ll be all out of candy before we start!”
“…I think we should try this new place. Maleeka told me that they gave out handfuls.” Jackson looked contentedly at himself in the mirror, brushing off his pants.
“Just because your girlfriend told you something doesn’t make it true.” He shot her a look of pure venom, mixed with a bit of unease and apprehension. “Let’s go already.”
They left the house in a flutter of movement. Squealing kids ran past. They had bright, wide smiles on their faces. “Lead the way,” she told Jackson. Alyskia did a little twirl, her bleak, black dress flowing. It was ripped, torn, and tattered.
He began to run, out of the neighborhood, his sister close behind. They were running so fast, so swiftly, that it looked like they were running from their problems and worries.
“Wow, these decorations look cool.”
“Yeah. Life-like.”
Blood rushed down the drain, pouring swiftly. They could hear it drip into the water below. Drip. Drop. Drip. Drop. Bones scattered the ground like litter. They rustled like dry, brittle leaves when the winds pushed through the tiny town.
Drip. Drop.
“Why is there no one else around?” Alyskia asked cautiously.
“I’m not sure. Let’s head back.” She agreed with a brief gesture of a head-flick. It did feel ominous, after all.
Suddenly, two bright, glinting emerald-green eyes ignited from the shadows. A low hiss filled the air.
A striking, covert, sly black panther stepped into the light. His face wrinkled into a snarl, lips pulling back to reveal inch-long, dripping white fangs, lusting for the taste of fresh blood. Oh, how he missed the taste of meat and warm blood!
He unsheathed razor-sharp claws and leaped at the screaming, trembling kids.
The only thing left of poor Alyskia and Jackson was sprayed blood, dripping off mailboxes and sides of houses and the gnawed, stumpy bones.
Drip. Drop.
Hiss.