Recycling

On By The VoiceIn Flash Fiction, Flash Fiction for the Purposeful Practitioner, Horror

FFfPP-6-10-16

When they finally discovered her body, animals and the elements had reduced it to nothing more than a collection of bones loosely held together by sinewy strands of ligaments. It would take them weeks to identify her.

I knew.

It wasn’t the first time one of my girls had been found, but the cops hadn’t yet realized the bodies were connected. They’d figure it out.

The first one was a surprise: a neighbor girl selling some kind of cookies for a school trip. I invited her in and showed her my playroom. I hadn’t planned on actually trying out my toys on a person, but there she was so I decided it was time to take things to the next level.

After that it was easy. Their delicious screams filled my sound-proof room. Their blood was sweet and warm. And when I was done, I was responsible. I am an environmentalist, you know, so I made sure to return them back to nature.

I didn’t count on that last one though. How she got loose I’ll never know. She showed me how much my toys really hurt. I hope they dispose of my body properly. I am, after all, biodegradable.

Word Count: 200

[This is my entry into the Flash Fiction Challenge for Flash Fiction for the Purposeful Practitioner by Roger Shipp. Write a story based on a photo prompt and introductory sentence in 200 words or less.]

~V

 

15 thoughts on “Recycling”

  2. Oh man, this is a murderer I’d love to read about (in an absolutely non-creepy way). Environmentalist by day, murderer by night? There is a backstory and novel there bursting to get out.

    Slight thing that stood out to me: “(I am an environmentalist, you know) I made sure to return them back to nature.” ~> I don’t think the parentheses were necessary here, if anything, I feel like they’re a little jarring and takes the reader out of the story. Another option? ~> “I am an environmentalist, you know, so I made sure to return them back to nature.”

    But I wouldn’t worry too much about the parentheses, it may just be a personal reader preference lol.

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    1. No, that’s a good suggestion. I am a parentheses junkie so I use them (too) often. 😉 I may go back and change that and use your suggestion. I’m glad you pointed that out.

      And yes, I wanted to show the world that serial killers are not heartless monsters. We really… I mean… they really care about things. Global warming is dangerous, you know.

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      1. Glad I could help :)! And I understand what you mean about being a parentheses junkie, I am a bit of a hyphen junkie myself. I keep inserting it in my stories when a comma would do just fine and a comma is less jarring..but hyphens need love too! Lmao.
        And mhmm, I wonder what it means if I’m on the side of the environmentalist? Over-population IS a threatening issue to the world AND he makes a valid point on the whole biodegradable thing. This is all for the greater good of humanity! xD

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  5. I am glad I am not the only one that comes up with serial killers when I look at pictures! Mind you, actually didn’t this time around so I am quite proud of that! Loved this story that just goes to show that crime never pays 🙂

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