She walked around the bed, her bare feet silent on the carpet. The quilt, faded mulberry and rose, whispered to her.
It was the pillows. Something about the pillows. She squeezed her eyes shut, willing the thought to return. Pillows…
There were two. Propped against the headboard. Trimmed in lace… Dammit! What was it?
She lifted her hands, grabbing bits of hair and pulling it from her scalp. “I can’t remember!”
The man sat up in bed. “Did you hear that?!”
“I told you,” his wife yawned, “this place is haunted. By that murdered girl. Go back to sleep.”
Flash Fiction Challenge over at Carrot Ranch
July 22 Prompt: Perspective (In 99 words – no more, no less – write a story about a change in perspective. It can be a transition of one character or a change between character points of view.)
Lemon Shark Reef 
I was just talking with a service guy today about houses, old ones.
He mentioned he didn’t used to believe in ghosts, but now the house of one of his children has a friendly one who just opens and closes doors. Moves things about. Says he actually saw the ghost too.
I like this – both perspectives.
I don’t have a site just for the 99 word stories. I supposed I could start a page with links of the titles. 🙂
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That is so very cool. I would imagine, if he saw these things happening (and the actual ghost), it would be difficult to say he didn’t believe. 😉
Thanks! I’m happy you liked it. Quite the challenge in just 99 words. I didn’t have a site, either, just a page on my Lemon Shark blog but I didn’t like having it on there. For some people, a page works just fine (or they mix it in with their other writing on their main blog page). I was hesitant to start the Reef here but now I love it.
ETA: Just visited your site and saw that it IS flash fiction. You could totally just mix the 99 flash in with your other flash. Very cool.
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I attempt to stay organized by separating my short and long verse (and it used to be easier to switch icon addresses but WP mucked that up somehow…) and my fiction – but I put up a page ‘Carrot Ranch 99’ for all those particular prompt links 😉
To be of earth and to think we are alone… just a tad well naive maybe?
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A hauntingly good shift in perspective! The bonus twist is that at first I thought the perspective was from one trying to figure out like a dream or something vague. Then, from the shift, I see that the ghost doesn’t yet realize…
Also loved the colors of mulberry and rose!
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Thanks! This was a tough prompt for me. Thanks for the challenge. Glad you liked it (and, yes, Mulberry…so cool). 😉
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Love the change in perspective, as Charli says. A haunting story. I assume the pillows had something to do with her demise – but why the pulling hair?
I also love the colours – mulberry and rose – sweet, ethereal – faded bloodstains?
Well done!
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They did indeed have something to do with her demise… Bwa-ha-ha! *ahem* I think she’s just extremely frustrated trying to figure out what it is she’s forgotten. It’s so close but then she can’t quite grasp it. Who knows how long she’s been at this? Not I. This flash started out with a little girl in her room full of stuffed animals and a plush pink carpet so what do I know? 😉 (Pantser!) Thanks, Norah.
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That’s funny – from such an innocent beginning to such a cruel ending. Ah! Maybe she was the little girl with the soft toys. Maybe it’s a good thing she hasn’t been able to make the connection. Pity the pillow (or the soft toys) did! But not from your story writing point of view. 🙂
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That often happens with these 99 word flash prompts. One of my first ones for Charli’s challenge started out as a wedding and ended up as a child’s funeral.
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Oh, that’s so sad. I’m sure it has happened more than once though.
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It happens all the time. Pantsers are like that. 😉
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Oh I know! 🙂
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I absolutely love the horror of this story — and beautiful shift in perspective.
Who doesn’t love the “mulberry and rose”!?! 🙂
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Thank you, Odinsknot. You are too kind. Your lovely comment is much appreciated.
(I know, right?! Mulberry and rose? Awesome!) 😉
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Holy crap that was awesome! The quilt, the pillows, the perfect shift in POV – excellent.
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Haha! 😀 Holy crap, you are awesome. Thanks so much, AJ.
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Oooh, I love this Sarah! You really had me with the shift of perspective, I wasn’t expecting that at all. Reminded me of the movie ‘The Others’. I won’t say anymore in case you haven’t seen it and want to! I wonder if the couple in bed had anything to do with the girl’s murder? Suffocating with those sumptuous pillows for instance? Pillow Talk…excellent title 🙂
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I haven’t! And I want to!
Ooh… You are an evil genius. The couple wasn’t originally part of the murder but who knows? Maybe one (or both) are. I’ll ask them. 😉 I know, I kind of like that title, too. Thank you.
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