16 Comments
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Sharron Bassano's avatar

"...start the year with a nice little horror story about a good old fashioned impending apocalypse!" Nicely creepy for January 5, Daniel. I MUCH prefer a fictional impending apocalypse to the actual one that is playing out even as we speak.... urg. God bless us every one.

Daniel O’Donnell's avatar

Thanks very much Sharron 🙏

Yeah, even the Old Testament idea of our fate being in the hands of gods and devils is probably not as disturbing as it being in the hands of a bunch of power crazed men 🙄

Sharron Bassano's avatar

I’m with you, kid. Yikes.

J.Q. Graziano's avatar

Excellent, Dan - this one titillates the tongue when read out loud!

Daniel O’Donnell's avatar

Thanks very much J.Q. 🙏

Alexander Ipfelkofer's avatar

Starting the new year with doom and gloom, how prophetic!

Daniel O’Donnell's avatar

Thanks very much Alexander 🙏

Yeah, it felt rather apt given the current circumstances 🙄🤦🏻‍♂️😁

Alexander Ipfelkofer's avatar

Very much so… Better to read Susbtack than the news!

Caro Henry's avatar

Great story, Dan! (Catching up, you ken 😉) It feels both haunting and hopeful, wrapped in a moment that feels timeless and universal. Brilliantly done!

Daniel O’Donnell's avatar

Thanks very much Caro 🙏😁

Cedric's avatar

Very effective. Sharp, terse, and wonderfully evocative.

Daniel O’Donnell's avatar

Thanks very much Cedric 🙏

Nathan Slake's avatar

Love it, Dan. I've missed these in my absence. Such punch with so few words.

Love also that you don't directly state who it is saying it until after the face. Such an excellent line with "I will take this burden."

Daniel O’Donnell's avatar

Thanks very much Nathan 🙏

Yeah, I’ve missed writing these too 😁

Hopefully a few more over the next couple of weeks and then pivoting to fantasy to escape this grim reality 🙄😐🤔

Stephen Duffy's avatar

Ah, man! These 100-word stories always leave me wanting even another 50 words. Great stuff mate 👏🏻

Daniel O’Donnell's avatar

Thanks very much mate 🙏

Got a couple more in the next few weeks and then onto longer form again. Going back to writing fantasy for a wee while. Escape the lunacy of the real world 😁