My publisher recently came up with an idea for promoting our writing in a non-sales pitchy way through an exercise of flash fiction. Each Thursday and Friday, a group of Solstice Publishing authors write a short tweet on Twitter based on the photo of the month. In April, that photo was of a forest. Below are my tweets for each week for those of you who haven’t seen them on Twitter or who haven’t caught them in order.
When Josh suggested a romantic stroll through Muir woods, Allison wasn’t too keen on the idea. That past summer, three girls had been found knifed to death, their blood spilled into the forest’s dirt carpet. The killer had never been caught.
What made Allison change her mind was Josh’s promise to protect her. They’d been dating a year and enjoyed long walks together. The fall forest was dark but strangely enticing. She clung to Josh. Nothing could happen in the safety of his arms.
“Where are we headed?” Allison asked. They’d taken so many turns that she was becoming disoriented, but Josh kept leading her deeper & deeper into the dark woods where 3 of her friends had died. A shiver ran up her spine as she awaited his answer.
“Are you scared about what happened here to Holly, Jean, & Laura even though you’re with me, Allison?”
“No,” she lied. “but maybe we should go back, Josh. I’m getting tired,” The full moon illuminated his face. The expression he wore chilled her.
“Why are you scared, Allison?” As he approached, the full moon waned. The forest darkened. “I asked to leave, Josh.” She backed away. “So did they.” His eyes glinted in the half light as he took a knife from his jacket. She screamed and ran.
Allison’s chest heaved. Her breath came in shallow gasps as she ran through the woods trying to avoid falling over the twigs that carpeted the forest floor. Josh was closing in, his knife slashing a path behind her.
She ran with Josh in pursuit, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Each time one of her friends was found dead, Josh was missing. He said he was home while his parents were out, but she now
knew he was the Muir Woods killer & she was his next victim.
She tripped and fell face down on the forest floor. Picking herself up, she turned to see Josh flash his knife. She deflected its blow, kicked him in the groin, and ran through the trees into the street where a police car stopped to aid her.
Ruff Drafts 