Good Morning, Good Morning! (a 200-word freaky flash fiction suspense short story) by Oren Shafir

My eyes snap open, and I can tell right away by the tone of the light that it's exactly 6 a.m. I sit up swinging my bare feet in an arc off the bed to the floor. I can feel the energy of life. It will not be one of those days. 

Something's Off (a 500-word freaky flash fiction horror story) by Oren Shafir

Is it my conscience telling me to do something with my life? Choose a path other than the easiest one for a change? A compromise becomes a little white lie, which becomes a deception, which becomes a way of life. Pretty soon, even I don’t know what is real and what is not.

Murder for Breakfast (a 300 word flash fiction story) by Oren Shafir

Originally published in Dead by Dawn Vol 3, Edited by Adele Hartley

Ed crashes into his chair – waves of body fat jiggling from the jowls of his neck and arms down to his belly, thighs and calves – and demands coffee; Janet thumps a mug of the scolding liquid next to his plate.

Joel Got Fat (a 300-word flash fiction story) by Oren Shafir

Joel knew that if he went to lie down, he wouldn't be waking up this time. Mom had put something in the enchiladas.

She had begun preparing them - with six green peppers, a kilo of diced chicken, chipotle chiles seeded and minced and finely chopped red onions, all wrapped in corn tortillas with strips of sour cream, 12 halved green olives and melted cheddar cheese on top – two day's ago.

Straight-edged razor (a 600 word freaky flash fiction horror story) by Oren Shafir

Bob woke from his afternoon nap looking at the reproduction of Georgia O’Keefes' human skull -- with its shattered teeth and empty black eye sockets staring at him -- and for a second, he wondered where the hell he was.

Then he remembered; this was his new home. He peeled himself away from the sweaty sheets. The first thing he was going to do was to fix that damn air-conditioner.

Setting Momma Free (a 500-word freaky flash fiction horror story) by Oren Shafir

(Originally published in issue 7 of the Heavy Glow print anthology in 2006)

Momma was bleeding from her head around the left eyebrow. But as usual, Derek made her sit in her chair at the kitchen table. He'd go out and come back with the key that he kept in the bottom drawer of the desk in his study. Same place he kept his whiskey. I knew cause I snuck in and drank some once. Just enough to see what it was like, but not enough that he'd notice. Then, he'd come back with the key and open the glass case on the wall by the window and stand over her, behind her, with his Colt .45. And he'd talk about what she'd done wrong. Explain to her like a disappointed father.

Daddy Isn't Dead (a 100-word freaky flash fiction short story) by Oren Shafir

Was it normal that Jonathon still talked to his Daddy? Janice wasn't sure of anything anymore. Ever since the accident, she felt as though she were floating. Even her little boy seemed visitant and distant. 

Nickie (a 500-word freaky flash fiction story)

”We have to eat the dog.”

Danny just stared at Hans like he wanted to kill him.

Finally he said, “I hate your fucking mustache.”

The Gentle Ticking of Your Heart (a 162-word freaky flash fiction story) by Oren Shafir

``Count backwards from 10.''

``10, 9, ...''

8,7,6... You continue in your head. You cannot speak, and they cannot hear you. They are not aware of you as a conscious being at all. They mark your body with a pen and smear it with cold  antiseptic.

``Scalpel.''

The sharp sting of your skin being sliced open. A growing burn. The whirling rush of the motor saw. Loud and loud and louder.

You scream, but they cannot hear you. Your fear is so extreme it is beyond fear. Beyond pain. Outside the constraints of time. Your pain so extreme it metamorphoses into a dull tingle followed by an otherwise heightened state of awareness.

The menthol smell of the antiseptic. The soft hum of the lamp shining over you. The persistent buzz of the saw, and the doctors' breath caressing your skin. And then, when the saw stops with a hush, and you focus more intently inwards -- the gentle ticking of your heart.

On Halloween (A 70-word freaky flash fiction story) by Oren Shafir

After the kids stopped coming to the door, I fell asleep in your room. In a dream, you appeared fully grown–your silhouette pushing against the frosted window pane.

Good China (a 120-word freaky flash fiction story) by Oren Shafir

It wasn't that you said you were leaving. Why darling, if anything, that finally showed that you have some mettle. It certainly wasn't that you said were leaving for one of your students.

Dark Thoughts (a 100-word freaky flash fiction horror story) by Oren Shafir

"Honey is everything alright?" she calls from the kitchen.



Before I even knew what was happening, I'd jumped out of my chair knocking my glass off the table. It landed with a thud leaving a clear liquid streak across the light hardwood floor.



I can feel my heart pumping. A breeze from the open window. The hair on my arm. What do I do next?



Her baby is crawling on the ledge. I remain still.