photo by Stephanie McCabe – click here for full res version
Ffion nudged a plate of pastel coloured cake towards Billy. ‘You need sugar by the looks of you. When did you last eat?’
A waitress skittered past, pinny crisp and white as snowflakes, heels tapping on the parquet flooring. Billy’s coat was stained, one sleeve torn at the shoulder. His hands were splashed brown – possibly dried blood. He didn’t touch the cake.
‘Billy?’
‘Ever had a nightmare you couldn’t wake up from?’ His voice was frail enough to snap.
‘All nightmares end.’
A square of cake quivered, crumbs trembling onto the plate. An ant emerged from the spongy rubble, then another and another, threads of black, lacquered bodies cutting across the bright white cloth.
‘Not anymore,’ said Billy.
What is wrong with me? I see this lovely photo Sonya selected for today’s Three Line Tales and all I imagine is ants marauding over the cake and endless nightmares! Do see if you can write something more cheerful – or if you can trump me with something terrifying. See here for Ts and Cs.
Oh wow, I did not see that coming.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha! Neither did I until it just flittered out 🙂 Thanks for reading
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sign of the times – it may look lovely, but it’s all rotten on the inside… Terrifying story. I love it 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sign of the times indeed. Thanks Sonya. I know you have a penchant for the darkness too. We’ll just scuff around in the shadows, hissing at the bright lights until nightfall.
LikeLike
You said it all – “that it may look lovely but it’s all rotten on the inside”… That was a superb story you weaved together. It has a bundle of perspectives to it… All that glitters is not gold. The many nightmares of life we wake up to sometimes. I enjoyed the read. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much. You’re very kind. I’d steer clear of Billy if I were you, though. Not a healthy person to be around 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha. You’ve got humour in you and I am attracted to that. lol. I’ve followed you to read more posts. Keep churning the stories out, I won’t be scared I tell you. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha! Thank you and thanks for the follow. I’ll try to be as entertaining as possible 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very creepy – I didn’t see that coming either, which made it even creepier!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Joy 🙂 I do like a bit of creepy
LikeLiked by 1 person
Really great writing lynn- i love how you made the image of ants on the cake so menacing. What will happen next, in Billy’s nightmare?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Good question. Not sure what happened next, though I’m pretty sure it all got very full on and nasty very quickly 🙂 Thanks for reading
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe they spray rid ant on the cake and it creates scarier mutant…😨
LikeLike
What an interesting twist in the prompt, love it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! You can never be certain where ckae will lead you 🙂 Thanks for reading
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure always!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike