Welcome to this week’s installment of many micro stories, ranging in length from 100 words to 500 words.
With each story we hope to deliver a little whimsy into the lives of our readers.
KEEP YOUR MOUTH CLOSED
“What is your greatest desire?”
Katy pinched her lips. She focused on the swirling black smoke, unable to speak.
The handsome djinn offered riches and servitude, but she remained frozen in agonising fear.
That beard. Thick and braided like oiled rope, it beckoned her closer.
When Katy didn’t approach, it coiled in a spiral, the loose ends forming a head that hissed and snarled. The viper stretched and elongated…closing in.
Lightheaded, her guts twisted up, she screamed.
The braid unraveled. Thick tendrils slithered down her throat; suffocating smoke enveloped her whole body, and the wicked djinn possessed his new vessel.
Kelly Matsuura is an avid short story writer, with a focus on fantasy, horror, and literary fiction.
She is the Creator of Insignia Stories (Asian fantasy anthologies) and has had stories published with Black Hare Press, 100-Foot Crow, Iron Fairie Publishing, Wolfsinger Press, Metastellar, and many more.
Kelly lives in Nagoya, Japan with her geeky husband. She loves traveling, knitting, cooking, and of course, reading.
If you enjoyed this story you can find it and more in the Hawthorn & Ash 2023 anthology.
Iron Faerie Publishing 