Tag: fantasy

Hawthorn & Ash #112

~ ironfaerie ~ Leave a comment

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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.

HOOKED ON AIR

The chip salesman lurks in the dark corner of the superstore, handing out three and a half of the Product at a time. “Just try it,” he says, with a little shrug and a ten-grand smile. You lean in, lured on his cheesy line, and you crunch two of the chips at once. The fluorescent lights darken, and everything blurs.

You wake up crouched on your bed, gripping the chip bag in one hand. Crumbs litter the sheets. You ate about four or five, right, not the whole bag? You shine your phone flashlight into the void, scanning for any loose chips. There is an emptiness in your mouth that tastes like need. There must be more. You need more.

A voice echoes from the bag: a recording from the salesman released by the reflection in your eyes: “Consider yourself blessed; most bags have three chips. You’re hooked on air, my friend. See you in the store tomorrow.”

He laughs, and laughs, and you grit your teeth, and wonder if there’s any way to get out of this need, this urge, this obsession.

There’s not.

 

Emmie Christie’s work includes practical subjects, like feminism and mental health, and speculative subjects, like unicorns and affordable healthcare. She has been published in Factor Four Magazine, Small Wonders, and Flash Fiction Online, among others. Her fantasy romance novel, “A Caged and Restless Magic” debuted Feb 2024. She has also narrated for the magazine Strange Horizons. Find her at www.emmiechristie.com, her monthly newsletter, or BlueSky.

 

If you enjoyed this story you can find it and more in the Hawthorn & Ash 2023 anthology.

AVAILABLE HERE!

 

Hawthorn & Ash #108

~ ironfaerie ~ Leave a comment

img_2195

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.

 

THE BEAUTY’S PRICE

In the fae realm, Eloise’s beauty was both a gift and a curse. She was blessed by the gods with skin like the moonlight and eyes that held the dawn.

But no matter where she looked, the curse spread: those who look at her for too long would be trapped in endless dreams, unable to wake.

Eloise would weep under the hollow tree, longing to be free of the curse.

One night, she found her way out of the curse, by losing her beauty forever, by finding true love.

Now, everybody looks at her differently, she walks among the mortals, her soul free of grief. Some gifts corn at a high price.

 

Amanda Wilcox is a passionate storyteller and fantasy write known for creating worlds filled with magic and complex characters. She has a deep love for myth and folklore, Amanda crafts stories that is blended with themes of love, sacrifice and power. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys being outdoors and reading on her kindle. Her work mostly contains anything with fae and folklore who have navigate their way through many difficult challenges. Amanda aims to help others find enjoyment in reading.

 

If you enjoyed this story you can find it and more in the Hawthorn & Ash 2023 anthology.

AVAILABLE HERE!