The flames were licking the wood in the vividly burning fireplace. Silence. Everything was beautiful. Johnny was just going to relax tonight, he’d even switched off his phone.
The flames looked almost like living things, small creatures jumping around the black wood. They…. were little creatures! Johnny was astonished. Little monsters was running around, jumping, dancing. They had little heads, two feet and two arms.
He moved closer. What are they? One on them looked at him. Laughing. It was chopping on to the log with an axe of fire, seeming to form part of him, mixed together in the way of flames. It punched an other one, occupied digging his little claws into the wood, on the shoulder. The other turned. It seemed amused as well.
They jumped forward as if they wanted to look closer. Out of the fireplace, down on the wooden floor. Johnny was too astonished to really understand anything. They seemed to have some sort of intelligence, they seemed to be curious about him. They were standing there, contemplating him. Exchanging words or something between them. The wood underneath them was getting black. Smoke.
Fuck! Johnny reacted fast. He caught the ash shovel and tried to put them out. They jumped away, running around, ducking. They seemed scared. Johnny hit one of them. It disappeared like the flame of a blown out candle. The other dived back into the fireplace.
Phew! Said Johnny. That was close. He looked at the blaze. The little fire men were standing in the chimney talking eagerly to the burning log. There are more of them now.The wood chunks were burning harder. The flames rose. Johnny backed away a bit, his face was getting too hot. One of the creatures took a step towards him. Screams.
Little fire-creatures came running out of the chimney. They ran up the walls, the curtains. Johnny turned towards the door. A face covered it. Dark and evil. Laughing. Around him danced hundreds of small creatures. They were singing now. He could hear their words, chanting, messing.
The king of flames has come to be, the God of flames has come.
His big, his hot, and there’s no escape. His big, his hot, and there’s no escape.
The God of flames has come.
Soon Johnny’s screams are louder. When the fire truck arrives the house is already burning to the ground.
https://theurbanspaceman.net/2017/04/04/firewall-flash-fiction/
I liked the way you slowly built up the tension. Your stories are always unique! I mean flames? Really? Who would have thought? Well done! 👍 Keep it up ✌😎
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Thank you! I’m planning on passing by the other classic elements as well, maybe in two more stories. Water I kind of did already, though, in the A Drop in the Sea-story, but I have an idea for another one.
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You’re welcome! Yeah, I’ve read that one too. Your imagination is commendable.👌 I am curious about the next ones. 😇 Let’s see what wonders are you going to write about air and earth. All the best👍
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Thanks! Earth and Wind is still in the idea process, I’m planning on getting it out on saturday. Love your comments:)
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I’ll be waiting for them. And you deserve these comments. All the best!
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😊
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Intense! It’s a good thing I’m not a pyromaniac too, or I could be a barbecued crisp before the day is through.
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So the moral of the story is: don’t be takin’ no meth when you be playin’ with fire! Good story!
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Great! I love the illustration too 😊
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Thanks a lot! 🙂
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I love the idea of these fire-creatures and I think you did a great job describing them and bringing them to life! 🙂
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Thank you! Great that you liked it:)
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This has gotta be the most original idea I’ve seen in a while, and also fun. I was giggling at the little fire men the entire time.
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Thank you! Rather dangerous little creatures, the fire men:)
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The little fire men, I love it!
Also delighted to see you plan an elemental extravaganza, I shall put the kettle on in anticipation.
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Thanks Jac! I’m writing on water right now. Tomorrow it’s Mike’s turn to get in trouble:)
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Water, you can’t trust the stuff. Get Mike a lifejacket.
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Hahs! Not a bad idea:)
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So, this is what happens when heat escapes 😀 Brilliant!
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Thank you!
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Great story, and I can easily envisage demons living in the flames. They remind me a little of Calcifer, from Howl’s Moving Castle. Have you read the book/seen the movie?
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I had to look it up, but I’ve seen the character before. I think similar creatures have been used several times. I have a memory of some animation or something which have inspired this story at least a bit, but I can’t remember where it was or how much alike it is. Hopefully not too much:)
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“Some say the world will end in fire…” -Robert Frost
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