The Australian Writers’ Centre is having a Murder & Mayhem month and are running a Crime and Thriller short story competition.
It is a small competition – prize is a bundle of books – but it is all practice! đ
The guidelines are:
- Word count of 149 or fewer
- Include the words birthday, softly and umbrella
- Feature your character having committed a crime
But it doesn’t have to be a dark or scary theme – or seriously nasty crime – could be jaywalking!
So following are the two stories I’ve entered! Enjoy đ
Chloe
It was Chloeâs birthday and a sunny winterâs day had darkened as the world was blacked out by a wall of rain.
Grabbing her favourite dome umbrella â the clear one with blue nightingales and a metal handle â Chloe stepped softly around the bleeding body splayed awkwardly, at the bottom of the stairs.
Bending slightly toward the body, she reached out tentatively as though to awaken him, but pulled back. What should she do? He couldnât be dead. She could check for his pulse. Call for help.
Chewing her lip and twisting a strand of hair, Chloe stood poised to leave. She was a good person, but the surrounding floor was very wet and that could mean she was already in serious trouble â no sense planting DNA evidence.
Chloe was responsible for the âwet floorâ signs; and with the excitement of the day had forgotten to put them out!
Surprise!
âWhat do we know?â asked the lead Detective.
The Senior Constable consulted his notes.
âDeceased male is Owen Scale, well-known in the building although he hasnât been seen around for a while. His girlfriend Katrina Byrne lives here in 21 and he had a key.
Sheâs distraught and currently sitting with her neighbour and a constable, next door.
She hasnât seen Clive for a month or so; didnât know where heâd been and he apparently surprised her by walking too softly into the kitchen. She reacted with a butcherâs knife to the chest!â
âAs you do,â replied the detective. âGuess she doesnât like surprises in general, thenâ he stated, grinning.
They turned to the body lying in a pool of blood on the kitchen floor of Apartment 21 â and the parcel wrapped in birthday paper and impaled with a bright pink umbrella!
Hope you enjoyed them – Trish đ