The day before yesterday, it was charming—a sport of nature. I popped it into a wine glass and provided water to drink.
The seed grew so fast, tendrils unspooling and feeling along the walls. Even when I realised, I did nothing. Perhaps it was already too late, but I didn’t try.
These were not branches but emptiness, spreading cracks in reality. You’d expect to feel terror, but the mind adjusts, as if to an ache. I can admit only to curiosity about events.
Maybe the cracks will widen and something will come through.
Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here
Neil MacDonald Author 
Damn plants and their cracks. The spider plant my muse refused to write about this week?
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Yup. A killer spider plant
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I like the detached, almost scientific, voice here, Neil
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Thanks so much
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The narrator sounds as though he has been overcome by whatever it is the plant is dispersing. Nicely understated.
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Thanks so much, Sandra
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I also saw a sinister killer lurking in the picture. If we can see it, why can’t the victims?
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Because we’re far sighted and perceptive people. We’re writers
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Dear Neil,
I suspect we’ll have a week of killer plants. Sinister story…well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sorry. I did know that the killer plant was the obvious trope, but I had to get to London so I just went with my first idea
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Amazing what changes you can get used to if it creeps in slowly.
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That’s how you boil a frog
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Perhaps something will come through… or perhaps you could go the other way, which might prove more interesting….
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Perhaps that’s what monsters are
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Reminds me of Little Shop of Horrors! Well done!
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Thanks so much, Joshua
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Wonderfully inventive, Neil. I loved the phrase: but the mind adjusts, as if to an ache.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Something scary here. Early 21C sci fi horror.
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Good. Scary is what I was going for
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That plant has some sort of hypnotic power! Good one, Neil.
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Thanks so much, Linda
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This is so dark and deliciously written, Neil.
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Thanks so much Dale, Sometimes I just can’t resist the temptation
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Lucky for us!
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I really saw evil in that plant… the getting used to an ache was brilliant.
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Thanks so much, Bjorn
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Aye, maybe the cracks will widen, but are you really sure you want to see what comes through? Think about that one for a minute. hehe! Great writing, and great inspiration. ~Shalom, Bear.
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Thanks so much, Bear
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I believe that spiders do love cracks, so I expect that the cracks will get wider,… just like in today’s British parliament.
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The cracks will swallow the world
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At first I interpreted the emptiness it was creating in reality as an absorption of memories and/or knowledge. What would come through emptiness?
You got me thinking on this one, Neil. 🙂
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You’ve added your own tale to this one. Mine wasn’t so deep
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Frightening. The line, “but the mind adjusts, as if to an ache” gives me a sense that madness is descending upon the person. Very well-written, Neil.
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Thanks so much, Jade
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You’re welcome.
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Can’t tell whether mind chomping plants are preferable to the killer Triffids. Have to agree with others, a great detached voice here.
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Thanks so much
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The more I read about this plant the more it creeps me out! Brilliantly written Neil.
My story – Billy and me!
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Thanks so much, Keith
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Intriguing story, Neil, with a wonderful mysterious tone.
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Thanks so much, Brenda
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I’m chucking all my plants outside right now.
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That’ll just make cracks in the outside
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Sinister stuff, its got a hold on you.
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And it’s never letting go
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Alas in our time, the modern world, the only expectations from through the cracks will be an illusion.
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Fake news, you think?
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At least no one can accuse you of having a brown thumb.
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FANTASTIC… I would read more of this… cracks through space and time via a plant innocently planted, indeed I think it is too late to stop it. I loved this
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Thanks so much, Laurie
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No doubt that those cracks are widening already.
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And then the legions will come through
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Killer plants, there is something in the air. Love this. Neil.
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Yeah, I’m sorry. If I’d thought for 5 minutes I’d have realised that was going to be this week’s trope. But I was in a hurry
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Ditto
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it’s a little creepy but well-written. 🙂
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Thanks. It’s intended to be a little creepy
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Sinister indeed! Great voice.
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Thanks so much, Lisa
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A sporty yesterday is growing onto your today. I hope today is as good as yesterday. Good begets goodness.
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Thanks for reading, Abhijit
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Maybe there’s a parallel world beyond those cracks…
Or maybe it’s the neighbour’s house.
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Or maybe there’s only a howling void
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Interesting idea that the tendrils are cracks of emptiness and entryways from the void. Quite sinister though the narrator seems none too troubled.
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The narrator is British, and hence he’s keeping calm and carrying on
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Haha. We don’t know much about that here! My upper lip is rather flaccid, Im afraid. 😊
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Enter Dr Who – this sort of thing is right up his alley. You just sit there mesmerised, Neil and he’ll save the day. Love the mood of this, by the way.
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Thanks so much, Margaret. Didlee dum, didlee dum, didlee dum, Wheeooo
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A good story and well-written, Neil. If a darn plant left cracks in my wall I’d be angry. There’s more money for repairs. Out it would go. It looks a bit like an Indian vegetable. Someone here would probably cook and eat it. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thanks so much, Sizanne
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I can sense an undertone of evil. Great story, Neil!
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Thanks so much, Shweta. I didn’t intend any undertone of evil, but once a story is released it belongs to the reader and they create new stories of their own
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Ohh that happens. There can be so many interpretations, especially with flash fiction. 😄
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