“Hurry!” His voice grew more urgent. “Much longer and it will begin to live again!”
I plunged the knife into the beautiful, silvery body and began to saw. The hacking blade made a noise like a rusty zipper, juddering through the alligator-like skin. A putrid stench filled my nostrils. I reached into the body for the essence of the creature’s life. Shuddering, I pulled it out and tossed it aside, where it caught on some desiccated grape vines, the quivering viscous globules looking like mutant grubs.
My voice determinedly resolute, I asked, “Do I really have to eat it?”
…………………………
As with all the Friday Fictioneers prompts, you can enjoy the variety of stories by talented authors by going to Madison Woods’ site for this story: http://madison-woods.com/index-of-stories/080312-2/. You won’t regret it. Or you may click on the little frog icon below.
For the other Friday Fictioneers authors, I’m on the road today (Wed.) and tomorrow, ending tomorrow night at over 7,000′ and with a probably poor internet connection. So it will take me awhile to get to your stories and since I’m on vacation, I may not make it to all of them as I usually try to do. Thanks for reading, commenting and critiquing mine, even if I can’t get around to yours (at least right away.) I always appreciate your time.
This, that and the other thing 
An extremely creative take on the photo prompt!
Thanks, Jan. We just made it to Wyoming and have an excruciatingly slow connection, so I’m just starting to read comments and then I’ll try to get to other stories, too.
“Yes go ahead, eat… It can’t be that bad!” 🙂
Hmmmmm, I think you go first on this one. Guests are served first. 🙂
haha!
Loved this, especially ‘quivering viscous globules’. I really want to know why she has to eat it…
I had grubs in mine too.
http://worksbyclaire.wordpress.com/2012/08/02/short-story-food/
Thanks, Claire. I’m not positive why she has to eat it, but I think it’s probably similar to the Indians eating the heart of the animals they killed–taking their strength or something.
Sounded like a scene from I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! (if you’re familiar with that programme). Nicely apt take on the prompt but you won’t get me eating it either.
I’m not familiar with it but I know the type of program. Maybe “Survivor Alien Nation Edition??”
“…the quivering viscous globules looking like mutant grubs.” Excellent description of the image. Definitely requires a strong stomach.
Yeah, I didn’t write this around dinner time. I actually wrote it in my head over the course of a ten-hour drive from Naperville to Canistota, South Dakota, then typed it in and worked it up better last night. It was like doing oral history–I kept repeating it in my head until I remembered the main things. I did jot down the “quivering viscous globules” in my notebook, though, (while driving), so I wouldn’t forget it.
LOL. Eew. I wonder if she has to eat it because it’s her maiden kill. You did the photo justice with those “quivering viscious globules”!
I think it’s more in line with taking on the strength of the enemy, but the maiden kill idea works, too. Glad you liked the phrase. As I said in my reply to vbholmes, I mentally wrote the whole thing in the car yesterday and wrote that phrase down in my chicken-scratches-while-driving so I wouldn’t forget it. 🙂
I do that sometimes too. Ah, yes, the taking on the enemy’s strength makes sense too.
I often write in my head first but when driving all day, there isn’t much choice.
Dear STea,
Vivid description coupled with a mystery (why must she partake of its ‘heart’ and what sort of creature is it?) makes for compelling reading. Well done chicken scratching.
Aloha,
Doug
http://ironwoodwind.wordpress.com/2012/08/02/mcmurdo-countdown-objects-in-mirror/
Thanks much, Doug.
Reminds me a bit of my own story, yet very, very different.
I’m looking forward to getting to yours but won’t be reading any more until tomorrow. Vacation time is different than other time! 🙂
lovely interpretation!
A wonderful story.
It was bad enough imagining the reaching- ‘ into the body for the essence of the creature’s life.’ But then having to eat it!
Thanks, Mike. I’m not sure where the eating it part came from, but I thought it added nicely to the “yuk” factor.
Once again, my response is ewww! but this time to your story, not just the picture. “Determinedly resolute” felt a bit over-played to me, especially in light of the question which comes after, but the rest of the description is creepingly perfect!
I’m over at: http://elmowrites.wordpress.com/2012/08/03/friday-fiction-torment/
Very cool job with this, especially that description of the sound of the knife cutting through! I wonder what kind of ritual this is, and what happens when that stuff gets eaten. My only critique would be the one already made about “determinedly resolute,” but that was very small. Loved this!
Brian (http://pinionpost.com/2012/08/03/the-lifeblood-of-the-paiik-tree/)
Thanks for reading and for the critique, Brian, which I understand. She was forcing herself to be resolute and not show anything in her voice when she asked if that was the only way. I wanted to show that she wasn’t whining but was willing to do it IF that was the only way which, of course, it was. It’s always interesting to get reader feedback and see if what I meant by writing was what was understood when read. In this case, I might try for another word or two.
just your first helping ( smile )
Uhm, ewwwwww! I would NOT eat that 😉
Great story
Me, either, Carrie, but fortunately, I haven’t had to kill an aliens recently. 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it.
I sincerely hope not!
Eat up all your dinner or else.
You eat like a bird.
You’re always eating my heart out.
Eat or you’ll have to go to bulimics anonymous.
…the family couldn’t just leave her alone when it came to her eating preferences.
The end. Ha.
🙂
Given the choice I’ll take the eating disorder. LOL
oy…
This makes me think of fear factor. I like your take on the prompt.
I’m here this week: http://frommywriteside.wordpress.com/2012/08/03/the-invasion/
vivid imagery.
http://www.rochelle-wisoff.blogspot.com/2012/08/wild-life.html
Note to self. Do not invite Janet or Ron over for a potluck. Both stories included eating this stuff.
I love your descriptions of the vile glob–YUK! Thanks for reading & commenting on mine.
http://russellgayer.blogspot.com/
:-). Don’t worry. When I go to a potluck, I always bring something delicious (or at least I disguise the yucky stuff.). Thanks for stopping by. I always appreciate it.
Great story. Had a similar take on he prompt also.
Great interpretation of the prompt. I sincerely hope she doesn’t have to eat it.
I’m sure she feels that way, but it’s the only way to make sure the alien’s power is gone for good and it remains dead. 😦
Oh, that is gruesomely graphic! I am moving my thoughts away from this right now!!! 😉
Thanks for your comment on ours.
Gross…but, I do like the idea of removing the life force and it being a slimy glob. Have you seen “Spirited Away?” The curse removed from one of the characters is in the form of a black slug…and they had to step on it and squish it to destroy it.
~Susan
We did see that years ago.
It’s one of my favorites!
I remember we all enjoyed it. I think we own it, so it sounds like time to watch it again.