This room is black; black walls, black ceiling. The floor is bare and the unvarnished floorboards look as if they haven’t been swept in a long time. The single, naked light bulb that hangs from the middle of the ceiling can’t push out enough energy to throw off the gloom.
I can’t think straight because of the stress. I look across at my companions. One of them is saying something but I cannot and will not hear his words. Were we once all in the same faction? We are not any longer, that is for sure. I must rely only on myself if I am to have a chance.
There are three wooden chairs sitting in the middle of the floor. I look again at the others. There are four of us.
Then the music stops.
Jim Steel is a member of the Glasgow Science Fiction Writers Circle. Unsuprisingly, this involves living in Glasgow and writing science fiction. He used to be a professional beer tester and is of the opinion that writing is probably the second-best job in the world. Jim is also the book reviews editor of Interzone.
This story was sponsored by
Camilla d’Errico: A character designer and artist who dances on the tightrope between pop surrealist art and manga inspired graphics. Explore her paintings, characters and comics: Tanpopo, BURN and Helmetgirls.
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23 Responses to “ENEMY OF THE PARTY • by Jim Steel”
Comments
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October 8th, 2009 at 4:43 am
Ha! Ha! Brilliantly funny – or perhaps chilling!
October 8th, 2009 at 4:51 am
Fantastic story, Jim. Absolute cracker! Good to get a mid-day laugh!
October 8th, 2009 at 5:37 am
Love this! Five from me.
October 8th, 2009 at 6:59 am
This was really intriguing, I though it seemed like part of something larger but maybe I’m missing something?
October 8th, 2009 at 6:59 am
Forced to play musical chairs until you can no longer think straight . . . . . I can think of a few people I would like to put in that game.
Creepy story! I liked it!
October 8th, 2009 at 7:01 am
Ohh, that’s what they were doing! Thanks, Margie.
October 8th, 2009 at 7:45 am
The connection to musical chairs eluded me for a few minutes after the read. Great piece of writing here. Nicely done.
October 8th, 2009 at 8:36 am
Creepy, funny, a little sick…I liked it.
October 8th, 2009 at 8:41 am
Very nice!
October 8th, 2009 at 10:09 am
I love the way the title plays off the birthday-party connotations of musical chairs – really increases the sinister quotient of the whole work without wasting a lot of words.
Really well done.
October 8th, 2009 at 10:43 am
True flash fiction! Thanks.
October 8th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Pow! Bam! This is far more sinister than at first reading. They’re not just playig kids’ games here, for sure. Quite a commentary on current culture.
October 8th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Thanks – you’re all far too kind!
October 8th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
[...] Enemy of the Party popped into inboxes as today’s Every Day Fiction mailing. It can be found here on their [...]
October 8th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Great story. I echo the comments: chilling, creepy, possibly a little sick. Exactly like the sick childhood “game”. Five stars.
October 8th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
One kind of “party” vs. another kind of “party”, but why is either going on? I couldn’t find much context for either one.
They say “flsah” can’t be too short, but I think this one is.
October 8th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
I look forward to the micro flashes but I didn’t get this one. Usually the comments provide some enlightenment, but I’m still a bit lost. Sorry.
–John
October 9th, 2009 at 4:49 am
I loved this! LOVED.
October 9th, 2009 at 6:46 am
Found myself thinking about this piece repeatedly through the day – extraordinarily well done flash.
October 19th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
Brilliantly done.
December 1st, 2009 at 2:01 am
Definitely has a creepy vibe – good work, Jim.
December 1st, 2009 at 5:25 am
Nice one Jim
I suggest a sequel = ‘Spin the Bottle!’
Best,
Bob
December 1st, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Fantastic story, Jim. Both amusing and sinister. Top stuff.