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101 Word Short Stories

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The Night Visitor

January 24, 2025 8 Comments

By A M Lyall

Something thumped downstairs.

Bill shook his wife.

“Did you hear that?” he whispered.

“What?” Lauren groaned.

“Shhhh!”

She squinted into the gloom. “Go see!” she urged.

Bill pulled back the cover and probed the cold hardwood floor with his feet.

“Don’t worry about your damn slippers!” she snapped.

“I’ll be no use slipping and sliding on the floor,” he bit back.

Glass smashed downstairs. Lauren clutched Bill’s arm. He shook her off.

“Phone 999!” he barked.

Lauren grabbed the mobile and stabbed the keypad: “He’s on his way down. Do it.”

She pressed ‘Send,’ then leaned back on the pillow…and smiled.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kelly Louisa Balliu says

    January 24, 2025 at 3:38 pm

    Love that ending 🙂

    Reply
  2. David says

    January 24, 2025 at 3:43 pm

    A fully formed thriller in 101 words. Great.

    Reply
  3. Dave Barlow says

    January 25, 2025 at 10:28 am

    A superbly concise thriller, with a fantastic twist.

    Reply
  4. Vivian says

    January 26, 2025 at 7:32 pm

    Excellent!

    Reply
  5. Faith says

    January 29, 2025 at 7:41 am

    Caught me off guard. Good story!

    Reply
  6. PK says

    January 29, 2025 at 8:31 am

    Taut and twisted. Nicely done!

    Reply
  7. Janet says

    January 29, 2025 at 9:05 am

    Oh no! Horrible, unexpected and well done!!!!!

    Reply
  8. Lisa H. Owens says

    February 5, 2025 at 6:59 am

    Oooooh, so sinister!

    Reply

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