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The Old Ways

September 10, 2018

The Old Ways
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There’s a moment as he steps beyond the invisible threshold, when we half expect him to burst into flames. To shriek and scream. For at least a puff of smoke from beneath his Italian leather shoes…

None of this happens.

He stops, alerted by the way we stare. “This is consecrated ground, isn’t it?”

We can but nod.

“Thought so. The mealy taste of hypocrisy is thick upon it.”

And then we know. Our crucifixes, bibles, and holy water are no defense against his kind. Because, unlike our ancestors, we no longer believe.

Stakes and beheadings and fire it is, then.

— Liam Hogan

P.S. If you love flash fiction...we deliver for free.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. MaryEllen Carr says

    September 10, 2018 at 2:50 am

    Suspense, humor, horror, guilt, and resilience in how many words? Masterful would not be an over-exaggeration.

  2. cascondaville says

    September 10, 2018 at 5:31 am

    This is just plain wonderful!

  3. Nadiya says

    September 10, 2018 at 7:47 am

    interesting, but there are so many possibilities…

  4. Christine says

    September 10, 2018 at 8:36 am

    And garlic! Don’t forget we always have garlic 🙂 (unless this is an Italian one?) Love it xx

  5. Ariffa says

    September 10, 2018 at 9:08 am

    Cool story! I really enjoyed this one:)

  6. jj gehring says

    September 10, 2018 at 10:26 am

    Very Well Done ~!~
    Great line: The mealy taste of hypocrisy is thick upon it.

  7. James Bonnor says

    September 10, 2018 at 12:10 pm

    I liked ‘We can but nod.’ The archaic wording worked well and heightened the futility of their position. Great story.

  8. Sarah says

    September 10, 2018 at 1:06 pm

    Great ! Snappy story

  9. Paula Edwards says

    September 10, 2018 at 2:02 pm

    Well written observation of the futility of rite without belief. Too bad you couldn’t work a Congressional hearing in there.

  10. Anna says

    September 11, 2018 at 8:51 am

    A brilliantly written and engaging story.

  11. Janet says

    September 11, 2018 at 11:48 am

    I did enjoy it, Liam. Well done!

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