The Broken Door

A Story Stack: The Separation Method

Photo by:Daniela Paola Alchapar

6 words

Wild winds whistle when windows wanting

25 words

Tony slowly opened the door. As he stepped through a crack was heard. He swung his arms wildly as a legion of bats fluttered noisily.

50 words

“It is so lonely here,” said Karen as she sat on the kitchen counter swinging her feet.

Lucy looked at the broken fixtures. The wind didn't chill her anymore. “Look, nobody assigned you this house to haunt. You just showed up one day.

It’s all I could afford,” Karen deadpanned.

100 words

“You bought this dump?” said Chuck. He was not impressed.

Jonesy smiled. “Something you don’t know. The city is going to expropriate the land because they need the property to widen the roads.“

“So you made a killing,” Chuck said, offering a fist bump.

“That I did.”

Chuck looked puzzled. “So why are we here? It’s not like you need to look at the place. It’s coming down soon.”

“Well Chuck,” said Jonesy, “There is one last piece of unfinished business. You are going down with the house," he said, firing a bullet into Chuck. “Join your friends, the rats.”

200 words

“Wendy. Don’t go too far.”

“Okay mom,” said six year old Wendy. She looked at the trees and watched them sway in the breeze. As she looked down she saw a red balloon skittering along the road. She ran to it trying to capture it but everytime she got close the balloon would bounce and float a bit further out of her reach.

Suddenly the wind blew the balloon around the corner of the old house. Her mother had warned her to be careful about this house. Wendy rounded the corner and spotted the balloon squiggling though the broken window of the door. Suddenly it broke free and disappeared behind the door.

Wendy walked up to the door and tried the handle.

A noise was heard behind the door. “Hello,” called Wendy in her brave voice.

A scuffling sound was heard. “Fresh meat,” a dark voice said.

“Wendy! There you are,” called her mother. “How many times do we have to say don’t go far?”

Wendy looked back at the door as a pair of red eyes stared at her. A hand appeared and waved. “Until next time,” Wendy heard a voice speak under her mom’s discussion.

Wendy waved back.