Friday 1 March 2013

The story that didn't win anything

So there was this competition to win a free copy of KL NOIR: Red by submitting a short story (300 words) based on one of the titles in the book.
I didn't get anything, but here's the flash fic anyway. Enjoy!

The Oracle of Truth
“You’ll never find true love,” Katelyn blurted, then covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes wide.
“That’s not a nice thing to say, dear,” Mother said distractedly as she continued to eat her breakfast. Keith glared at his younger sister.
I’m sorry, she mouthed at him, but he narrowed his gaze and beckoned her out.
“You did not just say that to me,” Keith hissed at her once they’d left the dining room. His grip left white marks on her arm when she pulled it away.
Unsay it, Katelyn, unsay it, she willed herself, but she couldn’t. The words wouldn’t form on her lips, no matter how hard she tried.
“Katelyn, please.” There was desperation in Keith’s voice now.
“I can’t,” she whimpered. “You know how it is.”
“No, I don’t know. I don’t know how you can claim to be the oracle and just make things you wish to happen come true.”
“I don’t wish it to happen! Why would I want to do that to you? It just happens to be true. I can’t change it.” Her brain felt like it would explode from the pressure of his will that fought against the truth that had made itself known in her mind. Sometimes she just wished they were normal. “Stop it, Keith. It hurts.”
“Not until you change it.”
Did people actually pay for this? For the privilege of knowing the future and then blaming the one who foretold it if they didn’t like it? Something gave way in her mind right then, and she knew that Keith had managed to change the truth, just a little.
“You will fall desperately in love one day,” she said with finality. It was better than nothing.

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