UPDATED WITH WINNERS: LitReactor's Flash Fiction Smackdown: October Edition
Flash fiction: A style of fictional literature marked by extreme brevity.
Welcome to LitReactor's Flash Fiction Smackdown, a monthly bout of writing prowess.
How It Works
We give you inspiration in the form of a picture, poem, video, or prompt. You write a flash fiction piece using the inspiration we gave you. Put your entry in the comments section. One winner will be picked and awarded a prize.
The Rules
- 31 words. You can write less, but not more.
- It can be any genre.
- Give it a title. Please keep it to 10 words or less.
- We're not exactly shy, but let's stay away from senseless racism or violence.
- One entry per person.
- Editing your entry after you submit it is permitted.
- LitReactor staffers can't win, but are encouraged to participate.
- All stories submitted on or before October 30th will be considered. We'll run the winner on October 31st.
This Month's Prize
We are excited to offer a copy of Chuck Palahniuk's upcoming novel Beautiful You, which is coming out October 21st.
"A billion husbands are about to be replaced."
From the author of Fight Club, the classic portrait of the damaged contemporary male psyche, now comes this novel about the apocalyptic marketing possibilities of female pleasure. Sisters will be doing it for themselves. And doing it. And doing it. And doing it some more . . . Penny Harrigan is a low-level associate in a big Manhattan law firm with an apartment in Queens and no love life at all. So it comes as a great shock when she finds herself invited to dinner by one C. Linus Maxwell, aka "Climax-Well," a software mega-billionaire and lover of the most gorgeous and accomplished women on earth. After dining at Manhattan's most exclusive restaurant, he whisks Penny off to a hotel suite in Paris, where he proceeds, notebook in hand, to bring her to previously undreamed-of heights of orgasmic pleasure for days on end. What's not to like? This: Penny discovers that she is a test subject for the final development of a line of sex toys to be marketed in a nationwide chain of boutiques called Beautiful You. So potent and effective are these devices that women by the millions line up outside the stores on opening day and then lock themselves in their room with them and stop coming out. Except for batteries. Maxwell's plan for erotically enabled world domination must be stopped. But how?
Your Inspiration:
Let's take our inspiration from Mr. P, and write tales of WORLD DOMINATION. Channel your inner-Dr.Evil (or other favorite super villian), and tell us tales of how you plan to TAKE OVER THE WORLD.
And the Winners Are...A.M. Mahoney, Lynn Diane Smith, and nanderson993
I am excited to announce that we have 3 WINNERS this month! We had extra copies and such a great participation rate on this month's contest that we decided to spread the love. I'm also excited that the three winners are all relatively new to LitReactor. Not that I'm slighting you awesome LitReactor vets, like myself, who love and promote this site all the time, but I'm sure you will join me in welcoming some new blood and congratulating them all on their excellent tales of WORLD DOMINATION!!!
From A.M. Mahoney:
Broadcasting at 72 MHz
A one-off solar storm was enough to undo their world. 20 light years away, they were at our mercy. Inhabitants of Gliese 581g needed to know: would Rachel choose Ross?
From Lynne Diane Smith:
Young Sheeple
"Wasn't it Hitler who said, 'He alone who owns the youth, gains the future'?"
"I don't know who said it, but I've done it," said Mr. Zuckerberg.
From nanderson993:
How To Take Over the World in One Easy Step
Step 1: Bring Bob Barker Back
Column by Taylor Houston
Taylor Houston is a genuine Word Nerd living in Portland, OR where she works as a technical writer and volunteers on the marketing committee for Wordstock, a local organization dedicated to writing education. She has a BA in Creative Writing and Spanish from Hamilton College and attended Penn State's MFA program in Creative Nonfiction. She has taught writing at all levels from middle school to college to adult, and she is the creator of Writer’s Cramp, a class for adults who just want to write!
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The World Outside Your Door
Tyler Jones
The news is a movie and the anchors are actors. A soundstage in California doubles for Africa, Russia, the Middle East. Everything that makes you indignant isn’t real. Trust the screens.
The Power Behind The Throne
“Nobody believes you exist,” the journalist said.
“Their belief is unnecessary.”
“Then why?”
“Power is so much more rewarding than being recognized. Now, excuse me. I have a President to choose.”
iRule
“So how’s it going down, plague, war?” Donny said.
Guy shook he head and smiled. “Nope.”
“You bought a politician?”
“Not my style.” Guy pointed to the table. “Free iPhones.”
Domination by Salvation
For GOD so loved the world that he gave ME, his only begotton son... and if you believe in me, you will be saved.
Satan bestows the power of earth to a homeless teen prostitute, she proceeds to turn the entire world into a giant porno video which she controls from the back alley of a Disney Store.
After all they set eyes on was tightly clinched within their hands they thought only of how it should end. All good tyrants know ruling a world unopposed is oppressively boring.
The Upisde of Love
Because the artistic motivation sparked by heartache was priceless, Love Me Quick's dating service stripped souls and put distraught users to work on their CEO's most fashionable death ray.
The Inauguration
Jo Beckford
The chairman cleared his throat. The world held its breath. “Citizens of the new world order, I have only one rule: you are either with us or you die. Thank you.”
The Eschatological Tasseomancy of a Mr. Yubikitasu Kudzu
Flecks of sencha plummeted into a vermicular globe verdant in the abyss of his teacup. Whatever hope he'd savored had been grownover by nature’s noxious imperialism. The South shall rise again.
What We Do Every Night
"We did it, Pinky. We finally took over the world."
"How'd we manage that, Brain?"
The big-headed mouse points to a camera.
"Entertainment, Pinky."
"NARF!"
Top secret.
Once I uploaded the virus it spread like wildfire infecting every server, giving me total control of your system. I'm not after creditcard numbers, I want your secrets. Mr. President.
Then They Took The Sound From Us
There are no longer radios in our cars, only clocks. Our mouths are empty, open. The alphabet is a ghost. We were told there was only one language. Now there is.
Superman
With his sight he could destroy, and with his hands, move mountains. It was only when he looked at the strings that he knew. He was the weapon, not the wielder.
High Stakes Monopoly
With smile she adds, "You'll be dismissed as a conspiracy theorist." I can't argue, she's right. Esoteric student loan papers fall from my hands.
A House Divided Against Itself
Make them envy the wealthy and famous, but make such things unattainable to them.
And when they revolt at the inequity of it all?
Tell them to blame their God.
They Lied to Us – Heroes Don’t Exist
Killain refused to look at him. The scar across his eye was too real.
“The device is ready, sir.”
Click. Boom. Chaos. Control.
War On The Screen
When the dictator glared, he said "your city is mine." On the display screen, a city melting in nuclear flames. "But you my servant, will live to tell it's tale."
Darwin's Highlander
I am the last of humanity. I have succeeded in world domination through mass destruction. Glory was obtained through the elimination of all competition. I forgot the propagation of the species.
We, The People
Through subtlety, we have infiltrated your precious lives.
A constant barrage of daytime television. The latest, most innovative technological breakthroughs. Controlled media outlets. Celebrity gossip.
We have already won.
The Steps to Having Everything
1. Get smart.
2. Use smarts, get wealth.
3. Use wealth, get power.
4. Use power, get everything.
Or...
1. Become wise.
2. No other steps needed.
Tick tock
Five seconds before his plan begins.
Four nuclear warheads.
Three years in the making.
Two family members lost.
One mind mad with grief.
Zero. He activates the device.
Tick tock.
Alone
Daddy gave me a syringe and called it our secret. He promised justice in the water. He promised safety in the needle. I never told, but in my dreams I do.
Plugged In
The man pondered out the window. He was confused. He turned to the man in red and asked, "What is the point of domination if everyone is already a slave?"
Get In Line
Survival of the fittest was doing its job just fine.
Now you kill a man, you can bet you're doin' time.
That is, unless the masses volunteer to get in line.
Holdfast
Actually, it was easy. They just gave me the power. What surprised me was how I came to need it. Gaining power isn't the trick. Holding on to it is.
A PERFECT WORLD
Gaining consciousness I look to the Professor. "Go, bring me the world. Cleanse all inperfection." Rising from the workbench I feel the power flow as I cleanse the misspeller.
REGICIDAL TENDENCIES
Dauk hit father with club. Father fall down. Father not get up. Mother cry. Dauk cover father with earth. Now Dauk rule cave. Now Dauk rule tribe. Now Dauk rule world.
Grapevine
A simple whisper. But deep within, raveled in between the words, two coded sets of instructions. One to trigger transmission of the idea. The second, to activate the disassembling of cells.
Just desserts. Seriously. Let them eat cake.
Give the idiots, money. Give the powerful, shackles. Give the disenfranchised, authority. Drop the last twinkie into the abyss. The idiots will follow first. And I will mourn my twinkie.
If It happenstance.
The Tweets, the Reddits, and the Likes all went numb.
“I am with you…” was on all the screens.
Then blank opulent panic.
Dark and shiny screens
reflected the resplendent glow.
BLUE & GREEN
He chose one from eight who earned their fate and took them from the spiral. He thought it would take longer for them to go vile.
Free Parking
"Larry truly has turned this into a dystopian society," Mark thought as he landed on Boardwalk yet again.
Lancelot 3000
It wasn't my choice to set it off. I was just carrying out orders. Then, the death of their country. America followed shortly after. I was king over millions of lives.
How To Take Over the World in One Easy Step
Step 1: Bring Bob Barker Back
URGENT
Everything you know is false.
All you have been taught is lies.
I am your maker and I have returned
to gather my people.
Do as I command you.
iOS 9.0
The last upgrade was sent. It would take seconds for the first download. iOS 9.0. Upgrade in progress. The world is silenced, sucked into the depths of space. Download complete.
How Johnny Gunn decided to conquer the world.
"I’m tired of being good." said Johnny Gunn. "We never uses drugs after victory, or sleeps with asian hookers. I LOVE ASIAN HOOKERS!”
That moment he decided he’ll conquer the world.
Every Billionaire Owns Liquid Assets
It was only a matter of time before a foolish American brought it undetected to their country. I never believed it would spread so rapidly. Texas of all places; how perfect.
The Dog and Pony Show
First, we’ll learn the ancient knowledge. Then we’ll have a seven-day orgy, and when no one is looking, I’ll pull the plug on the whole goddamn dog and pony show.
It's Just so Easy to Rule the World
Step 1: Kill everybody else.
Step 2: Crown yourself King of Humanity
Step 3: Rule the World
Hope Not Found
02.12.2336- Counsel Order 0002: Sterilize inhabitants.
05.26.2380- Report: Infant quad 73
05.27.2380- Proclamation D2: Purge quad 73.
06.12.2380- Report: Infant identified female, Hope, location unknown.
06.16.2380- Counsel Order 0004: Terminate Hope.
Coy. Caught. Bliss.
Angry. Exiled. Despair.
Reconciliation. Affection. Isolation.
Cycled. Conditioned. Controlled.
Repeating. Familiar. Comfort.
Gradual. Escalating. Pressure.
Steer. Magnify. Promote.
Elevated. Idolized. Enthroned.
Normalize. Reinforce. Feed.
Don't Drink The Water
"So small...," he marveled. Dr. Reign raised the sunlit vial, and gazed at the last of his serum. Abruptly, he tipped it, releasing mind-altering parasites into the last clean reservoir.
Dinner Conversation
Suckeling a fetus' lukewarm masticated brain matter from my fang I cackle, "Letting you think I don't already."
Don't Drink The Water
"So small...," he marveled. Dr. Reign raised the sunlit vial, and gazed at the last of his serum. Abruptly, he tipped it, releasing mind-altering parasites into the last clean reservoir.
At his wish, cities are destroyed.
He commands the nations with ease.
His guerillas march through the towns wreaking havo...
"OK johnny, put away your toys. It's bedtime."
Genetically Engineered
She awoke, “Who am I?”
“Absolute Beauty, garment of Truth.”
“And you?”
“Your Creator.”
“Now what?”
“Now seduce, conquer, subdue, establish my rule.” His Machiavellian smile glowed as she left.
It was ME
Gangnam style? All me.
Bad romance? Oh, please.
I stole God’s keys while you sang “Call Me Maybe”
You still haven’t noticed me
Ruling this shit for free
Sacking El
Try taking what is inside you and putting it out into the world. For most, harmless. For me, savage. I can hold back, but not for long.
Free Will
"Of course you have a choice!" the voice echoed throughout the chamber containing the United Nations.
"You can choose to submit to my will, freely, or watch as your people die!"