LA Dennison

It's time for the first campaign challenge! Here are the requirements:

Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “Shadows crept across the wall”. These five words will be included in the word count.
If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), do one or more of these:

· end the story with the words: "everything faded." (also included in the word count)
· include the word "orange" in the story
· write in the same genre you normally write
· make your story 200 words exactly!

Here is my entry, "Green with Envy."

Shadows crept across the wall, a black echo in the orange glow. Hundreds of avocado green leaves peeled from the vines like foil off of kisses. Minnie’s plants were growing too fast, but they weren’t beyond her control. Yet. Tendrils slithered across her desk, engulfing her laptop. Her fingers hovered above the light switch; darkness would stop the stalks in an instant.

Minnie gulped down the sweet, thick air. Her toes curled with the strength of it. The scent almost overpowered the apartment’s metallic bite.

“Minerva!” Mother called. “Come, tell me what you think.”

Minnie’s hand paused on the doorknob. She swallowed and walked downstairs, leaving the light on and the door open. Mother had installed her latest babies, an updated processor and another flatscreen.

“Delicious, Mother. Truly.”

“The world at our fingertips.” Mother smiled. Her fingers danced across the keyboard. She didn’t waste a glance on her daughter.

Mother was right. Minnie had ordered the porthos and roridula seedlings and learned how to cross-pollinate the species online. Adding bits of electronics to their food had been her only creative touch. Minnie couldn’t wait to see the look on Mother’s face when her vines invaded the room, before everything faded.

This was so much fun! I can't wait to read the other entries! Click here to check them out.