‘Hell of a way to start the new year.’
Samson looked round the room. Everything was red. Decorations, walls, the clothes on the victim, the pool of blood on the floor, the spatter of blood on the wall.
‘It’s the contradiction, you see?’ Cheng explained. ‘The colour red. Chinese New Year is celebrated with the colour red. 2017 is the year of the Rooster, the Fire Rooster. Red is an unlucky colour for Fire Roosters.’
Samson shrugged. ‘It sure was unlucky for this guy.’ He motioned to the body. ‘We got a name yet?’
Cheng consulted his notepad. ‘Mr. Dingbang Kam. Owned this place. Born in 1957, the last year of the Fire Rooster. Married, three daughters.’
Samson knelt by the body. He noticed something sticking out of the mouth. A feather? Rigor mortis had set in. He managed to prise open the jaw.
Samson recoiled at the sight of the rooster’s head stuffed inside the mouth.
An officer came down the stairs looking pale and shaken.
‘Sir, I think you need to take a look upstairs.’

Written as part of Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. The challenge is to write a flash fiction story, in around 150 words based on the weekly photo prompt. For more information visit HERE.
To read other stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
This was very clever and I must say you added such local flavour to it, like you were here in 1957 on Jonker Street and watched the kongsi’s fight for power. It was called Hereen Street back when my grandma lived here, all houses had a well in the middle. Fire Rooster! You did your research well Iain – I am impressed. No its not a good year for the roosters especially earth and wood roosters but its a good year for those born in the year of the rat and ox! I will let you figure that one out. Love the take on this. Befitting that PJ uses this photo as the Lunar New Year is this weekend.
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Thanks for the comment and the prompt photo. Glad my research was good enough to make the story believable and you got the atmosphere I was looking for. Only sorry it wasn’t a happier tale to celebrate the new year with, maybe I’ll try and do a happier one before the weekend! 🙂
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you did it nicely! the new year is loud and boisterous not necessarily happy as family ties get tested around this time but yes a happy tale would be appreciated as well!
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Great story. I got a very vivid sense of the scene.
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Many thanks
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Oh god, what was upstairs Iain, dare I ask?
That cliffhanger aside, I enjoyed your take on the photo. I liked that you made it into a crime scene, and the details were spot on! Fire Rooster reference was a nice touch .
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Thanks Jade. I leave it to you as to what might be upstairs, although there’s a clue earlier with reference to his family…
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No…don’t tell me…the three daughters…oh my goodness Iain. I’m stunned.
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I’m afraid it’s looking that way… Next story I will try to make a lighter one 🙂
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Oh my! After reading that I’m afraid to go upstairs! Great story Iain, very chilling!!
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Thanks PJ. Apologies for not having a happy new year story 🙂
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No apologies needed. That story was great! I like good horror stories.
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Looks like revenge for bad mouthing . Nicely crafted.
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Ha, could be a motive definitely 🙂
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Now that’s not a very good start to the new year. But then what is? Good work Lian.
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Thanks Neel
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I am not a reader of crime stories, but I was impressed by the detail and back story – and fearful for his family. Great writing Iain.
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Thanks Michael, I love a good crime read, although I don’t write too many crime stories, but I decided to head in that direction with this one. Thanks for reading.
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Well, that’s a cracking opening to a crime novel – suitably gruesome and mysterious. Vivid descriptions and well paced – you held us right in the palm of your hand there, Iain. Very well done
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A very satisfying comment, thanks Lynn 🙂
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Total pleasure 🙂
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I think you like to write short crime dramas.
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Thanks James, it is quite satisfying 🙂
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Such great atmosphere here, and suspenseful too! Great job doing your homework on the cultural significance of the various clues. And I’m with the others — I’m scared to see what’s upstairs. What’s downstairs is bad enough!
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Thanks Joy, glad you liked it. I won’t reveal what is upstairs! 🙂
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Please, don’t! Although maybe you should. It almost couldn’t be as bad as what I might imagine. Or maybe it would be. (shiver) I’m going back to “please don’t.”
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I love your take on this prompt. Awesome!
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Thanks LaRonda 🙂
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Gruesome! Great descriptions fill our minds with the scene. Hopefully, this terrible crime will be solved. Great suspense story.
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Thanks. I have faith that Samson is a good fiction detective who will get his man.
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I have a feeling I would NOT want to see whatever is upstairs 😄. Love the suspense and the cliff hanger ending.
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Thanks, I don’t think I want to write what they find up there either! Thanks, much appreciated.
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Good story; even better cliffhanger!
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Thanks Loretta, much appreciated.
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A wonderfully suspenseful story, Iain, packed full of detail. I shudder to think what might be upstairs. Really well done. 🙂
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Thanks, glad you liked it 🙂
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OMG! I thought I’d read this on my way to prepare supper Bad idea….beef tonight.
Expertly done piece of flash, Iaian.
Best,
Ellespeth
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flubbed up your name again 😛 My apoloigies.
Ellespeth
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Thanks, hope supper wasn’t ruined! 🙂
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well, I am curious to know what is upstairs….. Intriguing!
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Thanks Samantha, I’m not sure we want to find out…!
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This was brutal. Great write!
Aditi
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Thanks, a bit grim I admit.
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Frightening take and as many say above, not a good start the the Chinese New Year. I liked learning you researched this, about some kind of turf war, being the motive for this guy’s death, nitro mention he’s a rooster and that’s unlucky. The detail of the roosters head in his mouth was particularly gross and finding about the daughters and upstairs . . . Well done, I’m feeling a “Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” vibe here, gruesome scenes and fascinating.
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Thanks Mandi, I’ll settle for something half as good as The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo! 🙂
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I can’t get the colour red out of my mind after reading your story (that’s a good thing, I think ;-)). Excellent crime story.
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So long as your not born in the year of the Fire Rooster I think red is a good colour! Thanks very much 🙂
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Fortunately, I wasn’t. ☺ You’re welcome, Iain.
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This is a great story. The smart, snappy style fits the crime scene and investigating officers so well. Great use of colour – not to mention the use you made of your research into the Year of the Fire Rooster. The cliffhanger leaves me with thoughts of an even more gruesome scene upstairs.
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Thanks for a lovely comment Millie, brightened my morning 🙂
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That’s a tight story. Well written and filled with suspense. Now I want to know more.
Would you be interested in my highlighting your book on my Authorzone series? Just let me know what you think.
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Thanks Jacqueline. It would be a pleasure to have my book highlighted. Let me know if you need me to do anything.
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Great. If possible send me a brief write-up or a readers review on it with the link that would lead others to Amazon where they can purchase it. My email is Jacquelineobyikocha@gmail.com
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No problem, I will get that to you at some point this week 🙂
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Cool
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