They call me a freak.
I live in the old church surrounded by crosses and hang garlic cloves from every stained-glass window and revel in the sunshine that pours through the coloured panes.
They call me a freak because I’m not like them.
They’ve stopped visiting now. I never invite them across the threshold. I know they only came seeking answers. I was a science experiment, a mutation. I could have been their future, instead they see me as a threat.
They call me a freak.
The humans still come though, and when they do, I take my feed and savour the sweet taste of blood, just like them.
Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).
To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
There once was an ugly vampire … Nice one, Iain
LikeLiked by 4 people
It’s about time we stopped grouping all vampires together – they can’t all dislike garlic.
LikeLike
Cannae whack a good vampire tale.
Neat twist, Iain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks CE
LikeLike
Well done, Iain, you intrigued and confused me …
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not a bad place for a writer to be 🙂 Thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, this is indeed freaky! Are you sure s/he is not already the future come true?
LikeLike
They could be walking among us as we write Reena!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dangerous mutation!
Scary one 🙂 Well told.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Anita
LikeLike
Freaky indeed. Scientists should leave somethings alone.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Who knows, we may need them to come up with another vaccine….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh damn, might be waiting a while…
LikeLiked by 1 person
A vampire, huh? Sounds like my take on it. Well done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A few garlic-ky vampire tales this week, as I would have expected!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Terrific take on the prompt, with just the right dusting of irony.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Sandra, much appreciated.
LikeLike
A vampire tale worth reading, for sure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Dale
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Iain,
You’ve given new life to the vampire tale. You made me feel for him. Bella Lugosi would be proud. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha, thank you Rochelle 🙂
LikeLike
The irony got me right from the start! Loved it
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought they avoided garlic and crosses… Good one (In my story, they avoid garlic 😉 )
LikeLiked by 1 person
They do, but this one’s a little different, which could mean a lot of trouble.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some serious goosebumps here
Good job working up tension until the ending.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Eugenia 🙂
LikeLike
Love the vampire tale. I imagine that communion would be a good time for him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes, plenty of fresh meat 😉
LikeLike
You must let me know where this church is lest I inadvertently wander into it next time I’m up your way!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Give it a go Keith, you’ll have fun, honest.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe our vamps could be friends 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cool, let’s hook them up 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
👍🏽😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooh, chilling little tale, Iain. Like it!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Susan
LikeLike
A Frankensteinish vampire: now there’s a twist and no mistake! No wonder he freaks the old-timers out. 😂 Enjoyed this, Iain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Dora 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such wonderful bait for humans, who would never suspect a vampire lives in a church, in sunlight, surrounded by garlic. Good story!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lambs to the slaughter 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 The scariest Hammer film I saw was when VanHelsing (played by Cushing) threw holy water on Dracula (played by Lee) and it had no effect.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Vampires are not my thing, but garlic certainly is.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Mike
LikeLike
Interesting story. I really like the idea of the vampire experiment/mutation.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Iain, we followed a similar path today. I promise I didn’t read any stories before writing my own 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
A lot of vampires kicking about this week 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great last line. This reminds me of “I Am Legend.” I’m not into vampires, but that’s a great book. It’s so much better than the horrible, terrible, awful movie. I don’t remember the details, but Richard Matheson breaks down the science of vampires. How they became vampires. Why they’re “allergic” to certain things. It’s set in a cool post-apocalyptic story. Like your story, it takes out the ghoulish horrors and replaces them with scientific horrors.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve seen the film, but not read the book. Perhaps I should give it a go.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The book is much better, but I obviously didn’t like the movie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Enjoyed this story 😊 Seems modern Vampires are immune to garlic🧛🏻
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, I was never convinced it did them much harm anyway!
LikeLike
Thanks for reading, Iain 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Immunity to garlic, well thats natural selection surely. Great tale Iain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLike
Yikes. But with garlic? 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh! Excellent take on the prompt!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Alicia
LikeLike
it’s nature’s way. if humans can evolve and mutate, vampires can too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I bet he enjoys a nice bit of stake-whittling of an evening too. That’s evolution for you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes, very handy with a stake in fact.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do believe you are subverting the genre, Iain! Lovely, imaginative take on the prompt.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Penny 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is like Frankstein’s monster and Dracula rolled into one. Very imaginative take on the prompt, Iain 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry, I hit send before changing Frankstein to Frankenstein.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Extremely intriguing story of an evolved vampire. He’s different but the same. Very creative. I wanted more!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Brenda 🙂
LikeLike
Ooooooo creepy… from the vampire’ s POV
He sounds angry and lonely. (For a bit there I thought of the hunchback or of Frankinstein’s monster) a good horror story !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Laurie, would be interesting to make him a bit like Frankenstein’s Monster.
LikeLike
Creepy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Rob
LikeLiked by 1 person
I bet he flavour his blood soup with garlic!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Everyone loves a hint of garlic 😉
LikeLike
Wow, very dark and the repetition of “They call me a freak” adds a tone to it that is eery and mysterious.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Creepy. A truly whinge-worthy tale! I love the last phrase “just like them”. Nice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 🙂
LikeLike
Didn’t expect that ending.👏👌
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
How are you doing
LikeLike
Great, you?
LikeLike
Killer ending, Iain. (Pun intended). 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Russell
LikeLike
Well, an intriguing take on vampire activities, like the twist at the end.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 🙂
LikeLike
Mutated to like, crosses, garlic and sunshine, like our local neighbourhood virus might mutate.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Who knows where it will end up – or how it affects vampires.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How sad and chilling.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent take. Chilling and scary. Imagine some people eat them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLike