IAIN KELLY

FREAK

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.


Copyright Dale Rogerson

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.

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94 responses to “FREAK”

  1. neilmacdon Avatar

    There once was an ugly vampire … Nice one, Iain

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It’s about time we stopped grouping all vampires together – they can’t all dislike garlic.

      Like

  2. ceayr Avatar

    Cannae whack a good vampire tale.
    Neat twist, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. jenanita01 Avatar

    Well done, Iain, you intrigued and confused me …

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Not a bad place for a writer to be 🙂 Thanks

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Reena Saxena Avatar

    Well, this is indeed freaky! Are you sure s/he is not already the future come true?

    Like

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      They could be walking among us as we write Reena!

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Anita Avatar

    Dangerous mutation!
    Scary one 🙂 Well told.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Anita

      Like

  6. Tannille Avatar

    Freaky indeed. Scientists should leave somethings alone.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Who knows, we may need them to come up with another vaccine….

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Tannille Avatar

        Oh damn, might be waiting a while…

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Dee | Grammy's Grid Avatar

    A vampire, huh? Sounds like my take on it. Well done!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      A few garlic-ky vampire tales this week, as I would have expected!

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Sandra Avatar

    Terrific take on the prompt, with just the right dusting of irony.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Sandra, much appreciated.

      Like

  9. Dale Avatar

    A vampire tale worth reading, for sure!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  10. rochellewisoff Avatar

    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

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Ha, thank you Rochelle 🙂

      Like

  11. TheHiddenEdge Avatar
    TheHiddenEdge

    The irony got me right from the start! Loved it

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  12. trentpmcd Avatar

    I thought they avoided garlic and crosses… Good one (In my story, they avoid garlic 😉 )

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      They do, but this one’s a little different, which could mean a lot of trouble.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Eugenia Parrish Author Avatar

    Some serious goosebumps here
    Good job working up tension until the ending.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Eugenia 🙂

      Like

  14. J Hardy Carroll Avatar

    Love the vampire tale. I imagine that communion would be a good time for him.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Oh yes, plenty of fresh meat 😉

      Like

  15. Keith's Ramblings Avatar

    You must let me know where this church is lest I inadvertently wander into it next time I’m up your way!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Give it a go Keith, you’ll have fun, honest.

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Tina Stewart Brakebill Avatar

    Maybe our vamps could be friends 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Cool, let’s hook them up 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Susan A Eames Avatar

    Ooh, chilling little tale, Iain. Like it!

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Susan

      Like

  18. Dora Avatar

    A Frankensteinish vampire: now there’s a twist and no mistake! No wonder he freaks the old-timers out. 😂 Enjoyed this, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Dora 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  19. msjadeli Avatar

    Such wonderful bait for humans, who would never suspect a vampire lives in a church, in sunlight, surrounded by garlic. Good story!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Lambs to the slaughter 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      1. msjadeli Avatar

        🙂 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.

        Liked by 1 person

  20. Mike Avatar
    Mike

    Vampires are not my thing, but garlic certainly is.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  21. J.A. Prentice Avatar

    Interesting story. I really like the idea of the vampire experiment/mutation.

    Liked by 1 person

  22. granonine Avatar

    Iain, we followed a similar path today. I promise I didn’t read any stories before writing my own 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      A lot of vampires kicking about this week 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  23. Nobbinmaug Avatar

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I’ve seen the film, but not read the book. Perhaps I should give it a go.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Nobbinmaug Avatar

        The book is much better, but I obviously didn’t like the movie.

        Liked by 1 person

  24. Sue Avatar
    Sue

    Enjoyed this story 😊 Seems modern Vampires are immune to garlic🧛🏻

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Yeah, I was never convinced it did them much harm anyway!

      Like

      1. Sue Avatar
        Sue

        Thanks for reading, Iain 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  25. theministryofshrawleywalks Avatar

    Immunity to garlic, well thats natural selection surely. Great tale Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

  26. Na'ama Yehuda Avatar

    Yikes. But with garlic? 😉

    Liked by 1 person

  27. Alicia Jamtaas Avatar

    Oh! Excellent take on the prompt!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Alicia

      Like

  28. plaridel Avatar

    it’s nature’s way. if humans can evolve and mutate, vampires can too.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  29. draliman Avatar

    I bet he enjoys a nice bit of stake-whittling of an evening too. That’s evolution for you!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Oh yes, very handy with a stake in fact.

      Liked by 1 person

  30. pennygadd51 Avatar

    I do believe you are subverting the genre, Iain! Lovely, imaginative take on the prompt.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Penny 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  31. notestowomen Avatar

    This is like Frankstein’s monster and Dracula rolled into one. Very imaginative take on the prompt, Iain 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. notestowomen Avatar

        You’re welcome 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  32. notestowomen Avatar

    Sorry, I hit send before changing Frankstein to Frankenstein.

    Liked by 1 person

  33. Brenda's Thoughts Avatar

    Extremely intriguing story of an evolved vampire. He’s different but the same. Very creative. I wanted more!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Brenda 🙂

      Like

  34. Laurie Bell Avatar

    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 !

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Laurie, would be interesting to make him a bit like Frankenstein’s Monster.

      Like

  35. robprice59 Avatar
    robprice59

    Creepy!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  36. Elizabeth Young Avatar

    I bet he flavour his blood soup with garlic!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Everyone loves a hint of garlic 😉

      Like

  37. Stine Writing Avatar

    Wow, very dark and the repetition of “They call me a freak” adds a tone to it that is eery and mysterious.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  38. ahtdoucette Avatar

    Creepy. A truly whinge-worthy tale! I love the last phrase “just like them”. Nice.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you 🙂

      Like

  39. Ramya Vivek Avatar

    Didn’t expect that ending.👏👌

    Liked by 1 person

  40. Lorianda Adiss Avatar

    How are you doing

    Like

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  41. Russell Gayer Avatar

    Killer ending, Iain. (Pun intended). 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Russell

      Like

  42. Woman walking Max Avatar

    Well, an intriguing take on vampire activities, like the twist at the end.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you 🙂

      Like

  43. michaelwynnauthor Avatar

    Mutated to like, crosses, garlic and sunshine, like our local neighbourhood virus might mutate.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Who knows where it will end up – or how it affects vampires.

      Liked by 1 person

  44. magarisa Avatar

    How sad and chilling.

    Liked by 1 person

  45. Indira Avatar

    Excellent take. Chilling and scary. Imagine some people eat them.

    Liked by 1 person

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