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. There once was an ugly vampire … Nice one, Iain

    Liked by 4 people

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

      Like

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

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Well done, Iain, you intrigued and confused me …

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Not a bad place for a writer to be 🙂 Thanks

      Liked by 1 person

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

    Like

    1. They could be walking among us as we write Reena!

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Dangerous mutation!
    Scary one 🙂 Well told.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Freaky indeed. Scientists should leave somethings alone.

    Liked by 1 person

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

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Oh damn, might be waiting a while…

        Liked by 1 person

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

    Liked by 1 person

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

      Liked by 1 person

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

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Sandra, much appreciated.

      Like

  9. A vampire tale worth reading, for sure!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. 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. Ha, thank you Rochelle 🙂

      Like

  11. The irony got me right from the start! Loved it

    Liked by 1 person

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

    Liked by 1 person

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

      Liked by 1 person

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

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Eugenia 🙂

      Like

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

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh yes, plenty of fresh meat 😉

      Like

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

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Maybe our vamps could be friends 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Cool, let’s hook them up 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Ooh, chilling little tale, Iain. Like it!

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

    Liked by 1 person

  18. 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

  19. 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. Lambs to the slaughter 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      1. 🙂 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. Vampires are not my thing, but garlic certainly is.

    Liked by 1 person

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

    Liked by 1 person

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

    Liked by 1 person

    1. A lot of vampires kicking about this week 😉

      Liked by 1 person

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

      Liked by 1 person

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

        Liked by 1 person

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

    Liked by 1 person

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

      Like

      1. Thanks for reading, Iain 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

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

    Liked by 1 person

  26. Yikes. But with garlic? 😉

    Liked by 1 person

  27. Oh! Excellent take on the prompt!!!

    Liked by 1 person

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

    Liked by 1 person

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

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh yes, very handy with a stake in fact.

      Liked by 1 person

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

    Liked by 1 person

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

    Liked by 1 person

  32. Sorry, I hit send before changing Frankstein to Frankenstein.

    Liked by 1 person

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

    Liked by 1 person

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

      Like

  35. Creepy!

    Liked by 1 person

  36. I bet he flavour his blood soup with garlic!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Everyone loves a hint of garlic 😉

      Like

  37. 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

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

    Liked by 1 person

  39. Didn’t expect that ending.👏👌

    Liked by 1 person

  40. Killer ending, Iain. (Pun intended). 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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

    Liked by 1 person

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

    Liked by 1 person

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

      Liked by 1 person

  43. How sad and chilling.

    Liked by 1 person

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

    Liked by 1 person

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