INNER SELF

The strange patterns of a new world revealed.

The swirls and loops and whirls inside the red cabbage hypnotised him, the juicy segments of the tangerine promised cool succulence and the circular layers of the onion, bursting with that strong, sharp taste as they peeled away.

What else? He stared at his fingers and thumb. The promise of pulsing blood, bone, ligament, cartilage and tendon, all wrapped up so neatly.

Yes, he would like to see what that looked like if he set it free. He placed his hand flat on the chopping board.

Copyright Liz Young

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 more stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.

As part of a week-long promotion, ‘The Barra Boy’ is available in ebook for just £0.99 in the UK, or $1.25 US / $0.99 Can/Aus from Amazon, Google Books, Apple Books and Kobo until Monday – get a copy while you can!

Amazon UK
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Thanks to the promo, I officially got a Amazon #1 Best Seller flag for the first time – all be it for a brief few hours. Still, I’m proud that I can call it a best seller of any kind!

‘The State Trilogy’ and ‘The Barra Boy’ available now.

51 responses to “INNER SELF”

  1. Cleverly and chillingly written, Iain

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Dear Iain,

    I hope someone stops him! Horrifying ending. Well done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Oooh gosh! No. I DON’T want to see that! LOL!😄

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Me neither, I got out before anything more happened! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. 😂😂 Smart idea!

        Liked by 1 person

  4. I always suspected we were kin to beets. I’ll take his word for it, tho’.
    And yay for you on riding the Amazon wave. Hang ten & stay cool, Ian!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Liz, I’m not going to find out either!

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Woah, THAT took a turn. Brilliant! Loved it.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Wait, what!?! You whet my appetite and then left me waiting for the first cut.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I had to end it before it got too violent 😉

      Like

  7. I felt odd ‘liking’ this! Please tell me he didn’t do it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I ran out of words to find out. A sequel perhaps?

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Oh the strange places your mind goes!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. And not in a good way sometimes! Thanks Janet, hope you are well 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  9. I almost went in this direction. That knife draws you in that way. My story probably wouldn’t have brought chills the way yours does.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Alicia – yeah, give me a picture of a knife and things don’t seem to end well!

      Like

  10. Ah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please somebody stop him and get him some help. Scary story!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Curiosity can lead to some bad decisions…

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Just as Ay and Bee in my story may be learning at this very moment 😉

        Liked by 1 person

  11. Gah! I guess the good thing is that he’s not going to disect someone else!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Very true – a small silver lining!

      Liked by 1 person

  12. EEK! He might regret that later.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m sure he will! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Chilling ending. Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. he needs professional help for sure. hope it comes before it’s too late.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I wouldn’t get your hopes up!

      Liked by 1 person

  15. My fingers are still cringing!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It does make them itch a little…!

      Liked by 1 person

  16. He won’t last long if he simply gazes at the result!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m not sure he will last long no matter what he does! Thanks Liz

      Like

  17. Oh dear
    This voice is soooo creepy. I think if his own hand doesn’t satiate his curiosity he’ll pick someone else… 👀

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Oh, dear … I hope he didn’t go through with ‘not’ setting it free… nice one.

    Liked by 1 person

  19. Ha – chilling, I want to know what happens! 😊

    Liked by 1 person

  20. That shocked me. I said, out loud, “What happened?” Revenge of the fruits and vegetables.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Glad it had an affect!

      Liked by 1 person

  21. Ewww, thats potentially pretty grim. Nicely done

    Liked by 1 person

  22. Hopefully, that was all in his mind (though our mind can take us to some pretty scary places) and it doesn’t go any further. Chilling ending, Iain!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Brenda 🙂

      Like

  23. This takes ‘finger food’ to the next level! Well done 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ha, it certainly does 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Sorry for the late reply…life has been full.

        Like

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