My first Friday Flash in more weeks than I can count! Feel the joy, people! It is complete at 184 words.
They say in this business you need to open a vein and bleed for your beloved, but I surely never imagined anyone would shoot me dead right next to her. Certainly not a character I created! A character I nurtured, raised her up like she was my own child and this was how she repaid me? The nerve!
She should have been grateful I allowed her to arise out the books. She should have been overjoyed with how many people enjoyed her. She should have been happy enough to do anything I asked of her.
That was the bargain. She promised she would do anything, be anything, if only I would allow her the freedom so many of my peers allowed their beloved characters.
She – No no no! No!
She threw the last dregs of the lighter fluid on the typewriters, threw a match on it and cackled joyously. “Take that! Use me, will? Sell me, will you? No more!”
I patted at the flames frantically, but my hands just passed through the fire like smoke.
Still laughing, she sauntered out of the room.
Ha well there’s no telling what an author will do to their characters is there! Nice one Sonia.
Oh I think I read this wrong, it’s the character not the author that is taking their revenge yes? I guess one better be careful what they create!
Have you read “Umney’s Last Case” by Stephen King? Superb metafiction revenge story, about just this sort of angst over fiction being used and stolen, and its relationship to the author.
Adding to what Helen & John said: I really liked how the author became unreal – the price for making the unreal into something real.
Very nice! I’d love to see an extended version of this story. In what ways did he use her? (in my twisted mind it was really nasty, lol) How does this giving life to characters work? How did she plan/execute her revenge? Consequences? Yeah, I want more!
My head went to “Umney’s Last Case” as well. Even fictional characters – or, especially those – seem to distrust manipulators. Revenge!
It’s nice to have you back! What a horrid way to go. Those damn characters! No respect. No respect at all.
Be careful of what you create, for it cannot be un-created.
Sonia, you’ve got me worried now, looking back on all those literary monsters of my own.