Hidden: Flash Fiction

Hidden

All Rights Reserved 

Flash Fiction Story

Katherine Rochholz

I lay here, my eyes wide open. My life it flashes before my life. My childhood. My teen years, and the start of the path I went down. My adult years and that final act that finally lead to this position. I lay here and wonder what my life had been like if I hadn't made the choices I had. I lay here and feel, maybe for the first time in my existence, regret. So that is what regret feels like. Excitement. Release. A moment of relief. Those emotions for my life were the only ones I knew. Odd how now that my eyes are on display that I feel something I always should have all along. Remorse. Regret. Sadness. It is a novel feeling to finally feel... human. That part that was hidden so deep inside me. Now out in the open and on display as my eyes see the last faces they will ever see. They say eyes are the windows to the soul. That is why I used to wear sunglasses. Why I keep my eyes hidden from the world. So they won't see the darkness of my soul. See the things that I had seen. See the things I have done. See my true soul. So I hid my eyes. Maybe I did feel, but I was so hidden. So hidden that I even hid my eyes from myself. I couldn't look myself in the eyes. To look myself in the eyes would have reminded me of the sins I ran from. Remind me of the pain and death I caused. But today the glasses finally came off. Today my eyes will close forevermore, after they are bared for the world to see. As I finally pay for my sins. As they inject me with drugs to stop my heart my eyes wide open and on display, the world sees my soul and the fact I finally regret my choices. Regret my life. Regret I made my eyes a window to hell... 

Timeline Update

This October Monster University Part II is very far behind, I have written some of the stories and outlined the others, however they won't be posted until after the new year. I am going back to focusing on getting Elemental Mazes ready for my December release and my NaNoWriMo novel The Midnight Phoenix. Come the new year I will be more focused on my timeline 2017-2019.

KATI'S TIME LINE:

NOVEMBER: NANOWRIMO: WRITING THE MIDNIGHT PHOENIX FINISHING GETTING ELEMENTAL MAZES READY FOR PUBLISHING. SCHEDULING CAN CHANGE

2017:

OCTOBER: MONSTER UNIVERSITY PART II/ ELEMENTAL MAZES EDITS

NOVEMBER: WRITING THE MIDNIGHT PHOENIX

DECEMBER: PUBLISHING ELEMENTAL MAZES AND CREATURES AND MAGICAL BEINGS OF KATY LILY

JANUARY: PUBLISHING SHADES OF FEAR

FEBRUARY: PUBLISHING PRAYING

MARCH: PUBLISHING MONSTER UNIVERSITY PART II

APRIL: PUBLISHING THE MIDNIGHT PHOENIX

MAY: THE FEW AND THE PROUD A GUARDIAN'S LIFE

JUNE: PUBLISHING FALLING PIECES

JULY: AN UNHOLY CREATION

AUGUST: DEMONIC SAVIOR

SEPTEMBER: AN UNHOLY KILLER

OCTOBER: MONSTER UNIVERSITY PART III

NOVEMBER: NANOWRIMO TBD

DECEMBER: PUBLISHING DARK SHADOWS

2019:

JANUARY: THE UNKNOWN SISTER OF SHERLOCK HOLMES

FEBRUARY: THE LEAGUE OF THROW-AWAYS

MARCH: CITY OF CLOCKS

APRIL: BLOOD AND WATER

MAY: THE ZODIAC

JUNE: PUBLISHING PURE SHADOWS

JULY: TRUST FEW

AUGUST: TBD

SEPTEMBER: TBD

OCTOBER: MONSTER UNIVERSITY PART IV

NOVEMBER: NANOWRIMO

DECEMBER: TBD

Excerpt: Elemental Mazes

Excerpt: Elemental Mazes
Katy Lily Series Book 4
All Rights Reserved

She closed her eyes.  “Powers that Be, I need you to tell what to do here.  You sent me back from death for a reason, what is that reason?  Is it to fight this war?  To die in this war? Goodness died last time to destroy Darkness and look, Darkness has returned.  Why go through all this when Darkness just comes back?”  She sighed.  She did not expect an answer.  “I do not want to have to think about this!”  She suddenly yelled out loud.  “Help me!  Help me please!  This world is chaos!  Darkness hounds my every move!  She is even in my blood!”

Monster University Part II

I have decided to challenge myself again in October. 1 short story a day between 750-2500 words centered in the Monster University Universe!

September 30th Prologue: Zoe and Aeron! (Rachel's sister and brother! What will happen?!)

October:

Day One: Draco

Day Two: Drake

Day Three: Frank

Day Four: Beth

Day Five: Lucas

Day Six: Kat

Day Seven: Mia

Day Eight: James

Day Nine: Ewan

Day Ten: Hal

Day Eleven: Sam

Day Twelve: Darin

Day Thirteen: Sebastian

Day Fourteen: Morgan

Day Fifteen: Tony

Day Sixteen: Bleu

Day Seventeen: Ian

Day Eighteen: Gabriel and John

Day Nineteen: Erik

Day Twenty: Gus

Day Twenty-One: Abe

Day Twenty-Two: Jo

Day Twenty-Three: Ajit

Day Twenty-Four: Viv

Day Twenty-Five: Bo

Day Twenty-Six: Kristoff

Day Twenty-Seven: Jon

Day Twenty-Eight: Caliban

Day Twenty-Nine: Cameron

Day Thirty: Naome

Day Thirty-One: Kitty, Lila and Ida

Bonus: Sherman

Bonus: Raven

Bonus: Alyssa

Countdown To Halloween Year II!

I have decided to challenge myself again in October. 1 short story a day between 750-2500 words centered in the Monster University Universe!

September 30th Prologue: Rachael

October:

Day One: Draco

Day Two: Drake

Day Three: Frank

Day Four: Beth

Day Five: Lucas

Day Six: Kat

Day Seven: Mia

Day Eight: James

Day Nine: Ewan

Day Ten: Hal

Day Eleven: Sam

Day Twelve: Darin

Day Thirteen: Sebastian

Day Fourteen: Morgan

Day Fifteen: Tony

Day Sixteen: Bleu

Day Seventeen: Ian

Day Eighteen: Gabriel and John

Day Nineteen: Erik

Day Twenty: Gus

Day Twenty-One: Abe

Day Twenty-Two: Jo

Day Twenty-Three: Ajit

Day Twenty-Four: Viv

Day Twenty-Five: Bo

Day Twenty-Six: Kristoff

Day Twenty-Seven: Jon

Day Twenty-Eight: Caliban

Day Twenty-Nine: Cameron

Day Thirty: Naome

Day Thirty-One: Kitty, Lila and Ida

Bonus: Sherman

Bonus: Raven

Bonus: Alyssa

Excerpt Elemental Mazes

Excerpt Elemental Mazes Book 4 of the Katy Lily Series
All Rights Reserved

            Katy sat with Riley; they were sitting on the plane. The first maze wasn’t so bad a few choices made, a bit of power out of control. She feared perhaps their birth mother was right and she was going dark.

            Riley could practically hear her thoughts. “Nobody is pure light or dark until they make themselves that. Those who are dark gave up. They were told they were dark or cursed or they had no choice. They didn't fight. They didn't try. And that is what made them dark. They gave up. They invited darkness into their soul. There isn't just light and dark. You can't have one without the other. And no being is perfect. They just try to be a bit better than they were the day before and they hope for the best. They fight to be light. They fight to be good. And those people where are they? Those who fight? They are light.”

Sold My Soul Poem

Sold My Soul
All Rights Reserved

I used to have a voice
I used to have a say
I used to have a life
I sold it for fame
I sold it for money
I sold it for material
I now only speak circles
I now only blend in
I now only am artificial
I used to have a voice
I used to have a say
I used to have a life

NaNoWriMo 2017

As I work to get Elemental Mazes ready for publishing in December, I have chosen my NaNoWriMo Project. The Midnight Phoenix!

From Earth to Hell and back again... He shall gain his redemption.

'I always thought I was the hero. I tried to do good. I really did. I even deceived myself that I was. Bu at some point I started to make questionable choices. Making choices that I thought were for the greater good. I can see, now in my death, that I wasn't the hero. I was the villain. But in life... In life I thought I was invincible. After all nobody is born the Villain. And in death I shall gain my chance at redemption as I fight an evil I could never imagine...'

Perspective: Micro Fiction

PERSPECTIVE
MICRO FICTION: ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

I smelt of fire & death
My mentor would have stated I smelt of power & success
But all I can think is I smelt of failure
As I knelt to death

Death Presents: Flash Fiction

Death Presents

All Rights Reserved

I remember it like yesterday. Was it yesterday? Time seems to blur lately with my depressed thoughts. That Hollow’s Eve that ended my childhood and set me upon this road. A loss of childhood is a requirement of life I guess, but one that still comes as a surprise to everybody when they realize it is over. Those carefree days, gone forever, often times in a blink of an eye. Many have contribute to that day, many that regret the choices that led to that day.

Even as I lay here and listen to the voices talk about what is to be done with me. I listen as my godfather slams the refrigerator closed, I listen as my godmother cries, and I even hear her blasted pet bird squawk against its cage being thrown about as people went to and fro.

I close my eyes as I remember that day upon the pier when my parents said good bye to me. That day that was only a week before that terrible day, but seems so far away. The ship of iron and steel then was hit by a ship killer. And that is what that storm did. It killed the ship and along with it my parents.

So as I lay here, moments after hearing the voices talk about where they would continue raising my ten-year-old self, and try to think. At that moment I strengthen my mind, I create walls around my heart, and I make a vow.

A vow that I will become the queen I am about to be crowned, and nobody, not even my godparents, will control my ambition to show the world I am my father's daughter.Those voices would not be able to control my ambition to have the world fear the name, Anne Bathory. Because while I may not be Queen of my nation, I am queen of my land and my name would be feared. That I can guarantee in my last moment of childhood, as Death has presented me with the Queen’s crown.

Motivation: Flash Fiction

Motivation

All Rights Reserved 

 

 

I stood in front of the roaring crowd. Memories coming back to me. "How does one get to this point. Standing in front of a crowd on a campaign trail? I am about to tell you." I started. "Forty years ago I was but a secretary. No one of importance. I had the impression I would die a nameless face of society. It is sort of funny this path I am now on started with a bowl of soup and a glass of milk. I found a child without any armor against the cold, one that would tremble in fear when I tried to help him with a kind hand. As with an injured dove, I held the child and set about to make sure he was healed. I then set about to make sure no child ever was hurt, like this little boy was, ever again.

I found a group of like-minded individuals and united them. But to change the system we had to be within it. So we made a list, columns of pros and cons, and in the end I ended up in a public office.

As I raised this little boy, so did my ambitions to give him and children like him, everything a child deserves. And thus I moved up the ranks in the face of the public.

Then I sat there, on my son's birthday, one year, not long after he had graduated with his doctorate, we watched the television as it was announced. My end goal to show my son, the little boy I saved, that anything is possible with hard work. I turned to him and he pulled me into a hug. He was now a grown man of twenty-four and I am so proud of the man he has become. He kissed my cheek and smiled and stated, 'Congrats Madam President.' I smiled back at this young man that changed my life. 'Thank you, son.' I had told him."

I looked out at the crowd and smiled. "Why tell this story now? When I have long since been out of office? Why do I stand before you at the start of this campaign trail? Because today I introduce you to my son as he announces his bid to run for the office you all once honored me with and I am here to tell you that for every benefit I gave our country my son can increase it tenfold. So join me in welcoming the Senator of Iowa and to celebrate his bid into becoming your president!"

I stand back to clap as my son came upon the stage. My son kisses my cheek as he moves up to the stand and the crowd cheers. I smile, my little boy has come so far and it all started with a bowl of soup and a glass of milk.

Black Hydrangeas: Flash Fiction

Black Hydrangeas

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I stand here surrounded by hydrangeas. They remind me of a time so far away. A time of happiness. Though hydrangeas are common, these weren't. Their color almost black. Blood black I called them.

Why am I standing here surrounded by them and memories? Memories that started with a scribble after just learning the alphabet, a potato, and a game of tug-of-war? Memories of helping a smiling woman and a happy boy plant these blood black hydrangeas?

Memories that turned from games of hot potato to making sandwiches for a picnic, and the word boyfriend? Memories of my brothers threatening him to not hurt me? Memories of hand holding, sweet kisses, and so hot summer nights? Memories of a childhood love? Why?

Today I am surrounded by those hydrangeas, not for the wedding I always imagined, the wedding that was expected.

No, today I am surrounded by them as the man who was my childhood sweetheart marries my little sister. Today I am surrounded by them as we watch one of the most unexpected unions. After all, they had seemed to always hate each other. Or at least they had until I found them in our bed four months ago.

Today I stand here surrounded by hydrangeas as I finally give into the pain and watch as those hydrangeas that were once white join their blood black companions. I stand until I fall, and I give into this unexpected union of myself and Death...

Tumultuous: Flash Fiction

Tumultuous

All Rights Reserved 

I glared at my husband. "Scrounge up some dignity and try not to look like you are a prisoner that escaped from a mental asylum."

My husband let out a sigh but straightened his bow tie. Why he had to go to this he didn't know and complained regularly about it. "Well, you can be more ladylike, instead of keeping this frenzy of a yelling match going!"

"Me? You are the one that is in the wrong!" I yelled once more. We have been having the same argument for the last two days, well really longer than that, it just came up again in the last two days. They were both on different sides of this argument since they were eight. I placed our invite into the slot in front of the house that I hated. I could hear the sprockets clicking against each other as the door opened. So bloody pretentious.

"Richard! And Lillian." The man greeted, and I hope nobody would oust the hate I had for the man; it would break my mother's heart. But he was family.

"Step-Father." I greeted, as a tray of champagne and stuffed mushrooms went by me. Ignoring the food I grabbed the champagne, not drinking it but handing it to my husband.

"Bruce! Tell my wife that apothecary is the word for the place and not the person!" My husband demanded.

Bruce sighed. This battle, argument, conflict, whatever it was, had been going on between them since they were eight. "I am not getting into this fight again." He turned to the woman that came up next to him. "Rose, tell your daughter to stop fighting with her husband over this."

"Dear, these two have either been at each other’s throats, or so sickeningly loving since they met at eight years old. They are soulmates, tumultuous, but soul mates. And dear, I don't like the mushrooms, they are wrong. Throw them out." Not caring they costs thousands of dollars.

Right then I realized I and my husband were the sane ones in the family. "I love you." I told my husband.

Richard smiled. "And I live for you. But why drop this now?"

"Pregnant woman's choice. But at least we are sane." I smiled.

"They are family, and we are far from sane."

"Please family members have but one goal," at his raised eyebrow I smiled. "Find the sanest person in the family and drag them into pure insanity."

"Again, we are far from sane." He laid a hand on my six month along stomach.

"The sanest person doesn't have to be sane." I kissed him. "Just saner than the rest."