Flash Fiction February 2026 Day Sixteen: Old Rules Made New (Valan)

Flash Fiction February 2026 Prompt: Rules (a rule is enforced for the first time in years) 

Caius looks at me in a way that makes me worry his eyes may just pop right out of his head. “They said what?!” he nearly yells but quickly comes to his senses and quiets down, you never know who else might be listening after all. “They said what?!” He repeats in a harsh whisper about my strange encounter last night with a couple of people who spoke nonsense about some lord and the return of a lost house that had been “sleeping” awaiting the fulfillment of a prophecy. Apparently these weirdos thought I figured into their plan somehow and grabbed me in the middle of the street while out for a late night walk. Had I not woken up with a bruise on my arm from where one had held an iron grip to keep me from running off I would have thought it all a nightmare. A really, really, really, weird nightmare. “Any ideas what they were on about?” I ask Caius who has since stopped looking at me like I had three heads and instead now paces around the small sparsely furnished house in circles. A hand on his head running through his thinning grey hair the other hand anxiously fidgeting with a spare piece of string that had come loose from the pocket of his pants. Per usual, he still isn’t wearing a shirt, the weather is too hot here for him apparently, and it’s part of his undercover assignment to look like an eccentric neighbor in order to be left alone. “You haven’t mentioned this to anyone else have you?” The spymaster asks, his voice sounding increasingly anxious. “No. Just you.” He sighs in relief. “Keep it that way.” I hesitate in asking but decide to question why. “Every few years somebody comes along claiming to be the reincarnation of Nerevar, which has something to do with an Ashlander religious prophecy. While they’re generally left alone, the Tribunal Temple really doesn’t like it when they bring up that prophecy. They like it even less when people turn up saying they’ve got something to do with it. That’ll get you labeled a heretic real quick. Being labeled a heretic will get you impaled by an Ordinator even quicker. Don’t say anything to anybody.” Well that’s terrifying. “Got it?” I give a mock salute “Yes sir!” the spy only sighs tiredly as he sits on the unmade bed. “We’ve already been over the rest of the rules, but here’s one we haven’t talked about yet because it hasn’t been needed in years; keep your mouth shut when asked about prophecies.” That’s an oddly specific rule. I know better than to question the spymasters rules though, they’ve been compiled over decades of service. I wonder what was going on whenever the last time that rule had to be used was?
 

Flash Fiction February 2026 Day Fourteen: A Scar Forever Unhealed (Yue)

 Flash Fiction February 2026 Prompt: Scar (write a scene without stating any thoughts directly imply them only through character action) 

Start time: 0214 

Dr. Yue Ruolan Tan, Medical Examiner, performing Forensic Autopsy of Jane Doe.

Full written report to follow.  

Age: 26 

Identified by civilian walking dog. 

Received with clothing and personal effects including a wallet, a diamond ring, and a small leather bag intact. No obvious tears to clothing. 

TOD estimate based on initial liver temperature: within the past 24 hours postmortem findings consistent with this estimate. 

Initial external examination shows ocular petechiae and bruising pattern consistent with manual strangulation. Additional bruising found throughout the body. Debris samples taken from fingernails- labs pending. Scars on bilateral forearms. ? Past defensive wounds in appropriate context. Surgical scarring at left knee, LRQ abdomen noted. 

Beginning internal examination with Y incision from clavicle. 

Initial examination of abdominal cavity reveals absent appendix. All other organs present. Weights of individual organs, descriptions, and tissue sample results can be found in full report. 

Upon completion of full dissection and internal examination organs were returned. Incisions closed according to procedure for minimal cosmetic damage. Scars from past defensive wounds visible depending on body position. 

Post completion of additional labs, a complete autopsy report will be available in approximately 15 weeks with summary, detailed report on findings, and hypothesized cause of death. 

End time: 0619 

Flash Fiction February 2026 Day Thirteen: A Different Set Of Instructions (Valan)

 Flash Fiction February 2026 Prompt: Different (Tell a story about a set of instructions that gradually stop being about the original task) 

Why I agree to do random tasks for Ayron is a question I find myself wondering almost as much as I do with agreeing to do tasks for Neloth. Usually this occurs while in the middle of doing such tasks, and regretting agreeing to do them. Today's task at hand involves doing some work in Ayron's makeshift museum devoted to Dwemer history and culture. A rather impressive collection that was compiled over years of travel, visits to excavation sites, and thoughtful insight from the last known living member of the Dwemer. While the mechanical marvels are certainly technological and artistic wonders, they’re also sometimes quite deadly. Rolling metal spheres unravel into sophisticated fighting machines, giant centurions can crush a man easily, and mechanical spiders are somehow even more terrifying than the real ones. Thankfully there is really only one potentially deadly machine in Ayron's little museum, a centurion that appears to have gotten damaged somehow over its long existence. On a small table immediately left of entering the door to the meticulously organized set of rooms is a note with a list of instructions. In typical Ayron fashion, the list starts off with things that need urgent doing relating to the primary task at hand, and slowly drift further and further from their original point often ending with a completely different topic. The instructions begin by telling me to dust around any objects not in protective cases, then to check the locks on the aforementioned cases, and to very carefully attempt to clean the area around the centurion without touching it- it’s rather temperamental. From there on the instructions fall apart into a mix of different things to do some more relevant than others. The list ends with a reminder to get milk, something not exactly relevant to a day spent cleaning a museum. 

Flash Fiction February 2026 Day Eleven: Absense (Leah Thenath)

 Flash Fiction February 2026 Prompt: Absence (Write a scene using only sentences of six words or fewer)

A Single Teardrop Falls
Unseen By The Living World
Absence Felt By None

Flash Fiction February 2026 Day Ten: A Last Act Of Love (Xianru)

 Flash Fiction February 2026 Prompt: Love (A character handles an ordinary task with unusual and over-the-top care)

It’s always a difficult task to find the missing, especially those who have been gone for quite some time. I think people understand that- that while all efforts go into searching there is no guarantee a search will turn up anything. An unfortunate number of trails eventually run cold, the cases filed away and tucked into storage, a place they will most likely remain forever. On rare occasions new information comes to light, though it’s very rarely pleasant. I’ve never liked having to go over to that archive with all its many boxes of files sitting silently in the dim light collecting dust. It feels like a tomb. In this instance however, I have no choice, looking down at the many pages of paper scattered on my desk, this will be the newest addition to that silent archive. Consolidating the sheets into a single neat stack I clip them together before placing them into the plain beige file. Attached to the outer cover is a slip of paper with a name and a highly detailed drawing. Mentally steeling myself I grab my coat and begin the long solemn walk to the archive, carrying the file carefully with both hands. It rains softly as I walk the quiet streets making the journey from one building to another. The city sleeps blissfully unaware of my task. A sad, strange memorial  procession of one as a last act of love and recognition for the one who will join the ranks of the lost souls forgotten by the rest of the world. Entering the building I’m greeted by the night clerk who gives me a sad look upon noticing the folder in my hands before unlocking the door to the basement, allowing me to find my way on my own time. Standing at the doorway to the storage area I look through the metal grating at the shelves of boxes that seem to go on forever. Unlocking the creaky old door I push it open and wander the aisles until I find the correct spot. A brown box with a lid and a little card on the front that states the alphabetical range of its contents. Looking one final time at the file in my hands I run a few fingers over the name and the picture, as if trying to burn them into memory. “Goodnight.” I whisper to the girl in the picture before placing the file into the box and closing the lid. “I’m sorry.” Once finished I turn and walk out of the storage locker, back up the stairs, and exit the building, not once looking back. Standing in the quiet midnight in the rain among the darkened buildings only then do I realize that the tears have begun to fall. 

Flash Fiction February 2026 Day Nine: A Voice In The Dark (Xialing)

 Flash Fiction February 2026 Prompt: Voice (write a complete scene using dialogue alone without any dialogue tags or exposition)

“Two jobs: put the offerings for the ancestors and sweep the floor, that shouldn't be too bad. If I’m fast I can still make it in time for sword practice! What's that glowing stuff? That doesn’t look like a torch. Hello, is somebody there?”
“Can you see me?” 
“Not exactly, but I can hear your voice just fine. Are you the little blue glowing fuzzy outline that looks vaguely person shaped?”
“Yes, I am. I can come closer if that helps.” 
“Oh no, that’s fine. I’m just here to clean up quickly, and leave this basket with offerings for the ancestors to keep them happy. I wouldn't want to accidentally crash into you.” 
“That’s very kind of you to keep up the shrine so dutifully. It is greatly appreciated. If you need to clean I won’t keep you.” 
“No it’s okay, please, stay. Or can you at least tell me your name before you leave?”
“You’ll learn that eventually.”
“So should I just call you ‘Voice’ for now?”
“Sure.”
“Alright then, ‘Voice’ it is. Hey, Voice? Can you describe yourself to me while I work? It helps to form a mental picture, and it’s nice to have company for otherwise boring tasks.”
“Of course. It’s nice to have someone to talk to.”
“Makes the time go faster too.”
“Yes, it does. Obviously, you already know the glowing blue part so that’s out of the way. I’m a bit shorter than you are, my hair is almost curly and pulled back. The clothes I have on are pretty plain without much adornment.”
“Could you describe them for me?”
“There is a dress with a long skirt, a shirt with flowing sleeves, and a robe tied with a sash to keep it all together. Of course I have shoes too, and my lantern.” 
“Why do you have a lantern?”
“To light the way.”
“The way to what?”
“You’ll find out eventually.”
“Voice…Are you an ancestor?”
“I am, just not your ancestor.” 
“If you’re not my family's ancestor, how come you’re here? Don’t you have your own shrine?”
“No. I’m looking for someone.” 
“Who?”
“My brother.”
“Why?”
“To bring him back into the light.” 

Flash Fiction February 2026 Day Seven: Law And Order (Kit)

 Flash Fiction February 2026 Prompt: Order (a character moves into a place with an unusually long list of rules)
For all the noise and frenetic movement of Vivec City I never would have expected there to be so many rules. I suppose that is what happens when you have an entire group of specialized guards devoted to maintaining order. Is that why they are called Ordinators? They look rather menacing with their heavy metal helmets and armor, not the type of people I’d want to get on the bad side of. Though it’s only a matter of time until I will inevitably end up on their bad side if previous experience counts for anything. I’ve never been the best when it comes to following rules and order. In many ways I’m the very opposite to order, after all to have order there needs to be chaos. Looking at the unusually long list of rules that are displayed at the entrance to the foreign quarter I briefly look over them, noting the potential fines and punishments that may be incurred as a result, and walk right past them on my way towards the next bridge. I have a new place to explore and people to meet, rules be damned.