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. 

Flash Fiction February 2026 Day Six: Useful (Abigail)

 Flash Fiction February 2026 Prompt: Useful (show who a character is only through what they do with objects) A very short response for today's prompt as it was a long day.

To live and work in the shadows requires a considerable knowledge of the various very useful tools that come into play quite frequently. A gloved hand slips in and out of pockets unnoticed. A hood obscures the face allowing anonymity. The smart thief retrieves their broken lock picks before an escape, should they break them at all, leaving no trace of the incident. Enchanted boots allow for silent movement across rooftops in the night. All of these objects sit neatly in a pile next to a much more haphazardly organized pile of recent acquisitions. With a new job in hand I begin the process of donning each piece of equipment. They will once again prove to be very useful. 

Flash Fiction February 2026 Day Five: Different (Xialing)

 

1. Flash Fiction February 2026 Prompt: Different (someone notices a detail everyone else can’t or won’t see) 

Everybody always said I was “different” and used it as an excuse to make a fuss about things that really were quite typical if not outright boring. Sure, I don’t look like everybody else. Yes, I use special equipment to get around safely. Fine, I’m “different” according to most. So what? Differences are what make people so interesting and each person is unique. Just because I can’t see doesn’t mean I don’t have other skills, they’re just different to what most people are used to. I pick up on details that a lot of people miss because they’re too busy looking at the situation, and aren’t spending enough time listening to what’s going on right under their noses…or ears? It comes in handy a surprising amount. So much happening every hour of every day and yet thousands of tiny details slip away undetected by those who can’t…or won’t…see the entire picture. A brilliant combination of all the senses just waiting to be uncovered by an ever vigilant observer. Wandering home one afternoon as the sun begins to set, the rhythmic tap-tap-tapping of a cane guiding my way down the familiar streets. Steps that take me across the bridges that cross over the canals and through winding alleyways I stop suddenly in my tracks. Standing in the middle of one of the bridges that connects Saint Olms to one of the other Cantons something catches my attention, there’s something on the air. An inexplicable feeling in the wind, a peculiar quality to the breeze that seems to carry a song both silent and resonating so loud it’s as if I can clearly hear it. A melody that mixes with the ever changing flow of the tides from the water below. Leaves swirl around me, lifted off the stone walkway by the wind before being carried away left to fall gracefully like small pink butterflies into the water to be carried out to sea. The rest of the passerby don’t seem to notice anything different and ignore the subtle weather change. Whatever- or whoever- is the cause of such phenomena I’m going to find. I think it will be alright if I take a quick detour on the way home. Rummaging through my bag I pull out a soft brown patterned cap, putting it on and adjusting my coat, armed with only the best of tools stuffed in the bottom of my pack. “Detective Li Xialing is on the case!” I tell myself triumphantly, while an old lady gives me a noise that I can only imagine goes with a look of both disappointment and immense confusion. Too bad for her, she can’t see what I see, or don’t see, and I have a mystery to solve.

Flash Fiction February 2026 Day Four: Belief (Valan)

 

1. Flash Fiction February 2026 Prompt: Belief (a ritual that was supposed to be symbolic starts to actually work)

“Has anyone actually tested to see whether or not this is going to truly work or are we flying blind here?” At the question I hear a voice that I identify to be Ayron's pipe up with “It’s been tested before, sure. Does it actually work? Supposedly, if you’re really the chosen one at least.” there’s a pause, followed by a mumbled “if you’re not then it was nice knowing you…everyone else has died.” much less cheerfully than he’d begun the answer originally. Well that’s cold comfort. At least I’d be missed? Why the wise women believe I’m some sort of reincarnation I don’t think I’ll ever understand. It would explain the strange occurrences lately though with  random assassins popping up here and there, strange dreams, and apparently on one or two occasions I’ve appeared almost as if someone were controlling me. If that’s the case I’d very much like Nerevar to stop doing that. After all, I have things to do, and places to be, with important people who do not take kindly to being ignored. Mentally preparing myself I get ready to face what could possibly be my demise. Ayron wishes me good luck, and reminds me to believe in myself. I can’t quite tell if he’s joking or not. Belief can be a powerful thing, though, and stepping into the cave I feel as if I’m about to find out exactly how powerful it can be. Eventually I complete the trials expected of me by the goddess and come to the final test- an enchanted ring. The whole ritual, which for centuries has proven more symbolic and a way to hold on to hope and the belief in the prophecy than anything else, is nearly complete. Taking a breath to calm myself I pick up the ring. Holding my breath, closing my eyes tightly should something awful happen, and certainly looking ridiculous I very quickly slip the ring on my finger with an involuntary yelp. A moment passes. I peek open one eye and then relax. I’m not dead! “Now that is a nice ring” I say aloud to myself admiring the enchanted piece of jewelry now proving I am what the wise women and their long held belief said I am. A second later my thoughts are interrupted by a very otherworldly voice. Looking around confused and in awe I say to no one in particular, perhaps rhetorically to my friends waiting for me once I return.  “I know you guys said this was mostly symbolic…but I think it’s working…”

Flash Fiction February 2026 Day Three: Change (Lukas)

 Flash Fiction February 2026 Prompt: Change (write a story that shifts genres partway through) A little mystery into horror that I didn’t feel like expanding upon at the moment but may another time.

It is said that change is a part of life. The flow of time moves ever onward and mortals powerless to stop it. Just as one cannot interfere with the fates or truly diverge from their destined path it is impossible to change the fact that there will always be change occurring. Every second, every minute, in every hour of every day there are constant changes- some large and others so small they are practically invisible. I don’t like change. I never have, and I never will. Luckily, some things never change, a small blessing I am very grateful for. One thing that seems to never change is that there will always be mysteries. Never ending plots to uncover, artifacts to dig up, crimes to solve, in one way or another a new mystery always turns up with more exciting bits of information to uncover. This newest mystery that I’ve stumbled upon, however, seems less exciting and more horrifying. There are whispers of a plague in the south. A disease so terrible it makes the victims wish they had gotten blighted instead. To honestly wish for a slow demise that disfigures and drives one mad truly puts into perspective how awful whatever this is can be. The mental images imagined by my overactive mind keep me awake at night, and every little noise jolts me from sleep the closer we get to the site of the outbreak. It is not until a small investigative team made up of Naomi, Fyr, Naryu, and myself actually encounter a victim that puts the disease in context. I have never seen a person so changed both physically and mentally they have quite literally become a husk of their former self, and to witness such a thing is utterly horrifying.

Flash Fiction February 2026 Day Two: What A Steal! (Kit)

 

1. Flash Fiction February 2026 Prompt: Steal (a thief discovers the item they stole was meant for them)

There’s nothing quite like wandering the streets of Vivec City, with all its busy passerby going in and out of each Canton throughout the day. One can find merchants, mages, priests, and more, as well as plenty of guards always on patrol. They’re not the friendliest bunch, the Ordinators, in fact they’re rather intimidating. Despite the harsh words and heavy armor lurking around every corner it’s still possible to find ways of getting things I want without others realizing. The foreign quarter in particular is the easiest and most accessible area as I blend right in with the rest of the visitors to the city-within-a-city. On a rather miserable dreary rainy day while walking through the main market area something shiny catches my eye. A small silver necklace inlaid with precious stones lays out on display at one of the merchants' stalls, and she appears to have gone for lunch. Careful not to be overly dramatic I pretend to stumble in order to deliberately bump into the side of the stall. The move allows me to grab hold of the necklace and slip it in my pocket before getting up and walking away, all while remaining entirely undetected. What a steal! She’ll never know what happened and might never even notice the piece of jewelry is gone with the vast amount of inventory. Happy with my newfound shiny object of the week I admire it upon returning to where I’d been staying these past few weeks. While inspecting the quality stones under better lighting I notice there’s a letter on the bed with my name on it. Opening the letter I read it, then reread it, and read it again a third time after that. Well that takes all the thrill out of it! The letter states my newly stolen item of choice has really belonged to me ever since last weekend, when Yuuri bought it with the intention of giving it to me. He hadn’t yet picked it up, and figured I would notice it on display, so he left it there for me to “steal” on my own. It’s a beautiful gift, really, it’s just more fun to have a bit of a strategy for obtaining such things, and hopefully avoid any Ordinators.