For this Flasher story, I wanted to write about an infestation – yes, again. But this one’s in a different format compared to my published infestation story “Silver” (in the collection Coping Mechanism). For this piece of flash fiction, I wanted to show one side of a phone call rather than exploring the larger story,
Since “Silver” is about insects, I debated between featuring snakes or rats in this one. And then I decided it would be a much more effective story if it could be anything infesting the protagonist’s home. Choose your own adventure! What wouldn’t you want infesting your home?
~ ~ ~
What do you mean there’s nothing you can do about it? You’re my landlord!
Well, surely there’s something you can do.
I don’t know. Call animal control!
Well, you have to do something they’re everywhere!
No, that is not an exaggeration. I can’t even see my own floor and–
Well, I’m standing on my dining room chair and… Oh God. There’s more.
I mean there’s more of them now!
No, I don’t know how they’re getting in but they’re filling the place up. They’re almost touching my feet!
I am not making it up. You have to come quick. You– Ah! They’re all over my legs. Oh God, they’re crawling up my legs.
No! No, please don’t hang up. Don’t you dare hang up.
No please! You have to help me. You have to! Hello? Hello? Fuck!
