“Morana” is a deity in mythology, personifying winter, death, and disease.

Morana, the Mythological Deity Speaks

The Vignette Gazette Edition #178 | Verbose, Lonely

Photo by Vika Glatter, Pexels.com

“Morana, the Chief Superintendent, will see Mr. Alfred next.”

The small, thin man stood up from sitting on the log and slowly entered the fire ring deep in the forest. He wore a T-shirt that was too small even for him. It was as dirty and smelly as his ragged jeans.

With as much courage as he had, he stumbled out a “Wwwwhat do you want to know?”

“Did you kill Mr. Grant?” came the chilling question. She was not verbose.

“No. I was away on holiday. Honest.” Mr. Alfred couldn't look the Chief Superintendent in the eye.

“Next,” she crackled.

“The Chief Superintendent will see Mr. Maurice next.”

Mr. Maurice was tall but bent over with his gait. He had always been a very lonely man, and his beard hung far down his chest, filthy, dirty, and matted.

“Did you do it?” came the question, cold as an icicle on a January morning. As we noted, she was not verbose.

Mr. Maurice was so frightened he couldn't say anything.

“Well?”

Again, we note that the Chief Superintendent was not verbose.

At this point, the author of our little tale heard a “ping” and saw the note on his computer: “This is the worst opening to any murder mystery, ever.”

“O yeah, Mr. Smarty Pants,” typed the author. “I’m under a deadline here. And your incessant critical comments aren’t helping. How about this opening? Better?

“The Chief Superintendent walked over to the wall socket and unplugged the computer.”

[embed]Fiction Shorts Where you’ll discover short fiction that makes you smile, laugh out loud, get a little choked up, or become inspired.medium.com

Lynn L. Alexander I appreciate your creative prompts, Lynn. They are so fun to work with.

[embed]The Vignette Gazette Edition #178 Wednesday, June 10medium.com

MJS