Short Story Spotlight: Metamorphosis

I placed 3rd in my group for the NYC Midnight 250-word Microfiction Challenge (which means I am on to the third and final round). For your enjoyment, I am copying the story here.

Assigned genre: Sci-Fi

Assigned action: Giving a child a bath

Assigned word: dial

Some of my favorite comments from the judges:

"This is a gripping and chilling impression of a wider new world order, very well contained and conveyed in this small vignette."

"This is a thrilling and wonderfully surprising tale."

"The ending line is chilling - love it!"

Metamorphosis

“Where’re we going?” Sandy’s four-year-old voice pipes.

“It’s bath time,” I say.

We reach the sucking opening at the end of the breathing, sticky tunnel. A Master greets us. Its six limbs end in sharp pincers and its long, snake-like neck supports a one-eyed head.

I avert my gaze.

Sandy barely notices the Master. She doesn’t remember the Old World.

The opening reveals a full bath.  Sandy disrobes and clambers in, announcing, “I do it myself!”

I force a smile. “Storytime,” I say.

Sandy stills and listens.

“Our Masters arrived in spaceships of flesh. They studied us. They took on the form of our most powerful leaders. They revealed themselves. Now, it’s our turn to transform.”

“Bubbles now?” is Sandy’s reaction. She knows the story well.

I sigh, reaching for a waiting cannister. I pour luminous liquid into the bath. Sandy dives towards it, frothing the water, coating herself.

I turn down the bath’s dial.

“Too cold!” Sandy cries. She screams. Her sides split open.

I can’t watch. Her screams become eerie shrieks. When they stop, I turn to see a young Master, splashing happily.

“Bath time’s over,” I whisper.

Humans can’t understand Masters, but when Sandy chirps, I know that she’s asking for five more minutes.

She’s still my girl.

“You know the rules,” I say, sternly.

Sandy skitters over the side. I wrap her in a towel and scoop her up. She leans against my chest.

I carry her to bed, the first of my new children.