Trying something a little different, Below are three stories, all Titled “Frozen”. They have nothing to do with each other, and all are Drabbles (Exactly 100 words). The first is a tribute to “Salem’s Lot” by Stephen King, one of my favorite books. The second is a tribute to the great H.P. Lovecraft. The third is just me doing what I do. Let me know which you like best. I’m really curious.
Frozen
Three Drabbles, One Title
Frozen by False Faith
Barlow held up his hands but spoke clear. Humor touched his voice as he did.
“Put it away… Face me with only your faith Fadder.”
The blue glow coming from ceramic cross trembled, as did the hand that clasped it. The crucifix, a gift from his mother, and once a talisman Callahan believed could turn away any evil, turned to dust as the hand of the vampire Barlow closed around the arms of it.
“So sad to watch a man’s faith fail him.” Barlow said. “The power, you see, is in the hand that holds it, not the thing itself.”
Frozen by Familiarity
A tremor, larger than the last, shook the foundations of the land but still, the people of Innsmouth remained unphased. Sources, always anonymous, warned of His coming. They said the end was near. The residents claimed these warnings were like moles, they came with the seasons. It made them easy to ignore, easy to pass off as superstition. Even when the sea rose far beyond high tide, the residents ignored the signs. It wasn’t until the Whateley’s walked into the sea that they knew. They watched, frozen, until, in the distance, Great Cthulhu rose up, blotting out the sun.
Frozen by Futility
Snatches of poem, song lyrics, and the buzzing voice of the TV failed to deliver. He searched the web, analyzing the top stories and even those relegated to the back pages for anything at all. He’d had an “ah ha” moment before, and it had been good, but that feeling seemed so distant he was afraid another would never come.
Finally, disgusted with his search and unable to sit idle any longer he tweeted. “I need a writing prompt.” In minutes, he had 20. The writer leaned back and covered his tear swollen eyes. He couldn’t decide which to choose.
Jason Warden's Experimental Muse 
They are all good, but if I had to put them I. Order it would be 3, 1, 2. No.3 because it made me chuckle at the end. No.1 because of the message it conveys and finally no.2
All good reads though. Remarkable what you’ve achieved in 100 words.
Okay, I haven't read Salem's Lot or much Lovecraft, but….
False Faith – I love that because it's so true. You can't hide behind something you don't truly believe in.
Familiarity – This one didn't have the emotion that I would have liked to see. I'd rather the focus have been on their fear after he/it arose.
Futility – I actually laughed at this because it's so effing true! We're a fickle bunch, never happy, even with ourselves.
Overall, I love that you did this this week. It's a pretty cool excersice.
Interesting takes on "Frozen" Jason, and surely we can all identify with that third one. 🙂 I like the first best, especially that last line.
Futility was my favorite, simply because I made me laugh and I know that despair.
False Faith was also good, It was very chilling and I felt the terror there.
Familiarity was good, but a little wan. It wasn't conjuring up real horror for me and you'd have to had read Terror Out of Innesmouth to get the references. The other two stand alone.
I enjoyed them all, but the first was my favorite. I like the close up of an intimate moment in a person's life, and the tension and finality of the last line.
#3!
#1 was OK, maybe a little too derivative. #2 was good too.
They are all good, but in my opinion, I like #1 first, then #3 and finally #2. All three are great and have different things to say.
All good, but I'd say three is by far the best because it's all you. The other two are a little too connected to somebody else's work.
You pulled off your experiment well! Very nice work. If I'm to rate them, for me it goes 3, 2, 1. All were well done, though, particularly jealous of your word count in each.
I'd take "Futility." It has the most progression and the most earnest emotion. I didn't think too much of "False Faith" because I've seen the cross failing way too often in recent vampire fiction for it to have any impact.
I'm a King and Lovecraft fanatic, so I'll take the first 2. Especially, Familiarity. 🙂 Dumb Innsmouthites! #3 is funny in a "We've all been there" kind of way.
3, 1, 2 — Not terriby Lovecrafty 🙂 The scene that inspired #1 has haunted me for years. And 3 … that haunts me now. Good work!
I really liked Frozen by Familiarity. So often that is the case, the world will balance itself out, no matter what stands in its way.