The Inkwell presents: Knock Knock

Each month, the community chooses a prompt, and those interested are tasked to write a tale of no more than 2,500 words. And to start 2024 off, we chose to pit our writers against one of the most dreaded of daily events-that of the unexpected visitor. Not so bad, one might say, but we went two better. For not only was the visitor unexpected, but they were unusual and, deity forbid, a salesman! If that isn’t the stuff of nightmares, we don’t know what is.

Seriously, it is the stuff of day dreams and fairy tales. The stranger at your door, offering you a deal you would never consider, let alone expect. Sometimes this can lead to adventure, as Jack found with his beanstalk, or to catastrophe, as Faust can clearly attest. No matter what, though, the results of such interactions are never dull.

So, now that you’ve opened the door and listened to our spiel, the question remains-what will you give for a deal of a lifetime?

Foreclosure - When one is desperate, any offer appears appealing
The Survey - With the world closing in, Caroline finds herself faced with some odd questions
The Lies We Tell Ourselves - How far will a couple go to forget their past?
Eternity and Everything After - Not all saviors are equal