Breadcrumbs To Madness 2

By Matthew Tonks

The brief was simple, I had 1 day to create 24 ludicrous 100-word story that utilised a genre, a location, and some obscure object that almost had no place in the scene it was thrown into. Once the 24 hours were completed, the shorts were posted on my blog to fester within the world of man.
Then sometime later, after the infestation had set in, I gave myself a new target. This time I challenged myself to another 24 hours, but instead I had to rework the snippets into something larger, something more defining.
The pages of the book you hold now in your hands, houses those defined stories.
So, now the question I ask of you, is do you dare open the pages and see the true terrors 1-day can bring upon man? Or, will you whisk yourselves away to somewhere grander, and less threatening?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Matthew Tonks
• Release date: Aug 20, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005103583

Matthew Tonks

Together we ride the steed of madness, along a road long foretold. Do not let the dire consequences scare you from this journey, for it is written, so it must be. We traveller. We explorers of otherworldly things. Let us share our providence, so we may all prosper.Hidden in the depths of it all, you will find your utopia, and it will be a beautiful sight to witness.For I may walk beside you, and I may carry your umbrella in the sun, just don’t expect me to dig you up, when the zombie apocalypse comes...

Book preview

A Plan With No Name

Calhoon tightens his grip on the cash register and grits his rotten teeth. IT’S MINE GOD DAMN YEE! I WAS THE ONE WHO TOOK THE ARSE WHIPPING FOR IT, AND I AIN’T LETTING IT GO FOR LOVE OR MONEY! he screams.

You did NOTHING but follow the carefully laid out plan that I put together! So in the roundabout scheme of things, IT’S MINE! bellows Luka as he tightens his grip and tries to free the register from Calhoon’s hands.

THAT’S BULLSHIT AND YOU BOTH KNOW IT! IT WAS MY PLAN! Pauly yells as he also grips the register tightly.

FUCKING LET IT GO! Calhoon screeches as he pulls a little six shooter from his back pocket and brandishes it towards the other two.

Do it! FUCKING DO IT! Luka growls, spraying saliva from his lips like a fountain. You can threaten me all you want, but there is no way in hell that I’m letting you take what is rightfully mine!

Calhoon hisses, and lets out a powerful breath, then turns the revolver on Pauly. FUCKING BACK OFF!

YOU SERIOUS BRO? YOU POINTING THAT MOTHER-FUCKING CRACK PIPE AT ME NOW? YOU BETTER KNOW IT ISN’T GONNA BE ME DROPPING THIS THING!

What the fuck is wrong with you two? I’ve got a fucking gun, and so help me I’ll use it! he says as he fires a shot into the roof.

You keep going the way you are bro, you ain’t gonna have any bullets left to shoot jack shit with. So why don’t you take your cap gun and leave the victor to claim the treasures. says Pauly as he blows him a kiss followed by a sarcastic wink. The revolver explodes with a white-hot flame as he pulls the trigger again, this time not sending a bullet into the roof, but into Pauly’s skull. His head arches back as the bullet tunnels its way through his head and tears out the back, sending bits of brain and bone across the wall behind him. Without a moment’s hesitation Calhoon turns the gun back to Luka.

You serious? You gonna send me to the grave over whatever’s in this register?

Only if you don’t let go, you do the right thing and I don’t give a fuck where you go and what you do. But if you be a stubborn piece of shit, I’ll spread you eagle like I just did that sack of shit Pauly, understand?

But you don’t even know what’s in there, do you?

I don’t need to Luka, see all I need to know is that it’s all mine. So drop it or face the consequences.

Are you act… he doesn’t get to finish his sentence as Calhoon pulls the trigger once more, sending a bullet in through Luka’s left eye, and it explodes out the back of his skull. For several seconds they stand there staring at each other before Luka drops to the floor dead.

Calhoon smiles broadly as he nervously grips the register and thrusts it into the ground several times, until it cracks open like an egg, revealing its emptiness to his horrified face.

A Matter Of Change

If I knew you were going to be bitter about it all, I would’ve been more sympathetic to your needs. But you didn’t share any of that shit with me. You just lied your way through it all, like the rest. Simon says, as he stares across the counter at her.

Her bottom lip trembles, and tears well up in her eyes. I-I-I-I, I thought you were different. I thought you’d understand why.

The register pops open, he grabs a handful of cash and shoves it into her hands. Well SURPRISE, I’m not. NOW take your FUCKING change and get the hell out!

I-I-I, I want to s-so-speak to yo-y-your manager, she says nervously through chattering teeth.

He sneers, curling his lips as if he were Billy Idol, about to break out into a surprise rendition of White Wedding. But unfortunately for her he isn’t Billy Idol, and he’s not about to entertain her. "You’re all the fucking same, you fucking customers. You come here expecting to be waited on hand and foot, expecting the world to needlessly bow to your every need. Then, when you realise it