FF – Dinner Time
Here is my story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo was sent in by Carla Bicomong.
Copyright Carla Bicomong
Tears trickled from reddened eyes as the mourners released their tributes, each lantern holding the soul of their loved one. No-one knew the origin of these so-called ‘soul catchers’ – some suspected an extra-terrestrial source – but mass gatherings such as this had become common since their discovery. The tributes floated peacefully out to sea, opening and releasing their cargo of life essence to the heavens.
High above in the realm between realms the predator race, known throughout the galaxy as the ‘Devourers’, received a message from their corporeal planet-side agents.
Dinner is served.
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draliman on life 
Very clever, and tasty!
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You can’t beat a nice yummy soul!
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Ah, souls!
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Wouldn’t that be typical, we’re actually sending our loved ones souls off to be eaten!
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After everything else, dying and all, that’s the final straw, that is.
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EEEEK!
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Pretty freaky prospect!
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Well hell. That is so not how we planned to send off our loved ones…
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Even after death we keep on giving… 😦
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Oh, goodness. Wasn’t expecting that! Good writing 🙂
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Poor souls 😦 I’m glad you liked it!
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Yum!
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A tasty snack indeed!
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Oh, no, that’s heartbreaking! Really original and well told tale
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Thanks! I don’t know where my mind gets these ideas from sometimes… 🙂
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Ha! Who knows where ideas come from – the ether! 🙂
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Sure, souls may have fewer calories than bodies… but you’re missing all the taste and flavor of the meat. It must suck to be on the All Souls Diet…
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It’s no fun getting a massive “life essence” hit if your tummy’s rumbling…
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This is a new take. Soul as dinner for extraterrestrials!
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It could be true! (I hope not.)
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D-Man at his best 😀
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I’m glad you liked it 🙂
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Well that’s an interesting take. Not sure I want somebody putting his extra-terrestrial tomato ketchup on my soul.
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Haha, me neither. Hot sauce at least, people…
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Ha! Ha! Nice one. Personally I’d prefer a pan fried sole with lemon butter but I guess we all have our own tastes, so soul it is for the Devourers.
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A soul by any other name… 🙂
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I bet some of them leave a bad aftertaste…
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You’re right. I pity the poor extra-terrestrial soul-eater who gets asshat.
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Bwahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*Spits* Tastes like an asshole! I want my money back.
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🙂
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😀
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It was so beautiful—until dinner.
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Then it all took a bit of a dark turn…
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Sometimes I wonder about you.
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Me too!
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Well, shoot! I’d expected more after death. On the other hand, maybe this IS more. At least I’d still have a purpose. Right?
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Yes, if only temporarily. It’s the cycle of life and whatnot!
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yummy! filet of souls for dinner. 🙂
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It’s the Devourer version of pizza night 🙂
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So the poor souls die twice? I mean, their body first and then their soul gets eaten too? It’s just plain mean not to be able to float off into the ether, nor come back and haunt the relatives.
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I wondered why there are fewer ghosts around nowadays.
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Such a gripping tale, Ali, clever the way you create the mourning and farewell mood, then switch to the surprise finale of the ‘Devourers’. Strong stuff.
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Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed the twist and change of mood!
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Nice foreshadowing, with the perfunctory extraterrestrial comment. If these be gods, humanity is in trouble.
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Thanks, I popped that in at the last minute to imply that the Devourers (or their agents) had set all this up in the first place.
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Only you would come up with a storyline like this! LOL!
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Heh, it’s good to be different 🙂
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It is indeed.
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My soul would give them indigestion!
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Haha, mine too I think. Serve them right!
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I don’t know why I’m not hungry anymore, Draliman…MOL 😀 Great story again! Pawkisses for a Happy Weekend 🙂 ❤
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It’s enough to put you off your dinner 🙂
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Dear Ali,
“To Serve Man, it’s a cookbook!” (a Twilight Zone quote). Such a tender tale in the beginning, only to whapped in the face with the last line. 😀 Love it.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
It did turn a bit dark towards the end. I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Ali
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Brrrr! What a nasty thought. A well-written nasty thought, with a good twist at the end!
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It’s horrible to think about what’s going to happen to them. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
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Great contrast between the soul catchers floating on the calm waters and the gory feast of souls! Hmm… maybe it wouldn’t be gory at all, as these are souls, not physical bodies. Definitely a case of ‘ignorance is bliss’ for the loved ones of the deceased.
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Yes, as long as they don’t know what’s about to happen… I’m glad you liked it!
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So the question is, where do the souls go after they are eaten? (I don’t want to know that literally, thank you.) Aren’t they supposed to be immortal? There is something about soul eater and soul catcher stories that’s always so final and devastating. Great take, Dr. Ali.
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They were supposed to be immortal. Then they got eaten 😦
Yes, there’s nothing more final than the soul being lost. I’m glad you liked it!
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Such a twist!
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Yep!
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I love this, such a great twist! I read your story a couple of days ago and meant to comment but forgot (hmmm…old age?). Anyway, very creative!
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I’m glad you liked it! And always happy for comments, later than intended or otherwise 🙂
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LOL…okay…that made me snort!
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Heh 🙂
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