http://microcosmsfic.com/2023/03/26/microcosms-184/#comment-111284 Long Live the King 162 words Frog / Castle / Sci-Fi Boyd Miles I had just become King, crown and everything. My castle, yes, I now lived in a castle and not in one of the basement rooms without windows and hope. No, I had a nice room, fit for a king which was fitting as I was the King. It happened quite by accident, my ship had a rather unfortunate encounter with a rock and hurled itself toward the nearest planet that was survivable for passengers and crew. The landing wasn’t a good one but the safety rating wasn’t a lie and I wasn’t harmed, much. The same couldn’t be said for the unfortunate travelers my ship fell upon, no not at all. Fate must have been drunk. A tradition well older than memory had the quaint method of choosing the new King from those who killed the old, being the only living being on the ship I was taken from my aquarium and placed on the throne. Not bad for a pet frog.

https://purplequeennl.blogspot.com/2023/03/mid-week-flash-challenge-week-288.html The lights were on but nobody was at home. Not like it was anybody's home really but the expression fit the situation. The carpet was industrial grade, meant for long life and easy cleaning, it was also very quiet, not a footstep to be heard. It was strange being here alone, no noise no motion. The hallway had no outside windows so no indication of time. But time was on my mind, I only had a short period of time to finish the job. The normal call, an address given and the rest was my problem. Being a professional my problems couldn't be anybody else's or I would be out of a job or worse. I found the right office, bagged everything that looked out of place or had evidence, a blacklight helped with that. Good gloves, Tyvek coveralls, hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and some lint free cloths, and knowledge was my tool kit. Plastic wheelie bins don't attract attention, a late night cleaning crew goes unnoticed by people driving by. Clean as new, or at least as clean as normal, got to love those industrial carpets. Those empty halls without sound come back in my dreams but the money stuffed in my pillow helps. Some, a little, some nights, okay, not much, not much at all.