100 Word Challenge #43
Prompt: …the flame flickered before…
It was the only thing that he truly understood. Something that he had created, that he had brought to life from phosphorous, wax and string. There was a purity and a truth to it.
That’s what he’d say, anyway. To the psychologists.
He’d talk about a need for control. A need to purge, a need to cleanse. He’d tell them about a youth fractured by neglect. And they’d believe him, of course.
The flame flickered before igniting the curtain, and as the tongues of fire lapped upwards his eyes gleamed.
Truth was, he just liked to watch things burn.
Simon John Cox 
A brief glance inside the mind of a pyromaniac? Beautifully and economically executed.
Well written and a great take on the prompt.
Intelligent and manipulative. Plus he likes to watch things burn.
This is a dangerous man! Very effective, shivery story.
Very effective. Great piece.
An intriguing and interesting direction you went in – I like it!
This one's worth fighting with Blogger's crappy comment tool Good job!
He's inside, isn't he, presumably for arson, and innocents died. But none of that matters to the criminally insane. Don't let him out.
Don't we all like to watch things burn … I love a good bonfire!
Nicely written – created great images.
KP
(scratchypen.wordpress.com)
Nice one. Who really knows why we do things?