Welcome to the fourth #SatSunTails microfiction competition.
Be warned – the prompts aren’t easy, but that’s so you can write to the best of your ability.
If you haven’t had a go before at this writing challenge, then please don’t hesitate to try this weekend.
Rules!
- Post stories in the comments
- Stories must be 150 words (margin of 5 words either side) AND based on the picture and written prompts.
- If you title your entry this is not counted in your word count.
- Only one entry allowed (so make it count)
- End each entry with word count and name/twitter handle (if you forget these REPLY TO YOUR OWN COMMENT with them before judging closes)
- You may enter until Sunday 11pm GMT (because I’m kind like that).
If you do not comply with these rules your story will be disqualified from judging. Good spelling and grammar will also help to make a better impression on judges – the odd typo, however, will be overlooked so please don’t worry about that.
Winners!
There will be ONE OVERALL WINNER and THREE RUNNERS UP. After that there will be THREE CRITIQUES of three stories that didn’t make it.
It would also be nice to those participating if you could promote your fellow competitors and those who win.
Today’s Prompt!
The following may be used as a sentence in your story OR provide a basis for it:-
“a secret in your chasm of hope”
And here is your picture prompt:
& good luck!
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Fire engulfed the forest. Justin was sitting on the ground, his hands burnt, wondering what happened and why he wasn't wearing shoes. It took him a couple of tries before he managed to stand up and stay up. He began to call her his father.
He walked right out of the fire, his yellow fireman's uniform unmistakable. Justin rubbed his eyes, unsure if what he was seeing was real. The man approached Justin and offered his hand. He said only 2 words. "Follow me."
Justin took his hand in child-like faith and followed the stranger. Within minutes, he was standing a few feet from his father. He ran into his dad's arms and cried with relief.
"I'm so glad you're here and you're safe. How did you find me?"
Justin turned and the fireman was nowhere to be found.
"It's a secret," whispered Justin, as he gratefully fell into the arms of his father.
154 words
@wendyreid2
To Reach Within
He felt each and every one of his 78 years as if he were some geriatric Sisyphus and those years his own personal boulder to push. Aye, but push he must, for one task remained.
Within these woods, they’d waged war against the might of the Kal’Shakh’Ti Horde. Tattered and near-bootless, his lads had left bloody footprints in the metal slag raining down on them. He’d halted them here, to make their final stand.
“Reach now ye must! Reach deep inside and ye’ll find a wee bit of a secret in yer chasm of hope. Ye’ll find the indomitable will of humanity to withstand whatever force assails us. Hold tight on that now and follow me!”
Follow him they had and gloriously had they died. Now, in the twilight of his years, he would finally follow them. He swore he could hear them calling as he laid himself down to sleep on the cool earth.
155 words @klingorengi
You, who are cognizant of maleficent existence, dare to dream of better days. Of secure nights and peaceful mornings. I laugh at your arrogance. You will follow me into the flames of desire. Your heart is mine.
Far away you revel in escape. Yet here I lay, a secret in your chasm of hope, feasting on your sanguinity, voracious, unquenchable. Today, a new dawn breaks. Savor it. For when the sun fades and darkness takes hold, red things crawl in the night. Driven by wanton lust, I draw nearer.
Do your babies tremble? Does the air foul? Does nervous anticipation seep into your soul?
My glory fills the night with dark shadows and malignant truths. Dark days abound. Set your lamps, and tuck in the small ones. Sing to them sweet melodies, then rest. Sleep dearly my love, for I draw near with a thousand lifetimes to devour you.
I am close.
@Leo_Godin 152 words
Fantastic! I'm ready to go fight some alien horde.
Great job telling an epic story in 150 words.
Nicely done Leo.
Run Bitch
by Lisa McCourt Hollar
Claire crashed through the trees, trying to find her way out of the forest. Everywhere she turned, tall oaks blocked her path. Behind her she could hear branches snapping. Scott’s wife was close behind. Gasping, Claire leaped back into the dense forestry. Marie’s words echoing in her head. “Run Bitch.”
Marie chuckled. The whore was leaving a clear trail. It had rained and Claire had left several prints in the mud. She had to give the woman credit, she was making good time without shoes.
Claire didn’t even see the hole, until she stepped in it, twisting her ankle and snapping one of the bones. She could see the light, just through the trees and hear the cars passing on the highway. Dragging herself forward, hope surged as she neared the edge of the forest. Strong hands on her ankle pulled her backwards. Screaming, she turned to fight.
“Shhhh,” Marie said, bringing the axe down.
Word Count: 155
@jezri1
"Mom, he told me the fire would come tonight!"
"James for the last time it was a dream! Your father is five years in his grave!"
Instantly guilty, I looked into his eyes and saw a remarkable thing. Where I had expected to see that same old hope, I instead found certainty. My boy had grown up, and in my own ongoing despair I had missed it.
“I can’t explain it, Mom. Nothing’s changed… I still know the things that had let me hope Dad might some day make it home. Yet I also know now he never will. The hope is gone, and there’s a great empty hole in its place.
“At the same time, I know he was here last night, that I was awake, and that he warned me to get you out of here before it’s too late.”
He held out his hand… I took it.
150 words @DwayneABearup
This would make for a good longer short story. I love the concept.
very good dwayne, there is such hope in this story
Hiding from Shadows
The bell chimed four times, followed by an almost indiscernible laughter making it's way through the walls. I had hoped pinning the carpets to the walls would muffle the noises outside completely, but I could still make them out. I had piled the furniture in front of the door, although they had not yet attempted to enter.
A picture fell of the wall, it's frame shattered. I hadn't noticed it's presence until now, and it was a particularly unnerving picture. My eyes were transfixed upon it, lying on the floor. A forest, with an orange hue next to a disturbing darkness. In the bottom left were two figures, blurred and distorted.
The picture turned slightly inwards on itself, and then lay flat again. A footstep of moisture was left upon the painting. Then another one, heading away from the paining and towards me.
I shivered when I heard that laugh again. They were here.
Wordcount : 154
Absolutely loved this, I can imagine Marie smiling maliciously moments before bringing the axe down.
Very creepy!
She stood in the place he used to play. He liked being a tracker, Cody. Hunting Big Foot. She had stolen out at dawn to draw the footprint, just to see his eyes light up.
His eyes had never lit up.
When she went to his room his bed was cold, covers rumpled where his small body had been.
Gone.
She became the tracker. Missing persons. Newspaper appeals. Find Cody Brown slapped on every lamppost and wall in two counties.
Nothing. “Perhaps Mrs Brown, it’s just time to accept…”
Hands over her ears, face like stone. Obsessed with clues, with signs, with messages. Seeing his face in every passing child. His laugh on the wind.
But standing here brought him close, close enough to see through his eyes. Suddenly she knew. The house that backed on here, a scrap of fabric. No proof. She didn’t need proof. She needed vengeance.
She lit the fire.
Oops 154 words, @charitygirlblog
Not very impressed… I always expect fantastic work from you. And you always deliver. Glad to see you here.
Yeah, very creepy. Nice job.
Great ending.
Woop! Forgot this was based upon GMT, which put the deadline at 5PM, my time – before I got back home. Can't enter this week. 🙁
🙁
Seeing as I'm kind… There's eight more hours until I'll be looking to judge. If you can write and submit before I put a comment on the end to close the competition which will be just before I start judging, then I will count your entry as in time.
I'll give it a shot. Thanks!
A sad and sullen mood has stained your face
but you were never meant for frowns or tears.
Depressed and downcast eyes are out of place
upon the one I've loved for all these years.
Your mountain peak of dreams has fallen flat.
A secret in your chasm of hope died.
But you know you have greater strength than that
and I shall always be here by your side.
A stillborn son will not decrease the love
I feel for you with all my heart and soul.
My vow to you, in front of God, above,
was not just for the things we can control.
Whatever comes our way, I'll stay with you,
for better or for worse; for well or ill.
There's nothing anyone can say or do.
My heart's a vacuum only you can fill.
Remember, I'll be here for all your falls.
So follow me – climb out. Don't climb the walls.
154 Words
@LupusAnthropos
Different, I know, but that's the direction in which the prompts took me. Thanks again.
Competition is closed as of now. Will be judging and posting up results sometime today. =)
Wow, if this is true, I'm sad for your loss and inspired by your courage and love. If not, then congratulations on writing such powerful prose.
Thank you, Leo. It is not true. I'm not even married.
From the prompts, I came up with a general idea and a few lines, then I realised I had to continue in a poetic form and the other details started to come to me.
{*~*} I only write the story that wants to be written. Besides, I was sick that day. Next week I'll try to leave everyone's socks in the next county LOL.
Nicely done.
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