There would be no escape.
That was it then. She’d gotten turned around somehow. Night clawed at her bare legs, ripped through her thin, cotton gown.
She’d never been afraid of the dark but, tonight, it had teeth. It chewed her psyche, swallowed her hope of leaving this place.
A spot of light caught her eye. The beam from a flashlight bobbed just beyond the gate. A hand stuck through the bars, dangling keys from its fingertips.
She ran to the light, laughing.
They’d catch her and she’d be back here but no matter. First, she’d have her revenge.
The weekly 99-word Flash Fiction Challenge over at Carrot Ranch
January 21, prompt: Clichés – In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that rephrases: “light at the end of the tunnel”.
Lemon Shark Reef 
So many questions! You’ve set the scene and now I’m pulled into the darkness! ❤
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I wouldn’t want to get pulled into the darkness with her. She’s up to some deadly no good, that’s for sure. 😉
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Yessss….!
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Engaging! A bit of a mystery perhaps – or maybe I’m just not that good of a reader. But it read like intrigue, dirty business, and some daring-do. All in such a short bit.
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Oh, I love that. Dirty business and daring-do. 🙂 Perfect. It’s definitely a bit of a mystery–I think you’re reading that just right. Thanks, Charley. Cheers!
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Cheers!
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That would make an amazing blurb for a book! Lol. Great writing, Sarah.
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OH. Seriously. I have the worst time with blurbs but you’re right! Tweak that a bit an it would work really well!
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You definitely made me think about a different approach to blurbs. What a hook!
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Thanks, Diana. 🙂 Blurbs can be difficult. This is an interesting concept–write a flash fiction piece for a blurb.
My current WIP literally begins with a flash I wrote years ago. Hmm…
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I might play with the concept too. Perhaps a blend of traditional blurb and flash??? How fun.
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That would be…
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Maybe a flash fiction hook that transitions into a more typical blurb, or the other way around. Either way emphasis on the flash fiction hook and brief traditional blurb. I may play with it and see what bloggers think. I’ll definitely credit your post for the inspiration!
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I was just thinking of writing a blog post about this convo in the comments! I tried the blurb/flash in my WIP. I’ve been looking at older blurbs and seeing some of them did emerge from flash. I’ve also started looking at some of my microfiction thinking how great it would be for a blurb. I’m, like, obsessed with this now. Flash Blurbs. Blurb Flash? FlasherBlurble? BlurbalFlash? THIS IS AWESOME. 🙂
I didn’t have to look too far. Just a few weeks ago, I had this one: Freedom of Flight Tweaked a bit, it would be a great blurb.
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Night clawed at her bare legs…it had teeth… Such engaging lines and word choices! Excellent!
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Thanks so much, ZaZa. (That’s what I call you now. Sorry: Zander/Alex/Z/Alexander.) 🙂
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Thanks, SarahWithTheBaraLegs
LOL! Little brother couldn’t pronounce Alexander, shortened to Zander, it stuck. Never been ZaZa. I’ll take it!
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That gave me a good laugh. And my previous flash has a girl with bare feet. Huh. What’s with that? SaraWithTheBara…
Zander makes me think of Buffy the Vampire Slayer so that’s taking up space in my head as I try to read your beautiful poetry so thought to go with something else but wasn’t sure which you’d prefer so..ZaZa it was. 😉 Cheers!
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“has a girl with bare feet. Huh. What’s with that?” I’d say your characters are set somewhere that is too hot. Stop being so cheap and write in some damn A.C. for them!
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Will do (once they get inside). 😉
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Who the heck is handing this girl keys?!
Yikes. (I don’t trust these barefoot girls of yours)
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😂 It’s the hand of the Light at the End of the Tunnel… 👻 (Good call.)
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Oh this is so good, Sarah – as usual. Hope you are doing well!
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Thanks, Barbara. Good to see you! We’re getting by. Hope you and yours are doing well.
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Yes, all is well here – staying healthy and waiting for a vaccine!
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Glad to hear that. Stay healthy. ❤
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Now you’ve intrigued me – and I’m always up for a good revenge tale.
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Right? Revenge is fun. A dish best served with cheese and wine, I say. Always happy to intrigue. 🙂
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Chilling! I can’t stop thinking of the possibilities. Make it stop!
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The possibilities are endless… 🙂 I love that.
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Ooh, so spooky. Where is she? What revenge will she wreak? Why doesn’t she mind she’ll be back in there?
I’ve got one scenario in mind, but I’m not sure why someone would have a key to release her.
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My thought is she’s got an accomplice to her future terrible, no-good, very-bad (deadly) plans. 😉 As far as getting caught and winding up back there, perhaps the revenge is worth it.
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I’m not sure whether to hope so or not. I don’t know why she needs to take revenge and how that might play out. I don’t think either side can have been pretty.
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Agreed.
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Love this line, ‘She’d never been afraid of the dark but, tonight, it had teeth.’ Scary and supenseful, where are they taking her? Well done!
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Thanks, Luccia! I think they’ll wind up taking her right back here where she started. But, before that, she’ll get out and be up to dirty business and some daring-do. 😉
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