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Hysteria — Friday Fictioneers June 8, 2018

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Title: Hysteria
Source: Friday Fictioneers sponsored by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple
Word count: 100 words

PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

She had been here before; she was sure. Or maybe somewhere similar? Alarm bells sounded, and her stomach tightened into a knot. How had she gotten here? The knot twisted her into a panic. Her eyes darted, scanning, looking for something, someone. Did no one fell the danger lurking here? Then she saw him. He stood below her, staring at her. She tried to move, to run, but instead, she was rooted to the floor, unable to break the connection he held. Terrified, frozen, she was desperate to escape. She heard screaming as the scene faded and darkness engulfed her.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Decision Time — 3 Line Tales

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From Sonya’s 3LineTales at Only100Words.
You can find the original prompt here. Thank you, Sonya.

photo by Marc-Olivier Jodoin via Unsplash

Decision Time

Everything Evan knew lay a breath behind him.

Untold adventures, limitless possibilities, and trials he could not even imagine faced him.

What happened next would depend on whether he had the courage to step into the portal.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Run Away – 100WW

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Title: Run Away
Source: 100 Word Wednesday: Week 74
Word count: 100 words

Image by Bikurgurl

Robbie struggled to walk down the sidewalk with his bag. Flung over his shoulder, he managed a half a dozen steps before it plummeted to the ground, nearly toppling him.

Robbie sighed, the sidewalk went on forever. Running away from home was harder than he imagined. Three houses from home, he was tired and hungry.

“That you Robbie?”

Mrs. Baxter stood on her front porch.

“I made cookies. You interested in being my taste tester?”

The three-year-old nodded, almost sobbing. He didn’t see Mrs. Baxter give his mom the thumbs up as he headed towards his rescuer.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Indigo — FFfAW

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Title: Indigo
Source: Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers –  Week of 06-05 to 06-11,  2018
Word count: 170 words

This week’s photo prompt is provided by Yarnspinnerr. Thank you Yarnspinnerr!

She gazed out the window at a smaller plane and gave a contemptuous snort.

“Out of business in a year,” she predicted.

Her meeting had gone well. Dr. Patel headed the team developing a cure for this year’s malady. Her marketers were busy raising awareness and money to fund his research. Clinical trials showed promise, except for the side effects. Dr. Patel was trying to eliminate or minimize them, working on countless variations without success. One variation only amplified the side effects. That formulation excited her and ended her search.

She stroked the jump drive containing all of Dr. Patel’s research. She had liked him. Her watch confirmed they would be in the air when the laboratory experienced a catastrophic explosion destroying everyone and everything.

It was all she needed to change the world and make other drugs seem like candy. Now, the bastards who betrayed her would pay, and she would be in control.  They would come to her, begging.

She would rule with a blue pill called Indigo.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

#AtoZ Challenge — O is for Optimistic

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#AtoZChallenge Letter O

“The basis of optimism is sheer terror.” — Oscar Wilde

“One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn’t pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself.” — Lucille Ball

“We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible.” — Vince Lombard

“Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.” — Victor Hugo

“Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible.” — Audrey Hepburn

“It’s not that optimism solves all of life’s problems; it is just that it can sometimes make the difference between coping and collapsing.” — Lucy Macdonald

My crystal ball reflects the world around me. It allows me to consider the future, to glimpse a world of possibilities.

Holding it in the darkness reproduces the terrors walking among us. I tremble with fear that this might be my life. Deep in a sea of despair, misery consumes me. This future I don’t deserve. There must be more of life. I see no way forward, no clear path. Building something different, creating an alternate reality, it’s an insurmountable task.

I raise my crystal ball to the horizon, to a crack of light offering a glimmer of hope. The desperation is my past. To leave the life I have always known, is bittersweet. How can I believe? My wounds still drip with blood. I taste my broken dreams and leave them lying on the ground. My life is around the corner. No longer content to live with my eyes cast down.

Photo credit: Pensiero via Visual hunt / CC BY-NC-ND

The crystal ball shimmers and shines as I lift it high above my head. A cloudy day reflected, hides the sun and the moon and the stars. I fix my eyes upon the sun.

The choice is mine.

Optimism is the choice I make.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The Paradox — FFfPP

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Title: The Paradox

Source: FLASH FICTION FOR THE PURPOSEFUL PRACTITIONER- 2017 WEEK #16

Word count: 200 words

 

“But Doctor, this bottle says ‘Poison’.”

“That’s the one.” Doc held out his hand and waited. She hesitated before gingerly setting the bottle in his outstretched hand.

Doc pulled the stopper, carefully measuring two drops into the solution he was preparing.

“Aren’t we supposed to cure him?” she asked.

“Poison. Medicine. Two sides of the same coin.” He replaced the stopper and gave her the bottle. Turning back to his work he picked up a glass rod and swirled it in the cup. Laying it on the table, he passed the cup to Ruth.

“Give this to him. Make sure he drinks it all.”

“Doc?” Ruth’s voice shook.

Doc set the cup on the table and took both Ruth’s hands in his.

“Ruth the body is an amazing thing. If his body were well, this would make him sick. But he is ill and this will help him.”

Ruth nodded and took the cup. She walked to the cot where he lay. Ruth lifted his head and poured the concoction past his slack lips and down his throat. Then she waited. She sat by his bed through the night, hoping and praying. Exhausted, she slept.

“Ruth?” a raspy voice called.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The Sacred Place — FFfAW

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This week’s photo prompt is provided by Maria with Doodles and Scribbles. Thank you Maria!

 

Title: The Sacred Place

Source: Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers – Week of April 11, 2017

Word count: 160 words

 

 

 

Dyani knelt at the river. It was the perfect spot. Water ran swiftly passed the small pool keeping the water fresh, but still enough to allow her to wash clothes without them being swept downstream. Her mother brought her here when she was a little girl, too little to do the washing.

Today her little girl slept under a tree a few feet behind her. The others didn’t understand why she still washed here. They had stopped coming after the terrible day. Everything changed that day. That day, this spot became a sacred place.

Dyani knew they were there before she saw them. They stood on the rocks across from her.

“Mother! Aunties!” she called in greeting.

One woman raised her hand in reply and smiled.

“My daughter is here today,” she motioned to the tree behind her.

“Her name is Meda, Prophetess. As you requested.”

The women on the rocks raised their voices in loud whoops. Then they sang.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Gotta Get Away – 100WW

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Image Credit: Anjo Beckers Photography

 

Title: Gotta Get Away

Source: 100 Word Wednesday: Week 14

Word count: 100 words

 

 

 

Maddie leaned back in her chair trying to catch the waiter’s eye.

“How do I get out of here?” she thought.

Maël continued his prattle asking her questions she didn’t want to answer. He didn’t seem to notice. Instead, he reached over and grabbed her hand. She recoiled and stifled a scream. She knew she had to get away.

Maël leaned further across the table.

“I… I have to visit the ladies room,” she said as she stood. She headed to the bathroom, took a detour through the kitchen and out the back door. Once In the alley, she ran.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Happy Easter – 3 Line Tales

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 5 Comments

From Sonya’s 3LineTales at Only100Words.

You can find the original prompt here. Thanks Sonya.

photo by Gemma Evans via Unsplash

“Hey, look over there. Do you see those women staring at us? What do you think is going on?”

Maxine chewed on a blade a grass and blinked once or twice considering her answer.

“Well, it’s after Easter, so they can’t be looking to eat us. I bet they are weavers and they are wondering how difficult its going to be to get the paint out of our fleece so they can spin it and dye it and make a pretty blanket for their grandbaby.”

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

 

Stuck — Friday Fictioneers

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PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson

Title: Stuck
Source: Friday Fictioneers sponsored by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple
Word count: 100 words

Tony’s talent lay in making a bad situation, feel less bad. It was one of the reasons Maria had married him. Tonight, was no exception. Stuck in a tiny room at the B&B, Tony had suggested she take a bath and unwind. Stepping out of the tub she heard the door of their room open and shut.

“Tony?”

Maria peered out the bathroom door. Tony held a pizza box in one hand and a wine bottle in the other.

“Is that a 2009 Nobile Di Montepulciano?”

“And a margherita.”

Maria smiled. They would get through the next few days, together.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer