Thursday, January 9, 2014

#ThursThreads - The Challenge That Ties Tales Together - Week 103


Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. Has your January gotten going after the holidays? Well, it's Thursday today, so what should you be doing? Writing #FlashFiction, that's what! Welcome to Week 103 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Need the rules? Read on!

Here's how it works:
  • The prompt is a line from the previous week's winning tale.
  • The prompt can appear ANYWHERE in your story and is included in your word count.
Rules to the Game:
  • This is a Flash Fiction challenge, which means your story must be a minimum of 100 words, maximum of 250.
  • Incorporate the prompt anywhere into your story (included in your word count).
  • Post your story in the comments section of this post
  • Include your word count (or be excluded from judging)
  • Include your Twitter handle or email (so we know how to find you)
  • The challenge is open 7 AM to 7 PM Pacific Time
  • The winner will be announced on Friday, depending on how early the judge gets up.
How it benefits you:
  • You get a nifty cool badge to display on your blog or site (because we're all about promotion - you know you are!)
  • You get instant recognition of your writing prowess on this blog!
  • Your writing colleagues shall announce and proclaim your greatness on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus

Our Judge for Week 103:

NASCAR fan, coffee fiend, cat collector, and erotic romance author, Lissa Matthews.



And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

The Prompt:

“We weren’t given a choice.”

All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!

18 comments:

  1. Caleb gripped Adele’s biceps and gave her a gentle shake. “Stop this. You need to focus.”

    “I can’t do this. I just can’t.” Tears sparkled on her eyelashes, catching light from the full moon.

    “You can and you will. We weren’t given a choice when we bailed from the plane.” He pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her shaking body, absorbing her fear through his very pores. “We do this or die, Adele.”

    She sniffled, brushing her face across his shirt.

    “Great. Use me as a snot rag next time.”

    She hiccupped. That was a good sign. He rubbed her back, passing his warmth to her. The desert night would turn frigid before dawn. He had to get her sheltered. And that meant facing her fears.

    “It’s too dark. Too small.”

    “I can see in the dark.”

    She tilted her head to sneak a peek under his arm. “What about snakes?”

    “It’s January, Adele. They’re hibernating.”

    “What about coyotes? Or wolves?”

    He swallowed his laughter, biting his lips in case she glanced up and caught his smile. He was the biggest wolf in the neighborhood.

    “Ghosts.”

    Caleb blinked at that. “Ghosts?”

    “Yeah. Old, abandoned mine? There must be ghosts. Or demons.”

    “Didn’t I mention I was a ghost hunter in a previous life?”

    She laughed. Another step in the right direction. Demons, though? He wished Roman was there. Gargoyles hunted demons. He sniffed the air. No sulfur.

    “Congress is in session. All the demons are in Washington.” He hoped.
    ***
    250 words on WIP
    @SilverJames_

    ReplyDelete
  2. Final Calls

    I was faithfully married to my law practice and she happily wed to her accounting firm. I suppose, had we each been given a choice, we could have continued our separate ways none the worse for never having met. But, we weren’t given a choice.

    We met at some business conference I can’t recall why I ever attended. Serendipity placed us in such constant interaction in that week that from the moment we returned to the city we were, quite simply, inseparable.

    Sixteen months and eleven days later, we embarked upon an entirely wondrous new life…together. Suddenly, all the things we’d never taken time for were things we had to do. Cycling, picnics, walks in the woods became part and parcel of our lives.

    We were totally, hopelessly happy and, given a choice, would have grown into little old people benignly rocking on the porch together. Sadly, we weren’t given a choice. A twinge in her back became a nagging pain and, when it was far too late to matter, was diagnosed as Stage 4 lymphoma.

    Twenty eight months and six days from the day we met I laid her to rest. I have never wondered if such brief happiness was worth the soul-rending grief I now feel each and every day. Fate brought us together and that same Fate took her away from me just as cavalierly. The lesson I have learned is that, all too often, despite the choices we are given…Fate will always make the final calls.

    250 words @klingorengi

    ReplyDelete
  3. “She’s dead!”
    “We weren’t given a choice Ariel. Our job is not an easy one.”
    “I wasn’t recruited like you, I was tricked.”
    “I’ve read your file. You’re lucky they didn’t imprison, or put you on the S.O.S.L.”
    “Shoot on sight, isn’t that a bit extreme?”
    “Ariel, a dangerous beast needs to be put down.”
    “Do you call me a beast?” Ariel stared hard at Jâzâ urging him to take it back her teeth elongated, her eyes popping out and protruding.
    “Pull it back wolf,” Jâzâ cried his skin turning red and his muscles bulging in his chest. Two horns appeared on his head and a long forked tail appearing at his back.
    “You’re Semjâzâ,”Ariel cried in shock.
    “I am the legendary, Semjâzâ. Mere mortals think I rule over angels but the truth is I decide their fate. Now you will too. When I let you.”
    “I thought they forced you to be my partner too.”
    “No, I recruited you. My people brought you to me and I decided to test the beast, instead of shooting you on sight.”
    “Did I pass?” Ariel asked.
    “That remains to be seen but your remorse was noted. Now onto our next target the black beast of Echlor.”
    “Will we kill this one like we did the woman Centaur?”
    “If the beast charges with a sword or any weapon will kill it. If it lays down we’ll recruit it.”
    “Now, I feel like Buffy the Vampire slayer,” Ariel complained.
    “Good, that might save you.”
    @SweetSheil
    250 words

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. “She’s dead!”
      “We weren’t given a choice Ariel. Our job is not an easy one.”
      “I wasn’t recruited like you, I was tricked.”
      “I’ve read your file. You’re lucky they didn’t imprison, or put you on the S.O.S.L.”
      “Shoot on sight, isn’t that a bit extreme?”
      “Ariel, a dangerous beast needs to be put down.”
      “Do you call me a beast?” Ariel stared hard at Jâzâ urging him to take it back her teeth elongated, her eyes popping out and protruding.
      “Pull it back wolf,” Jâzâ cried, his skin turning red and his muscles bulging in his chest. Two horns appeared on his head and a long forked tail appearing at his back.
      “You’re Semjâzâ,”Ariel cried in shock.
      “I am the legendary, Semjâzâ. Mere mortals think I rule over angels but the truth is I decide their fate. Now you will too. When I let you.”
      “I thought they forced you to be my partner too.”
      “No, I recruited you. My people brought you to me and I decided to test the beast, instead of shooting you on sight.”
      “Did I pass?” Ariel asked.
      “That remains to be seen but your remorse was noted. Now onto our next target, the black beast of Echlor.”
      “Will we kill this one like we did the woman Centaur?”
      “If the beast charges with a sword or any weapon we’ll kill it. If it lays down we’ll recruit it.”
      “Now, I feel like Buffy the Vampire slayer,” Ariel complained.
      “Good, that might save you.”
      250 words
      @SweetSheil

      Delete
  4. Some people have the capacity to love no matter what. My mom’s mom, Grandma Teresa, loved her husband even after he walked out to start a new family in a new state. He stole the money from their bank account and never contacted her again, except to say he needed money. Grandma Teresa got a second job, moved into an efficiency apartment with my mom, and gave him money every time he asked. She made too much money to receive food stamps but not enough to make ends meet, so she chose which bills to pay each month. She lived on beans and potatoes while making sure my mom ate meat at least once a week. She prayed for her husband every day of her life and made my mom join in. Love means never giving up, she said. We weren’t given a choice.

    My mom, at age twelve, watched the tears rolling down Grandma Teresa’s cheeks during her endless prayers and vowed never to anyone hurt her the same way. Mom left my father when I was five and refused to let me have contact with him. Through it all, Grandma Teresa taught me to pray. When I asked her why she never spoke badly about her husband for all he did to her, she told me, “Indigo, feeling anger and being hurtful are two different things. I can be angry at someone’s behavior while loving the person. I made a promise to love for life.”

    247 words
    @AnastasiaVitsky

    ReplyDelete
  5. Aldon Smith stared down his manger. Air snorted from his nose, his hands clenched so hard his knuckles were sallow. His chest heaved as he tried to keep from striking the man he'd seen as a father figure for years.

    "We weren't given a choice," he growled. He paced, looking for something or someone to punch.

    "I know, Aldon. But hear me out—"

    "Fuck you, Edward. You said to hell with label politics from day one. Now, when Jimmy's lying in a hospital, on the verge of death, you're going to let them push you around? You know Jimmy could die, right? And if he doesn't, there are no promises that he'll be able to play drums again. I'm not doing one fucking this for new record until my friend is sitting up, walking and talking."

    Edward shrank under Aldon's gaze and raised his hands.

    "This a tricky situation. No one has told us what Jimmy's outcome might be and we need to get this record done. You've had the studios scheduled for months—"

    "Unschedule them. Nothing happens until he's got an outcome from the doctors."

    "Your contracts—"

    "Mean nothing. Make it happen, Edward. Or this band is over."

    Aldon slammed the door to the manager's office, stomping down the hall. He didn't care about contracts and labels; the label could burn in hell for all Aldon cared. His friend came first.

    235 words
    @AIghtball

    ReplyDelete
  6. Guess I'll join in.

    “We weren't given a choice.” Miyuki watched the monitor screen, repeating that one phrase as the video loop showing the carnage played over and over. “We weren't given a choice.” I reached over her shoulder and punched the “OFF” button, making the picture go away. She sat there, unblinking, unmoving—unbelieving.

    I swiveled her chair around to face me and crouched down so I could look in her soft brown eyes. They were filled with grief. She finally noticed me and attempted to flee in horror. I blocked her way so she couldn't get out of her seat.

    “Miyuki, you're wrong. We did have a choice—once, long ago. Mankind did not heed the warnings, however—did not make the right decisions, and now we've had to play out the final hand.” I watched her eyes to see if she understood my explanation, as sketchy as it was.

    “What do we do now, Antonio?” She searched my eyes as she asked, looking for... Comfort? Hope? Assurance? All I knew was that I couldn't give her any of those. I cold only offer her what I had.

    “We start over, Miyuki. You and me—we find a new world to live in and we start over.”

    “Perhaps, but there's one problem.” She lowered her eyes.

    “What's that?”

    “I hate you, Antonio.”

    216 words
    @KBGardener

    ReplyDelete
  7. “I’ll pile pillows behind you and prop you up. It might be just as well. I’ll have to dress you and it’ll be easier if you’re legs are near the floor.”

    She slid out from behind him and rested on the bed. “Damn, you smell good. They must have given you a bath.” He didn’t say anything and she wished an end to the one-sided conversation. “I feel like I’m talking to myself, you know?”

    John blinked two times and moaned. Lindsey gasped. “You made sound. This is a good sign the nullifier is working.” John’s lids fluttered with agreement.

    “So I’m sure you’re wondering at my plan.” She rolled over so they lay nose to nose. He blinked. “I figure you’re going to be unsteady on your feet and slurring words. The perfect cover has us as a drunk couple leaving the Man Cave Club downstairs. My handler couldn’t get a safe-house set up in time, but you can’t stay here longer. The ketamine will shut down your heart and other organs. We weren’t given a choice so I found my own safe-house. Once we’re out of the club we’ll head straight there. Copy?”

    John blinked twice again.

    “I promise I’ll get you out and keep you safe until you come down off the ketamine. Then we can bring you in.” She ignored the pang at how little time she’d have to spend with him alone. This is a job, Jarvis. You don’t even know this man very well.

    250 ineligible #WIP500 words
    @SiobhanMuir

    ReplyDelete
  8. Caterina~
    I'm not forthcoming about my social life with anyone at Drake. I didn't get to senior vice president by making friends. I started here as an intern in grad school and quickly moved up the ranks. I have a good eye and a ruthless heart. Those qualities work in the boardroom but not so well in the bedroom.
    Men are expendable for me. Quite simply, they bore me. And contrary to Scotty's belief, I'm not into women either, not for a lack of sampling. My desires, like my life, are not run of the mill. I'm choosy. Some say it's because of my childhood. I say that's a lot of bullshit. I know what it's like to be rich and poor, dirt poor. I've blown a grand on a couple porterhouses, a few bottles of Silver Oak and a decadent soufflé. I've also rummaged in that restaurant's dumpster with my siblings or risk going hungry because we weren't given a choice. Psychologists would say those choices gave me character. I say those choices made me an unsympathetic bitch who thinks nothing of squashing any man like a bug with my Manolo Blahniks.
    Correction, there is one man I can't destroy. Or, better stated, I won't, because doing so would destroy me. He's the reason I live. He's the reason I breathe. Here's the kicker: I've never seen his face or heard him speak except in my dreams. Crazy, huh?
    239 words from intro of WIP
    @sandrabunino

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow! I love how powerful her voice is. I am so impatient to find out where this is going!

      Delete
  9. We weren’t given a choice… We were born & created this way to live such an empty worthless life… so they thought… Dolls… with no will to contradict or do something on our own. Machines made from steel & can’t feel… If only they knew how wrong was that. It all could be different then & we might have lived in peace… too late. It has gone too far & we can’t go back now. Stakes are too high… It’s us or them.

    I never wanted it that way. If only they could agree to show some respect, give us space to live & love, but we were just murder-toys for them… killing machines. Do they know how it feels to take away life of innocent people just for fun?.. How many bad dreams we had after? & I still see all eyes that faded & closed, cause of me…
    Now they will learn it the hard way… our souls have woken up yearning for justice that’s called revenge…

    Sometimes people are the most cruel creatures in the world… they give life to take it away, give birth to use & then get rid of you… kill you.

    Now we have no choice, but to fight for our lives & right to live… There’s only place for one of us in this world…

    223 Words

    @gorgeous_jaan

    ReplyDelete
  10. “What did you DO!?” Salem roared as he spun around and snarled at the trio of people standing in their black gear and night goggles.

    The man looked like he was going to be sick. Of the two women, only one of them was coherent enough to answer him.

    “We-we didn’t know.” The blonde’s voice quivered. “We weren’t given a choice.”

    “You ALWAYS have a choice. No one is forcing you to do this. No one twisted your arm.” Salem spun away and his face changed, harsh lines smoothing out as he knelt down by the small foal.

    It gave a piercing whinney and tried to stand, the front hooves clambering on the floor as it tried to stand before collapsing.

    He jerked back to avoid getting his eye taken out by the small horn in the middle of the beast’s skull. “I’m sorry. Shhh. It will be all right.” He held out a hand, reaching out towards the grey coat of the unicorn were blood had tried but still gleamed against the dark hide, the end of an bolt shaft still piercing the young flank. “I’m here to help.”

    “I can he-“

    “What you can do is get the hell out of my sight. At this time, I don’t want to see you, hear you or know you even exist.” He bit it out without changing his expression.

    The unicorn snorted and snuffed his hand before a tiny nicker escaped.

    “It’s going to be okay.”

    246 words
    @solimond

    ReplyDelete
  11. The souls of all the dead mages of Anjira surrounded her.

    Jehan didn't run, but she was fearful of what lay ahead. This was her magical test and they were her judges and jury. She'd prepared for this day for three years and knew that failure was not an option.

    "You are chosen, Jehan," her tutor told her repeatedly. "You will lead all the mages against those who wish to alter and control our world forever. This is your destiny, a special calling, and you will not fail. You cannot fail."

    "What if I do fail?"

    "Then we all perish."

    Finally the voices of the dead intruded on the stillness of the vast wooded region, reaching her all at once, but not addressing her.

    "Why should she lead them?" "She's still a child." "She's not ready." "She's inadequate, her training incomplete."

    The voices pierced the air, descending on her like glass shattering, but Jehan held her ground, looking upward at the floating spirits.

    "I didn't ask for this," she said.

    "Nor did we," they responded. "We weren't given a choice. You will be the most powerful Mage Protector we've had in centuries. If you manage not to get yourself killed before you're ready."

    Cate Derham
    @Cate_Derham
    202 words

    ReplyDelete
  12. “Next,” the lady said, “we have Katelyn and Scout.”

    A third-grader skipped to the front of the classroom. A little mixed-breed dog followed on a leash, keeping pace but with a noticeable limp.

    “This is my rescue dog. I am going to read a poem written by my mommy.” Katelyn looked at Scout, then at the smiling teacher, and finally at a sheet of paper.

    “It’s sad, but we weren’t given a choice,
    A ballot, advocate, or voice,
    Nor ounce of kindness and respect
    To--.”

    Katelyn stepped toward the teacher and pointed at the paper. “Ms. Treadwell, what is this word?”

    “Mitigate. It means to make a bad thing less bad.”

    “Thanks.” Katelyn resumed reading. “To mitigate the gross neglect
    We suffered at a master’s side.
    On behalf of those of us who died
    Who didn’t wag their tails just right
    Or barked a bit too much at night
    And wondered what they did so bad,
    Go home and ask your mom and dad
    To benefit our worthy cause
    And help our little friends with paws.”

    Katelyn explained that Scout had been given a second chance at life, and she returned to her seat.

    After Show and Tell ended, a boy kneeled in front of Scout. “Can I pet him?”

    “Sure.” To her surprise, the dog whimpered and wagged his tail.

    “Benny,” the boy said, tears streaming. “It’s you, Benny. Daddy said you got stolen.”

    “Jake, someone hurt Scout really bad.”

    He hugged the dog. “Yeah. My daddy did.”

    John Kirk
    @KirkProductions
    250 words

    ReplyDelete
  13. "We weren't given a choice."

    "Explain."

    Mike smiled, warm and encouraging, at Aitazaz standing beside him, nodding for him to go first. The young Pakistani boy cleared his throat, eyes on the ground before him. "He looked...wrong. I knew he shouldn't be there. So, I challenged him...attacked him." Eyes raised to meet the stern gaze bearing down. "It felt like the right thing to do."

    A slight nod and scribble. "And you?" the officious man asked Mike.

    Mike's grin faltered under the weight of the stare, but he clapped his companion on the shoulder and stood straight. "It was my duty, my responsibility. I had to try. I only wish I could have talked him down before..." Mike's free hand wiped at his eyes. Aitazaz patted the hand resting on his shoulder.

    The burning glare softened. "Very well. Step forward for my decision." Mike and Aitazaz stepped forward in unison, heads high. "Mike Landsberry and Aitazaz Hassan Bangash, I find you guilty..." Aitazaz gasped and Mike's head started to fall. "...of caring about your fellow man and sacrificing yourselves to save others."

    The gates swung open. "Welcome to your reward, and may you find peace." Aitazaz and Mike stumbled forward, mouths agape as they beheld the wonders.

    The gatekeeper smiled and it felt like...home.

    Jeremy Milburn
    jmilburn100@yahoo.com
    Word Count: 215

    ReplyDelete
  14. We weren’t given a choice to start walking, but we could choose which direction we left by. A choice without meaning perhaps—everything was wasteland around Grim’s Gulch—but I chose south. I’d heard of mountains and hills to the south. I figured if I made it that far I’d have better odds of finding clean water. The walk was supposed to be a death sentence, but I refused to just give up. They saw exile as punishment. I saw it as a partial victory.

    After all, hadn’t we rose up to throw off the tyranny of Grim? I’d certainly be free of that out here. And I was. I’ve lasted much longer than I would ever have expected if I’d even once given the matter an honest moment of consideration. It’s been a hard two years, and a lonely two years, but I’ve been free that whole time.

    The loneliness hurt most, and it is for that reason I write you now, at what might be the last moments of my life. If you find this journal before you meet the people of the mushrooms I implore you: don’t make the same mistake I did. I spurned their offer because life in the Gulch taught me many things, but not trust. I’m going try to find them and make amends, but I don’t have a lot of hope. So you who come after me remember this: you’ll never really be free until you throw off fear.

    Goodbye, good luck.

    250 words
    @JXilon

    ReplyDelete
  15. #ThursThreads is now CLOSED. Thanks to everyone who wrote this week and I hope to see you next week. :)

    ReplyDelete

Comments are on moderation, so they'll become visible once I've read them. Words, words, words. I love them. Have you a few to lend?

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.