Friday Fictioneers - "In the Woods..."

Here is this week's attempt at Madison Woods Friday Fictioneers, this week's story is based on the photo below (photo credit also to: Madison Woods).  It took a little while and I finally came up with this, after about an hour rewriting it, I have ended up with a 323 word Flash Fiction piece I have called "In the Woods... ".  I hope you like it! 

Constructive Criticism always welcome!

In the Woods...

Gliding through the trees, a lithe and agile figure swings from bough to bough. Clad in dark emerald suede, strong and supple, like the frame it covers. A long cloak of scarlet curls wrap around her as she alights upon a sturdy limb, her own slender limbs outstretched as she eases herself into a crouching position. Her right hand unconsciously reaches for a vine behind her, whilst her left holds an elegantly curved bow horizontally in front of her. Arianne cocks her head slightly as she spies a strange white shape moving along the forest floor beneath her.

As it continues to move in a slow deliberate way, as if dragging it’s limbs through thick set honey, she notices the shape is that of man, covered in a stark white armour appearing to be made of leather, with a white bowl for a helmet on his head. As he moves through the dappled half-light of the forest, the open part of his helmet shimmers like a rippling stream.

Arianne is mesmerised by him, she follows his steady journey with her emerald eyes as he passes under her bough. She swivels on the balls of her feet, easing herself round, not allowing the white figure out of her sight. Silently releasing her grip on the vine, she slides an arrow from the hidden quiver on her back, and lines it up against the wooden bow. Her pale pink lips slightly ajar, she concentrates whilst squinting one eye. She holds her breath, then shoots the arrow strong and straight, piercing the ground only a dragon’s breath from his right foot.

He pauses, stares at the arrow, then slowly turns his helmet, following the invisible line from the arrow’s quill up to the bow it was shot from.

The beautiful wielder of the oak bow sits above him, her head held high as she gazes down at him, the corner of her lips leisurely curling up.

Friday Fictioneers - "Vertigo"

I've been inspired by Madison Woods Blog, particularly her weekly "Friday Fictioneers" Flash Fiction challenge.  So I thought I'd have a go!  (Here's hoping I get this right!).  The challenge is to write a 100 word (give or take) piece of flash fiction inspired by her photo prompt.  I post a link to Madison's story here, and post my story here.

(I would love to receive some constructive criticism on this, I am striving to improve my skills!).

The ship shudders as another explosion rips through it.

“Oh God, oh God, oh God” Jade mutters over and over again, the tears in her eyes blurring the vision of the console she so desperately clings to.

“Abandon Ship! Abandon Ship!” orders the tall burly Captain, grabbing a large pulse rifle and hurriedly punching keys on the wall.

“But Captain, the radiation! We’ll have to suit up!” she cries in disbelief.

“There‘s no time!” yells the Captain. As the doors hiss open, he scoops her tiny frame up in one sturdy arm and whisks her through the doors and out into the unknown.



Drabble Day "Apple"

I haven't written a Drabble in a while, so I thought I'd have a go at Aheila's latest Drabble challenge - Apple. Here's my attempt, a little over 100 words!

"An Apple was sitting on the teacher’s desk. Roxy hadn’t noticed it when she first got into class, but it was in plain sight now. She squinted at it for a moment, then returned her eyes to the blackboard. The ancient history teacher was waffling on monotonously, his white moustache hardly moving as he mumbled his way through the lesson. Nothing changes.

As she twisted a green curl between her fingers, a slight hum began to catch her ear. Drowsily her eyes drift back to the apple on the desk. It hums steadily louder as an incandescent blue light begins to surround it, growing stronger as the hum grows louder. Roxy rolled her eyes in annoyance, Just what I need!"

Hitch

Here's a short piece I tried to keep down to 100 words, but landed on 116 instead. It's inspired by the move Hitch starring Will Smith. I recently rewatched it and loved it. So here's a little Drabble Day style writing based on the main character...

Tall, dark, and handsome. That was how they’d described him. The description fit pretty good. A pretty generic description, although Alex Hitchens was anything but generic. With a suave style all his own, a walk and a smile that exuded confidence with every sway of his well built shoulders. One wink and a lopsided grin from him, and every woman he aimed it at, would gladly fall to her knees. No woman could resist him. Except the one woman who stole his heart. All the while he was busy teaching others how to win the woman of their dreams - it was the woman of his dreams that finally taught him how to fall in love.

Drabble Day "Abandon"

I haven't attempted the Aheila's Drabble Day Challenge for a while, this week's challenge is "Abandon" - and it inspired me to write this. I hope you like it!

"As I inch forward on my belly, on the gravel-strewn ground of this godforsaken land, I close my eyes and let my mind wander to what I’d be doing back home at this time on a Saturday night. Dreaming of that mouthwatering smell of freshly fried chips, heavy with fat, curling tenderly over beautiful haddock, steam gently rising from them, as I happily hand over a crisp five pound note, eagerly anticipating the salty taste awaiting me.

The sudden metallic click beneath me brings me sharply back to the present. Eyes snapping open, inky blackness surrounding me and the gritty sand between my teeth, I glance down. A landmine freshly triggered beneath me. So far from home, I feel abandoned and lost."

Drabble Day "Memory"

Here is this week's Drabble Day challenge, Aheila picked 'Memory' for us to do this time! I actually found this one quite difficult, and hope this didn't turn out too badly in the end. Please let me know what you think!

"Throwing the pen down in frustration, Emma rose from her desk and stomped over to the window. Arms folded across her chest, she stared at the dark streets below, almost feeling the weight of the dark clouds sinking into her already stooping shoulders. Her vision blurring with anger. When she could hold them back no longer, she squeezed her eyes shut caging her tears as they defiantly stung the backs of her eyes, as if they too felt the anguish raging in her heart. Turning back to the photo frame slammed face-down on her desk, she poured all her spite and malice at it through those piercing eyes."

Drabble Day 100 Word Story: "Analogy"

This week's Drabble Day challenge by Aheila is Analogy. I found this one much harder this week, but after thinking a moment on what my novel is mainly about, then comparing it to an event that happened outside my house last night, I found inspiration for this. I hope you like it!

"Time is like a car on a highway, it flows smooth and almost neverending. You think you are in control of it, you can bend it to your will. You can make the journey veer this way or that way, depending on which way you turn the wheel. You think you are in control, you think you know what you are doing. Nothing can stop you. Yet you forget to pay attention for a split-second, and your whole world is turned on it's head. You're spitting gravel and you've no idea how you got here. Or how to turn back."

Drabble Day 100 Word Story: "Ghost"

Eloise lifted the silver chamberstick to her lips, with the tiniest breath the candle went out. Smoke rising in a soft weaving plume. Behind her, a sudden white glow caught her attention. She turned to see a white lady, dressed in a waterfall of silk, with long white curls over pale skin.

“Will you come with me?” whispered the white lady, slowly extending a pale white hand out to her.

“To where?” Eloise asked.

“To Dream’s End, and new beginnings.” she whispered back.

Eloise shakily took her hand, and the white glow enveloped her. And all that she knew paled into insignificance.

Drabble Day 100 Word Story: "Edge"

Today I found Aheïla's Drabble Day post, a challenge to write a 100 word story, give or take five words, on whatever word prompt she chooses. Today she chose Edge. I really enjoyed having a go at this, I've never tried to write a piece of fiction so short, it really taught me to be concise with my writing, and find shorter ways of saying what I wanted. Thank you Aheïla for such a great challenge! Here's my story:

"Standing on the edge of a mid-nineteenth century roof, Anya gazes out over a golden haze covered skyline, smog slowly rising above the dark and soot stained London rooftops. Anya stands out in stark contrast with gleaming white hair, dark red eyes, and an almost matching red pvc military uniform.

Casting a quick glance over her shoulder, Anya sighs, then in one swift movement she dives head-first off the tower of London. Falling like a missile with the ground rushing up to her and the wind whistling through her hair, Anya smiles. And for one brief moment, she feels free."

P.S. This isn't where the story ends, it's inspired by a science-fiction novel I'm currently researching and planning!