What a beautiful photo prompt by Madison Woods this week. Her photo prompts are typically challenging and stimulating, but this week the challenge for me was not to try to think of a story idea, but to pick a story idea from the several that popped into my head.
As always, I’m excited to read what everybody else wrote. Check out the other stories on Madison’s blog!
The Chosen One
She would not be afraid.
Dressed in a clean, white gown, she walked up the mountain. Mother on one side, Father on the other.
She would not be afraid.
Still, she felt her father’s hand tremble on her arm. Heard her mother’s whimpers.
She would not be afraid.
The One to whom she’d been promised heaved before her, his breath hot and angry. They told her she would calm him.
She would not be afraid.
Cresting the volcano, she watched orange flames leap before her like a lover’s fingers, hungry to touch.
But she would not be afraid.
Oh Jan!How many times I've seen that light on the Big Island. Your story was excellent, not only for finding a unique source for the light in Madison's picture, but for crafting such a true story around it. Fantastic.Aloha,Doug
Oh Jan!How many times I've seen that light on the Big Island. Your story was excellent, not only for finding a unique source for the light in Madison's picture, but for crafting such a true story around it. Fantastic.Aloha,Doug
This is unique! Very good job!
Thank you, hareemtariq! And welcome to the Friday Fictioneers!
Thank you, hareemtariq! And welcome to the Friday Fictioneers!
Love it! What more can I say, but very inventive.
Thanks, Caerlynn. Just finished reading yours–very creative with lots of good imagery.
Thanks, Caerlynn. Just finished reading yours–very creative with lots of good imagery.
This is greeeeaaaattt! Did she jump in or was she pushed?
This is greeeeaaaattt! Did she jump in or was she pushed?
Aw c'mon, Jan. Don't you have at least a small feminist side that objects to stuff like this? The sacrifice program was almost certainly designed by men, not women. It clearly serves male interest, not female. Why let the oafs get away with it?
ed_quixote, what a great question! I should have written this VERY creatively and made the virgin a male. Hey – why don't YOU write a story? 🙂
ed_quixote, what a great question! I should have written this VERY creatively and made the virgin a male. Hey – why don't YOU write a story? 🙂
hey Jan,
I liked the repetition in this piece. Showed an attempt to be strong even when face with insane fear. Very interesting take.
As they reached the crest, she turned, winked at the gathered crowd, and pushed the high priest over the edge.
As they reached the crest, she turned, winked at the gathered crowd, and pushed the high priest over the edge.
For me, what made this literature was the “She would not be afraid” refrain, like in African song or the chorus in Greek plays. Very good.
Ed-quixote's response is provocative and dogmatic. The image of human sacrifice is ingrained now so as to have gone beyond the historical, like images of the West: gunfighters, the Alamo, etc. And so many more. Your story is a description, which would exist regardless of the subsequent socio-political interpretation. E-q, therefore, is asking you to have written a different story, or perhaps not a story at all.
E-q oversimplifies human sacrifice by calling it a “program” when it is something that developed over thousands of years in many different cultures, the victims not always women. Not something we would do today, but then, they weren't living today. We sacrifice people in different ways now.
Perhaps you should have attached a disclaimer, like on TV shows: “This story is fictional. Jan Morrill does not condone human sacrifice, especially of women.”
For me, what made this literature was the “She would not be afraid” refrain, like in African song or the chorus in Greek plays. Very good.
Ed-quixote's response is provocative and dogmatic. The image of human sacrifice is ingrained now so as to have gone beyond the historical, like images of the West: gunfighters, the Alamo, etc. And so many more. Your story is a description, which would exist regardless of the subsequent socio-political interpretation. E-q, therefore, is asking you to have written a different story, or perhaps not a story at all.
E-q oversimplifies human sacrifice by calling it a “program” when it is something that developed over thousands of years in many different cultures, the victims not always women. Not something we would do today, but then, they weren't living today. We sacrifice people in different ways now.
Perhaps you should have attached a disclaimer, like on TV shows: “This story is fictional. Jan Morrill does not condone human sacrifice, especially of women.”
Good one Jan! I expected to hear Pele' instead of volcano 😉 I have always been fascinated by sacrifice, whether ancient or modern as Carlos intimated in his comment.
I'm beginning to see you have a real interest in history. Do you write historical fiction? I, too, went through a lot of ideas, but this one never hit me. Very original. And many cultures, including my ancestors, the Celts, did human sacrifice. Hell, with the trouble the country is in, maybe we should try it! The writng is elegant and poetic, very nice.
Here's mine: http://bridgesareforburning.wordpress.com/
I'm beginning to see you have a real interest in history. Do you write historical fiction? I, too, went through a lot of ideas, but this one never hit me. Very original. And many cultures, including my ancestors, the Celts, did human sacrifice. Hell, with the trouble the country is in, maybe we should try it! The writng is elegant and poetic, very nice.
Here's mine: http://bridgesareforburning.wordpress.com/
You have worded this beautifully, Jan – a careful mix of the poetic with the prose of the story itself. And the repetition is a beautiful way of showing the girl's strength and fear together. Although it's a stereotype, I thought you dealt with it in a fresh way, showing us the strength in this girl, rather than making her a “victim”.
I agree with elmo. I though the story was a beautifully crafted and very complete and real short story in just 100 words, which is a fantastic accomplishment. The poetry of the volcano's flames reaching for her as a lover would, is a marvellous bit of writing and no, she is not a victim, but a brave participant in an ancient ritual devised to keep her people safe.
DISCLAIMER: I do not believe or condone human sacrifice, especially of females, young or old.
I agree with elmo. I though the story was a beautifully crafted and very complete and real short story in just 100 words, which is a fantastic accomplishment. The poetry of the volcano's flames reaching for her as a lover would, is a marvellous bit of writing and no, she is not a victim, but a brave participant in an ancient ritual devised to keep her people safe.
DISCLAIMER: I do not believe or condone human sacrifice, especially of females, young or old.
Wow, powerfully written, Jan. I'm so glad the MC believed wholeheartedly in what she was doing because I'd be screaming and fighting the whole way (it's the volcanologist in me). 🙂
I think she's lying to herself! Because I would be terrified. It's an intense story for so few words. Sun gods can be finicky people. 😛
Well played!
I like it a lot when writers take a photo prompt and do something completely unexpected with it. These exercises should not only help to hone our skills with language but also teach us to think outside the box. Kudos!
(Here's mine: http://furiousfictions.com.)
The “clean, white gown” was very indicative (to me) as to what was coming for the girl. I think this is my favorite so far today!
~Susan (Here's mine: http://www.susanwenzel.com/)
The “clean, white gown” was very indicative (to me) as to what was coming for the girl. I think this is my favorite so far today!
~Susan (Here's mine: http://www.susanwenzel.com/)
This is beautiful and haunting. I loved the repetitive lines. At first, I thought they were leading her to hell, which, in a way, they were. Loved the description of the clean, white gown. Well done!
Here's my very different take: http://banterwithbeth.blogspot.com/
“Take me to the volcano!”
80s comedy movies aside, I imagine that's how the victim of human sacrifice would act, or may be pressured to act, what with it being an honour in some cultures. I'd rather not know for sure, but that's what I imagine. It's a terrifying prospect. As is the prospect of dogs and cats living together.
I'm sorry, the 80s left quite an impression on me.
Here's mine:
http://jaykayel.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/circular-logic-100-word-flash-fiction/
Great ending, ed_quixote 😉
A wonderful story Jan.
I loved that repeating of the sentence, “She would not be afraid.” It was as if this was almost needed to be chanted to help convince any of them not to turn and run. A kind of brain washing.
Here's mine – albeit a day late.
http://mjshorts.wordpress.com/2012/02/04/the-end-is-nigh-100-words-for-friday-fictioneers/
Look at the word “heaved”–it foreshadowed, but I also think it may have tipped me over the edge too soon.
Also enjoyed the refrain.
Look at the word “heaved”–it foreshadowed, but I also think it may have tipped me over the edge too soon.
Also enjoyed the refrain.
Well done, Jan!
Another alternative to Jan's and Ed's endings could be for her to leap way out (not just down) into the centre of the volcano, be met with a fiery blast that would seem to be the end of her, but for her to be transformed into a goddess (or the like) – not just still alive, but more powerful than at the beginning of the ordeal.
Here's my story from the photo: http://wp.me/p24aJS-2l
Sorry I was out of touch most of the day! I was out of town without a computer most of the day, so I'll be catching up on everyone's posts throughout the weekend! Thanks for all your comments though!
Yes, it is a great ending, ed_quixote. Very Ned-esque.
Yes, it is a great ending, ed_quixote. Very Ned-esque.
Thank you, cleveroldowl. I tried to make it sound like a mantra. I guess we've all had times when we were afraid, and chanted such a mantra.
Carlos, you're right that I don't condone human sacrifice, female or otherwise. 🙂 But, it is a subject I'm fascinated with, especially after visiting Peru and Guatemala. I've thought many times of writing a longer story . . . maybe I'll have to do it now.
Madison, as I mentioned in my reply to Carlos, the history and culture surrounding sacrifice has always fascinated me, too. There are so many stories to be told about sacrifice, real or fictitious.
Madison, as I mentioned in my reply to Carlos, the history and culture surrounding sacrifice has always fascinated me, too. There are so many stories to be told about sacrifice, real or fictitious.
Yes, Ron, my novel, Broken Dolls, is historical fiction, and yes, I've always liked reading and writing it. So much to learn, while being creative, too. Enjoyed reading your story — learned a lot, too! 🙂
elmowrites, you leave the best comments. 🙂 Just read your haunting tale. It was full of beauty and tension at the same time. Like I said on your blog, I held my breath.
Thank you, Linda. By the way, I love your Avatar pic! I'm glad you were able to see that she was not a victim, or at least, she wouldn't allow herself to be perceived that way. It's part of what makes it so tragic.
Really enjoyed your flash fiction, too. Beautiful, with a surprise at the end.
Thank you, Linda. By the way, I love your Avatar pic! I'm glad you were able to see that she was not a victim, or at least, she wouldn't allow herself to be perceived that way. It's part of what makes it so tragic.
Really enjoyed your flash fiction, too. Beautiful, with a surprise at the end.
I wondered where you were and why you hadn't commented! So unlike you. Glad you're back with us. However, I'm leaving for the evening soon.
http://www.banterwithbeth.blogspot.com
WOW! That's all I can say–WOW!
This is brilliant! Great imagination!