PHOTO PROMPT © Bill Reynolds
Today is the tenth anniversary … of her leaving. He’s not sure why he’s programmed his phone to beep for it every year. It’s not as if he doesn’t have a reminder each time he steps outside or looks from his northern window.
Mary was in the barn, brushing Jinn. He was in the workshop, putting last touches on a commissioned saddle when he heard her scream. He grabbed the Winchester and ran. Looking up: two metal beasts, with Mary in one’s talons. He fired and got the one whose carcass rots in the field. He dreams her face, shrinking away.
[101 words]
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields is the exuberant host of Friday Fictioneers.
Tao Talk 
Oh my goodness!! Terrifyingly dramatic and sad. Well done!! 😱
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Thank you, Gypsie.
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You are welcome!! I’m waiting for the novel now!!! 😃
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Such a dramatic story.
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Thank you, Sadje.
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You’re welcome
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Absolutely brilliant!
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Thank you!
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The metal beasts: robots?
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I don’t think he knows what they are. I do think that it’s funny the government lets its wreckage lie without investigating it…
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Terrifying glimpse into a dark time. Good writing.
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I think so too, Iain. Reminds me of War of the Worlds and the wreckage of it. Thank you.
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Pretty terrifying story. Two metal beasts with talons certainly doesn’t sound like animals from this earth!
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I know! I was thinking drones of the future on earth but not sure when this was set… Thanks for reading, Christian.
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What a tragic tale. It’s not enough he lost her to them, but to have a reminder day after day…
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😦 I know.
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😦
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Such a gruesome tale, I hope this is not a glimpse into the future!
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Me too, Keith! And I hope me and my loved ones are long gone before it does.
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Dear Lisa,
What a way to leave. Doesn’t sound like it was a conscious choice. Sad and frightening tale.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, thank you for your careful reading. I purposely made it look like she’d abandoned him in the first paragraph, only to surprise with the “reality” of it.
Shalom,
Lisa
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Well done, Lisa. 150 years ago this same story could have been told by settlers in dealing with the human native inhabitants. 🙂
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Thank you, Bill. Indeed!
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What a way to go! No wonder he marks the date. Well done.
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Alicia, thank you, and glad to see you back at FF (even if I haven’t read your story yet!)
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Yikes … such a terrible thing to happen.
Dramatic write, Lisa. Good take on the prompt.
Isadora 😎
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Isadora, thank you very much.
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Very cool, Lisa. This is my kind of story that leaves you lots of questions to think about, like what are they and where did they come from? What happened to the other beast? Did they come back? Yes, please write the novel, haha.
-David
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David, thank you so much. Glad it sparked the questions for you. You never know, maybe it will be expanded someday 🙂
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A sudden shock reading this. Is no-one safe from these beasts that haunt our lives? A story that made me look beyond the words, well done.
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James, thank you for reading and your thoughtful comment.
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I had ‘war of the world’ images crowding my mind. Beautifully done.
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Sandra, thank you.
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Metal would take. very long time to rot–a daily reminder of his loss. Great imagination, Lisa.
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Linda, thanks much.
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Traumatic ! Love the details here. Worse to be taken or the one left behind? Nicely done
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Thanks, Laurie, I wonder also.
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Oh, what a great tale of SciFi horror. Such potential for a long, good story. Now write the rest, please. 😀
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Thanks! You never know, there may be an expansion at some point 🙂
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🙂
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That took an unexpected turn. At least the flying metal beasts can be killed.
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Yes!
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