Assimilation
Shadows crept across the wall as Dani flipped through the books she’s torn from the shelves. She crouched lower between the bookshelves, hoping to find what she was looking for before they arrived. Page after page of long-forgotten information. Images of distant worlds she would never be allowed to see. Diagrams of mystical machinery that would never be built in time. Even recipes for potions that took far too long to brew. All useless.
She tossed the book to the floor and grabbed another. That jagged silver circle of light returned to her vision once more and slammed her against the piles of books strewn at her feet. Arms sprawled against the wall, she steadied herself, holding her breath. Hoping nothing toppled and cut the silence as the shadows grew ever closer.
The flashing light lasted longer than it ever had before. Her vision cleared just as the searing pain returned. The end was too close. She let her head droop and caught sight of it. The tattered ends of an orange piece of paper stuck out from a discarded book. Freedom was now within her grasp. Filled with a sense of euphoria, the shadows engulfed her and everything faded.
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This is my entry for Rachael Harrie’s First Campaigner Challenge (of my Fourth Campaign, February 2012). The rules are as follows:
Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “Shadows crept across the wall”. These five words will be included in the word count.
If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), do one or more of these:
- end the story with the words: “everything faded.” (also included in the word count)
- include the word “orange” in the story
- write in the same genre you normally write
- make your story 200 words exactly!
Open with “Shadows crept across the wall” ✔
End the story with the words “everything faded.” ✔
Include the word “orange” in the story ✔
Write in the same genre you normally write ✔
200 words ✔
If you like this, please click the link and vote for #189
Also, if you liked this piece, please feel free to read some of my other works on my “Free Reads” link at the top of the page. Some have been published as well. Thank you for reading.
Let me know what you think! I love reading everyone’s comments!
- Very intense! Nice work! :smile:
- Nice story.
- Great suspense. And I love the idea of so much information at her fingertips, but it being too late for…