Ash
For the A-to-Z Blogging Challenge this year, I’m posting a 100 word piece of flash fiction every day. It might be a self-contained story, or a scene–whatever, it’ll be fiction, and it’ll be over in a flash! Today’s story is…
ASH
Five inches of insulated steel hissed open. He had designed the shelter doors to withstand a supernova, so Adam wasn’t surprised.
What he didn’t expect was the landscape that greeted him.
Five hours ago, it had all been calculations and theories; possibilities and probabilities. Now he stood in three inches of ash, looking out at broken buildings and twisted metal, while a silent breeze kissed his face. Adam still held the detonation devise. It had to be done, he’d said. But as he felt the dust remains of his world under his feet, he wondered why he had to survive.
Check back tomorrow for B…
Oooh. I want to know why he did it. Will there be anymore to this story in later letters?
~Patricia Lynne~
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, YA Author
I thought about doing a series of 26 stories that all connected in some way… but, sorry, no. This is it. I’m leaving your imagination to fill in the blanks. Each day’s story will be stand-alone… for the most part. There is one two-parter later in the month. But I’m glad you enjoyed this. Thank you, Patricia! 🙂
I thought about trying that as well with my stories, but didn’t have an idea that would connect. There are some letters that are related though, but not 26. Maybe next year.
Another advantage of having stand-alone stories is that people dropping in mid-month don’t feel like they have to read the last 13 letters to catch up. Though it would be nice if they would… 🙂
Thrilling is all l can say. Oh no yes captivating for it ceates curosity. 🙂
Thanks, Marie–I’m glad you liked it.
This is an interesting way to start the A to Z Challenge. Wondering if the story is to be continued in your following posts, I will stay tuned.
Sorry, Romi–this is all you get for this story. Tomorrow’s will be different… actually, it’ll be very different! Making a series of 26 connected A-to-Z stories, each 100 words long, sounds like the perfect challenge for next year, though.
I hope you’ll stay tuned anyway. 🙂
Wow! What a start!
Thank you, Andrea! 🙂
Awesome, Colin. You packed some real emotional punch into this tiny piece, and I love it. Looking forward to B!
Thanks, Katy! B’s going to be… different. 😉
This is great, you put a lot into just 100 words. I can’t wait to read the rest of your pieces.
Also, thanks for your support on my blog earlier; you were right, I wasn’t expecting a comment like that. It means a lot that you said what you did on my behalf. 🙂
Thank you, Laura! It’s not easy to convey story in so few words, so I’m glad this seemed to work. I hope you enjoy the rest of the stories. I’ve put together a quite eclectic bunch for this month. But that’s one of the things I love about flash fiction: you get to try your hand at different styles and genres without the commitment of 80K words! 🙂
And about the blog comment–you’re very welcome. I don’t know that he’ll hear what I said to him, but it needed to be said. 🙂
This definitely sent my mind running in a dozen directions. Great job of conveying so much – action and conflict – with so few words!
Thank you, Chuck! I’m so glad it fired your imagination. 🙂
Great job. Only a tiny bit of words and I already want more! I like your use of the name Adam too.
Thanks, Melanie. And you noticed that I used an A-named character… well spotted! 🙂
Besides being over in a flash, it was really good! I would have read a lot more. Very captivating.
Thank you, Sarah! 😀 Yeah… this might go on the list of potential novels… if I can come up with the rest of the story… 😉
Nicely done.
Jean, visiting for the A-Z Challenge from Rantings and Ravings of an Insane Writer
Thanks, Jean! 🙂
Oh that’s creepy and interesting all at the same time. You did an awesome job of describing the scene and getting us into the head of your character, and in just 100 words — wow!
Thanks, Kim! I was pleased with the way it turned out, too. 🙂