Jump to content
    northie
  • Author
  • 462 Words
  • 911 Views
  • 10 Comments
Stories posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 

Flash In The Pan - 8. No Surrender?

A short flash piece written in response to one of the daily one-word WordPress prompts. The original, unedited version first appeared on my blog.
A response to Silhouette.

Heart racing. Shallow, panicked breaths. Breathe. Come on. Slowly, quietly. Breathe. ... Crouched, hiding behind the door. Below the shattered glass panel. Can't close it completely - too noisy. He'd hear. Course he would. ... Definitely a 'he'? Yes, you idiot. The silhouette. Beard, remember? Long, bushy beard. ... Who is it? Dunno. Think! Get those fucking brain cells moving. Ehm ... No. Don't know anyone with a beard. Do I? It's been so long. Could be anybody. Can't remember the last time I saw someone. Lost track of time. Days, weeks ... Skulking in here. This isn't my room though. Left that when he first opened the front door. The man. Whoever he is. Wonder if he has food? Food ... Proper, edible food. Not the scraps and rotting filth I call food. All my stuff's in that room. What's left. Why did you leave it then, you idiot? Panic, fear of the hunted. Wonder if I could get some of his food? He must have some. How, though? Fight him? Yeah, you'd really win a fight, wouldn't you? Muscles? Wasted away, mostly. However hard I try. Beg? Grovel? No. Can't do that. No surrender. Ever. The fight must continue, always. What was the cause we were fighting for? Forgotten ... but it must keep on. There must still be others out there, somewhere, doing the same. Lost touch ages ago. Deliberately so – I'd be traced otherwise, wouldn't I? Never know who'd be listening in. … Footsteps? Shit! Should I look? Yes. No. Definitely not. Remaining hidden is best. Except in the case of food, possibly. Is he coming closer? Are the noises getting louder? Can't tell – it's been so long since I've heard anything different. Not part of me and my world. ... Well, concentrate, then. Listen, carefully. ... Yes, I think so. Heavy boots striking the flooring like he owns the place. Should I run? Where to? Shit! Too late. There he is! The silhouette again. The beard. Looking in. No. Please, no.

"Raif? That you in there? Hiding?"

Is that me? Was that me? Dunno. Forgotten. Don't reply. Silence, keep silent …

"It's John. I've been searching for so long. I can't bear that I lost you. Is that your breathing I can hear?”

He can hear! Hold your breath. Freeze.

“You armed? Is it OK for me to come in? I'm alone. You might not recognise me though. I've grown a beard – a real Victorian special."

Armed? I was once. Not now. Not for a long time. … Why? Why should I be looked for? Nobody's missed me. I'm a fighter, a loner. A soldier. No surrender.

"OK … Raif? I'm coming in. Whatever's happened, I still love you, Raif. You're mine."

Leave a comment if you'd like. I appreciate them all.
Copyright © 2017 northie; All Rights Reserved.
  • Like 6
  • Love 2
  • Wow 2
  • Sad 1
Stories posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 

Story Discussion Topic

You are not currently following this story. Be sure to follow to keep up to date with new chapters.

Recommended Comments

Chapter Comments

I feel as if I'm the one trapped, hiding in that room ... what in the hell happened to me to put me there?

Excellent!

  • Like 1
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
7 minutes ago, dughlas said:

I feel as if I'm the one trapped, hiding in that room ... what in the hell happened to me to put me there?

Excellent!

What, indeed?  Thanks, dugh.  :)

Link to comment

Jeez, you set my heart racing with this one. :o  Scary, but at least Raif has someone who cares about him, has been looking for him. :) 

  • Like 2
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
4 hours ago, Timothy M. said:

Jeez, you set my heart racing with this one. :o  Scary, but at least Raif has someone who cares about him, has been looking for him. :) 

Good! That was the general idea ... ;) Thanks for reading, Tim.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
2 hours ago, droughtquake said:

But is he Raif? What if he’s not Raif. What will John do if he finds a stranger?

Who knows?  What if .. What if ...  :lol:

  • Like 1
  • Love 1
Link to comment

Surreal , almost like it is all a figment of the characters deranged imagination, or it could be real , which is possibly more disturbing. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
10 minutes ago, deville said:

Surreal , almost like it is all a figment of the characters deranged imagination, or it could be real , which is possibly more disturbing. 

Yes, it has the intensity, the feverishness of something produced through a delusion of some kind. Whether that's so, is something for the reader to decide. Thanks for your comment.  :) 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
View Guidelines

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Newsletter

    Sign Up and get an occasional Newsletter.  Fill out your profile with favorite genres and say yes to genre news to get the monthly update for your favorite genres.

    Sign Up
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Our Privacy Policy can be found here: Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue..