This Will Never… #flashfiction #scifi #reenasxplorationchallenge

Reena’s Absolutely challenging Challenge –> Welcome back! RXC PROMPT #233 ravaged inner space unable to account for entries and exits who came, who destroyed, who left? a soul transformed forever 

It had happened. The event that all of us had trained for.

“This will never happen…” Our O.T. said loudly to our group.

“Why are we doing this then?” An intern very young, very inexperienced had asked.

“They always ask us to do things that they cannot explain the rationale for…” A very seasoned staff person chimed in.

We went through the drill. Most of it was what you would expect; it was the immediate shut-down no matter who was in the facility that bothered us.

“What happens to civilians?” One of my co-workers whispered.

“Hopefully they are in the unit when close-down initiates or they will be radiated.”

“Even kids?”

I gulped not wanting to answer the affirmative.

“But this will never happen..”

Those words were in a free fall as the yellow then red lights began their cycle of warning. Layers of lead, silicone and carbon were forming a domelike shield around our installation. We were essential personnel and our lives were more valuable than gold. Each of us had a skill set that would keep things going indefinitely.

“Health inspector 1 you must report to the infirmary – double time.”

I grabbed my insulated helmet and ran to my post. I ran past people who were clearly in shock. Those empty eyes wanted to scream ‘Help.’

All my medical training was of no assistance. They were civilians caught in inner space with no role to play and no exit except a few moments of 500 millirems/ min radiation (a deadly amount) if they were to exit.

“My daughter. I can’t find my daughter.” A woman screamed.

Against protocol, I called in a request to divert to find the child.

“Inspector 1 – what is your ETA?”

“Can you cue in a 10 minute diversion code. I need to help a civilian.”

“Negative Health 1 !!”

I never pulled my rank. Number 1 reflected that I was the highest grade health practitioner on the facility.

“No problem main operator. I am calling off as sick. Maybe some radiation leakage. I will check back in tomar…”

“Health 1 you are cleared with a 10 minute diversion.”

“Excellent.” I turned my walkie off.

I looked at the frantic mama and grabbed her hand. “We will find that girl of yours. We will not allow her soul to be transformed forever…”

Photo “Sealed Off” © moondustdesigns 2015

This flash fiction is sparked by the prompt and the picture that is a bomb shelter beneath a museum.

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Wake Up #alarmclock #fiction #reenaschallenge

Here are the prompts to Reena’s xploration challenge #232. Underscore Challenge!!!

1. I’m going to defeat you with the power of friendship! … And this knife I found.
2. I’m sick and tired of being called ‘mortal’ like, you don’t know that. Neither do I. I have never died even ONCE. Nothing has been proven yet. Stop making assumptions. It’s rude.
3. Some of you may die, but that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.
4. Not trying to brag or anything, but I can wake up without an alarm clock now simply due to my crippling and overwhelming anxiety, so…

It was not that long ago that I was like you. I woke when the rooster crowed or when the clock rang a long buzz. I can’t call it an alarm clock because that is so overstated in a mere buzz. But let me explain…

I was in an old historic town looking at cemeterys. Why did I think that was a nice way to spend my holiday? I guess because I like to take photographs of nothing important except symbols of life.

I was intrigued by this rather old clock in the window of a house where the window latches were hanging the wrong way and the door knob was at a very low level. It was as if the door and the windows were upside down.

I took a picture of the clock. I took another.

“That’s odd” I looked around to no one standing there. “The hands are moving backward.”

The pendulum was a very large spoon and it caught my reflection. When I moved away my reflection was still in the spoon. I was upside down. I looked around.

“This is rather odd. Isn’t it?” I called to a man across the street. “The hands are going backward.” I said much louder.

He shook his head and moved quickly the other way.

I went home not really sure what that had been about. Then I noticed the clock over my stove.

“Not working.” I flicked at the plastic.

Several minutes later I came back and the time had moved backward.

“That’s nonsense. Too much heat on my brain today.”

I set my alarm clock and fell asleep. A cat or something was screeching in the silent night fog. I turned on the light to see the time.

“What time is it Really?” I asked the alarm clock.

I called a service on my phone that would give the proper time. “The time is four twenty two…”

I called back ten minutes later. “The time is four twelve pm”

“How can time go backwards? Where does it end up? Is it going back for everyone?”

I lined up all the clocks in my house. I watched as each one worked backwards in time. I waited for the buzz that never came.

‘I wondered will I wake up from this? What will I happen when I wake up? What time is it really?????’

Image: “Antique Spoon Clock”© Moondust Designs 2014

Two Sides #poetry #heat #2faces

I was Janus once

a shiny side

a muted side

put all happiness aside

It wasn’t me

it certainly wasn’t you

for one day I was famous

then a hot wind blew it away

I spun the coin

heads or tales

to be or not to be

there’s no answer to the question

but there are always two sides

The prompt for Reena’s Xploration 231 is to reflect on the Poem “How to Be Alone by Padraig O Tuama

Reflect on How to Be Alone

It’s Greek #prompt #microfiction

What did you say?

είναι ελληνικό για μένα *

can you be clearer?

είναι ελληνικό για μένα

this is making No sense

είναι ελληνικό για μένα

‘My Greek’s rusty. I think he said “great idea”‘

‘I think it’s Greek to him as well ‘

What are we agreeing to???

*it’s greek to me…

Reena’s prompt is the image above – Treat the two images as two stages, and write about what happened in between. You can change the order as you wish, or even add more stages in between.

Wow Reena knows how to make a challenge xploration challenge #230

It’s a deadly Assortment #flashfiction #challenge

I thought I was having a dream until my senses were overwhelmed with the odor of fish.

Then I heard:

“There are 15 pieces of sushi. You must eat five of them. Your best friend’s life depends on it.”

Lizzy was tied to a chair in the corner.

” I must mention that three of the items will cause instant death and two well it might be possible to make it to hospital. You have four minutes to decide and 1 minute to eat. “

This is not a dream. This is a NIGHTMARE!!!

“Your time starts Now.”

The above picture is the prompt for this week’s Xploration Challenge – moderated by the talented Reena Saxena

Did I mention I love flash fiction with all the fixins…