Every week, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (thank you, Rochelle!) hosts a flash fiction challenge, to write a complete story, based on a photoprompt, with a beginning, middle and end, in 100 words or less. Post it on your blog, and include the Photoprompt and Inlinkz on your page. Link your story URL. Then the fun starts as you read other peoples’ stories and comment on them!
PHOTO PROMPT © C E Ayr
Dangerous liaison
Alone on the beach, I stand silent. The winter sun dapples land and sea, confusing the eye.
I need to plan. What can I do? Where can I go?
I finish my cigarette with three long drags, but the nicotine hit brings no inspiration.
It was my own stupid fault.
Poor Dolores. Beautiful. Seductive. I couldn’t resist her. Giovanni had beaten the truth out of her, then killed her.
Perhaps if I go to London? By train, of course.
I turn towards the steps. It’s my only hope.
There’s a flash from the sand dunes. The sun on binoculars? or…
Autumn Leaves 
Craftily penned. The scene, the character, the tension — You set it up so perfectly. I think our hero is done for. (Btw, I didn’t see your lovely face on the InLinkz page: maybe I just missed it.)
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Dear Dora
Thank you for such a thoughtful comment. I agree that the MC is done for! Thank you for advising me about the Inlinkz page; I’d overlooked that, because I was rushing. The last few days have been busy, busy!
With very best wishes
Penny
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You’re very welcome, Penny. Great story for a rush job. 😉
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Dear Penny,
Dangerous describes the feel of this one. Well written as always. BTW, I would’ve missed this story, which would’ve been a pity, if I didn’t follow you.. Hope you didn’t have a problem linking.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
Thank you for your kind comment, and for pointing out my missing link. There was no problem – I was just in too much of a rush!
Shalom
Penny
xx
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The landscape is confused by the dappling. The protagonist is confused by the uncertainty. A great example of making the setting part of the character
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Thank you for such a helpful comment, Neil. Using the setting to highlight the characters state of mind was what I was trying for, and It’s very useful to know it worked.
Best wishes
Penny
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Moody and threatening Penny, a dangerous liaison indeed! Very well written.
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Thank you for such a kind comment, Iain. I’m glad you found the story moody and threatening. Isn’t it strange how the muse works? I was feeling particularly light-hearted as I penned this story!
Best wishes
Penny
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‘My own stupid fault and Poor Dolores’ says it all. He is shot, does he escape? Is he injured or is the end? A greater story of illicit passion sold in such a few words.
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Thank you for your thoughtful comment, James, especially for identifying that ‘My own stupid fault’ and ‘Poor Dolores’ are effective in telling the story.
Best wishes
Penny
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It’s amazing how you managed to change the (usually) peaceful beach scene into something confusing and threatening with just a few words. Very effective.
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Thank you for your very kind comment, Gabi. I think there’s something very ominous about silence…
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your story fits the picture prompt perfectly. you couldn’t have written it any better. well done.
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Thank you so much for the praise. I think it is an excellent prompt, because it’s stirred up such a diversity of stories.
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Hey, I think you were reading my story at the same time I was reading yours! =) I felt your character’s tension and fear. Very well penned as always!
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Ha! Snap! Thank you for your very kind comment, Brenda.
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I think your character’s desperation and confusion are about to end quite abruptly…
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Thanks for your comment, Ali. I agree with you about an abrupt end; in fact an abrupt end of all his worries, not to mention his hopes and everything else…
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I love the way the storyline starts in a gentle, lyrical mode, then gradually becomes incrementally tense and sinister, leaving us with a cliff hanger – what happens next. Very well crafted Penny.
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Thank you for your kind comment, Francine. I’m very pleased you thought the story well-crafted.
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An atmospheric story that rose to a crescendo then left us dangling! Nicely done Penny.
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Thank you for the kind comment, Keith.
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Oh what wonderful writing, Penny! Start us off slow and have us running – all within 100 words!
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Thank you for such an encouraging comment, Dale!
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Oh what a story. Beautifully crafted P!
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Thank you, Tannille. Just for once I consciously used some technique when I wrote, and it seems to have worked!
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