Monday’s Finish the Story: Frame-bound

Here’s this week’s entry into Monday’s Finish the Story flash fiction challenge, run by Barbara W. Beacham. This challenge gives you a picture prompt and the first line and asks that you finish the story in 100-150 words. The given line is in italics.

Little did they know when the photographer took their picture that they would find themselves trapped in a painting.

It was a strange experience. There was a flash of light and everything shifted. Time slowed; sight skewed to oscillating patterns of light and dark; the sound of music became muffled. Confusion reigned.

A voice steadily chanted.

Later, existence coalesced in the strokes of a paintbrush.

Within the frame of the painting they found they could move and talk, look and listen. And create their music.

“This was the only way to save you,” a soft voice, a familiar voice, whispered. Aaliyah: sister, lover, friend respectively, stroked fingers against canvas. “The boat burned – just as I saw in my vision. This way you, and your music will live forever.”

Time passed – days, years, decades dragging interminably on. They watched Aaliyah age, hair fading, skin sagging. The bounds of the frame became like prison bars. Tempers flared and friendships shattered.

“Set us free,” they begged.

Aaliyah breathed her final words.

Word Count: 150

 

If you want to read any other entries, or add your own, go here.