Monday’s Finish the Story: Incentive

Posted on by Louise Bunting

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.

Photo Prompt - copyright Barbara W. Beacham
Photo Prompt – copyright Barbara W. Beacham

Incentive

“When the team heard the dam explode, they knew they had limited time to make it to safety.”

“We’ll need to take the black route,” Charley shouted over the roaring water as she guided the raft. “That’s the only way we’ll make it off the river in time!”

Adrenaline surged as they faced the rapids with fierce determination, hearts pounding as they pirouetted around obstacles and flew over each fall. Speed was their key objective.

Reaching the course’s end they scrambled to safety and waited for the wall of water.

And waited.

As minutes ticked past suspicious eyes turned on their guide.

Charley met their glares with an unruffled grin. She’d known they were capable of the harder route but were unwilling to test their limits – they just needed an added incentive. The speakers hidden along the river bank were rigged to provide a soundtrack of explosion and roaring floodwater to their ride. The thrill was worth the deception.

She shrugged. “Can you say it wasn’t fun?”

Word Count: 150

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To read other entries or to submit your own, click the little blue frog.

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49 thoughts on “Monday’s Finish the Story: Incentive”

  6. Excellent story! “Adrenaline surged as they faced the rapids with fierce determination, hearts pounding as they pirouetted around obstacles and flew over each fall.” – Love that sentence, I can see them paddling like mad… Nice interpretation of the prompt 🙂

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  7. Charlie sure got that one over on them! Loved the story! Thanks again for joining in on the MFtS challenge, and I look forward to what you come up with on the next challenge… Be well… ^..^

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  8. I was thinking of doing something very similar, but was going to make it blowing up old beaver dams. Changed my mind because of the way the first sentence was worded and, well, blowing up beaver dams just isn’t nice. Loved your take on it, well done.

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  12. Excellent take Louise I like this twist in perception of the image, and I could well imagine the feeling of knowing your life was in danger and then going helter skelter…..very clever…..

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  15. Now that’s not exactly a recommended method for getting your team to get over their fear, but boy it sure worked 🙂 This was an excellent take and a great twist on the prompt. Very well done!

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    1. Thank you, Lyn! I think a stunt like that would get her into big trouble in real life, but it definitely got them over their fear! I’m glad you enjoyed reading. 🙂

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    1. Definitely – I think she’d be stripped of her license in a second for such a trick! She knew they were capable of it though… End justifies means. 🙂

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  19. Brilliant! ~ High jinks and fun for Charley truly hiding the danger of the reality of wild water ~ Whatever happened to her after they realised the twist 🙂

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    1. I could possibly see a fist of two flying. Or maybe a dowsing in the river. They’re definitely not happy with her! Thanks for visiting. 🙂

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    1. She is that! I’m thinking she’d probably be going home with a few bruises, though, after pulling a stunt like that! Thanks for visiting. 🙂

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  23. Sneaky! I would be ticked off a bit. My first thought is that she would dead meat….a few bruises is what I mean…certainly the silent treatment….lol. Nice twist though

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