This is my entry for this week’s Friday Fictioneers Challenge run by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. This week’s picture prompt was provided by Jennifer Pendergast The challenge is to write a story within 100 words.
The Summoning
He awoke to sterile rooms and white-coated doctors.
After seven years adrift in a pleasant fog – waiting, always waiting – the haze dispersed with the awareness that it is time!
William fled the mental hospital as soon as possible. The doctors wanted him to remain, wanted to poke and prod until his condition was understood, but he knew he had to go. He had to go south.
He met Sophia on the train: a waif of a girl with scared eyes, driven by the same compulsion as he to reach an unknown destination.
At least they wouldn’t be reaching it alone.
Word Count: 100
Click the little blue frog to see other entries or to add your own.
While I’m hoping this story works as a stand-alone, it’s actually a companion piece to Waiting, yesterday’s FFfAW story. This one may make a little more sense if you read that as well.
An Enchanted Place 
I wonder how many others from all places and walks of life will join them before they reach their destination?
Great and mysterious story!
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I doubt they’re the only ones being summoned! I’m glad you like it. 🙂
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Mysterious!
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That it is. 🙂 Thanks for visiting.
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I love the ‘waif of a girl with scared eyes.’
They sound like lambs to the slaughter – make them turn round!
Very threatening and mysterious.
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I wish I could – the compulsion driving them is just too strong! Thanks for visiting. 🙂
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It is mysterious, and great descriptions. I wish I could know what the compulsion was, the driving force.
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Thank you. I’m glad you like it. 🙂 There will probably be a third part of this written sometime soon.
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Great story…it really makes you want to know where are they going and what are they going to do when they get there? It is quite baffling!
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Thank you! I’ll probably be writing a third part of this sometime soon that may answer some of your questions…
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Excellent! Now if I only knew where they are going. I might want to go. LOL! Great story Louise.
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They don’t even know where they’re going themselves! I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
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haha! So, I guess they will find out where they are going when they get there. 😀
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There was a scene in a sci-fi movie years ago that a guy was making a mountain on his plate of mashed potatoes. I think maybe someone or something is calling them for real and he woke up from a coma. Interesting story! Nan
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I was discussing different directions I could take this with a friend as I wrote it yesterday. The obvious one is aliens. My response to that was ‘I don’t want it to be too mashed potato mountain!’ I think the film is Close Encounters of the Third Kind… I do have quite a few different ideas for what is calling them – hopefully it won’t be too predictable. Thanks for visiting. 🙂
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You said a lot in 100 words. Excellent. I liked the description of Sophia too and I’m glad they’ve got each other to keep them company.
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At least neither of them will be facing whatever’s at their destination alon! Thanks for visiting. 🙂
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Intriguing – plenty of scope in this story to take it in a number of directions. Well done.
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Thank you, Sandra. I’m glad you liked it. 🙂
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Like the first, this is very interesting and well written. It is clever how you linked them together (the use of the word “waiting” for both is a great link), and this makes me wonder where they are going and what compulsion is driving them to go.
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Thank you, Francesca. I’m glad you liked it. 🙂 I’m hoping to write a third (and hopefully final) part this week.
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the mystery deepens. i can’t wait to see what’s next.
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Thank you! I’m hoping to write part three soon. 🙂
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“At least they wouldn’t be reaching it alone.” I wonder who else is with them?
On the train or in their minds?
Evocative — I would like to know if they reached what they thought was their destination.
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You ask some good questions. Hopefully they’ll be answered in a part three sometime soon. 🙂
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