FF – Into the Fire
Here is my story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. It’s a brand new photo this week, supplied by Vijaya Sundaram.
To read the other stories, click on the blue froggy.
Copyright Vijaya Sundaram
Jorgen watched the fireworks as they burst in triumphant splendour over the distant town.
His town.
His burning town.
A town full of corpses. His family, his friends, men, women, children. The woman who helped his kids cross the street to school every day.
All gone now. All gone.
And the invaders were celebrating. Celebrating! Drinking their fill, gorging themselves while everything he’d ever known turned to ash.
Resolute, his decision made, he checked that the knife was secured to his belt and melted into the shadows, heading towards the smoke and fire.
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draliman on life 
Oh, dear. Those are the kind of fireworks one doesn’t want to see!
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For sure – celebrating the death of your town.
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A powerful story, brilliantly told. There is despair there, and a sense of resolution. I was caught up in it.
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Thanks, I’m glad it spoke to you 🙂
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I like your writing voice.
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Excellent tale. All too easy to imagine in today’s world. Great writing.
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Thanks! Sadly, it is.
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You’ve captured the contrast between Jorgen’s tragic loss and the captors’ euphoric victory so well. I don’t blame him for wanting to take revenge.
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Me neither! I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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Paybacks!!!! I would not want to be in his way.
DJ
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Nor me. I think there will be a few unexplained deaths this night.
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I hope Jorgen will emerge victorious!
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Me too. Those invaders sound like they deserve some payback.
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Definitely a prompting read that makes me want more. You may need to broaden this into a short story! 🙂
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There was definitely more I wanted to tell. I wanted him to have started a new life there after a career as a paid assassin (to make his revenge much more likely, and have him return to a life he’d hoped to leave behind) but sadly the word count defeated me 🙂
I’m glad you liked it!
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Time for a spin off short 😉 lol
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Defeat and victory, so close together. Sadness and tears, right beside laughter and celebrations. There are always two sides to a coin. 🙂
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There often are, especially when violence is involved. I’m glad you liked it!
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And so begins the tale of war, magic, murder, and finally rebirth. I can see it all …
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A tale which has everything! He might even fall in love with a survivor…
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I’m with Marilyn. Keep this going–there’s a great story to be told 🙂
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I wanted to tell so much more 🙂 I’m glad you liked it!
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So, don’t wait until you have a prompt to…prompt you. Just write 🙂
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If you want to tell more, do it, Ali! Here ya go, 15th September, for the “Enter the Aftermath” anthology, so you’ve still got time! http://tanstaaflpress.com/enter-the-anthologies-submission-guidelines/
Have fun!
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Thanks!
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Wahhh!!! I WANT MORE! Hee Hee. What happens next? ☺
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He trips on his way into town and breaks his neck :-). No, that’s not right. Revenge is his!
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The invasion of Possum Town!
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My hero could be Buster!
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And the story of his revenge would probably perfectly fit the 100 word maximum…
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ah! Victory of one and devastation of another!
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Yes, two very different sides, often the case.
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Exactly! 🙂
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This stands alone, Ali, but could be the beginning of a longer thriller story. Good writing. 🙂 — Suzanne
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A great read, it stands up well as 100 word flash story. Mike
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I think he might have a tough fight if they can kill everyone. Nice story.
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They say, vengence is sweet! Great story, Ali!
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Thanks! Sorry for the late reply, your comment went into the spam filter for some reason 😦
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I understand. Sometimes I find people’s comments in my spam file.
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Excellent story and writing. This screams for more.
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Thanks! It is a candidate for lengthening.
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I think he might be going out in style. It sounds like there are more of them.
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Lots more of them, I think!
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The two differing sides are portrayed really well.
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Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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Everyone is thirsty for blood the offenders and the offended.
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Yep, violence leads to more violence.
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Has that Rod Serling kind-of tone to it. He wrote other stories than just s-f or speculative fiction, of course. Made me wish for more story. You got it GOOD!
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Thanks, I’m glad you liked it! There was more I wanted to say so I might extend it.
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Oh PLEASE do! It’s good, it really is.
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Thanks, I might just do it!
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Dear Ali,
Frightening, where’s Bruce Willis when we need him? Well done.
Shalom.
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Maybe we’ll throw in a bit of Chuck Norris as well just to make it really good 🙂
Ali
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Well, I hope he’s got a lot of stamina and I hope he’s well rested …
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Me too, he has a lot of work to do.
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Oh, how dire. Great suspense and description. NIce job, Ali.
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Thanks, I’m glad you liked it!
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Oh I think he will catch them being drunk… a second blood bath coming.
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Yeah, methinks they celebrated too soon and now they’re in no fit state to defend themselves.
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A great story and very well told. It’s a situation that could happen at any time, anywhere, and undoubtedly has done many times in the past. The ending holds a particularly powerful punch.
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Thanks. I can’t help feeling that somewhere right now this is playing out.
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You’ve aptly described a man with nothing to lose!
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Yep, poor chap.
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Gripping. You’ve painted a convincing portrait of Jorgen. It’s a realistic scenario, unfortunately.
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Thanks. Unfortunately you’re right, it is realistic.
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Reminds us of how easy it is to have ongoing conflict with both sides feeling passionate and justified, both sides potentially grieving, taking revenge, celebrating. Made me pause. Well told!
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Indeed, everyone always thinks they’re in the right. I’m glad you liked it!
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Wonderfully done, Ali. His anger, despair and determination come through really clearly. Hopefully he’ll find some other survivors and not just throw his life away needlessly – I can see some sort of resistance forming…
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He may be the inspiration for resistance but he’s a lone wolf at heart…
I’m glad you liked it!
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Go and get’em, cowboy. The night is still young!
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Plenty of time fer some killin’.
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