Home > Fiction > FF – The Glass World

FF – The Glass World

Here is my story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. She also contributed the photo this week.

I was worried this week as I’m out at the cinema later and will have no time to think of a story, but I had an idea the instant I saw the photo and the story was finished ten minutes later. I love it when a plan comes together 🙂

 

He looked sadly, resigned, at the flowers. Once so vibrant, they had taken on a different kind of beauty. Harsh, rigid, eternal.

Already he could feel the bioweapon coursing through his veins. His legs hung heavy from the edge of the chair, opalescent, a multi-coloured perfection no glass-blower could hope to replicate.

His mistake, of course, had been to add the pathogen to the water supply, free to infect every living thing, a misguided protest at the folly of Man now become Mankind’s end.

On reflection, testing the antidote before releasing the virus would have been a good idea, too.

 

  1. February 20, 2019 at 9:17 am

    Still, everything will be beautiful in this dead world

    Like

    • February 21, 2019 at 8:05 am

      Yes – I had hoped to finish on that but the word count got to me…

      Liked by 1 person

  2. February 20, 2019 at 9:59 am

    Laughing.
    Testing the antidote would have been the smart move!

    Like

    • February 21, 2019 at 8:05 am

      Yep! But who has time for that?

      Like

  3. February 20, 2019 at 10:48 am

    The man is a genius in the art of afterthought.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. February 20, 2019 at 11:27 am

    Yes, he should have tested it. Also I thought “resignedly- would be a better fit. What say? Good writing, nevertheless.

    Like

    • February 21, 2019 at 8:07 am

      Thanks! I did consider that as the flow isn’t quite right, but “resignedly” is such a clumsy word.

      Like

  5. February 20, 2019 at 12:25 pm

    Dear Ali,

    Hoisted up on his own petard. Hindsight’s always 20/20. Nicely done. Enjoy the cinema.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Like

    • February 21, 2019 at 8:08 am

      Dear Rochelle,
      He did make rather a mess of things!
      Thanks – we saw “Alita: Battle Angel” – lots of action!
      Ali

      Like

  6. February 20, 2019 at 1:01 pm

    He wasn’t the sharpest pencil in the box. Beauty with no one to see it. Sigh. 😦 — Suzanne

    Like

    • February 21, 2019 at 8:17 am

      For sure. No, no-one left to appreciate his “creation”.

      Like

  7. February 20, 2019 at 1:06 pm

    You’ve written a grimly humorous tale, and it had me chuckling.

    Like

    • February 21, 2019 at 8:16 am

      Thanks! I wanted to do a serious one but couldn’t resist come the end 🙂

      Like

  8. February 20, 2019 at 1:50 pm

    I’m guessing from his level of incompetence he was formerly a world leader or manager of a large corporation.

    Like

    • February 21, 2019 at 8:15 am

      The only severance in this case will be his limbs though!

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Jelli
    February 20, 2019 at 2:21 pm

    Talk about a monumental OOPS! That would be it! Awesome story!

    Like

  10. February 20, 2019 at 2:50 pm

    Beauty is in the eye of ………….oops!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. February 20, 2019 at 3:48 pm

    Hoist with his own petard, as the saying goes. How strange to watch one’s own body undergo such a change.

    Like

    • February 21, 2019 at 8:13 am

      Quite interesting in a gruesome kind of way!

      Like

  12. February 20, 2019 at 5:48 pm

    Excellent take on the photo!

    Like

    • February 21, 2019 at 8:13 am

      Thanks, I’m glad you liked it!

      Like

  13. February 20, 2019 at 8:00 pm

    Yep, shoulda tested the antidote! =)

    Like

  14. February 20, 2019 at 8:06 pm

    Lovely stained glass beings everywhere. The planet saved but nothing left alive. Goofball tragedy.

    Like

    • February 21, 2019 at 8:12 am

      At least it’s going to look very pretty for any visiting aliens!

      Liked by 1 person

  15. February 20, 2019 at 9:22 pm

    Hindsight’s a great thing! Great read.

    Like

  16. February 20, 2019 at 10:05 pm

    Some just don’t know how to prepare…

    Like

  17. February 21, 2019 at 1:23 am

    Ya think? lol

    Like

  18. Merbear74
    February 21, 2019 at 1:51 am

    His bad. lol

    Like

    • February 21, 2019 at 8:11 am

      He’d hold his hands up to it if they hadn’t already turned to glass 🙂

      Like

  19. February 21, 2019 at 3:44 am

    Test, and then retest, … Enjoyed!

    Like

    • February 21, 2019 at 8:10 am

      Evidently his faith in the antidote was somewhat misplaced!

      Liked by 1 person

  20. February 21, 2019 at 4:25 am

    Bah, testing is for sissies!

    Like

  21. February 21, 2019 at 10:02 am

    It’s a good think I drink soda and not water. Wait…. what is happening? Aw, dammit!

    Like

    • February 21, 2019 at 12:32 pm

      Don’t tell me there’s water in fizzy pop…

      Like

  22. February 21, 2019 at 11:11 am

    It seemed a good idea at the time! I an almost see his glazed expression!

    Like

  23. February 21, 2019 at 2:09 pm

    A genius in his own mind… Once removed… Nice write!

    Like

    • February 21, 2019 at 4:01 pm

      Ha ha 🙂
      I’m glad you liked it!

      Like

  24. Abhijit Ray
    February 21, 2019 at 3:07 pm

    Mistake he has done by infecting water supply and not making sure antidote works. A diabolical mind sometimes make mistake.

    Like

    • February 21, 2019 at 4:02 pm

      And he thought he was being so clever.

      Like

  25. February 21, 2019 at 8:32 pm

    Ah, such arrogance of scientific madmen. Well told.

    Like

  26. February 21, 2019 at 8:33 pm

    Shit!! ooops! hindsight etc…

    Like

  27. February 21, 2019 at 9:18 pm

    at least, he should take a selfie before it’s too late. 🙂

    Like

  28. February 22, 2019 at 9:55 am

    Nicely done Ali- –scarey that mankind’s future is in the hands of this guy….oh dear !

    Like

    • February 22, 2019 at 4:54 pm

      Thanks! Scary indeed, he doesn’t seem to think everything through all the way 🙂

      Like

  29. gahlearner
    February 22, 2019 at 4:43 pm

    I swear, I did not read your story before I wrote mine! Great horrifying fun, yours is. Your and my protagonist seem to be related…

    Like

  30. February 22, 2019 at 9:49 pm

    Even geniuses have their weak moments. On the positive side he will be able to perfect the glassy eyed stare.

    Like

    • February 23, 2019 at 6:15 am

      Ha, every cloud has a silver lining 🙂

      Like

  31. February 22, 2019 at 10:01 pm

    Evil Genius in his mind only…well, what was his mind.

    Like

    • February 23, 2019 at 6:17 am

      His deluded mind, now immortalised forever in glass.

      Like

  32. February 23, 2019 at 1:45 am

    I think I’ll stick to bottled water tonight … 😉

    Like

  33. February 23, 2019 at 8:56 pm

    I really like the way you used the prompt! The picture also made me think of how ugly eternal “beauty” would be, but I decided to go with a light-hearted story instead. Excellent storytelling.

    Like

    • February 24, 2019 at 6:59 am

      Thanks, I’m glad you liked it! I’m not a big fan of plastic (especially) and glass flowers.

      Like

  34. February 24, 2019 at 1:33 am

    I definitely agree — checking the cure might have been a good choice. On the other hand, when the aliens find earth, it will be just lovely and shiny.

    Like

    • February 24, 2019 at 7:00 am

      It’ll be a thing of beauty, in a tragic sort of way.

      Like

  35. February 24, 2019 at 7:06 am

    Ten minutes and you came up with this? Really? I’m jealous. It’s a great story. I love it.

    Like

    • February 24, 2019 at 7:40 am

      Sometimes it takes all day to think of an idea, I got lucky with this one 🙂 I’m glad you liked it!

      Liked by 1 person

  36. February 24, 2019 at 5:22 pm

    So in the end he would not be left all alone in a world to be shattered … maybe that’s a good thing.

    Like

    • February 24, 2019 at 5:26 pm

      No. He really really didn’t think this through.

      Like

  37. February 25, 2019 at 11:38 am

    Edifying tale 🙂

    Like

  38. February 26, 2019 at 3:38 pm

    It might have been quite a useful thing to have on the checklist indeed…

    Like

    • February 26, 2019 at 7:48 pm

      I’m sure I’m forgetting something… nah, I’m sure it wasn’t important…

      Like

  39. February 26, 2019 at 10:14 pm

    Oops. He sounds a bit short-sighted.

    Like

  40. March 10, 2019 at 3:58 pm

    This One’s Actually Good!

    Like

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