Lights. Over my shoulder their lights are coming, running through the trees, lamps and flaming torches. Coming for me through the trees, shouts, and hoots and laughter. It’s a game, for them. Dogs, teeth bared for blood. Running. Under the chicken house, into the nettles. Quiet!
In the morning she lures me out with food, and I let her paste the baking soda on my stings. I try to tell her about them, but my words don’t come right. She sighs at my tangled hair, my mother. Wants to keep me, but I slip away.
Tomorrow night they’ll come again.
*
This is a 100-word flash fiction Friday Fictioneers story inspired by the picture above, this week supplied by Dale Rogerson. Friday Fictioneers is hosted by the lovely Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Click here to find out how it works or here to read some more stories by other writers.
*
“A deeply moving read, that keeps you turning pages.” Oprah.com on my second novel, Swimming Lessons. Find out more.
Claire Fuller 
Dear Claire,
This piece is thick with atmosphere and left me wanting to know more about the MC. Very well done as always.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle.
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That’s the difference between a crafted story and one that’s merely written
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Thank you so much Neil.
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Great tension in this piece, Claire. Atmospheric and bracing.
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Thanks!
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Good pacing, kept the suspense going. Great stuff, Claire!
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Thank you!
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Oh, this is so profoundly deep on so many levels. Love it.
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I was out of breath reading it! I could feel all all the emotions of your character. So very well done, Ms Fuller.
(And how cool that Oprah liked your book!)
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I do so want to know who “they” are. Well done.
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Loved the suspense that was there in every line.
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Great story-telling. I really felt for this tortured soul.
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Thanks so much!
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Looks like he/she is flirting with danger for an adrenaline rush. Nice one.
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Very good. I have a few thoughts as to who or what the main character could be…
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The tension is palpable. Well written.
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Well done. Such tension and I can feel that lost of breath and the terror and yet the thrill of being chased. I can’t help wondering if your protagonist is a rabbit.
xx Rowena
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Love this! very intense
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Thank you!
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This is so powerful and tragic, Claire. I’d also like to know more about the MC. Great writing as always. —- Suzanne
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Amazing. So well written. :o)
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Well done, your drew me right into the story. Her fear was palatable. I found the end very sad. What is this tortured soul running from?
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But for the baking soda, I would see a animal being tormented, then again I saw slaves escaping.
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An incredibly visual piece. I hung on to every word. Simply brilliant.
My story is called ‘Someone’
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The “they” and the narrators voice… for this is very nightmarish rather than real. To hear voices like this and with a mother unable to take care…
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I love the pacing and intensity of this piece. It left me with so many questions. Initially, I thought the same as Michael, that it was about escaped slaves. Then I thought, this is a world where this mother isn’t entitled to have a child and so she hides it away. A fascinating story. I must check out your novels if you write as well as this.
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Yikes. A night with the nettles! Misery follows, for sure.
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I love the way there are so many interpretations! I see the ‘they’ as inside the child’s head. A fascinating possibly disturbed narrator.
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Amazing story, Claire, and so well-written. It leaves the reading wondering.
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Very atmospheric. It raises so many questions, who’s the main character? Why can’t the mother keep her? Why’s she hunted every night?
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That’s wonderful how you can make such an intriguing character in so few words.
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the palpable tension made me breathless. a well crafted story.
http://ideasolsi65.blogspot.in/2017/06/the-siren.html
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Thank you
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A flash in the dark. A flash full of brilliance.
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