Friday, September 9, 2011

#fridayflash "Run!"


*Today's flash is still inspired by the world of my Phoenix Trilogy, except over 3000 years in the future. It takes place about 15 years after last week's #fridayflash "Consequences" and focuses on the girl Apenth saved. Enjoy!*


Run!

Light blasted inches above my head. Stone crumbled and coated my hair. The shockblaster's beams missed again. My feet flew over the pavement. I longed for my hoverboard, but it was too late.

We just had to run.

"Come on, honey, hurry up!" My mother glanced back at me. Her eyes wide in unspoken fear. I'd never seen her afraid before, and it jumpstarted my heart to pound more erratically.

I turned my head. Three guards were on our heels. One raised a slender, elongated weapon. The word "firegun" popped into my mind a second before a stream of flames erupted from it. Heat lapped at me. I smelled smoke.

"Phoenix!" Dad's voice cried in alarm as he patted my long hair. My singed hair.

Hurt and anger sat bitter in my stomach. I opened my mouth to cuss them out when dad grabbed my arm and jerked me forward.

Another shot from the shockblaster missed me.

The rotten smell of sewage wrinkled my nose, restricted my rapid breaths. We were nearing Lordéhi River. They would trap us between the city and the riverbank.

"Dad, we gotta find another way." My hand mumbled my words.

"Come on!" Mom looked at us.

Then, she slammed into an invisible wall.

"Mom!" I sprinted toward her as she slumped in the capture box. My fists pounded on solid air.

Dad shoved me away from it. "Keep running. Don't stop."

"But mom—"

"Don't stop." He pushed me again, and I stumbled and fell.

I saw a capture skid across the pavement.

"Dad, no!"

I turned to grab him, but the metal capture disc danced along the cobblestones. It landed at his foot. A second later the invisible glass enclosed him in. He struck it to no avail.

"Run, run, run!" He mouthed the word over and over. I couldn't hear him, but I knew.

I knew.

With tears blurring my vision, I ran.

9 comments:

Sarah Tokeley said...

That's such a sad piece. And such an intriguing world!

C D Meetens said...

Again, I really enjoyed this Cherie. I feel so sorry for Phoenix knowing his parents have been captured and having to run regardless, and I'm also intrigued as to why these people are after them. The tension in this piece, from just a few words, is fantastic!

Summer Ross said...

Wonderful tension! I hope he got away!

Terri Talley Venters said...

sad story, but glad she listened to her parents. Is this part of your Phoenix Prophetess? Love the new look of your blog! =)

Christine Rains said...

Oh, I like it! Lots of tension and action. I also like those capture skids. Cool idea! :)

And yes, you can use the question I asked you for your Ask the Editor.

C D Meetens said...

She - I meant to say she. I think I was focused on last week's Flash Fiction and got confused. Sorry for the gender-confusion. *Red-cheeked*

Larry Kollar said...

Whoa, this was riveting! There has to be more… Phoenix escapes then comes back to rescue her parents, right? It could be a whole new trilogy…

Arlee Bird said...

This left me gasping for breath. I felt like I was running with them. Good writing.

Lee
Tossing It Out

Nicole Zoltack said...

The heightened tension is so well done in this piece!