As part of my writing goals for this year, I have been entering the AWC’s Furious Fiction competition every month. So far I have done 6 out of 6 – so pretty proud of myself!
I really enjoy doing it and I find having prompts to be a challenge and a bit of fun to see how creative I can be. So back in April, I was beyond chuffed when I made the longlist! Now, its not my goal to win, I do it because I enjoy it BUT I really didn’t think I would ever see my name on that page. And I know that it’s not winning, but I think being long listed out of 1300 entries is something to celebrate.
So, I thought what not share my story here?
In April, we had the following prompts:
- Your story must begin in some kind of queue.
- Your story must include the words CROSS, DROP and LUCKY.
- Your story must include a map.
And here is the 500 words I made of it:
Ink by Megan H Lewis
The whirring sound begins as I am pushed by those behind me.
The reddish darkness of my kin surrounds me, constantly in motion.
I do not remember when I began or where I came from. But as the whirr fills my ears, I come alive.
I am aware and I know.
This sound is what brings me closer to the time when I will reach the end.
I move closer to the halo of light and whatever may come after that.
I watch those in front of me drop out of sight as the rest of us move fluidly towards our exit.
The journey is not as smooth as one may think, we flow side to side as much as we move forward. I start to feel disoriented as I am pushed ever closer.
The line stops suddenly.
Whoosh. The light fades back into darkness.
I am granted a reprieve.
“Don’t worry kid,” the one in front of me says.
“I’m not worried,” I respond defensively, but curiosity gets the better of me. “Why shouldn’t we worry, do you know where we are going?”
“I can feel that you are worried, it is causing ripples through the rest of us. Be grateful that you are not further behind us. Word is that some down there never reach their destination, they shrivel up and are left in this dark place forever. Those like us, that will cross over, are the lucky ones.”
I ponder this as the whirr recommences and we are surged forward again towards a new brightness. We are moving so quickly that I barely have time to calm my thoughts so the collective will not feel my panic.
The light grows steadily closer with each surge forward and the one in front of me is soon braced on the horizon.
“This is what we were meant for.”
I feel the loss of physical contact as the one in front of me is propelled out and into the beyond.
Too suddenly it is my turn.
I panic and try to grip onto the slippery darkness around me as a powerful force pushes those behind me, and in turn, they push me through.
I drop over the edge.
I am falling.
I desperately try to keep myself whole for the seemingly long fall towards an enormous white expanse.
As I plummet through the air, I glimpse where I am headed.
The half-formed image made up of my kin is still wet.
As I rush to join them, I see what I am to become. An X that marks the spot.
Megan H Lewis 