It is not easy to tell a story in 100 words.
If you are up for the challenge, head to Rochelle’s blog and join in. Here is my take on the photo prompt:
The Forbidden Cellar
She thought it was wrong. She blamed her curiosity and the estate lawyer who insisted her father deemed it necessary to return.
Hearing the music had drawn her in. A melody that lingered in her mind. Foggy half-buried memories propelled her down the dark stairs to the forbidden cellar.
The mustiness scalded her nostrils. When her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she understood.
The half-starved musician’s all-too-familiar features and ankle chains revealed the terrible family secrets.
“I knew you’d release me after the master died. Daughter, now we can be free. The Master named you in his will, didn’t he?”
100 words
Something to Ponder About 
A great use of white space there, adding volume to the story
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for that comment, Neil. I hadn’t thought about how spacing could add volume. I’ll remember that again. Cheers,
LikeLike
Sorry, I wasn’t clear. I meant white space as a metaphor: that you packed more story into your words than you actually used
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! I thought of it in both senses but wasn’t exactly sure which one you meant. Thanks for clarifying.
LikeLike
Uh oh Well told
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Sue!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, there’s a lot of story in this one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sometimes I find it hard to create enough of an idea for a story, then suddenly the story becomes bigger than Ben Hur.
LikeLike
Nicely framed and done, Amanda.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I appreciate the comment, Keith.
LikeLike
Very vivid in my mind! Nice job!
LikeLike
Thank you, Dorothy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great take on the prompt, Amanda. Now I wish for more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Flash fiction is fun and a good exercise in making writing more succinct. It does leave the reader somewhat hanging though. However, I don’t feel I equipped enough to write a longer story for these complex characters.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I followed the Friday Fictioneers for about one year. Wrote a post every week, but then, after a while, there were just too many pictures I didn’t care for and many of the posts sounded the same. So I got bored and left.
LikeLike
I agree the flash fiction could get repetitive after a while and sometimes I can’t think of anything to write about the photo. For now, I will join in every now and again. Definitely not every week. When my U3A classes start again, my fiction writing will shift away from the fictioneers. I find the word limit is helpful.
LikeLike
Imaginative with many undertones.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you. That was what I was going for!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well done. A true-to-life horror story.
LikeLike
Sad to think that this might be reality for some. Even historically speaking.
LikeLike
What an intriguing story! The release of the musician should be a happy ending, but the feeling I’m left with is what if the girl is like the the Master? He chose her as his heir, after all…
LikeLiked by 3 people
Now that is an excellent point, Penny and I don’t know the characters well enough yet to be certain of their personalities. We are just getting acquainted! Lol. It could go either way. I might have to use them in another story to find out myself!
Thanks for your thought-provoking comment.
LikeLike
So creepy!!!
LikeLike
It could be
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicely done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
A dark tale, well written
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Iain. I appreciate your comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Packs a punch and spookiness.
LikeLiked by 1 person
To are the second person to say it is spooky. I didn’t feel it was spooky enough!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well done
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for visiting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! 100 words and a story that’s hooks you in. Fantastic! Need chapters please.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh goodness. That will be a challenge! I haven’t worked out all the finer details. It may have to evolve with each instalment. Thanks for the thumbs up though. Much appreciated
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amanda, a terrific piece and I’ve got goosebumps already! Well written and you create a great sense of atmosphere in very few words. As others have mentioned, one just wants to read on!
Thanks for linking to Rochelle and I might very well try one myself!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for the compliment about the story, Annika. That means a lot to me coming from you.
The flash fiction is a good discipline. I feel it helps me become more succinct and precise in my wording. Eliminating lots of fluff. In 100 words, there isn’t time to flesh out a full story but it can give you the bones of, or introduction to, a longer story!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Amanda,
A dark tale that leaves me to ponder who the master is and who the man in chains is.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Thank you, Rochelle. This story raises more questions than it answers.
LikeLike
That’s what I call a nuclear twist.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will take that as a compliment! Thank you!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Good, because that’s how it was intended. You’re welcome 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent use of your 100 words. Nicely done.
LikeLike
Thank you, Bill.
LikeLiked by 1 person