Labuki’s eyes adjusted to the dark room as the door closed behind her. She could smell dirt and dust. She felt the cold cement walls and slowly edged around the new space.
Her foot hit a round, hard object on the floor. Using her hands she felt the circular object. A handle protruded from the top of it. A traditional hand mill, she thought. Was she now expected to make food for her captors?
She picked up the heavy lid of the mill, she handled the wooden stick used for turning it, she beat the stick into her palm. Now she had the means to fight back.
Labuki crouched waiting for the door to open again.

Written as part of the Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above, thanks to Sandra for the photo this week).
For more stories based on this prompt, visit HERE.
Strong action piece, Iain
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Thanks Neil.
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Dear Iain,
If they’re expecting bread they could be wrong.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think they’ll get more than they bargained for! Thanks Rochelle.
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Resourceful and spirited. My kind of heroine. Nice one, Iain.
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Thanks Sandra.
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I like a resourceful woman in a story. Nicely told.
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Thanks Claire.
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Way to go girl! Even I am waiting for the captors to open the door 😀
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A lot of love for the heroine in this, it’s nice that people are responding to a strong female character. Thanks for reading – and I too can’t wait for the door to open 🙂
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😀
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No way I am going to disagree with all the ladies above!
Excellent piece, credible character.
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Quite right, always best to agree with those who know best! Many thanks.
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Goon on Labuki. Bring it on girl I say. Another great piece Iain.
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😉
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Tough lady. Let’s hope she wins out… and gets out. Well done.
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I get the feeling she will be okay… Many thanks.
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It would indeed make a hell of a bludgeon. Nicely tense.
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That’s what I thought when I saw it. Funny how the mind works… 🙂
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OOOO Good for her (mischievous grin!) Nice twist on the prompt.
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Thanks Morgan, glad you liked it.
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We are all rooting for her!
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Oh, my there’s going to be some serious trouble! A great take on the picture, Iain – seeing that handle as a potential weapon was a real brainwave. Great stuff and let’s hope she makes it out 🙂
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Thanks Lynn. Have to confess to struggling with this prompt so it’s nice that you like the direction I ended up going in!
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I think a few people felt the same, but the initial obscurity of the objects in the room just meant we’ve written a lot of different stories this week, which is great.
I loved your take on it – nicely done 🙂
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I like this very much.
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I am glad she is fighting back. I love this.
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Many thanks.
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I really hope she could fight back and win too… great imagination.
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This is one resourceful lady. 🙂
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She sure is. Thanks Michael.
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Nice! I can totally picture her crouching down all tense. Great work!
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Many thanks.
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Nice hope she escapes!
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Great action writing, Iain, I love it. And Labuki is tough, I like her. Never give up.
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She’s proving a very popular character! Many thanks.
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I hope it’s not the room of the Giant from Jack and the Beanstalk because she won’t be grinding flour to make the bread!
Terrifically written Iain. I like your descriptives and execution.
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Many thanks, who knows where the bodies may end up!
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She’s not going down without a fight.
🙂
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Oh! Her captors are in for a big surprise. Go team Labuki!
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It’s the scene right before the action begins! If it were on TV, my mom would be shouting at the TV, “Hit him again!”
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🙂
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One man’s mill is another woman’s blunt instrument… I think lunch is going to be punchier than they’re expecting. Great story!
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Ha, indeed. Many thanks.
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Good for her. Fight back hard! I hope she succeeds.
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I love your take. Are those hand mills? I couldn’t figure out what they were.
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Yeah, I think so. Took me a while to figure it out and I struggled to think of a story. Glad you liked it 🙂
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It’s brilliant!
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Guess our thoughts flowed in the same lines!
Hi5
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🙂 Hi5
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I almost feel sorry for her captors! But not really. 🙂 Great story Iain
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Ooh good plot. Makes me want the door to open so the captors can get their comeuppance (I hope!). Love how you open the story. #FridayFictioneers
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I love the way you have her discovering the details of her prison by feel. And the final discovery with its potential for escape finishes the story perfectly. Very good.
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Thanks Margaret, much appreciated.
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I wait with her…ready to pounce!
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🙂 Thanks Dawn.
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A resourceful heroin in your story. Let’s hope she can overpower them and be able to escape. I like where you took the prompt. Well done …
Isadora 😎
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Thank you. I get the feeling she will do okay 😉
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Seems she’s not giving up without a fight. Good writing, Iain. —- Suzanne
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Well written. As we say in the South, “You can’t beat that with a stick.”
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