Billy sat on top of the hill looking down on the town where he had grown up. The filling station was the only building with lights on. From here it was as though nothing had changed.
Two grey warships sat out at sea. Soon he would return to one of them and spend another few months patrolling the coastline. It used to help people think they were safe. Now it was just for show.
They let humanity cling onto life on this one island. Why? For how long? Supplies were dwindling, so was the human population. They continued to pick off a few at a time. Why not just kill everyone?
There was no way to defeat them. Their sophisticated weaponry had withstood everything they had thrown at them. The only hope of survival was that they would leave of their own accord. That didn’t seem like happening anytime soon.
As the sun disappeared, Billy jogged down the hill and headed home.
Never be outside when the sun goes down. That’s when they come.
Written as part of Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. The challenge is to write a flash fiction story, in around 150 words based on the weekly photo prompt. For more information visit HERE.
To read other stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
Man, there’s a whole novel right there. Fantastic.
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Definitely more story there. Thanks Jac 🙂
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Wow Iain! A brilliant take!
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Many thanks 🙂
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A chilling end to Humanity. Seems like we’re leaving with a whimper rather than a shout.
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The way we’re going at the moment I suspect it will be with a whimper! Thanks for reading.
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This is a brilliant take on the prompt. Such a good story here 🙂 More please!
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Thanks Angie, I’ll see what I can do!
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Yup, a whole novel idea right here. Lovely story
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Thanks Joy 🙂
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I thought I was the only person who ever used the old phrase “filling station.” Now…what kind of “filling station” you’re portraying here, leaves much to the imagination. 🙂
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A sinister filling station? Maybe 🙂
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Maybe it dispenses “soylent green.” LOL
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Nicely haunting with unseen visitors under the cover of darkness. Fear of darkness is one of those primal human fears. It creates things that could be. ☺
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Thanks Mark, glad you enjoyed 🙂
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😀
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Chilling story Iain! Seems this island is being taken over by the enemy. Thank goodness he has sense enough to get home before dark, before they come. Great story!
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Many thanks PJ, a good challenge this week with this photo.
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Thank you so much Iain! It is a great photo!
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I agree — this is just an appetizer for a much larger meal — I definitely am hungrily waiting for more.
Good stuff.
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Many thanks, another story to add to the to do list 🙂
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Good to have a novel/story to do pile — never know when you might have a “hankering” for such writing!
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I love the element of mystery you injected into the tale Iain. So much more is needed now….well done you engaged me thoroughly.
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Sounds like a frightening time to be alive, if you can stay alive. The extinction of the human race, its interesting and calculating that they pick off people a few at time. Like they are hunting for sport, which makes it all so much horrible –especially if you’re out at night. Great job.
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Thanks, yes hunting for sport was what I had in mind, like it was a way to amuse themselves….
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Loved the second paragraph, no I love it all. Hope the islands a big one and that the interstellar police arrive soon to move the bad guys on.🙂
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Thanks Michael, much appreciated. I’m not sure he interstellar police are going to save them!
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A great dystopian set up there, Iain – humanity on the brink and only time between us and extinction. Great story and definitely one that could be expanded 🙂
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I have been thinking about this as one I could expand. Thanks Lynn.
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I’ll look forward to reading it of you do 🙂
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We’re down to a small island, no less! I’m spooked! Who/what is they?
Imaginative
Ellespeth
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Thanks Ellespeth. I haven’t quite decided what they are yet, they aren’t necessarily alien, I think.
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Brilliant simply brilliant.
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Very kind, thank you 🙂
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