The chains tightened their grip.
If she could just break free before he returned.
How long had she been trapped here?
It felt like her whole life. But there was a time before, when she was carefree and wild and full of joy.
That had been taken from her, beaten from her.
She tried once more to loosen the bonds.
Finally, some give. She managed to wriggle one wrist free.
She worked on the other one. This was her chance.
What was that noise? She paused, defeated. The metal chains rested.
Approaching footsteps echoed on the gravel path.
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).
To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
This April I am taking part in the A to Z Challenge once again. My theme is a collection of stories from around the countries of the European Union, and you can find them here: A TO Z CHALLENGE 2018
Iain Kelly 
96 responses to “CHAINED”
Doomed.
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Pretty much. Unless…
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Great! While rest of us are struggling with a2z, u have the time, and brains left to write this piece. How do u do it Iain ? Superman?
Great piece btw.
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Haha thank you, I wish – just good organisation 🙂
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Sinister. That was naugty to end on a cliffhanger, Iain
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Sorry Neil, you may make up your own outcome.
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Isn’t that the author’s privilege?
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I’m feeling generous today.
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Very tense Iain. I hope she gets another chance before her fate catches up with her. Chilling
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Thanks Lynn
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My pleasure
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Oh no! I hope she manages to escape. Well crafted tension in this story, Iain.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thanks Susan
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Oh,no. Let her get free. Please.
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Thanks for reading. Who knows what happens next.
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She will prevail! I bet she has lots of tricks to get out of this one!
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I like your positive attitude for her.
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I love it… we both used the chains… though mine were more a metaphor, but maybe even harder to break.
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Thanks Bjorn, I tried to show them as both real and metaphorical chains.
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What a sad tale! Nevertheless, a well written scene. There comes a point after so much abuse when the spirit inside a person dies, I’ve heard. Hope she escapes in time.
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Thanks Christine, I do too.
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So funny – you commented on mine as I was here commenting on yours!
She had the guts to try once, I’m hoping she will seize the next opportunity.
Nice and tense buildup.
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I don’t think she will give up, no matter what.
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I like the way you use the chains both literally and metaphorically. To a certain extent we are all in chains. I wish her well as she struggles for freedom. We need never give up. Good write, Iain
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Thanks Penny.
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Tense piece here!
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Thank you
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Ooo! Excellent!! Those 100 word challenges are tough! And on top of A to Z!!!!
Wow! Keep up the great work!
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Thank you Laura
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Great taut drama unfolding.
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Thanks Neel
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I think perhaps she should Jessica Jones her way to freedom, superior strength breaking the chains! (Okay, too much Avengers.)
Good story. I really like the way you’ve structured these past two flashes for Friday Fictioneers.
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Thanks Sascha, Jessica Jones as a new verb 🙂
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I can feel the heavy chains and the weight of her struggle.
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Thanks for reading Alice
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True flash. 🙂
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Thank you
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Hopefully he won’t notice that she’s started to free herself…
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Maybe it’s the local police. Pretty please.
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A worrying way to leave the story. I shall tell myself it’s someone coming to rescue her – I need the sleep.
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And, May be such is her fate!
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Dear Iain,
Metaphoric and tragic. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle
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What torture to remember a delightful “before” when there seems to be no “after.” Unless . . . Well done.
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While she is alive there is still a chance…
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it will take time, but she can’t give up now. freedom is at hand.
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So close she can almost taste it.
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Oh sich tension! Her fear is palpable. I hope she gets away
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*such*
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Thanks Laurie, there’s always that hope…
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Haha I see what you did there! I’ve been following your A2Z blogs and they’re an inspiration for me. Then you go on and write something like this which is so effective while being this compact! Bravo! 👏👏
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Very kind, thank you so much 🙂
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Very well written, Iain. Doomed for certain.
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It’s not looking good. Thanks Jilly
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Don’t give up! But until then she is chained. 😦
Nicely done, Iain.
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Thank you Norma
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We can hope that those are footsteps of help on the way. Great read!
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It could be, or…
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Great ending. Loved the story.
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Thank you Lisa
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A woman’s worst nightmare. Absolutely terrifying. I do hope she escapes by any means necessary.
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She will keep trying.
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A great cliff-hanger, Iain. You left us on the edge of our seat, biting our fingernails.
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Thanks Russell
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Oh I did so wish she’d got away!
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Not this time Liz, sorry!
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Frightening! Good, but frightening.
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It’s a pretty dark tale, I agree.
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We definitely went the same direction. She got one wrist free, maybe next time she’ll get the other one free as well. There’s hope. Sad realities out there. Great writing!
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Thanks Brenda
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So close but the footsteps put paid to any thought of escape. Good suspense leaving us with a cliffhanger at the end.
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Thanks Irene – this time…
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How scary! Poor girl. Wonder how long she has been suffering…
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It feels like it has been a long time…
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Very tense and scary. But maybe, if she can hide the escape attempt, next time she can be faster since she knows how it’s done.
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I like your positive thinking!
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Considering there’s no one there now, I’m hoping she managed to free herself just in time…or maybe he’s just disposed of the body 🙂
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You can decide which outcome your prefer!
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You seem to be mastering the habit of letting us believe there is hope then wrenching it away at the last minute. Nicely done
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Thanks Michael, perhaps I will leave a happy ending next week!
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Nice cliffhanger. I hope she breaks free soon… Nice take..
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Thank you
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I felt the hope escape from her like a sigh. 😦
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Thanks Dawn
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You give us such hope before those returning footsteps. You pull our emotions all over the place.
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Sorry to have played with your emotions! 🙂
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Yikes! I hope she eventually gets away, but somehow, the way the footsteps sound on the gravel and the “defeated” way she stops struggling makes me wonder if this was the end.
Great story, very suspenseful.
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It could well be the end if he discovers her escape attempt. Thanks Rachel.
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Great suspense Iain. Fingers crossed those footsteps are a knight in shining armour….
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It’s going to go one of two ways…
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Gripping story Iain. Your story and mine could have been bookends. I took the ‘he’ side, you the ‘she’.
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Thanks Susan, will head over to read your story.
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You ramp up the tension and her fear so skilfully, and heart sinking dread in the last line. Nicely done.
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Thank you
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Oh, so sad. Unless the footsteps are somebody coming to help free her.
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Let’s hope so…
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