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
96 responses to “CHAINED”
Doomed.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Pretty much. Unless…
LikeLike
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.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Haha thank you, I wish – just good organisation 🙂
LikeLike
Sinister. That was naugty to end on a cliffhanger, Iain
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry Neil, you may make up your own outcome.
LikeLike
Isn’t that the author’s privilege?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m feeling generous today.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very tense Iain. I hope she gets another chance before her fate catches up with her. Chilling
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Lynn
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure
LikeLike
Oh no! I hope she manages to escape. Well crafted tension in this story, Iain.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Susan
LikeLike
Oh,no. Let her get free. Please.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for reading. Who knows what happens next.
LikeLiked by 1 person
She will prevail! I bet she has lots of tricks to get out of this one!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I like your positive attitude for her.
LikeLike
I love it… we both used the chains… though mine were more a metaphor, but maybe even harder to break.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Bjorn, I tried to show them as both real and metaphorical chains.
LikeLike
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.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Christine, I do too.
LikeLike
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.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I don’t think she will give up, no matter what.
LikeLiked by 1 person
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
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Penny.
LikeLike
Tense piece here!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you
LikeLike
Ooo! Excellent!! Those 100 word challenges are tough! And on top of A to Z!!!!
Wow! Keep up the great work!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Laura
LikeLike
Great taut drama unfolding.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Neel
LikeLike
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.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks Sascha, Jessica Jones as a new verb 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can feel the heavy chains and the weight of her struggle.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for reading Alice
LikeLike
True flash. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hopefully he won’t notice that she’s started to free herself…
LikeLike
Maybe it’s the local police. Pretty please.
LikeLike
A worrying way to leave the story. I shall tell myself it’s someone coming to rescue her – I need the sleep.
LikeLike
And, May be such is her fate!
LikeLike
Dear Iain,
Metaphoric and tragic. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Rochelle
LikeLike
What torture to remember a delightful “before” when there seems to be no “after.” Unless . . . Well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
While she is alive there is still a chance…
LikeLiked by 1 person
it will take time, but she can’t give up now. freedom is at hand.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So close she can almost taste it.
LikeLike
Oh sich tension! Her fear is palpable. I hope she gets away
LikeLiked by 1 person
*such*
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Laurie, there’s always that hope…
LikeLiked by 1 person
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! 👏👏
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very kind, thank you so much 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very well written, Iain. Doomed for certain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s not looking good. Thanks Jilly
LikeLike
Don’t give up! But until then she is chained. 😦
Nicely done, Iain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Norma
LikeLike
We can hope that those are footsteps of help on the way. Great read!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It could be, or…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great ending. Loved the story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Lisa
LikeLiked by 1 person
A woman’s worst nightmare. Absolutely terrifying. I do hope she escapes by any means necessary.
LikeLiked by 1 person
She will keep trying.
LikeLike
A great cliff-hanger, Iain. You left us on the edge of our seat, biting our fingernails.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Russell
LikeLike
Oh I did so wish she’d got away!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not this time Liz, sorry!
LikeLike
Frightening! Good, but frightening.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a pretty dark tale, I agree.
LikeLike
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!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Brenda
LikeLiked by 1 person
So close but the footsteps put paid to any thought of escape. Good suspense leaving us with a cliffhanger at the end.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Irene – this time…
LikeLiked by 1 person
How scary! Poor girl. Wonder how long she has been suffering…
LikeLiked by 1 person
It feels like it has been a long time…
LikeLiked by 1 person
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.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like your positive thinking!
LikeLiked by 1 person
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 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You can decide which outcome your prefer!
LikeLike
You seem to be mastering the habit of letting us believe there is hope then wrenching it away at the last minute. Nicely done
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Michael, perhaps I will leave a happy ending next week!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice cliffhanger. I hope she breaks free soon… Nice take..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLike
I felt the hope escape from her like a sigh. 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Dawn
LikeLiked by 1 person
You give us such hope before those returning footsteps. You pull our emotions all over the place.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry to have played with your emotions! 🙂
LikeLike
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.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It could well be the end if he discovers her escape attempt. Thanks Rachel.
LikeLike
Great suspense Iain. Fingers crossed those footsteps are a knight in shining armour….
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s going to go one of two ways…
LikeLike
Gripping story Iain. Your story and mine could have been bookends. I took the ‘he’ side, you the ‘she’.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Susan, will head over to read your story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You ramp up the tension and her fear so skilfully, and heart sinking dread in the last line. Nicely done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLike
Oh, so sad. Unless the footsteps are somebody coming to help free her.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Let’s hope so…
LikeLike