IAIN KELLY

CHAINED

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.


disc-golf-basket
Copyright Douglas L. McIlroy

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”

  1. James Avatar
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Pretty much. Unless…

      Like

  2. priyareflects Avatar

    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.

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Haha thank you, I wish – just good organisation 🙂

      Like

  3. neilmacdon Avatar

    Sinister. That was naugty to end on a cliffhanger, Iain

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Sorry Neil, you may make up your own outcome.

      Like

      1. neilmacdon Avatar

        Isn’t that the author’s privilege?

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Iain Kelly Avatar

        I’m feeling generous today.

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Lynn Love Avatar

    Very tense Iain. I hope she gets another chance before her fate catches up with her. Chilling

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      1. Lynn Love Avatar

        My pleasure

        Like

  5. Susan A Eames Avatar

    Oh no! I hope she manages to escape. Well crafted tension in this story, Iain.

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Susan

      Like

  6. granonine Avatar

    Oh,no. Let her get free. Please.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks for reading. Who knows what happens next.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Jacqui Murray Avatar

    She will prevail! I bet she has lots of tricks to get out of this one!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I like your positive attitude for her.

      Like

  8. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) Avatar

    I love it… we both used the chains… though mine were more a metaphor, but maybe even harder to break.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Bjorn, I tried to show them as both real and metaphorical chains.

      Like

  9. Christine Goodnough Avatar

    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.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Christine, I do too.

      Like

  10. Dale Avatar

    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.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I don’t think she will give up, no matter what.

      Liked by 1 person

  11. pennygadd51 Avatar

    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

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Penny.

      Like

  12. J Hardy Carroll Avatar

    Tense piece here!

    Liked by 2 people

  13. Laura Avatar

    Ooo! Excellent!! Those 100 word challenges are tough! And on top of A to Z!!!!
    Wow! Keep up the great work!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Laura

      Like

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  14. Sascha Darlington Avatar

    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.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Sascha, Jessica Jones as a new verb 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  15. Alice Audrey Avatar

    I can feel the heavy chains and the weight of her struggle.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks for reading Alice

      Like

  16. yarnspinnerr Avatar

    True flash. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  17. draliman Avatar

    Hopefully he won’t notice that she’s started to free herself…

    Like

  18. subroto Avatar

    Maybe it’s the local police. Pretty please.

    Like

  19. Sandra Avatar

    A worrying way to leave the story. I shall tell myself it’s someone coming to rescue her – I need the sleep.

    Like

  20. Moon Avatar
    Moon

    And, May be such is her fate!

    Like

  21. rochellewisoff Avatar

    Dear Iain,

    Metaphoric and tragic. Well done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Rochelle

      Like

  22. Alicia Jamtaas Avatar

    What torture to remember a delightful “before” when there seems to be no “after.” Unless . . . Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      While she is alive there is still a chance…

      Liked by 1 person

  23. plaridel Avatar

    it will take time, but she can’t give up now. freedom is at hand.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      So close she can almost taste it.

      Like

  24. Laurie Bell Avatar

    Oh sich tension! Her fear is palpable. I hope she gets away

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Laurie, there’s always that hope…

      Liked by 1 person

  25. shivamt25 Avatar

    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! 👏👏

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Very kind, thank you so much 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  26. jillyfunnell Avatar

    Very well written, Iain. Doomed for certain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It’s not looking good. Thanks Jilly

      Like

  27. Norma Avatar

    Don’t give up! But until then she is chained. 😦
    Nicely done, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Norma

      Like

  28. Russell Avatar

    We can hope that those are footsteps of help on the way. Great read!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It could be, or…

      Liked by 1 person

  29. lisarey1990 Avatar

    Great ending. Loved the story.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Lisa

      Liked by 1 person

  30. Fatima Fakier Avatar

    A woman’s worst nightmare. Absolutely terrifying. I do hope she escapes by any means necessary.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      She will keep trying.

      Like

  31. Russell Gayer Avatar

    A great cliff-hanger, Iain. You left us on the edge of our seat, biting our fingernails.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Russell

      Like

  32. liz young Avatar

    Oh I did so wish she’d got away!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Not this time Liz, sorry!

      Like

  33. Frances D Avatar

    Frightening! Good, but frightening.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It’s a pretty dark tale, I agree.

      Like

  34. Brenda's Thoughts Avatar

    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!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Brenda

      Liked by 1 person

  35. Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist Avatar

    So close but the footsteps put paid to any thought of escape. Good suspense leaving us with a cliffhanger at the end.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Irene – this time…

      Liked by 1 person

  36. Fluid Phrase Avatar

    How scary! Poor girl. Wonder how long she has been suffering…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It feels like it has been a long time…

      Liked by 1 person

  37. gahlearner Avatar
    gahlearner

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      I like your positive thinking!

      Liked by 1 person

  38. anuragbakhshi Avatar

    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 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      You can decide which outcome your prefer!

      Like

  39. michaelwynnauthor Avatar

    You seem to be mastering the habit of letting us believe there is hope then wrenching it away at the last minute. Nicely done

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Michael, perhaps I will leave a happy ending next week!

      Liked by 1 person

  40. evergreenmeadows Avatar

    Nice cliffhanger. I hope she breaks free soon… Nice take..

    Liked by 1 person

  41. Dawn M. Miller Avatar

    I felt the hope escape from her like a sigh. 😦

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  42. Sarah Ann Avatar
    Sarah Ann

    You give us such hope before those returning footsteps. You pull our emotions all over the place.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Sorry to have played with your emotions! 🙂

      Like

  43. Rachel Bjerke Avatar

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It could well be the end if he discovers her escape attempt. Thanks Rachel.

      Like

  44. The Reclining Gentleman Avatar

    Great suspense Iain. Fingers crossed those footsteps are a knight in shining armour….

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It’s going to go one of two ways…

      Like

  45. Susan Avatar

    Gripping story Iain. Your story and mine could have been bookends. I took the ‘he’ side, you the ‘she’.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Susan, will head over to read your story.

      Liked by 1 person

  46. Woman walking Max Avatar

    You ramp up the tension and her fear so skilfully, and heart sinking dread in the last line. Nicely done.

    Liked by 1 person

  47. athling2001 Avatar

    Oh, so sad. Unless the footsteps are somebody coming to help free her.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Let’s hope so…

      Like

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