IAIN KELLY

CAST OUT THE LIGHT

They stood on the shore and watched the last lights float away on the tide.

Their glow faded and the dark night took hold, the dark night that would last forever.

It had been prophesied: cast out all light and let the dark rule. They would be rewarded when he came for them.

Only the stars twinkling far above provided solace to those that dared to turn away from the blackness.

Cressida watched those at the shore from afar. She cradled the candle in her hands.

One day she would ignite it. One day hope would burn brightly.


tribute-carla-bicomong
Copyright Carla Bicomong

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.

111 responses to “CAST OUT THE LIGHT”

  1. neilmacdon Avatar

    I like the mysterious feeling, and the juxtaposition of light and dark

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Neil

      Like

  2. Varad Avatar

    This is almost like a prologue. Very mysterious and foreboding. Good one, Iain.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Varad, I agree – just have to figure out what it is a prologue too…!

      Liked by 3 people

  3. abhiray59 Avatar
    abhiray59

    Nice story on a difficult prop.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you, I agree, a tricky one this week!

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Ramya Tantry Avatar

    Good one!! Optimistic way to look into the future!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      There has to be some hope, or what’s the point?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Ramya Tantry Avatar

        Yes.. there should be hope.. now I am waiting for the next part of the series… 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  5. jillyfunnell Avatar

    I agree that your story has a sense of optimism. Lovely writing too.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Jilly

      Like

  6. pennygadd51 Avatar

    Could almost be an allegory about the descent into depression, with the therapist waiting, knowing that the patient needs to hit a low point before healing can begin.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Penny, interesting reading. I had thought allegory of the present state of the world, taken to an extreme.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. creatingahome Avatar

        I thought the same as well i.e. the state of the world now.
        Great story!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Iain Kelly Avatar

        Thank you

        Liked by 1 person

  7. rochellewisoff Avatar

    Dear Iain,

    Beautifully poetic piece full of pathos and hope.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Rochelle

      Like

  8. J Hardy Carroll Avatar

    Great imagery in this. I like the style.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Much obliged

      Liked by 1 person

  9. granonine Avatar

    A tiny spark of hope in all that darkness. Intriguing idea, well written.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much

      Like

  10. wezlo Avatar

    Very nice. Now I want the rest of the story!

    Sent from my iPad

    >

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much

      Like

  11. yarnspinnerr Avatar

    You took this prompt to another dimension.

    Liked by 2 people

  12. trentpmcd Avatar

    Sounds like the political situation on my side of the pond 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Trent, that’s the sort of allegory I was thinking of – though not just on your side of the pond!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. trentpmcd Avatar

        Yeah, I know, it seems to be everywhere.

        Liked by 1 person

  13. James Pyles Avatar

    I think she could just wait for sunrise.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Bit of imagination James, assume for some reason the sun, or sunlight, have been banished from the land by the forces of darkness.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. James Pyles Avatar

        I’m sensing metaphor here.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Iain Kelly Avatar

        Your senses are correct 😉

        Like

  14. gahlearner Avatar
    gahlearner

    A hopeful story with a universal theme. Temptation wins over so many and darkness is worshipped–this seems a recurring theme in humankind’s history. And yet, there are always some who shine and show us what we could be. Great writing, Iain.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you – if only we learned to listen to those few more openly.

      Liked by 1 person

  15. AshleyDannie Avatar
    AshleyDannie

    Love it!!! I want to know what is going to happen!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Ashley – if I ever figure it out I’ll let you know! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  16. EagleAye Avatar

    Lucky for us, there has always been a Cressida holding onto a light, waiting for the right time to ignite it. I see a larger metaphor in this story. Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      You got it. I’m just waiting to see who will shine through over the next few months or years. I live in hope…

      Like

  17. Lynn Love Avatar

    I don’t like the sound of that prophesy . That’s going to bring nowt but trouble. Lovely atmosphere to this, Iain. Could be in the future or the distant past and I like that

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Lynn, lovely compliment.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Lynn Love Avatar

        My pleasure Iain. Reading your work is never a chore 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  18. syncwithdeep Avatar
    syncwithdeep

    You have very beautifully described the setting Iain

    Liked by 1 person

  19. Dale Avatar

    A dark time ahead… until she is ready to do what she must.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      The night is darkest before the dawn, and so on.

      Liked by 1 person

  20. Woman walking Max Avatar

    I really like the quality of a mythic fable you create, so fitted to the elements of sky & sea, doom or hope. Very well told.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  21. Vivian Zems Avatar

    An intriguing tale. Something apocalyptic about it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Vivien

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Vivian Zems Avatar

        🙂

        Like

  22. 4963andypop Avatar

    I wonder if your choice of Cressida is random, or perhaps, related to the Shakespeare play, Troilus and Cressida? According to wikipedia it has a rather bleak ending, but it involves the “investigation of numerous infidelities…”. That just made me giggle considering current circumstances. Also wondering if the “he” referenced might have a name beginning with letter “m”?

    Just toying with your idea, forgive me. It is beautiful, mythic, as was said above, and intriguing.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Cressida is a name loaded with meaning, although I confess that the infidelities was not intentional! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  23. Alice Audrey Avatar

    My twisted imagination sees that day never come as “he” turns out to be a T-rex who uses the dark to gobble everyone up.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Cool, one of the more ‘out there’ explanations 🙂

      Like

  24. theministryofshrawleywalks Avatar

    Waiting for the right moment to light it, the future to a certain extent lying, a little bit, in her hands. Good stuff

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you – let’s hope she gets it right…

      Like

  25. prior.. Avatar

    really different take (for me at least) to face and embrace the darkness.
    Also, enjoyed the flow because it felt like I read a chapter – well done

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much

      Liked by 1 person

  26. StuHN Avatar

    I’ve been reading too much Lovecraft (and his spate of writer followers) because at first, I thought this was they were all waiting for Cthulu to rise. The last two lines changed that for me. Always glad to read your writing.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Stu, I’m taking that comparison as a nice compliment.

      Like

  27. anuragbakhshi Avatar

    Aaah, making inroads into the fantasy genre now Iain 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  28. liz young Avatar

    This leaves me with a sense of foreboding.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      As it should. Thanks Liz

      Like

  29. Akshata Ram Avatar

    Good one Ian but I felt its kind of incomplete. Its like I long to know more of the story

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Well, I’m stuck using 100 words! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  30. draliman Avatar

    One last candle kept safe. I can see it being passed down from one generation to the next until the time comes when it’s needed. Nice one!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Love that idea!

      Liked by 1 person

  31. Jennifer Kennedy Avatar

    Sounds like an epic battle is on the way! Beautiful imagery of the contrasting light and dark.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Jennifer

      Like

  32. Sonia Chatterjee Avatar

    This leaves such a mystery at the end. Loved this piece.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Sonia

      Like

  33. Jan Morrill Avatar

    Your story made me think of the things we’ll allow ourselves to believe, and so, I was grateful for the hopeful ending. Nicely done, Iain!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Jan

      Like

  34. subroto Avatar

    Evokes a very mysterious and mystical picture. Lovely poetic take on the prompt.

    Liked by 1 person

  35. Anshu Bhojnagarwala Avatar

    Interesting…hope there is part 2…I am intrigued to know if it makes sense to hold hope!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you – there always has to be some hope to hold onto! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  36. Russell Gayer Avatar

    I’m not crazy about the idea of letting darkness rule. Scary thought. Thankful for Cressida and her candle.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Everyone is so down on the Darkside, come on in, it’s lovely…

      Like

  37. Priya Avatar

    This is extremely intriguing, Iain. Powerfully written! You got the readers hooked.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Priya

      Like

  38. Alicia Jamtaas Avatar

    Ditto what GAHLEARNER said. I see a spark of hope inside that one candle flame. Hopefully, many will join it. A spot-on take for this week’s picture.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Alicia

      Like

  39. Laurie Bell Avatar

    Gorgeous… rekindling the light. What a great theme

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Laurie

      Like

  40. plaridel Avatar

    methinks candles aren’t the future. cellphones would be used for light instead. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Imagine a future where all the cellphones are gone…!

      Liked by 1 person

  41. James McEwan Avatar

    Ancient beliefs always reverberate through time into our modern world, and I think you captured that idea in this. I liked the notion of something spiritual to come.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks James

      Liked by 1 person

  42. Fatima Fakier Avatar

    Light is always a good symbol for hope and you did it very well!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Fatima 🙂

      Like

  43. Brenda's Thoughts Avatar

    I love Cressida’s determination and how she clings to hope. Good one, Iain!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Brenda 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  44. Dawn M. Miller Avatar

    Beautiful religious undertones in this one.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Dawn, not being particularly religious myself I hadn’t intended it that way, but I’m pleased that can be read into it.

      Liked by 1 person

  45. Sarah Ann Avatar
    Sarah Ann

    I hope there are others like Cressida who have kept candle stubs for letting in the light again. A world or darkness does not bode well.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Sarah Ann

      Like

  46. patrickprinsloo Avatar

    I feel a great sense of loss; of people leaving, of people left behind.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Sacrifices made perhaps. Thanks Patrick.

      Like

  47. magarisa Avatar

    Sad and scary, with a glimmer of hope at the end. Nicely done.

    Liked by 1 person

  48. lisarey1990 Avatar

    Very mysterious.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  49. ellenbest24 Avatar

    I feel a rumble of unease for that world. 😱

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Could be our world?…

      Like

  50. Piyali Avatar

    The optimism the story ends with, I love it.

    Liked by 1 person

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