Iain Kelly

ROAD TO NOWHERE

They couldn’t be it. After following the track through the forest for three days, this couldn’t be the end.

The broken track hung in mid-air. The others looked at him. They were tired, hungry and desperate. And angry.

It was Barnaby that challenged him. ‘What now?’

He had no answer. They had trusted him, and he had led them nowhere.

‘What now?’ Barnaby sneered. ‘You don’t know what to do, do you?’

Did anyone know what to do anymore? The planet was imploding around them.

Maybe no track led anywhere anymore, but it was still worth following them. There had to be some hope to cling to.

Copyright Alicia Jamtaas

Written for Friday Fictioneers 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.

Also linking to Fandango’s One-Word Challenge for today: Planet.

AMAZON UK     AMAZON.COM      SMASHWORDS      KOBO     BARNES & NOBLE

Iain Kelly

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64 responses to “ROAD TO NOWHERE”

  1. neilmacdon Avatar
    neilmacdon

    Nice one, Iain. We follow tracks, even when they lead nowhere. It’s our nature

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Neil

      Like

      Reply
  2. ceayr Avatar
    ceayr

    I do enjoy a cheery wee post-apocalypse tale, Iain.
    Fingers crossed, hmm?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I think the dark nights and constant snow, on top of lockdown, are getting to me!

      Like

      Reply
  3. Reena Saxena Avatar
    Reena Saxena

    Maybe, just maybe … this is the last leg of the journey.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Who knows? There may be something there after all.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  4. rochellewisoff Avatar
    rochellewisoff

    Dear Iain,

    A rather bleak tale. You left us hanging.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      A bleak tale for bleak times. I’m ready for spring and a vaccine jab now!

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
      1. rochellewisoff Avatar
        rochellewisoff

        Still waiting for the opportunity to schedule mine. Bleak, cold and snowy here.

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Tannille Avatar
    Tannille

    Reminds me, when the Titanic was sinking, the musicians kept playing. A bleak but moving story.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you so much

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  6. Sandra Avatar
    Sandra

    What else is there to do but follow the track. One of them must surely lead somewhere.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      It’s better than standing around waiting.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  7. magickmermaid Avatar
    magickmermaid

    I agree; go forth and see what might be there!

    Like

    Reply
  8. granonine Avatar
    granonine

    To lose all hope is to lose all.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Very true.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  9. Keith's Ramblings Avatar
    Keith’s Ramblings

    There’s always hope, it’s just a matter of clinging onto it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      However small. Thanks Keith

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  10. Mason Bushell Avatar
    Mason Bushell

    A beautifully written, powerful story. I’d bet that’s an old coal mine track in the image. Well done, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Mason, much appreciated.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  11. msjadeli Avatar
    msjadeli

    You did this picture justice. It does feel like being lost when we look to the leaders and they are just as lost as we are.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      That’s when we realise they are just the same as us. We shouldn’t expect them to know all the answers.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  12. Alicia Jamtaas Avatar
    Alicia Jamtaas

    I found this tale rather uplifting! Thank you!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I’m glad you saw the hope in it.

      Like

      Reply
  13. Dora Avatar
    Dora

    A parable-like tale. Wonderfully done, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you Dora

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  14. Danny James Avatar
    Danny James

    Sounds like our current environment.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      It was definitely influenced by the current state of mind.

      Like

      Reply
  15. Dale Avatar
    Dale

    They need to follow it. What else is there?
    Good one!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Yep, standing still won’t get them anywhere!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Dale Avatar
        Dale

        Definitely not!

        Liked by 1 person

  16. joyroses13 Avatar
    joyroses13

    Yes, there is always hope, even when things look so bleak! Good story!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  17. draliman Avatar
    draliman

    When all hope seems lost follow any track, indeed.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Any track is better than none.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  18. Bear Avatar
    Bear

    Ohhh, another good one! I read this and was reminded of Jack McDevitt’s “Eternity Road”… I’ve read it many times. Everytime, it seems I see a different plot running through. Gotta love when a book is like that. Love your story and it’s reminder. Might just have to read it again. LOL!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks so much. I’ll have to add that to me reading list 🙂

      Like

      Reply
      1. Bear Avatar
        Bear

        Oh, do, Lain. I think you’ll really enjoy it. I need to get another copy, mine is getting a bit on the well used side… in fact, I think there’s now duct tape involved in the cover art. LOL!

        Liked by 1 person

  19. liz young Avatar
    liz young

    He’ll have to think quickly if he wants to retain leadership.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Indeed.

      Like

      Reply
  20. pennygadd51 Avatar
    pennygadd51

    I like the way you catch the dynamics of the group, with the leader, his challenger and the two followers waiting to see who has the best plan – or the biggest fists.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      It may all come down to fists in the end, it often seems to! Thanks Penny

      Like

      Reply
  21. plaridel Avatar
    plaridel

    he hopes the longest, to paraphrase jane austen, when all hope is gone.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  22. Nobbinmaug Avatar
    Nobbinmaug

    He just has to keep following those trails. Eventually, he’ll find one that leads somewhere. Unless they lynch him first, of course.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      It’s a race against time.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  23. Brenda's Thoughts Avatar
    Brenda’s Thoughts

    I loved this. It is still worth trying even when hope seems to be gone. Hope is what gets us through the day and then the next. Great story, Iain! =)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      A moral for our time, I think. Thanks Brenda

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  24. Laurie Bell Avatar
    Laurie Bell

    At this point Iain, hope is indeed all they have. Will they keep going until one by one they drop off, unable to keep going? Or will they find that pot of gold?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Have to wait for the sequel to find out! 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  25. mjlstories Avatar
    mjlstories

    That produced a shiver!
    I do fear for this character. Could turn nasty. Reminded me of Lord of the Flies.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Yes, the picture made me think of that too.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  26. Eugenia Parrish Author Avatar
    Eugenia Parrish Author

    I was so glad to read that last line. We all need to remember to cling to hope.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Things are starting to look up a little 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  27. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Just like the weather, we all need a little warm sunshine, make that a lot of sunshine.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      I can’t wait for spring!

      Like

      Reply
  28. Psychic-Medium-Author Ronda Del Boccio Avatar
    Psychic-Medium-Author Ronda Del Boccio

    Yes…people are like that, following a path to nowhere at times.
    Ronda

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Ronda

      Like

      Reply
  29. Woman walking Max Avatar
    Woman walking Max

    I found your story moving. Reminded me of how important and fragile hope is. Good story.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      We need something to cling onto. Thank you.

      Like

      Reply
  30. ahtdoucette Avatar
    ahtdoucette

    Oh man, I know this story so well and not just because of global pandemic. Such gratitude for all the people who make hard choices in a responsible way so the rest of us don’t have to – and for all the times I’ve realized it’s my turn to be the choice maker and accept the blame if it goes wrong or have people congratulate themselves if it goes right. No matter how much time and energy you put into the decision you make. Because isn’t that always the way? Great story. So much thoughts.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks so much Anna, nice to know my story spoke to you 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  31. subroto Avatar
    subroto

    I see a mutiny coming up ahead. Nicely done – a bit reflective of our ‘road to nowhere’ times.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thank you

      Like

      Reply

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