“Fiction In A Flash Challenge” Week #15

Linda walked into the local store—to chat with Carrie and confirm plans for later.

Miriam landed outside, in the open, on a deserted street. At least she hoped it was deserted. If someone saw her… The thought made her shudder. What the hell is going on? This is the fifth time in three weeks they transported her to an unprotected, open space.

After a quick look around she saw her target approximately fifteen yards away, across the street. Miriam sprinted to it and rushed inside. She punched his number in her communicator. He answered on the first blip.

“I’m listening.” His voice echoed in the empty hallway.

“Are you. Because clearly you haven’t heard a word I’ve said. Five. Five times. In less than three weeks. I hope I wasn’t compromised. This needs to be corrected. I don’t—”

“Noted. Now, get back to your assignment.”

Before she could reply, he was gone.

This house looked so much different than the photograph she was given. Broken windows, peeling wallpaper, torn carpet. Furniture strewn and broken. Miriam rummaged through papers and books. Oh, no. They sent her one-hundred years into the future. She shouldn’t be here.

What she needed to get wasn’t in this time. Was that breaking glass? Miriam ducked behind the broken couch. Being seen by the wrong person could shift the time paradigm. If that happened, it could change the future. A shiver went down her spine.

Miriam tried her communicator again. No response. Before she could try her communicator a third time, the floor creaked. Muffled voices came from the back of the house.

“Yeah, I saw her. She just appeared.”

“She ran in here. I’m sure of it. We’ll make her tell us—”

Damn. She was compromised. No weapon. No way out. No help. Her transporter was useless, it needed more time to recharge. She hit the panic button on her communicator. No response. Was this done purposely? Did someone want her dead?

Miriam looked around the room for anything she could use to protect herself. Just some shards of glass and a rod propping the door open. They would have to do. If he’d just listened to her about the teleportation.

This was more than a RECON mission. This would be a survival mission. Trouble did follow her. Whoever they were, they were getting closer. She hit the panic button again and gripped the rod tighter.

Trapped. If she went upstairs, she had no way out. She’d have to go through the hall to get to the front door. Should she risk it? The thumping in her head pulsed harder.

Another try of the communicator proved useless. Miriam punched the panic button again. Sweat ran down her back. Her breathing sped up. She would have to fight. To protect herself if they came any closer.

And they did. How did they know where she hid? One man pushed the couch out of the way. The other stood sizing her up. She raised her only weapon, the rod.

“Get away from me.”

They laughed. She swung the rod in front of her. “Stay back. I’m warning you.”

They lunged at her. She lifted the rod above her head and swung in a slashing motion. Before she made contact, they were gone. He stood in their place.

The Rules:

Each week Soooz features an image and invites you to write a Flash Fiction or Non-Fiction piece inspired by that image in any format and genre of your choosing.  Maximum word count: 750 words.

Please put your piece (or a link to it) in a comment on Soooz’s blog or email it to her by 4:00 pm EDT on Thursday, August 20.

Subject: Fiction in a Flash Challenge. If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to Soooz’s blog page would be much appreciated.

She will be sharing all entries received, and, her own contribution on her blog beginning on Friday, August 14.