The Game - 100 Word Stories Week 36 - Non Challenge

Fate looked over the black and red squares of the board. There were few pieces left. Too few.

From the other side, Destiny smiled. In this vertiginous, nowhere place she was as close as a swinging fist, but clouded also by the haze of distance.

Well, what will it be? She asked. A cataclysm here? A reckoning there? You know that for them it is futile. You know that everybody dies in the end.

The hell it is. Fate replied. I'm still here. And while I am, there's hope.

And with that she placed her hand on the nearest piece.

This week's prompt is to use the following words in the post:

red, haze, destiny, black, futile

Comments: 16

elizabeth e. Nov 2, 2008, 5:22am EST

“Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark.”

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Sue T. Nov 2, 2008, 5:54am EST

Excellent, Pat! Beautifully written.

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Marge H. Nov 2, 2008, 3:57pm EST

Oh my! Powerful writing!!!

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Pat M. Nov 3, 2008, 5:09am EST

Well said, Bob.
Thank you Sue.
I'm flattered Marge.
Thank you too Marianne.

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William Dotani Nov 3, 2008, 1:50pm EST

I take it the danger is in her mind and she is willing to face such a risk to get better.

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Pat M. Nov 5, 2008, 3:57am EST

Quite possibly William. When I wrote this I was channeling some fantasy-type stories I'd read when I was (much) younger.
You said it better in 14 words, Judi, rather than my 100.
Thanks Tinch. I'm honoured.

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Bob C. Nov 6, 2008, 1:15pm EST

Well thought out and worded Pat! Gives quite a vision.

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Sheila Deeth Nov 6, 2008, 2:24pm EST

Excellent. I found myself picturing a chess game... great job.

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Dena Straughn Nov 6, 2008, 5:21pm EST

I have often seen our lives on earth as an object lesson to prove God's way as best. I have also seen it as a strategy game between good and evil, and of course, good wins.

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Alison Pearce Nov 6, 2008, 6:27pm EST

Fabulous as always!!

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Pat M. Nov 6, 2008, 7:14pm EST

Thank you Bob.

Thank you too Sheila. It was a chess game in my mind as well... until I realised that black and red squares meant draughts.

Thanks Dena. I felt that anthropomorphising Fate and Destiny, and having them in contention with each other, would provide a powerful image for the drabble. Never mind that they're effectively the same thing...

Thank you Alison.

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