Sunday Photo Fiction is a weekly challenge presented by my old friend Al Forbes.
The idea is to write a short story (200 word max) inspired by what you see in his picture (below).
I recognise Al’s slightly strange photo from two years ago, when I wrote this slightly strange story in response.
I was, apparently taking Pregabalin for my nerve-damaged hand at that time. Seems like a reasonable excuse!
Click on this link to enter your tale, and see what others have written.
Click here to hear the writer read his words:
The Road
The highway is straight and empty, and very boring.
The sides drop to a stony arid wasteland, not a good place to go.
I haven’t seen another vehicle in an hour, or about 70 miles.
I am struggling to stay awake, but I have to keep going.
I am running from something even less palatable.
My eyes flick to the rear-view mirror occasionally, purely out of habit.
To my astonishment I see a speck far behind me, approaching fast.
It catches me in no time but doesn’t overtake, instead stays close to my rear bumper.
I don’t recognise the make, it is bubble-shaped, white with a black wind-shield.
I go faster, it stays close.
A second one appears, sits alongside its twin.
I am at top speed now, they remain just feet away.
More appear, crowding the road, seemingly jostling for position.
I grow frantic, sweat pours from my face, but the desert appears even more inhospitable.
Then I tear my eyes from the mirror to the road ahead.
The same scene is taking place there, but of course they are hurtling towards me.
I wrench the wheel to the side in panic.
And waken as the car somersaults towards the rocky plain.
Talk about a bad dream. I hope this isn’t a recurring nightmare. Or a glimpse of the future. Well done!
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Don’t worry, even this was a dream within a dream, just like in Inception.
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So he was asleep and dreaming at the wheel and woke up just in time to die.
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Your choice, James
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It never does to fall asleep when driving. In this situation he would be perhaps better served if the aliens were on hand to rescue him.
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Oh a wee nap does no harm.
Usually.
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I have a cousin who swears one night he was chased by a UFO down a country road. I don’t think his medication was prescription, however. Interesting story C.E.
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Not as interesting as your cousin’s!
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