Monday Morning Flash Fiction Challenge, Week 45, The Friday Post

I'm late, and I almost didn't post my response because.... it is strange, lol!  But, since it's already written, I'll post it anyway.

Death and Desire

by: Dottie Taylor

word count: 535

She stood at the edge of the precipice, embracing what lay ahead of her. One more step, and maybe this time, it would be over. One more step. All of it. Finished, she prayed. She looked out into the great abyss of nothingness. She edged her foot closer, then the other, until her toes hung over the edge.

She wouldn't go back, couldn't go back. The dead laughed at her, mocked her with their eagerness. She could hear them whispering, even now. “Go ahead, girl, go ahead. We dare you.” Their laughing voices whispered in her ear. “We want you to.” She brushed her ear across her shoulder, wiping away the uncleanliness left in it's wake. She squeezed her eyes tightly closed. Her long black hair a blanket to hide her soul.

Again, their voices whispered, “You can't, can you? Come back, girl,” they mocked with their sneering whispers, “come back to our comfort.”

“No.” She shook her head, she would and she could. She'd show them. “No, I'm free, I'll never come back.” She edged closer still to the precipice, leaning out into the fog that tickled her flesh.

She pressed her palms to the entrance way, lifting the length of her gown. The fog felt alive, groping her with smoky fingers, plucking at her skirt, drawing her further still, pulling her body into oblivion. She twisted back and looked over her shoulder. In the shadows, she could see the eyes that glowed maliciously, only for her. “No.”

She closed her eyes and leaned into the first step of forever, and followed it with another. Briefly, she felt herself hanging in the air. A scream broke from her lips as she fell, and all too soon, it was over. The ground met her body, slamming into it causing the air to puff out of her lungs in a “huff”. For a few moments, she fought to cling to life. Then, with the release of a stuttering breath, she died.

******

Gradually, she opened her eyes, finding herself in a fragrant bed of Summer wildflowers. Sitting up, she rubbed her eyes. Bees buzzed through the flower heads, a fat beetle crawled across a pulpy leaf. She looked around for the others, and found herself reclining on a beach, the hot rays of the sun burning her pallid skin as the ocean broke over the sand. She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, she found herself in a great hall, surrounded by the others. They backed away from her with reverence, even as their hands were drawn like moths to a flame, brushing along her body. She shrunk back away from their intimate caresses.

“She's come!”

“She's here!”

“Release us!” They cried.

She walked through the parting crowd, up the stairs to find herself on the precipice looking down. She twisted back, looking over her shoulder. The others were gone, but the glowing eyes remained. “No.” She told the eyes. And once again, she leaned out from the precipice, stepping away. They were depending on her, maybe this time release would be found.

This was her curse. This was her existence. An endless cycle with a broken promise.




Okkkkaaaayyyy.... so I managed another entry....weird as it is, LOL!!


Remember to come back Monday for another edition of.....

Monday Morning Flash Fiction Challenge

(and I promise to be much lighter this time...)

Have a great weekend!! (and Lea... I know you're preparing for NYC... have a great time!!)

Ciao!