© Sunayana | MoiPensieve.com
They rode through the city on their scooters on Angel’s Eve just before midnight. They rode through the avenues just as their parents and grandparents had before them.
The streets were filled with celebrants and anticipation. They could only hope that this would be the year she would return.
The clan Dunnmerry rode the lanes, waved at the crowds, and shouted “Happy Angel’s Eve.” The people in the crowds waved back with the greeting, “May she return to bless us.”
The brightly lit banners, all white and feathered, adorned every boulevard and byway. Just a few minutes left. The Dunnmerry riders arrived in the square. They got off their scooters and looked up expectantly.
Midnight came but not the Angel. They would have to wait another year and hope she would return to free them from the occupiers. The lights went off and a voice crackled out of loudspeakers all over the city.
“Return to your homes. Maintain order. Work begins in the mines promptly at 6 a.m. by order of the Commandant.”
Written in response to FFfAW Challenge-February 14, 2017. The challenge is to write a flash fiction story, based on the photo prompt above, between 100 and 175 words, with 150 being the ideal target. My story comes in at 173 words.
To read other stories based on this week’s prompt, visit InLinkz.com.
poweredbyrobots.com 
Wow, James, such a chilling story! The entire story was full of hope and anticipation then at the end it felt like hopelessness. Great story!
LikeLike
Thanks. It was one of those stories that I mentally composed as I typed. I wasn’t sure how it was going to end until it ended.
LikeLike
Haha! That is how I write my stories!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooh, definitely a chilling story like PJ said. Interesting take on the photo!
LikeLike
Thanks. Actually Jade, nothing immediately popped into mind when I first saw the photo except the first sentence. I had to struggle a bit to find a hook.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sometimes, inspiration takes a little longer to come but there’s reward in the struggle, I think 🙂
LikeLike
Well, it was a relatively short struggle. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good one, very engrossing and nicely told!
LikeLike
Thanks. Much appreciated.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I suspect the Angel may be a story created by the Commandant in order to give the workers a little hope each year and stop them rebelling.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Actually, that hadn’t occurred to me. I was thinking of the Passover. As part of the Passover seder, at one point, the children present are sent to the door to see if Elijah has arrived. According to custom, when the Messiah is about to come, the Prophet Elijah is supposed to appear for the Passover meal at a Jewish household. A place is set for him at the table each year just in case he shows up.
From a Jewish perspective, someday he will as a sign of hope that the Messiah is soon to come.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A great festival, but the evil commandant spoils it. Down with the commandant, down with th. …. ………..🤕
LikeLike
May the Angel come soon and in our day.
LikeLike
Liked the concept of an angel bringing hope to the miners, working below ground is soul draining – inspiring tale about keeping hope alive.
LikeLike
Thank you, Singledust.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Chilling and Interesting tale. I always write from my fingers on these prompts makes it much more fun that way. Good take Grandpa.
LikeLike
Thanks. Sometimes I’ll do a bit of research like I did for Red Square in “The Landing.” Other times I just “wing it.”
LikeLiked by 1 person