PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
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“Please don’t struggle,” She gently crooned. “Don’t you see how we’re honoring you?”
“Honor?” Only his face was exposed in the webbing. “You call being eaten an honor? You’re going to kill me, my children, my grandbabies. How is that an honor?”
“Dearest offering.” She stroked his hair lovingly. “You are an atonement for what your ancestors did to us. You will sacrifice your flesh for their sins.”
“That was ages ago. You control everything now.”
“It doesn’t matter. We will always be the oppressed little fly. Nothing appeases our appetite. Consider you and your family a morsel of compensation.”
It’s Wednesday and once again time to participate in Rochelle Wisoff-Fields’ 21 June 2024 edition of Friday Fictioneers. The idea is to use the image on top as the prompt for crafting a short story or poem no more than 100 words long. My word count is exactly 100.
Yesterday, I came across a video on Linkedin of all places. It used to be the one platform on the web that was dedicated only to business issues and concerns. Unfortunately, like X (formerly twitter), Facebook, and all the rest, it has become a hot bed of political and social opinions.
A meme based on the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip.
The video in question made me (once again) question the nature of human beings. When one group is more powerful than another (whatever you might call “power”) they tend to, in some manner, oppress less powerful groups. However when a formerly oppressed group gains the upper hand, they turn around and oppress those who are now weaker than themselves.
This probably doesn’t happen 100% of the time, but enough to where I decided to write my wee drabble as I have (yes, it is uncomfortable, probably controversial, and some of my readers may disagree).
To read other responses to the prompt, go to inlinkz.
My science fiction serial Our Legacy, The Stars: A Tom Corbett Adventure is heating up in episode 11: “Iceworld.” As the crew of the Polaris draw closer to solving the puzzle of their hidden enemy, a traitor on board sends a secret message to…who?
Read all to currently published episodes in the 16-part series. Don’t forget to click “like” and “subscribe” and to leave a comment on each of the chapters.
Also visit High Tower Magazine and read my short story: “The Last Oasis of Mars: From the Tales of the Razzle Dazzle” for FREE!
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Very Old Testament
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I hadn’t really thought of it that way, Neil. Thanks.
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Thought provoking James. And slightly depressing too – human nature.
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Human nature can be slightly depressing, Sandra. Thanks.
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Verbal torture, conversing with your dinner adds flavour like seasoning and sauce.
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I’m sure the “fly” would rather be thought of as flavorless. Thanks.
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Oofah! Talk about coldhearted!
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Not true of all people, but like my commentary said, it’s human nature.
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It is the way of it, isn’t it? A sad state of affairs that we can never start afresh. There will always be those who will dig into the past and bring it back, even if there is no sign that it should be!
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Too true. There are a lot of people who feel they would have no identity at all if it wasn’t rooted in the dismal past.
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Sadly true.
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There will always be stronger and weaker, but asking the strong to share their power never seems to be successful – maybe because they fear the revenge the weak will reap. Thought-provoking piece.
Jen
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Thanks, Jen. That fear may not be entirely unjustified.
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Greed always prevails.
Thought provoking.
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Thanks, Dawn.
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Great voice in this. She’s speaking such consolatory and loving words as she prepares to kill them. And I was interested in your note about power relations, and the ongoing see saw of vengeance as the roles shift over time. It’s not hard to become depressed about human nature, I agree, but it’s important to keep one’s own little light of hope burning – somehow.
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The voice is chilling. Well written story, James. Your explanations are thought-provoking about the power dynamics in human relationships. It’s a sad day, and a bit scary as well.
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Thought-provoking, creepy, and well-written!
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Thanks, Angela.
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The cycle of history, human and insect alike.
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Especially human. Thanks, Linda.
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Human nature’s appetite for power, ownership, and control will never be appeased. It doesn’t matter which group is on top or underneath. It’s ugly and it will be the end of us as a species. At first I thought the downtrodden group in your story was the insects, who then visited vengeance on humankind.
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I agree with your statement that no matter who is on top, they will tend to abuse their power. There are those who don’t believe it. They believe that if a group has been oppressed and has stated values they agree with, then that group, should they attain power, but be benevolent and kind and understand how to administer such power with the best intent and execution. However, history records that isn’t true.
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James, I wish it were true, but there is no escaping our human natures. I’m terrified of AI because of its lack of human nature, but a part of me wonders what it would do if it were calling the shots. It’s could, and probably would, go very wrong for humans, but then again, who really knows at this point.
Not sure if you have netflix, but there’s a new series on there, called Scavengers Reign, that really got me to thinking about humans in the food chain and the influence of AI. It’s set on another planet so it’s like a fresh start for both.
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I don’t subscribe to any streaming services, so chances are I’ll never see it. I guess only time will tell how AI will affect our world. I imagine though that it will be in a way we cannot predict.
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