© J. Hardy Carroll
This had to be a dream because it had that totally unreal feeling about it. He was walking down a corridor with closed doors on either side, but the one he really wanted was the doorway straight ahead. He could see daylight coming from underneath. It was the way out.
He also couldn’t help but notice the fire extinguisher on the floor to the left of the doorway. They’re usually mounted on the wall.
His footsteps were silent even on the break floor but he could hear the sound of his own breathing so he was alive.
He stopped at the door and pressed his ear against it to listen. It was hot, really hot. He couldn’t hear anything but had to pull his head away.
“In for a penny.” His voice sounded strange to him. Then he gave the metal doorknob a brief touch. Too hot to touch. He had a rag in his back pocket and he used that to protect his hand.
He pushed the door open gently. Flames. A city street outside a cheap motel. He grabbed the extinguisher and created a path. There was a figure just ahead. “Welcome to Hell.”
Then he woke up.
I wrote this for the Sunday Photo Fiction Challenge of February 11th 2018. The idea is to use the image above as the prompt for authoring a piece of flash fiction no more than 200 words long. My word count is 200.
The tale is pretty much taken from all of the visual cues. The image looks unreal but the sepia tone plus the fire extinguisher say there’s something hot. I picked “Hell” but then decided it was all a dream after all because I didn’t sleep well and my dreams were pretty messed up anyway. No research this time, just reactions.
To read other stories based on the prompt, go to InLinkz.com.
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Some say our dreams come true. I hope this wasn’t a premonition!
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Maybe a cautionary tale.
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“Welcome to hell. Here’s your accordion.” Dante had a pretty good idea of what it would be like, but I’ve seen other interpretations. My favorite was that upon entering everyone is issued a 1982 Subaru Brat that they have to drive everywhere.
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Your saw Hell. I saw a cheap flop house. Pretty much the same thing, I’d say.
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Umm, *You* saw Hell. I need a cuppa coffee!
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I remember reading about a stage play once depicting a man who had just died ending up in some sort of celestial bathhouse and God being played by a young Puerto Rican man who was supposed to be the towel boy. Stranger things have happened.
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You kinda had me there but then I saw the words, “Then he woke up.” I felt relieved. Nice twist. Well done.
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I also left him in Hell, but at the last second I felt guilty. 😉
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😄
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The fire extinguisher struck me as suspicious too: if I was in a dream and had to choose a door, I don’t think I’d choose the one that apparently has flames behind it!
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It does seem to clearly show daylight coming from under the door, so if I were looking for an escape, that’s the one I’d pick.
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Further proof that Its always best to NOT enter a burning room.
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Options may have been limited, Nona.
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Another look into Hell. That fire extinguisher triggered a lot of ideas. I’m wondering if this a dream or maybe it’s a vision. Might be a good time for him to visit a church before it’s not too late.
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A warning or just an overactive imagination? I guess he’ll only find out when he gets there…
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Taking the fire extinguisher was a master stroke. Perhaps he will be able to reverse his bad luck. Even reverse his fortunes, as I am sure that the devil is only testing him..
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Could be, Michael. Thanks.
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If I was behind this character in a betting shop I’d put my money on a different horse. Good story.
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Thanks, JS.
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You’re welcome James.
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