FFFAW: Just one step

                         This week’s photo prompt is provided by Joy Pixley. Thank you Joy!

 

Another stairwell same as the last, floors interlocking over her head like a wooden puzzle box. The handrail was rough under her palm, the grain snagging her skin – like stroking a shark.

Looking up made her head spin, floor and ceiling flipping until it seemed she could reach out a toe, walk on the underside of the stairs. She imagined gravity tugging her hair, making it stream from her scalp in waves like upturned seaweed, her clothes tumbling in layers about her face, the effort of holding up arms heavy as pork joints.

Just one step was all it took, she was sure. If she just had the courage to try.

She slipped of her shoes, hoisted herself up on the rail, toes gripping at the air. Hollows above and below sucked at her, pulling her up, tugging her down.

Just one step.

 

Written for Priceless Joy’s Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. See here to join in and to read the other tales.

 

 

 

 

 

20 thoughts on “FFFAW: Just one step”

  1. I’d be tempted to continue this attention-grabbing beginning in several alternate ways, as suited different genres: if romance, who’ll come to try and dissuade her? if SF would she be able to walk upside down on the undersides of steps, Matrix- or Inception-like? if thriller what’s the backstory that interrupts at this point?

    Is that the response you hoped for? 🙂

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    1. It’d definitely be more SF for me – romance is not my thing unless it’s playing second fiddle to sci-fi/fantasy/ creepiness! Thanks for the thoughtful comment and yes, walking on the walls Inception style would be a great idea. 🙂 Thanks Chris

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  6. I’m not going to comment on this great post, which, by the way reminds me of a a picture by Albrecht Escher – or that bit in the The Labrynth which was obviously inspired by Escher. Not one word will escape from my keyboard, so that you don’t have to post yet another response when you could be waving your wand, and creating a new piece of magic.
    Don’t mistake my silence for indifference – I’m never indifferent to your spectacular writing; I’m just not mentioning it, so you don’t have to waste time and energy which could be put to better use..
    No, not one word will escape my laptop.
    Not. One. Word.
    However, maybe a little smile is acceptable… 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Haha! Have a little smile back, why don’t you 🙂 Yes, Escher – I do see what you mean. He was fantastic at taking the impossible and maing it look probable – at least on paper. And Labyrinth! David Bowie in that wig – smashing stuff 🙂

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      2. I remember thinking at the time what a daft, stuck up ninny the girl was. Me and my friends would have run off with Dave – I would have given my little brother and I’d have thrown the cat in for good measure

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