PHOTO PROMPT © Jeff Arnold
The stomp of boots echoes up the narrow stairwell.
Anton scrambles out of bed to the attic room door, rams the bolt home. His fingers describe a sigil in the air as he mutters a holding spell. It won’t stop them, but it might buy him time.
On his desk, a manual typewriter – black and gold, antique. He creates another spell over the keys and begins to type…
…In a cottage in the deep forest, an identical typewriter rattles to life, the keys tapping out a message.
I am discovered. Take the children. Never stop running. Love always.
A
***
Written for Rochelle Wissoff-Field’s Friday Fictioneers. See the prompt picture and write a tale. See here to join in.
Word Shamble 
A magical tale, with an enchanted teletype machine. Love it
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Thank you Neil. Very kind 🙂
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Dear Lynn,
If one doesn’t have internet, magic typewriters are the next best thing. 😉 Love this fantastic tale. The ending line leaves room for another chapter and a desire on the part of the reader to know more. Wonderful.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you so much, Rochelle. Yes, I for one would love a magic typewriter, whether I really need one or not :). Thank you so much for the kind words
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Very cute, I love the story.
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Thanks Mark 🙂
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Love the magical angle Lynn 🙂
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Thank you Iain 🙂
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this is lovely, definitely could go longer, I want to find out what happens next Lynn 🙂
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Thank you, Alyson. So glad you liked it and felt it could go longer. You have to love a sigil, don’t you? 🙂 Thanks again
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Magical texting? I hope the person on the other end checks their typewriter in time to save the children.
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Me too. Thanks for reading 🙂
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Every comment so far uses the word ‘Love’.
I’ll just follow along, Lynn.
I love your magical take on this.
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Aw, thank you C. Not sure why that idea came to me, but who knows where any of these things come from really :). Hope life is treating you as well as can be expected under these unique circumstances. Keep well
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Oh, that was wonderfully evocative and magical and I loved the way you left the ending open to interpretation, Lynn.
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Ah, thank you so much! That was the nicest comment. You never know, Anton and his family might find each other again one day. Thanks so much for reading
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Oh yes, very clever. Nice one 🙂
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Thank you. Sorry I’ve not been more in touch – Morher’s Day madness, shop closing and (dare I say it) a bit of a temperature. Hope the launch went brilliantly and The Spinner is weaving her magic out in the world
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Thanks Lynn. Let’s just say she is out there, and slowly, slowly, weaving her web. Things might move a bit better once I have some reviews.
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I have that same typewriter in my garage, gathering dust! Loved this piece, cracking good pace…like the keys firing on an old manual, eh?!
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Thanks Bill. I remember being given a typewriter when I was an adolescent – I did love it but it was hard work on the fingers! I’m afraid I wouldn’t swap my laptop for a typewriter, no matter how nostalgic. Thanks and glad you liked it
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I like the idea of two ancient typewriters synched with magic.
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Thank you! Yeah, I liked it too. Not sure where it came from, but I liked it :). Thank you so much for reading
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You are welcome, Lynn.
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One of your best in my humble opinion, Lynn. Killer last line.
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Thank you, Matthew! Really kind of you and glad you liked it
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Brilliant idea. You have to develop this further. Stay safe, Lynn. Hope you’re set up to be able to continue working.
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Aw, thank you Sandra! Yes, I liked the idea. It’s a bit Harry Potter and bit war time SOE! No work for us, at least not paid work. Lots of gardening time though, and theoretically writing but my brain is finding it hard to focus. Take care and stay safe
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Brilliant! Exactly what a flash should be, which is why I think this is the story, no more, no less needed.
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Thank you, Jane. You may be right there. Sometimes less is more. Thanks for reading 🙂
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I’m always surprised when some readers want ‘more’ of the story. That’s it, it’s there, all you need to know.
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Delightfully different and an enchanting tale.
Here’s mine!
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Thank you so much Keith
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Spooky. For just a moment there I thought we were in Nazi German! Very scary but tender story.
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I can see why you’d think that – it does read like an agent about to be caught by the Gestapo, doesn’t it? Thank you very much for reading
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A perfectly self-contained piece of flash fiction that nevertheless has me itching for more. Magic teleprinters! What a lovely take!
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Thank you so much, Penny. So glad you liked the story. I wouldn’t mind a magic tele printer myself! Take care
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What a wonderful and magical tale, Lynn! Thank you for going outside the box…
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A great way of communicating, Lynn and it will save them. Great imagination
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I hooked very quickly, well done
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I like the mysterious world you have created and the underlying tension in so few words.
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This really caught my attention, and left me wanting to read more. Darn the word count limit!
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Thank you Keigh. So glad you liked it. Not sure where is take the story from there, though I guess we could jump forward to the children he mentions, see how their lives are affected by this tragedy. Thanks for reading
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Oh the horrors of those boots… I think we need to keep a typewriter in the attic always.
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Wonder how many people listen with dread for the sound of boots on the stairs? Thank you Bjorn
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A powerful story full of action, suspense, magic, and desperation for the one he loves. And, all accomplished in only 100 words. Superb!!
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Thank you so much, Brenda! That’s a really lovely comment, thanks.
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