Thursday 5 June 2014

Boundaries



Picture by Aesop Clerk
Peel away the layers of myth, Sarah thought, and it came down to this:   Beyond the iron posts was Outside and dangerous.   The waterfall was falling light, dazzling and glorious, churning the pool, outflanking the iron posts.    The cliffside hinted at faces in that flickering light, smiling, laughing, beguiling.   Outside was dangerous, but that had not stopped Sarah’s sister wading out a year ago, deaf to Sarah’s cries of warning, pleas not to leave her alone.

The elders of the Last Human Settlement had strict rules.  Only children could draw water.  It was safer.    But Sarah’s sister had drawn water too often, and now she was gone.

Sarah filled the containers and mourned her sister.   For a moment only she glimpsed a smiling youth fetching water on the far side of the pool, Outside.   Handsome…

No.  She imagined it.  

Perhaps she would imagine it again tomorrow, she hoped.

Prompt from Light and Shade Challenge using the image above, and Studio30Plus using the phrase "Peel away the layers"

15 comments:

  1. Was it a vision, or was the Last Human Settlement not actually the Last Human Settlement? Intriguing as ever Lyssa M x

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    1. That would be an interesting twist indeed.

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  2. Temptation can be powerful and lure you away. She had best not go back there, methinks.

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    1. Ah but who would fetch the water then?

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  3. Hats off for a very unique take. :-)

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  4. oh the lure of "handsome". This was rich with possibility and intrigue.

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    1. Such a good lure indeed - glad you liked it.

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  5. This was beautifully poetic and haunting.

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  6. I love the way you've managed to create a whole world here with so few words and leave the story open at the end for the reader's imagination. Very intriguing use of the prompt. Bravo, Thomas. Mine's coming on Monday. Hope you'll stop by then.

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    1. I certainly will - thanks for the feedback

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  7. Nice. It has a dystopian feel to it.

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