Annette Rey is the Readers’ Choice in this week’s Indies Unlimited Flash Fiction Challenge. The winning entry is decided by the popular vote and rewarded with a special feature here today. (In the case of a tie, the writer who submitted an entry first is the winner per our rules.)
Without further ado, here’s the winning story:
Dark Angel
by Annette Rey
“This was a bad idea, Jim. We should have never come down into this canyon.”
“Come on, Phyl. We’ll be okay.”
“Right. It’s almost dark and we don’t know anything about how to survive out here.”
“We’ll find a rock crevice of some kind to hole up in for the night.”
“Aren’t there wild animals down here, Jim?”
“Nah. What’s to eat?”
“Us!”
Looking out from a dark hollow, the full moon swathed the descending gorge walls with reflecting light, making visible even small movement.
“Jim. That looks like a wounded mountain lion.”
“He’s limping.”
“I’m scared. He’s looking back at us.”
“Let’s follow him.” Jim had made peace with the land and convinced Phyllis the animal wouldn’t hurt them.
Down they went.
“Shouldn’t we be going up to get out?”
“The lion knows, Phyl.”
Keeping a safe distance, they followed and felt a connection with the beast. He was in trouble and so were they. Occasionally, the lion looked back at them showing no aggression. On they went through the cliff sides, hearing the loose gravel slide downwards, traveling in a misty other-world. Night birds swooned overhead, their calls pierced the air. A roaring sound off to the left was getting closer.
“Look. Water. The lion is heading for it.”
To the right, the two saw a man-made campfire.
This is where they would separate from the beast that shared his world. One last look between them…
Thank you. This has been fun. Writers, keep writing.