The End

Photo © Jan Wayne Fields

Read chapter 24 or start from the beginning

Reflecting, boating into NY, I was still shaking, nauseous, sweating.

It had been just the three of us on the farm.

“Give me Brogan.”

“If I don’t?”

The gun he pulled was answer enough.

I responded, pulling out a small silver switch box. “The car’s rigged, Dempsey. If I’m dead anyway, he’s better off with me than you.”

He moved toward the car when saw Brogan’s silhouette. “STOP!” I hollered. “You’re not getting him!”

“Stupid, bitch. Yes, I am.”

I flipped the switch. The explosion rocked my world. He turned the gun towards me. I flung myself at him. We landed hard on the ground. A second explosion rang in my ears. Dempsey’s body, limp atop me, muffled all other sounds.

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Read chapter 26

This is a continuation of an experiment. Each week there is a 100 word short story photo prompt challenge posed by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. My challenge to myself is to connect these photos into one seamless story. I hope you have enjoyed the stories. It’s been fun trying to connect these stories. This certainly wasn’t the ending I was expecting to reach when I started this challenge. Thanks, Rochelle, for providing the catalyst for creation!

 

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Princess and the Pea

Photo Prompt © Sandra Cook

Read chapter 23 or start from the beginning.

Chapter 24

My knuckles were white on the wheel. These God damn sheep weren’t helping. Why in Jesus’s name would he want me to bring Brogan to hillbilly country? Perhaps we were being led to a slaughterhouse, too.  As I neared the farm, I couldn’t stop the tears. My heart hammering so hard my whole body vibrated its pounding rhythm. The envelope sat silently screaming on the passenger seat. The message inside clearly letting me know I had no other choice.  The item in the envelope now a lump in my pocket like the princess who slept on a pea.

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Read chapter 25

This is a continuation of an experiment. Each week there is a 100 word short story photo prompt challenge posed by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. My challenge to myself is to connect these photos into one seamless story. I am going to try to end this story with the next 2 pictures. July will be the last month. I wonder how it will end? Click the blue frog to read other stories inspired by this photo.

 

 

Touchdown… Again

 

© Rich Voza

Read chapters 19 and 20 or start from the beginning

Chapter 21

Brogan and I caught the 6am flight from Halifax to Laguardia. The court date wasn’t set yet, but I knew it was just a matter of time. I also knew it was going to be a shit show, high publicity, circus. I wanted to leave Brogan with Ione. Safe. But I wanted the courts to see the sweet, little boy involved in this. Funny thing is, he never said anything about wanting to see his father. Dempsey must know we’re back in New York. I just hope he doesn’t figure out where we’re going.

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Read chapter 22

This is a continuation of an experiment. Each week there is a 100 word short story photo prompt challenge posed by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. My challenge to myself is to connect these photos into one seamless story. Click the blue frog to read other stories inspired by this photo.

The Perfect Spot

Photo Prompt © Douglas M. MacIlroy

Chapter 20

Read chapter 19 or start from the beginning

“Thanks for taking me cave diving. I think I was in University the last time I went diving and that wasn’t yesterday. If what you say is true, no one knows about that spot but us, even better.”

“I’ve been diving there for years. Never seen anyone else. Have you worn a diving helmet before?”

“My dad used to have one when I was growing up. I never used it. Mind if I try it out next time?”

However, the only thought clouding Dempsey’s mind was how to get that woman down there permanently before she ran her big mouth to any more media outlets.

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Read chapter 21

This is a continuation of an experiment. Each week there is a 100 word short story photo prompt challenge posed by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. My challenge to myself is to connect these photos into one seamless story. Click the blue frog to read other stories inspired by this photo.

 

The Serene Before the Stress

Piya Singh

Read chapters 17 and 18 or start from the beginning

Chapter 19

Ione showed me this place where it’s so serene you could imagine never leaving. A tumbling stream in the distance. Birds in the branches. Wind in the trees. Sun on your face. Your toddler climbing everything climbable. I needed this quiet because life was going to get loud. Stressful. Demanding. His lawyers tracked me down at Ione’s. Demanded to know what I had released to the media. In not so many words, threatened hired guns. I guess it’s time Brogan and I headed back to NY. God help us all…

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Read chapter 20

I apologize for the long wait between chapters. I’ve been having trouble deciding which direction the story the should take and making it fit the photos. Also, life is getting busier with the weather finally warming up. Thanks for your patience. This story will go on!

This is a continuation of an experiment. Each week there is a 100 word short story photo prompt challenge posed by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. My challenge to myself is to connect these photos into one seamless story. Click the blue frog to read other stories inspired by this photo.

 

The First Clue

Photo Prompt © Ceayr

Read the last chapter or start from the beginning.

Good friends are great for pointing out flaws we try to justify. Ione was definitely a great friend. Over our cups of tea we reminisced about the good old days.

“Remember that private charter boat we won? That’s when I knew Dempsey wasn’t the kind of father he said he’d be.” She told me.

“I remember. Brogan was only a couple months old.”

“He loved that boat, though. Nothing like being on the water to put a baby to sleep.”

The feeling of my baby boy asleep in my arms brought tears to my eyes. “Then I gave Brogan to Dempsey so I could pee.” The image of my return and seeing Dempsey dangling my baby boy by his ankle over the water made me sob uncontrollably.

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Read chapter 19

This is a continuation of an experiment. Each week there is a 100 word short story photo prompt challenge posed by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. My challenge to myself is to connect these photos into one seamless story. Click the blue frog to read other stories inspired by this photo.

The Next Move

PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

Read the last chapter or start from the beginning.

Chapter 17

I made record time to Ione’s and hugged Brogan so tight… Now, from our third floor bedroom, I could see the rains coming, in more ways than one. It was going to be a shit storm. CNN and the New York Times have been contacted. Dempsey wasn’t going to be happy. Actually, if he wasn’t prepared to kill me before, he will be when they contact him. He was running a multimillion dollar company. Too bad he was taking short cuts. Too bad he killed employees to quiet them. I just have to turn in the book that proves it all.

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Read chapter 18

This is a continuation of an experiment. Each week there is a 100 word short story photo prompt challenge posed by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. My challenge to myself is to connect these photos into one seamless story. Click the blue frog to read other stories inspired by this photo.

The Ties That Bind

PHOTO PROMPT © Madison Woods

 Read chapter 15 or start from the beginning.

Chapter 16

“Do you want us to chase him down?” The gleam in their eyes said they’d love to.

15 minutes later the man in the black sedan was being led at shotgun point back to the abandoned bark mill. In his rush to get out he had gotten lost.

Using a length of barbed wire, they gingerly wrapped it around him, effectively tying him to the post without hurting him. If he moved, however…

“Should we leave him?” I asked.

“We saw what he did to you. What he could have done.”

“Give him a few days to enjoy the serenity of the wilderness.”

I had the book back. It was time to go public.

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Read the next chapter

This is a continuation of an experiment. Each week there is a 100 word short story photo prompt challenge posed by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. My challenge to myself is to connect these photos into one seamless story. Click the blue frog to read other stories inspired by this photo.

The Man in the Black Sedan

 

Photo Prompt © Kent Bonham

Read Chapter 14 or start from the beginning.

Chapter 15

“Where’s Brogan?” he shouted.

“Gone. Far from here, now, I imagine!” He smacked me. It burned but I refused to cry. “Please untie me.”

“No. I’ve been following you all over this backwoods island. Dempsey doesn’t want you dead, just quiet. He needs to know you won’t go talking.” He smacked my face again.

“I promise!”

“Not good enough!”

“Get your hands off me, pig!” But I couldn’t move.

Suddenly, a gunshot echoed through the woods and off the wall of this abandoned bark mill. The man from the black sedan jerk his head around. He grabbed the book and started running. Through the woods came the three young men who brought me here, one with a rifle.

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Read chapter 16

This is a continuation of an experiment. Each week there is a 100 word short story photo prompt challenge posed by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. My challenge to myself is to connect these photos into one seamless story. Click the blue frog to read other stories inspired by this photo.

Into the Woods

 

PHOTO PROMPT © J Hardy Carroll

Read chapter 13 or start from the beginning

Chapter 14

“Thank you, Ione. I owe you.”

My watch says that was 5 hours ago. She’ll be another hour. The black sedan was still parked at St. Joseph’s where those boys took my car. He must have orders to only follow. But I couldn’t be sure.

Those “boys” were a God send. Good guys who’s idea of a good time involves mayhem. “If you need a place to hide, we’ve got a place” they told me. With Ione coming for Brogan, I nervously accepted.

An hour later I was in an abandoned bark mill. Sitting against the cold bricks, I knew I needed to make one more phone call.

Just as soon as I’m in cell phone range.

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Read the next chapter

This is a continuation of an experiment. I think this story is about to make a u-turn! Each week there is a 100 word short story photo prompt challenge posed by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. My challenge to myself is to connect these photos into one seamless story. Click the blue frog to read other stories inspired by this photo.