💯 Story Challenge

Alice Unchained

№53 — Stolen from one land, marooned on another.

A woman with a name that sounded like Alice, if you said it in the voice and language of those strange pale faces that came to their village, panicked.

The water rushed in and the darkness grew wet and loud and dangerous. The others in the dark hold screamed.

People from her village and the villages around them, enemies, friends and family all thrust together in one final tomb.

Her chains held her in place as the water rose higher and higher. No one came to free them.They called to their ancestors asking for help. Pleading with them to show them the path outside.

Alice, if that was her name, saw one pale face hurrying, one wide-eyed and determined toward. Ax in hand he swung down against their chains. Once, twice, three times and the central chain broke.

The man yelled at them, he pulled at them, in frustration he grabbed hold of Alice and swam with her to the surface.

The water was bitterly cold and Alice’s teeth chattered as she gasped for air. The man shouted something at her, but she couldn’t understand him.

He towed her to the shore and Alice collapsed on the muddy bank, coughing and retching up water.

She wondered what land this was and what future it held for her.

💯 Story Challenge (53/100)

Zane Dickens’ stories go bump in the night, ka-boom in space, and roar with adventure in fabled lands. And if he can help it, there’s a streak of humour too. Get his stories in your inbox 📬

He started the 💯 Story Challenge, and he hopes you’ll forgive him.

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