Across the water, something glistened. Had he finally found it?
Racing, stumbling through waves, he slipped. The water dragged him under. He kicked and thrashed for an age.
Ever sinking, tired now. He’d searched for nothing.
A voice, otherworldly and infinite, reached him beneath the river’s roar, “fight, human.”
One final moment, through agony, he gave his last, then stilled.
He gasped, heaved painfully. Air?
He’d finally found it, waiting nearby, whole worlds glistening within. He touched it. It thrummed, infinite, otherworldly. Impressed? Shoulders squared, he disappeared with it, leaving his world behind.
After-all, he hadn’t fought for nothing.
© 2021 Rebecca Glaessner
September 30: Flash Fiction Challenge « Carrot Ranch
In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story uses the phrase, “across the water.” It can be any body of water distant or close. Who (or what) is crossing the water and why? Go where the prompt leads!
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Rebecca Glaessner Author 
Like good sci-fi this makes the reader think and wonder. I imagined kind of an earth origin story where what he found and felt and left for was a bare, empty earth where he would be called ‘god’.
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Very cool idea Michael! I’m glad you got some thought inspiration from this one. I wonder now, does that mean he becomes immortal and is a god over all the creatures yet to evolve on Earth? Including us.. hmm.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving your thoughts!
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I think I would imagine him becoming a god over all of Earth but I don’t know about immortal. But then if he’s not immortal then it might be a boring story because not much will happen for the first 4+ billion years. I guess the key is what it was the otherworldly thing he found that contained whole worlds is. Time machine would be cool but too Doctor Whoish. I leave it up to you! :)
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I agree, too Dr Who’ish. Perhaps it’s a god-like consciousness containing whole worlds.. hmmm 🤔
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Thrummed holds so much power to this story, Rebecca. It sets the otherworldly element and yet offers a promise of order and structure.
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I like ‘thrummed’ for the same reasons, you’ve described how the word felt while writing.
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Sci-fi at its best, Rebecca. Lots of questions come to mind, but that’s what makes this piece of flash fiction shine.
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Thanks Hugh! Sci-fi is fantastic for our thought machines. Glad this one worked to get them questions percolating.
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After all, he hadn’t fought for nothing – “Fight Human” the roar saved him, boosted him, my curiousity travelled with him, what else was there 😍😍😍 Nice take on prompt Rebecca 🥂✍️ Impressed🎉
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Your praise is so humbling Simon. It’s wonderful you felt so much from this piece. I’m curious to see what came next for him too.
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Yes, there is always the other side, and super curious to know what else 😍 You are welcome Rebecca 🥰
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I like the mystery and mystical feel of this. The last line is very effective, especially after all the struggle and after he disappears with it.
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Thanks D. I enjoy writing mysteries, the opportunity for twist endings is fun. I like that you got a mystical air from this too, the limitless scope of the universe carries a sense of wonder for me so it’s satisfying to see it come through for others.
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“Fight, Human,” and so he did. Well done, Rebecca.
~nan
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Thanks, Nan. This one was a fight to get the words fitting right.
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