I WRITE # FRIDAY FLASH

Maude's Inevitable End!

by 

Carolyn Brown

 A 400+ word Flash Fiction set in ancient times on a planet similar to Earth. The castle 'Maude' desperately endeavours to fend off their attackers, but unfortunately to no avail.This story is what played out through one man's eyes.

I can remember the gleam of the sword as it was raised above my assailants head, just before he struck down.  Its brilliant shine had mesmerized me and I had found myself, for those few short moments, captured by its beauty.  Unfortunately, that was all it took for my attacker to strike me down....

We had battled furiously for many hours fending off this interminable foe, who had broken through the fortress wall and stormed our barricades.

Overpowered by their sheer force and number, we had succumbed to their might.  Everyone, was fighting for their lives.  As I had tried to fend off my opposition, I noticed that even the women living under our protection here in Maude, had taken up arms and were also fighting our foe!  The children were helping in their own way too, by lending a hand.  They were tripping our enemy at any opportunity from hidden vantage points under carts and walls.


For one split second, I had been amused by a woman throwing a bucket full of some unknown waste, down from an upper story window, covering several of the enemy with filth, as the battle pressed on.


These images and more had passed before me as if I was watching them unfold in slow motion. Then I too, like my comrades before me,was overcome by the pain of my wound and I had collapsed slowly to the ground, adding to the crumpled heap.


I had lost count of the number I had struck down, but still they came.  The lines of soldiers continued to pour through the broken gates, in an endless stream.  I knew we would be overtaken by this strong opponent, but none of my fellow kinsmen would give up and allow them to take us without a fight!  


Fallen bodies, blood and guts lined the courtyard until it had become hard to move freely to fight, without stumbling over a corpse. Now, with my fall, I would be joining the mounting pile.


As I gritted my teeth, awaiting the impact of my body to hit the ground I heard a large explosion ring out around me, and I knew this battle was now lost to not just me, but also my kinsmen!


The last thing I saw was the brightness of the light, the last thing I heard were the screams of the fallen, then my eyes fluttered and closed shut for the very last time and a gentle peace overcame me!