Photo Prompt Sarah Ann Hall
How Sasha loved his women, lined up before him nervously waiting to be led to the ball like splendid mares from a stable.
He alone had chosen their gowns, for he knew what was best for each.
Cerulean-blue for green-eyed Tatiana, moss-green for blonde-haired Marie.
But where was his prize? His Anna? His pride?
Inside a flurry of robes; with a curse and a promise, Sasha burst into her rooms.
A quarter of a mile away, barefooted Anna, dressed in a simple grey shift and rough woolen cape, heard the shot that killed her guard.
(100-words)
Up From the Ashes 
Creepy atmosphere! I’m not quite sure what happened at the end. Did he kill himself? Or did somebody else shoot him?
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Sasha killed the guard that was supposed to be keeping Anna in her place.
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Ah. Thanks
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Run! I really like how you’ve taken the picture and gone somewhere completely different with it.
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Thanks, Claire. The vases/plant stands? reminded me of straight-backed women in beautiful dresses, huddled together, waiting for something to happen.
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I hope she makes it – clever use of the prompt, well done.
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Thanks, Iain. I love the color of the glazes and wondered what they would look like woven into fabric.
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Must have been a very loyal guard to die covering her escape.
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Thanks for realizing that’s what happened. Her guard was in love with her, too ~ I think.
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Well that would seal the deal, of course.
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How many rooms did she have? Nice opening scene. This could play out for quite a while.
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As Sasha’s favorite, I see her living in sort of a suite. Thanks for wondering, Russell.
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Ah, special priviledges–if you want to call it that.
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Great use of the prompt.
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Thank you, Trent. Doing my best to think outside the box these days.
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Very much outside of the box, in a very good way (I hope she escaped!)
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caught in the act
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Oh! I hadn’t thought of that!
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Nice one, Alicia. With all the Russian names in the story, I just hope Anna finds some footwear pronto.
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and I absolutely liked the sentence ‘like mares from his stable.’ Says everything about Sasha, and a little bit more.
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I hoped that would make him absolutely heartless. Thanks for noticing.
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Ha! Me too! I don’t know exactly why I didn’t give her any shoes. Maybe the 100-word limit?
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Creeps!
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I know. Perhaps inspired by all the news about nasty men taking advantage of both women and boys. Thanks, Jelli. (And I’m SO sorry about your friends.)
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Thank you, Alicia. It’s going to be a very long week, indeed. But, dealing with the dying and their families is what I’ve always done, so it feels normal, even if draining.
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Ouch.. .that’s a bad guy… wonder if his women were about to be sold…
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Oh! Something else I hadn’t thought about. Thanks for wondering, Bjorn.
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Talk about going outside the box on this one! I loved all the references to being kept women. Good on her for getting free…
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Thanks, Dale. That’s what Sasha gets for trying to keep a fiery woman.
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Indeed!!
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Dark and creepy. Run, Anna, run! Nice one 🙂
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Thanks, Ali.
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Great to find a tale inspired by the picture rather than about it! Excellent.
Click to read my FriFic!
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Thanks for the kind comment, Keith.
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An arousing story, Lish. Women are treated so badly today, still. I like that Anna escaped. And am glad she didn’t kill him. I think… I hope.
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No, she didn’t kill him. I think that would have been the end of her. Sasha killed her guard for not paying attention. I don’t think I made that clear enough. Dang that 100-word limit. (But it keeps us sharp, doesn’t it?) Glad you stopped by, Lish
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I was hoping she didn’t kill him. Felt that might be a step too far for her. My pleasure stopping by. Always.
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🙂
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Great atmosphere, creepy imagery. Great take on the prompt.
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Thank you so very much.
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Dear Lish,
Applause for writing outside the box! You’ve won my heart with this one. Sasha sounds über creepy. Good for Anna. I hope she is able to make a complete escape. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle. I had fun thinking outside the box. Lish
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Thank God she escaped. Good for her!
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She needs to keep on running! Thanks for reading and commenting too.
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👍
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Brilliant take on the prompt! The first sentence sets the stage perfectly, and the ending is superb.
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Thanks very much!
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My pleasure.
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Dear Alicia,
What an excellent story, and what a delightful use of the prompt!
I hope Anna escapes from her gilded cage.
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Me, too! Thanks, Penny.
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I had no idea where you were going until the end. A good way to present your story. Keep us waiting for more which I think was great. More please …..
Isadora 😎
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Wouldn’t it be grand to take some our 100-word stories and expand them? Thanks so much for wanting more. Alicia
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I often think ablout that than the next challenge comes up and I change my mind. Perhaps, one day I can get organized enough to either expand one of my stories or just publish these short 100 stories. Do you have any extar time you can give …. say aout 4 hours … LOLOL
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My sister keeps saying I should put some of my best into a book, but then I’d either need to find new pictures or contact the photographer and ask for permission to use their work….
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Damn, this was a good one, Alicia.
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Why, thank you, kind sir!
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Such a unique take on the photo prompt. Liked this very much!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thank you.
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Sasha the control freak. Let’s hope the remaining girls escape his ire. Perhaps the might make a run for it in the confusion? I love how you used the prompt; those jardinieres are morphing into women and I look.
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A control freak indeed. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
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Loved the spin you took with this prompt, though I would have really liked Sasha to be on the receiving end of that shot, not Anna’s guard! Great tale Alicia
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Maybe he’ll get his come-uppins later. Thanks for stopping by.
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Let’s hope so! My pleasure as always
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Great take and quite current. He sounds quite the controlling perv and she needs to return with help to sort him out
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Yes! Once she finds some shoes and gets out of the sack-cloth! Thanks, Michael.
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Wonderful take on the prompt!
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Thank you, Dawn
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