January 2, 2024, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story using the colour red. It can be a descriptor, a setting, a character, or a metaphor. How far can you get in a story by expanding “red”? Go where the prompt leads!
Red Or Yellow? – by Hugh W. Roberts
Red walls? The time machine had red walls!
It also had a large red ‘inviting-to-touch’ button.
I could smell smoke and see flickers of flame before deciding whether to push the red button or the smaller yellow one. But that must have been my drunken imagination playing tricks again.
“Here goes!” I yelled as my hand with red-painted nails pushed the red button.
My eyeballs bulged when the time machine travelled down rather than up or sideways.
“You should have read the instruction book before pressing the red button,” cackled a horned being. “There’s no way back from Hell.”
Written for the 99-word flash fiction challenge hosted by Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch.
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Enjoyed this piece of flash fiction? Then you’ll love ‘More Glimpses.’
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32 short stories and flash fiction pieces take readers to the edge of their imagination.
More Glimpses
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After reading this I’m definitely gonna buy your book Hugh! X
Thank you so much, Carol anne. I hope you enjoy it and that some of the stories do not scare you too much. It would be wonderful if you could leave a review on Amazon once you finished it.
Thanks again.
Yikes! As far as bad choices go, that one tops the cake. Now where did I put that manual for the new air fryer?
It’s probably still in the box (if you still have it). Air fryers are not as bad as a trip to Hell, though.
Yikes. Nobody ever reads the manual. Then again, I’m sure that was on page 53.
That’s what I always say, Dan. It’s got me out of a few corners.
Yikes, me thinks you may have entered hell. :)
He/she has. And there is no way back, not even in that time machine. Should have read the instruction manual.
Always! :)
Yikes! It’s always best to read the instructions, which I am guilty of not doing. I love your story and how you ended it.
Yes, there is a lesson to be learned in this piece of flash about not reading the instruction manual, Eugi. From now on, I’ll be reading them, once I figured out how to get back from Hell, that is.
Ha ha, good one, Hugh!
Brilliant Hugh. Definitely not what I expected. I agree, though, there is definitely something beckoning about red – and as I think about it, maybe I need to change out of red now :)
That sounds like a good idea, Brenda. After all, look what happened to Little Red Riding Hood. But in the words of the brilliant Billy Ocean, ‘red light spells danger…’n
Lol … now I’m thinking I should wear a red dress tomorrow to send a message to the classes … those who still haven’t submitted work 😵😆
That sounds like a great idea. I hope it worked.
Eek always go for the yellow one!
If you know where it will take you. My advice – always read the instruction manual first.
Absolutely Hugh. We have a habit to rush into things with life being so busy. Best to slow down and read the manual.
A big shock, very cleverly done in so few words.
I’m glad you think so. I enjoy my ‘shocking; endings.
Yes Hugh it’s always fun if you can give readers a surprise.
Good one, Hugh. Sometimes those urges can be dangerous and cost you much! Happy Sunday!
That’s true, Liesbet. The saying ‘Look before you leap’ comes to mind. Should have read the instruction manual for that red button first.
What a fabulous story, Hugh! I love the revelation at the end. I also like how the time machine can travel in the four directions.
I had Doctor Who and the TARDIS in mind when I wrote this piece of flash, Colleen. I can’t ever remember seeing the TARDIS travelling down. That got me thinking of what the Doctor would find if the TARDIS took him/her down rather than up or sideways.
You have such a great imagination, Hugh. I did a flash story featuring red one time with the devil driving a red convertible. Red is such a good theme to work with.
It is, isn’t it, Colleen? I wonder when it was that people first associated the colour ‘red’ as danger?
Oops 🫣 There’s a hell of a price to be paid for being too eager! 😉
Look before one leaps comes to mind.
You’d think a time machine would come with an helpful app these days. They certainly will in the future, but by the sounds of this story, you won’t be getting there anyway…
Exactly, Paul. And where is your mobile phone or tablet when you need it the most? Boys and their toys, eh?
Oh! Dear Hugh you should of looked before you leaped !! 💜
It wasn’t me, honest. It was the time machine. But maybe I should have read the instruction manual? But who reads those these day, Willow?
I do Hugh, I do …
But it’s a gender thing women read manuals/ instructions men don’t 💜💜
But what if I told you that the person in this piece of flash was a woman? Now you got me pondering. But I like pondering.
Well there is always the apception that make the rule isn’t there 💜💜