Welcome to the Wednesday Briefers flash
group. The short stories have a maximum of a 1000 word count plus links at the
bottom to the other flashers. The prompts for this week are:
The game is afoot!"
or "Feet don't fail me now"
or a feat of strength
or alligator, clip, residue
or use a storm in some way
or "You are the wind beneath my wings"
or "Come sail away"
or "Please pass the ..."
or find a creative use for mayonnaise
or make a My Favorite Martian reference.
All
That He Desires #23
Another week passed as Anslee and Jules danced
around each other. The sexual tension was thick, but Anslee kept to his promise
not to force Jules. The one thing Anslee did demand was Jules’ company. So
Jules was expecting an all-out fight when he reminded Anslee about his classes.
Jules had invested too much in getting his degree to just drop out now.
Surprisingly, there wasn’t an argument from Anslee.
Instead, Anslee had taken Jules into his multi-car
garage and told him he could drive any of the vehicles to the campus. He agreed
Jules needed to finish college. The only problem that cropped up was Jules
couldn’t find one single vehicle to borrow that didn’t cost as much as a small
house. After making Anslee tell him the cost of each vehicle, Jules settled on
the cheapest one Anslee owned.
Friday evening rolled around once again and Jules
found himself on the tennis court, trying to hit a small yellow ball back to
Anslee. No one was more relieved than him when dark clouds moved in and halted
the game. As lightning flashed, both men hurried off the court, to cover. There
was a little storage building near the courts. They both ducked under the
awning.
“Saved by the bell.” Jules glanced at the sky.
“Well, in this case… saved by the rain.”
Anslee glanced at the darkening sky too. A strong
breeze swirled around them. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you somehow
planned this.”
Jules shrugged. “Hey, I managed to hit that stupid
little ball a few times. What can I say? Tennis may not be my game.”
“You did well for a beginner. We’ll have to keep
practicing.”
“Oh goodie.” Jules wiped his sweaty forehead, then
pushed his hair out of his eyes. “The wind’s really picking up. I don’t like
this funny greenish color the sky is, either. Maybe we need to make a run for
the house before this gets really bad.”
The trees whipped back and forth, leaves swirling in
the howling wind. Thunder boomed ominously nearby. Jules shivered. The sky had
darkened so much it looked as though night had fallen.
Anslee pulled his cell out of his pocket. “Let’s
just see what’s coming at us.”
“Good idea. Better yet, let’s get inside then check the radar. I don’t like this.
It looks scary out here.”
Anslee frowned as lightning
flashed. Both men hurried off the court to find cover. Lightning skipped from
cloud to cloud in a macabre, deadly dance. “There’s a big red glob headed in
our direction. Says we’re under a severe thunderstorm warning. Yes, it might be
best to get indoors. I’ll be right behind you.”
No sooner than Anslee spoke, the skies opened up and
the rain came down with a vengeance. Jules raced toward the house. The wind ripped
at him as the rain drenched him to the skin. He wiped at his eyes as he ran,
his vision blurring.
He was nearly to Anslee’s house when something heavy
hit him, knocking him forward. Jules barely had time to get his hands up to
break his fall. With a loud grunt, he hit the rain-soaked ground as something
heavy landed on his back.
Air knocked out of him, all Jules could do was think
the nasty words that rushed through his mind. Whatever was on him moved and
Jules was jerked onto his back. Anslee was above him, shouting. Jules couldn’t
make out much of what he was saying thanks to the shrieking wind and thunder.
What few words he could catch were in another language, something he’d never
heard before. Anslee’s long wet hair was plastered to his head and his eyes
were bulging. For the first time ever, Anslee looked dangerous.
Before Jules could draw enough air in his lungs to
ask what the hell was going on, Anslee yanked him up and Jules stumbled to his
feet. It was then Jules saw the dead branch that lay so close to them. The
thing was as big as his torso… and was so damn close to… him. As in, right where he had been just a moment before.
Jules swayed where he stood. If Anslee hadn’t knocked him forward…
“House! Get to the house!”
Anslee grabbed Jules and propelled him the last few
feet. He yanked the door open and practically threw Jules inside. The wailing
wind flew through the house as Anslee battled to close the door.
Jules stood stunned, unable to move or think, as
Anslee turned to look at him.
“Are you okay?” Anslee rushed to Jules. His hands moved
over Jules’ body, searching. “Little one, speak to me. Are you hurt? Did I hurt
you when I pushed you down? Jules!”
Jules stood trembling, partly from being wet and
partly from shock. “That limb… Anslee. That thing was huge. It was as big
around as me. If it had hit me…”
“Easy now.” Anslee wrapped his arms around Jules. “I
know. I saw it falling. I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared. Never in my
life have I felt such fear. I knew it was going to hit you. It was like
everything slowed down and I could plainly see
where the damn thing was going to land…. right on top of you.”
Jules’ teeth were chattering. “It… it… oh my God, it
could have killed me. Anslee, it could have killed
me!”
Anslee rocked Jules gently. “I know. I never want to
feel such helplessness again. I was afraid I wouldn’t get to you in time.”
Anslee rubbed his hands up and down Jules’ back. “Let’s get you out of these
wet clothes and into something warm. Then I think a good stiff drink would be
called for, don’t you?”
Jules leaned back so he could see Anslee’s face. “I
could have died without… without ever…”
“Without ever what?”
Jules gazed into Anslee’s eyes. “Without ever
knowing you.”
TBC
Make sure to visit the other Briefers!
~Remember, I plan to finish this up at the end of June and start Nighttime Promises.
