Amidst the destruction, Solomon found temptation, many temptations. He could give in to horror and to anger, or pick through the rubble for the veins of value running through the hard-core. Or he might browse the strange maps uncovered behind the collapsed cladding. The choice he made now would define him – a sensitive man, a thief, or an explorer? As explosions exposed the bones of things, so war revealed the essence of a person.
Solomon stretched his arms wide like a Cecil B de Mille prophet and, conscious of the theatricality, roared “Why me?”
Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here.
Fancy sharpening your skill with writing exercises? The Scrivener’s Forge offers a new exercise every month to hone one aspect of your craft. Take a look at this month’s exercise on character and world-building.
Neil MacDonald Author 
Great take Neil. War reveals the true nature of people, both good and bad.
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Thanks, Iain
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Wee note, feel free to delete – I think it’s 2 L’s in Cecil B. DeMille at the end.
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Thanks for the catch, Iain
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Dear Neil,
War reveals the essence of a person. Great line. Who wouldn’t ask the question, “Why me?” Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle
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This gives me so many things to think about. Great story.
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Thanks, Claire
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Sadly war really does expose the essence of a person.
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Very true. I like the metaphor you use. Nicely done.
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Thanks so much
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I love the line ‘As explosions exposed the bones of things, so war revealed the essence of a person.’
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Thanks. Clare
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I love the line ‘As explosions exposed the bones of things, so war revealed the essence of a person.’ So true.
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Thanks, Neel
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Fabulous language here Neil.
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Thanks, Louise
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So much packed into a short space. I wonder which path he’ll take.
xx Rowena
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Thanks, Rowena
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Elegantly executed.
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Thanks, Sandra
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Very intriguing. You leave us with many loose ends, panting for more. Cecil de Mille? Hmmmmm
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Oh dear. Loose ends is the last thing you want in flash fiction
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In a good way! It leads us to want more!
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Love the character and love the title. You could go far with this one and I’d be buying the book 😉
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Thanks so much. Solomon does bear a passing resemblance to a character in a book I’m writing
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I liked the alliteration — veins of value is an especially great phrase.
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Thanks for noticing
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Fantastic image… I imagine many of us would turn plunderer in war (and we would claim it was the righteous thing to do)
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Thanks, Bjorn
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Beautiful writing that brought the devastation of war to life.
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Thanks so much
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Realistic and believable. Good job.
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Thanks so much
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Loved how believable this was and particularly the line about vein of value because it is so true!
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Thanks so much
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Your welcome. It’s how it struck me. 🙂 Really isn’t that the goal of writing? Well, for me it is anyway.
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I like his “split personality” here. On one hand realizing what he does and what he becomes is his choice, but then lamenting as a victim for being forced to choose.
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Thanks for noticing that, Christine
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The fact that he is stopping to think gives me hope that he will choose right.
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He may do. I’m not so sure
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In a situation like this I’m not sure if there even is a “right or wrong.”
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Some beautiful writing here. I like how explosions uncover as does war. For some reason, Heart of Darkness just came to mind, where a situation and temptation could take a person to the dark side.
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Thanks, Sascha
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A lovely character study and some lovely phrases there too Neil – ‘or pick through the rubble for the veins of value running through the hard-core’. Something aobut that phrase works so well. Well written and construsted and pitch perfect
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Thanks, Lynn
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My pleasure 🙂
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pick through the rubble for the veins of value running through the hard-core. Oh! What a line. Truly the best of many in this piece ~ As explosions exposed the bones of things, for example. Even though you only had one hundred words I felt his conflicting emotions – should I be good or evil? And his name….. Kudos all the way around.
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Thanks so mucj Alicia
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The first bit draws awesome parallels and the last bit highlights the cross roads at which we often stand. We have always have a choice but more often than not we just have a split second to make that choice – excellent piece Neil.
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Thanks, Dahlia
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Why me? Indeed.
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I enjoyed his theatricality and would love to know which option he took once he calmed down.
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Thanks Sarah Ann
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I shall not repeat everyone’s comments… just know I am one of the many fans of this piece!
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Thanks Dale
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Great take, very thought provoking. War does expose the essence of a person but too often finds something which would never be exposed in peace time.
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That is an interesting point, Michael. Yes, I agree that what war exposes may remain buried in peace
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I’m sure we all hope we won’t ever be in that situation. Good descriptive writing, Neil. —- Suzanne
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Thanks, Suzanne
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Some great lines in here. Nice one, Neil!
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Thanks, Emily
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A tiny bit of authorial input over character viewpoint in the last couple of sentences, maybe? Liked your unusual take on the mundane and such rocking descriptions.
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