Sparks arc, zigzagging up between the conductors. Mr. Henderson thinks he’s demonstrating properties of electricity. In fact, he has opened a door.
I peer closer. But I’m not learning about short circuits. The air crackles with brimstone and I see tiny angels ascending the ladder to heaven. For a moment, the heavenly kingdom becomes visible.
The seraphim, in high voices that only I and dogs can hear, chant “holy, holy, holy.”
Their Lord is angry. They issue my instructions and, with grim determination, I steel myself for the task.
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
Neil MacDonald Author 
Dear Neil,
Quite a task ahead of him.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Let’s hope the angels are telling him to do something good
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Not a Lord you want to anger 🙂 Well-told Neil! Reminds me of my Christian days 😦
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The Lord is subtle and quick to anger
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I’ve always had a problem with the concept an angry god. I mean, who’s at fault if we’re not perfect? You can’t blame everything on a fallen angel. Vivid writing 🙂
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Thanks so much, Jilly.
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Grim determination makes me think it’s not something nice he’s been asked to do. I wish my Physics class had been so dramatic.
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No, not nice at all
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Shades of Tolkien and duty to be undertaken
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It may not be the forces of Mordor he’s off to attack
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An avenging angel, how cool!
Nice one, Neil
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Thanks so much
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Great evocation of the Tesla coil. Don’t know if you’ve seen the German series Dark. They have a fair amount of this.
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Thanks, Joshua. My father used to do tricks with electricity when I were a lad
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I’m thinking the Lord is angry with Mr Henderson for revealing more than was good for us all. Great take, Neil.
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Thanks so much, Sandra
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Wonderful!
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Thanks so much, Lizy
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Good take on the prompt. I think your protagonist has grasped the wrong end of the stick – here’s hoping he doesn’t create too much mayhem.
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I think the others would do well to evacuate the building now
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If he fails in his task I dread to think what the angry Lord will cast upon him.
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Perhaps, worse still if he succeeds
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voices that only I and dogs can hear – love this line.
Your story left me feeling cold, wondering, not wanting to know. Very well done. Thank you.
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Thanks so much. Lish
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It’s always that mad scientist that lets us all in for it!
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Sometimes the mad politician, to be fair
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Haha! So true.
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i don’t envy him at all.
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No. It’s an unenviable situation
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Shocking! (No? All right.) I think it’s time for “Jacob” to get a nice new jacket that ties in the back and a room with soft walls.
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That may be safest for everyone around him
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Oooh, fire and brimstone! I like that the tiny angels have itty bitty voices, too!
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He’s of a somewhat fundamentalist mindset
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Oh no, the Lord is angry! Best of luck on the task ahead! Enjoyed your story 🙂
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Thanks so much
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You’re very welcome 😊
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Oh dear. Now ya went and done it. Nice approach, Neil.
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some sort of dark angel I think, good stuff as ever, and I see you’ve written a book, thats ace. I’ll get a copy presently
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Thanks so much. As for the novel, it was inspired by the scandal about undercover policemen having relations with their targets. Not entirely coincidentally, the Under Cover Policing Enquiry begins hearings in November
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Just in time to read the book before. Well done you 😎👍
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Thanks so much
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Great story! A creative take on the prompt.
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Thanks so much
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I fear Mr Henderson is about to discover there are things no mortal should see.
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Mr Henderson is quite an obsessive man, He may not notice
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Love this kind of story.
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Thanks so much, Trish
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Now that is a chemistry class!
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It set the course for the rest of his brief life
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Not a pleasant task I think awaits you.
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Many may need to be sacrificed
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Okay, that’s the first few words of your newest novel, right? Because I REALLY want to know what’s going to happen!
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No, sorry. It’s just another Friday Fictioneers. The first words of my novel are “Waiting is the mother of change. The hard wooden bench aches my buttocks, making a torment of the wait. These seats assert the court’s grandeur, offering only the most austere comfort. I squirm, and scratch my beard. But the skin is tender and newly-shaven. Change. I am no
longer bearded, no longer Zami.”
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Well, now I have to go look into that! Sounds most interesting, Neil 🙂
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Thanks, Linda
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Oh those fire angels inspired us this week. Fascinating idea.
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Thanks so mich, Tannille
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I dread to think what the task might be. This story suits the prompt perfectly, jolly well done – that third sentence was practically hair-raising!
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Thanks so much, Siobhan
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I like the idea of opening a gateway or door into heaven sparked by an energy field. If only Faraday had realised earlier, the use of the word brimstone, I think, dates the event in the 1800 -1900 period. Great imagination.
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Heaven.
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Thanks so much, James
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Oh oh…
I have a feeling this will not end well
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It could get rather messy
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Indeed!
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Why didn’t I have classes like this in school? That was a fabulous description indeed.
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Thanks so much
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Ha! Imagine getting a quest in physics class! That might make physics worth sitting in on. What shall it be?!
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Thanks, Sascha
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