I had to put them beyond use, these keys. Surely you understand? Once that door is opened again, nobody would be safe. Paint? No, it’s not paint—it’s acid. The keys are warping and melting just as what lies beyond the gate is warped.
There’s always someone curious enough or with the swaggering bravado to want to take a little peek. I couldn’t risk that.
The tagged one? Why, the key to our house, We can never return.—our age is done. The Earth belongs to the young ones now.
.
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 
Great Neil – you’ve packed a massive amount of world-building and emotional into a few lines – love the cosmic horror🙌
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Thanks so much.
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You are very welcome
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Terrific piece, Neil.
And you clearly understood the prompt somewhat better than I did!
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Thanks so much. I understood it differenty only
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You might return in a different body.
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The age of the gods has ended
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😂😂
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That’s what the young ones think, but I refuse to die for at least another few years yet. 😉
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Praise be
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Dear Neil,
The future belongs to the young indeed. That’s what frightens me.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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and after we’ve taken such good care of things too
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🤣
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And the way it is looking- I think I am ok with that! Darkly done!
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Thanks so much, Violet
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A fascinating metaphorical tale, Neil. There is a sense of timelessness to it that makes it work well.
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I suspect there are some gate or doors that deserve to be locked forever, still until you open up how will you ever know?
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Wonderful story, Neil. Perfect for Earth Day, too. Maybe the next generation will reverse some of the damage (probably not but we can hope).
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Thanks so much, Dale. I believe they’ll do a better job. For them, it’s existentia.
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I like that.
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once the door was closed, why open it? remember, curiosity killed the cat.
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Their thinking exactly
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This is my kind of story, Neil: vague and menacing. 🙂 Yes, there is always someone who is brave or stupid enough to take a peek, no matter what warnings you give them. A fatal flaw of human curiosity, I guess.
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Thanks so much, David
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Deeply metaphoric.
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Thanks so much, Dawn
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A terrific take, Neil. The final few words are too true.
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Thanks so much, Keith
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Ooh wow… very, very deep. Great take, Neil!
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Thanks so much, Chris
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I never want to open that door. Very engaging piece. Is it an excerpt from somewhere? I felt like reading more.
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Thanks so much. It’s a stand-alone piece
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That’s a creative take on the prompt!
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Thanks so much
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This is great. Hints of benevolent or dark power, and beware when they return. Some of them won’t be so willing to let go and have heard of lock picking.
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Thanks so much
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And all this time I thought those were the keys to the Executive washroom.
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Could have been a very unfortunate incident
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What chaos awaits beyond the fall of the gods? Or will that finally end the chaos?
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They are a rambunctious brawling lot, the gods
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I really liked the layers and how well this fit that photo
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Thanks so much
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😀
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Oooo I love this Neil!
Destroying the keys so they cannot return. Brilliant
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Thanks so much. Laurie
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