A whole world on a single page!
The short story morsels of One Page Worlds are flash fiction adventures of all flavors. Every Wednesday will feature a complete story in one page, or the first page of what could be a novel or novelette.
Sharing the fun and geekery is the best part of writing! Please tweet or comment with your guesses on what genre, character, and job is central to each tale. Enjoy touring new universes each week with One Page Worlds!
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Gallery repairs were complete, and each step toward it tensed Ina’s leg muscles.
Three and thirty paintings lined walls the color of parchment. Solitary bursts of color to be admired.
Six plinths bound statues of each era’s beauty to the marble they stood upon. Two elegant humans, two vicious fauna, two powerful deities.
The empty plinth in the center, with flowing script carved on the base, made seven.
“They are all lucky numbers,” Gene said, gesturing so widely the sleeve of his white shirt poked out of the blazer. “Thirty-three. Seven.” He wrapped both arms around Ina’s waist and added, “One.”
She trembled and reached back to run her long-fingered hand through Gene’s hair. “Why must I stand upon the plinth again? I’ve been enjoying this modern age and its pleasures.”
Gene pointed to the script circling Ina’s plinth and the bases of the other six statues. “I’m an engineer. No modern technology or urban planning can break that.”
“I have done my job,” Ina said. She spun and slid her hands along Gene’s arms. “We traveled. We ensured art still has a spirit in this age. It has not been silenced or twisted too badly.”
He pulled her closer, breathed her in, felt her warmth through her thin dress and his blazer. “You know that is why I built this gallery. People we will never meet will leave here feeling thrilled, and you will remain safe from weather and vandalism until you awaken again.”
“Art is an experience,” Ina breathed, back arching against him. “How can I do what I was made to do if I cannot continue to experience it?”
Gene raised an eyebrow, smirking.
His eye fell on the script on Ina’s plinth. It swirled from ivory to black.
The words carved on the six occupied plinths slithered along their bases.
Bestial snarling and commanding yells crashed through the gallery.
Two humans, two beasts, and two deities. Alive. And reaching for them both.
Ina's eyes met Gene's, their shouts sounding more like cheers. “Run!”