A to Z: C - Chapel & Can

My A to Z Challenge: Flash fiction written using two words and a photo for inspiration. How did I chose the words? First I brought up a noun list for each letter, then averted my eyes, scrolled the mouse down, stopped and double-clicked. That was the word! The second word was chosen the same way but from a dictionary list of words.
NOTE: Photos are from free to use photo sites such as Pixabay.com and Morguefile.com. No attribution necessary.

He was lost and he knew it. In fact, he welcomed it. Life had been boring lately, things came to easily to him and he wanted, no, needed a challenge. He shifted the weight of the backpack from one shoulder to the other, then let it settle back into a comfortable position.

Foot deep snow had slowed his steps earlier, now past that, he paused to survey his surroundings. He was deep into the  forest, a long way from the main road he'd left several hours ago. Or was it days ago? He rubbed his forehead wondering why his memory seemed so foggy. Maybe I need to eat. He looked for a good spot to sit for a bit and spied a huge boulder ahead, high enough for the top to be dry.

He clambered up the rock, shrugged off his pack and pulled out a pack of jerky and his container of water. This is all I need, to heck with city life and the corporate BS. Survival. Do what you have to in order to stay alive. The simple life.

Refreshed, he remained on the rock, the sun warm on his back. He listened to the birds and watched a rabbit nibble on the bark of a small tree in a bare patch of ground. I should trap that rabbit and eat it. But he knew he wouldn't. At least not now when he still had plenty of provisions. Maybe later, when he needed food. He noticed the sun was setting and slid down, continuing his trek. 

He maintained a lookout for a spot suitable for spending the night. He didn't need much- He almost tripped, he stopped so abruptly. Just off to the side of the his path was a small wooden structure. He stared at it, then looked around to see if someone was watching him. Was it a trap?

He took small steps towards the structure which looked like a small chapel, at least from the front. What was it doing out here in the middle of nowhere? Who had built it? And why? He stood in front of it and studied the carved wooden door. There was a can with a sign on it: ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK. He laughed. That sounded like a dare. He pulled up the sign and looked at the back. Ah, the fine print. In small block letters was another warning. ONLY FOR THOSE WHO SEEK FREEDOM. Wasn't that exactly what he was looking for?

He took one step up and put his hand on the door handle. A vision flashed but too fleeting for him to capture. He twisted the knob to the right but it wouldn't move. He twisted it to the left and heard, no, felt the tumblers in the lock release. He took a deep breath, exhaled, pushed on the door and took one step forward.

A blast of hot air hit him in the face and forced him to close his eyes. Music assaulted his ears, something island sounding, from the Caribbean maybe. He swore he could smell coconut and bananas. And rum! Was this his new found paradise? He didn't question what had just happened, he just accepted.

The blast of hot air stopped and he opened his eyes as the door slammed behind him. He was in a small room that appeared to made of concrete. An empty room. The music got louder and the smells stronger as he ran from wall to wall and then back to the door. I've got to get out, what kind of hell is this? He struggled with the door knob but it wouldn't budge. He banged on it. "Let me out! I need to get out. Please!"

He was rewarded with silence. The music stopped and the tropical odors faded away. A crackle filled the air and a loud voice declared, "You are free" as the darkness closed around him.

Stay Calm and Read Flash Fiction!

  

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