M does a marvellous set of prompts each month, and whilst I couldn’t face anything more than the nonsensical last month after my In-Between effort of May this month I am good to go again and am going to do a series of things that could be the beginning of something. The prompts give me something to latch onto and to see what I can do with them and will be between 250 an d 500 words. They may be the beginning of something they may not. Sometimes I need to see it on paper to know how I feel about an idea and whether it will grow wings all of its own.
Today the prompt was Turning back Tuesday. I am sure you can see why…
https://puttingmyfeetinthedirt.com/2018/07/01/july-writing-prompts/
Serena stared at the news headlines scrolling across her vid implant as she weaved her way through the mass of morning commuters. Grey skies stretched into the distance, the rain seemingly never ending, and pulling her hood over her head to keep off the rain she watched as the report showed the fall of Mombassa and the rout of the Central African Forces.
“Hey watch yourself” barked a dark suited man as she nipped in front of him, clipping the briefcase he was carrying.
“Sorry mate.” She raised a hand by way and smiled to herself. People could be such stiffs.
Stood waiting for the lights to change Serena changed channels to ‘K-Pop-100’. Above, the buzz and whine of the faster vehicles darting through midtown filled the air, their neon undercarriages cutting through the gloom, while down at ground level the heavier transporters and trams rumbled through the puddles.
A breaking newsflash interrupted Serena’s vid as the lights blinked green and momentarily distracted she stepped out into the road. Before she could finish the headline she heard a scream and felt a hand on her shoulder and was dragged back onto the pavement as a heavy goods wagon thundered past inches from her face, the wind throwing back her hood.
“Oh my god” she started but as the words left her mouth everything froze.
Everywhere fell silent, unmoving, people mid stride and cars suspended in the air.
“Who the hell stopped her?” came a harsh voice from the crowd waiting to cross the road. “This was carefully planned. What threw it off?”
“No idea sir” came a second voice, this one more timid than the first. “Timings seem to be about a second out according to my readings. I can rewind and recalibrate if you want. We have enough time to do it over.”
There was a pause as a tall blonde haired man pressed through the bodies in front of him and stood in front of Serena. He wore a long dark coat over black trousers and shirt and his face was gaunt and pale. He reached out a hand and caressed her face.
“Shall I do it sir?” The second man asked as he squeezed past the unmoving pedestrians, a glowing tablet device in his grip. “We have about a minute to redo and resync the time line.”
The taller man sighed and cracked his knuckles before turning quickly and disappearing back into the crowd.
“Okay, rewind and redo,” he shouted, “and let Head Office know she’s incoming.” He paused for a moment before continuing. “And Po” he added menacingly.
“Yes?” said Po as he punched at the screen of the device in his hand.
“Don’t get it wrong.”
Afterwards 