Image courtesy of Priya Bajpal
The colours are bright.
To my left, a lion shadowed by the trees. Watching. To my right a tiger, his orange body striped black. Amber eyes glowing fierce and hungry.
I’ve never felt so scared.
A scream is torn from my throat as I curl into a ball, waiting for him to spring.
Above me, the universe spins and collides. Stars crashing into planets. The end of something.
A warning.
Suddenly, blackness.
Relief.
My chest loosens. Heart slows.
The door cracks open.
‘Don’t you like your new nursery.’ My mother whispers, fiddling with the timer on my nightlight.
My mobile rotates, wallpaper looms.
I cry.
‘Hunted’ was written for Friday Fictioneers. A weekly 100 word flash fiction challenge, inspired by a photo prompt. Join in and/or read the other entries over at host Rochelle’s blog here.
fabricating fiction 
Oh to get into the mind of a baby! We have 5 little grandchildren ranging from 5 months to 6 years… I loved this piece. We presume, don’t we?
5 grandchildren! How lovely! Yes we do assume.
Woah! Magnificent! Loved this.
Thanks so much for reading Akarsh.
Reblogged this on Morgen 'with an e' Bailey and commented:
Indirectly… two regular flash fiction challenges you might like to try.
Thanks very much for sharing Morgen.
Imagination is such a wonderful and terrifying thing
It is indeed – ours included!
Loved your take on the photo prompt – very thought provoking. Well done.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
Thanks very much Susan.
Poor little thing, overwhelmed by all the “supposed to be cute” baby stuff and illustrations. Nice one!
Thanks!
Great take on the prompt…I often wished I knew what my toddlers were thinking…
gramswisewords.blogspot.com
Me too! Thanks for stopping by.
I liked the shift in perspective, Louise. And to go from fear to an adorable baby made it all the more enjoyable.
Thanks Mandie. I appreciate you reading it.
I enjoyed the story from the little one’s perspective, very creative! =)
Thank you Brenda 😃
I felt that the images and words ran after one another, the way a toddler’s basic attention span works, on my second reading. I like the “twist” of putting all this in a young mind.
Thanks very much.
The eyes of a child, always charming, really lovely take
Thanks for reading
you did it again. i didn’t expect the delightful twist in the end. 🙂
Thank you!
Absolutely brilliant! Reading it twice was like reading two different stories!
Click to read my FriFic tale!
So kind Keith. Thanks.
Oh my – this REALLY gave me goosebumps. What an amazing perspective – how terrifying. Makes you want to go and cuddle your babies extra tight!
Fantastic story!
That’s made my day Anna – thanks!
Interesting how the adult comes back in and starts the nightmare over again assuming the child finds all the swirling figures and lights fascinating. Nicely done.
Thanks Lish 😃
Surprised me at the end! Very clever take. Makes one wonder what goes on in the minds of babies.
Thanks very much.
Such a lovely piece!
Thanks Lisa!
Changed the perspective very well at the end. Had to read it again from the eyes of a toddler. Nice one.
Thanks for reading.
What a novel idea. Very good. I didn’t guess the point of view at all as I read it, so the surprise ending was wonderful.
So pleased Margaret. Thanks.
I’ve wondered myself how frightening some toys and images are for children – look how terrified some of them can be of Father Christmases!
Lovely tension and build, an exciting run up and a satisfying pay off. Just great Louise
Yes! Santa can be scary. Thanks for reading Lynn.
My pleasure
Dear Louise,
Somethings are frightening for a child. It probably would’ve been good for the parents to figure it out before doing the nursery. When I was a small child I was terrified of my cousin’s tape recorder microphone. Love the colorful descriptions, build of tension and twist at the end. Delightful.
Shalom,
Rochelle
It’s so interesting the fears we have had/still have. Thanks Rochelle.
When we are little, we can be terrified by things grown-ups rarely understand. Small children, (and older ones who become writers) live and feel their imagination. I was thrown right back to my own childhood, great story.
Thanks. Yes the world can seem terrifying & strange
Unique, imaginative story. Loved it.🙂
So pleased!
If we could imagine the fears that we unwittingly create in their little minds! Most interesting take!
Thanks Dale
You captured the voice of the child perfectly Louise.
Thanks so much
👍
Beautifully done. Creative use of the prompt.
Much appreciated thanks
Awww …. children can create scary images in their mind from what parents think are decorative accessories. A nice tale of bedtime nightmares, Louise.
Isadora 😎
Thanks Isadora