A cautionary message: This story is a bit unpleasant and I apologise if this is just too dark.
It was written for the 50 Word Thursday challenge, this week hosted by Deb Whittam. Click on the link to take part, the challenge ends on Wednesday:
https://debbiewhittam.wordpress.com/2020/05/15/50-word-thursday-72/
And the words:
“She had thought it a game.” – Madeline Hunter’s A Devil of a Duke.
Games Devil’s Play
They had been chatting online for weeks. Of course, she’d been chatting to quite a few guys while this stupid lockdown was happening. She enjoyed playing the game, chatting guys up and sending them pictures. Her friends said she was fickle and only doing it for attention, which she supposed was true at first, but then he’d come along.
Somehow, he’d been different and more intense. He’d chased her, he seemed to know how her mind worked and they talked about the things they wanted. He seemed to be the man of her dreams.
She’d been overcome by the emotions that his words had created inside her. She found herself dreaming about him, what he’d be like.
She fantasised about the intimacy that they would enjoy together.
Tottering on the precipice, she’d finally given in to his suggestion and agreed to meet up, breaking lockdown.
As she waited on the deserted pier, the wind made her shiver. It had been a glorious day, so she’d worn a short skirt and a light cotton blouse. Was it the wind or the fact she was alone yet she felt someone staring at her?
Suddenly she caught sight of him standing just inside the hut where the pier train was stored. He beckoned her over and she dashed across to him.
Then he grabbed her hungrily. She had thought it a game but now reality came crashing home when he forced her to the floor and there was nobody to hear her scream.
[250 Words]
I have also included the following word prompts:
https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2020/05/17/intimacy/
https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2020/05/17/rdp-sunday-overcome/#like-9207
Your story does bring unpleasant scenes to mind, but I don’t think it’s “dark” as much as real. The story a million girls could tell, or have told, but rarely reported. Different settings. This whole dating idea our society encourages is risky; if a gal’s off somewhere alone with a man she doesn’t know very well, she’s taking a serious risk — which is why various groups say, “Together, okay. But never ALONE.”
I did wonder about your title. Is it “Games Devils Play” or Games: Devil’s Play”? Either would work.
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Thank you. Yes, that’s very true. It’s Games Devils Play. Should be anyway. 🙂
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Dark? Yes.
Realistic? Unfortunately, yes.
Good? Definitely!
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Thank you, I’m glad you thought it was a well written tale. 🙂
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Don’t play the game if you ignore common sense.
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Yes, indeed. A tough lesson to learn. I thought it was relevant to Lockdown. 🙂
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You’re right, it’s a dark. But a good story!
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Thanks, Sadje. I’ll write a happier tale next time 🙂 I like to balance things,
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I know! You have an inherent happiness, hard to suppress for long.
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Haha, Thank you 🙂
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You’re welcome 😊
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Excellent! Mine went to the same place…on the shadow side 🙂
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Thank you, Sometimes its nice to dip a toe into the darker side in a literary sense. Writing give us the freedom to experience anything in a safe way. 🙂 It’s liberating really.
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I agree with you totally–dark is pretty fun, even cathartic sometimes 🙂
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She was caught up in a fantasy that turned into a nightmare. Dark, yes, but all too possible.
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Yes, you never know who you’re talking to online sometimes and the young are particularly vulnerable at the moment with Lockdown 🙂
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That went way beyond dark Kristian. Well written and a great cautionary tale.
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Thank you, Deb. 🙂
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It was such a light-hearted story – then along came that heart-wrenching final sentence. Skillfully written.
A little light relief!
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Thank you. I felt obliged to give a cautionary warning at the beginning. Sometimes you’re not sure yourself where the story is going take you.
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