This story was written for the Friday Fictioneers challenge, provided each week by Rochelle, on her blog, Addicted to Purple. Writers get 100 words to write a flash fiction story inspired by the given photo prompt. Click on the blue frog below to read other stories and to add your own!
image – copyright Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Time to Move on
(100 words)
At midnight, the clock ceased ticking, and the magician appeared.
“Hello, Evan. Time to pay.”
“My soul. It’s wrong to take it.”
“No matter what deal was struck? Let’s proceed.”
Evan held out a locket. “Take this. It’s my soul, as much as anything.”
The magician opened it, amused until his hands disintegrated. Soon, he was a pile of dust.
Evan retrieved the locket, smiling at his wife. This was for her. He’d learned one more trick than the magician knew. Now, he’d join his love. Locket around his neck, heavy clock in his pocket, Evan descended to the river.
By the way, I’ve posted the second part of my story, “Spring Spirit.” Part 3 is coming soon! Click here to read part 1, and here for part 2.
Unmapped Country within Us 
I love the line “amused until his hands disintegrated”, delivered in a such a matter-of-fact way! Clever Evan.
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Thanks! Yes, Evan had a good plan.
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Wow. Don’t mess with Evan!
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Yes, the magician underestimated him. Thanks for reading!
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Inventive take on the challenge! I love that the student outsmarted the mentor.
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Thanks or your comment! I hadn’t imagined them as student and mentor, but they certainly could be–I can picture them that way, and it would be interesting!
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That was a supreme twist on the Faustus tale… we all love the magician’s being tricked don’t we?
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Thank you! Yes, it feels good to outsmart them!
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that was tricky, out-maneuvering a magician
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Evan definitely had a risky plan, but it worked out! Thanks for reading : )
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Dear Emily,
It took a couple of reads for me to get this but when I did, it hit me full force. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle! I was a little worried that this one wouldn’t come across the way I’d hope. I did a lot of cutting this week from what I started with! I had Evan making a deal to free his wife and a daughter from the magician’s service, and Evan granted with an extra long life that he used to learn magic in order to wait for the day in the story…haha, it had to get a lot simpler. You’re good to stop by! I always appreciate your prompts and writing!
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Great revenge but also heart-breaking. I wonder if the magician killed Evan’s wife?
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Thanks! I had imagined that she died a natural death, but I didn’t have room to say so–certainly, it could be the case based on what’s here! As I was commenting to Rochelle, I had a more elaborate story in mind at first. Cutting down always alters things in interesting ways! : )
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I’m always surprised at the depth of your creativity. Bravo! Another wonderfully disturbing twist in a satisfying story.
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Thanks, Margo!!
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