Flash Fiction: Safe on the Beach

Safe on the Beach

“Leave me alone!” she had yelled, kicking out at him. He had held her wrist so tightly she would surely have a bruise by tomorrow. He had ripped her beautiful pink chiffon skirt. She screamed and struggled, but all his weight had been on top of her, holding her down on the sofa. She had left the party willingly enough, but that was not what she had had in mind. She had just wanted a break from the mass of people, a minute of quiet. She had been warned, though, keep your distance from Erik, but he had seemed nice and was so handsome. “Let me go!”

A knock at the door interrupted him. He had quickly stood up at his father’s voice, and she had fled, face burning, eyes to the floor. She ran down the first staircase she found, desperate to get away. Down and down the steps continued, until she slowed, not hearing any footsteps behind her, thankful he hadn’t followed. Still she continued down. She began to wonder where the stairs led. Not to the grand hall, she would have been there by now. Slowly she realized that the smell was different, and the carpet under her feet began to have a slight grit on it.

Amazed, she stepped off the bottom step and gazed around her. She was on a beach, a setting sun painting the sky orange and rust. The salty breeze blew through her hair and her skirt brushed sand into the air. It would have been a beautiful, if impossible, place, but clouds were gathering, a storm was threatening.

Tears formed in her eyes. She didn’t understand where she was, but she needed to go back, they would miss her. She couldn’t be caught on this desolate beach in a thunderstorm, alone. She turned to climb the stairs, but they were gone, nothing but sand, and a forest beyond. She sank to her knees, burying her face in her hands and sobbed.

“My dear,” a low, clear voice called her. She looked up and froze. In front of her, gazing at her with the gentlest amber eyes, was a huge golden-mained lion. “We’ve been waiting for you.”

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Of course the stairs led to Narnia. Where else could they have gone? Not really a story, I know, but I kinda like it anyway.

Dottie at Tink’s Place has a Monday Morning Flash Fiction challenge that I’m enjoying. Each Monday a new picture prompt will be posted and if you choose to participate you post your story on Friday – 350 words, give or take.