Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Liberation (05/02/24)
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TITLE: The Great Door | Previous Challenge Entry
By Lynae Fisher
05/07/24 -
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To be opened, seven bolts must be unlocked before nightfall, lest they relock. These bolts were exceedingly stiff so that only the strongest of the Arhoomas could pry one open. Yet there were seven, all some distance apart; each one higher in the great lock hole of the door; the air increasingly thinner with each ascent.
Flora knew she must somehow free her people. How long she had longed to breathe the free air of the open land again. Her people languished in the prison land. Most had given up hope of ever escaping. Flora was determined to find a way out. Her wings were strong, though most of her people considered her a weakling. They looked down on her. She was different. No one liked her, but she did not care. She would free her people anyway.
Knowing her time was short to accomplish her mission, Flora set out early to the task. She flew high above the village of her people to the first lock of the great door in the ceiling on the cavern. The first was made of Gold, the second Silver, the third Bronze, the forth Brass, the fifth Steel, the sixth Aluminum, and the seventh Iron.
With all her might, she pressed against the golden lock until she was dizzy. The lock budged ever so slightly. She threw all her weight against it fly into it with all she had. At last, with a creaking groan, the lock broke loose and opened. What relief! Her heart sank again realizing she still have six more locks to go, some of which no one had ever reached before. These were sure to be tighter still.
One by one, she heaved each lock open. She was dusty, tired and sore. The silver, Bronze and Aluminum were clean, but stiff. The brass, though corroded slightly still sprung open before her strong hands. Fortunately, the Steel had been oiled.
Finally, she reached the last one. It was tremendously rusty. How could she ever open it? If she failed, the other locks would all reset and all her work would be in vain. Hands trembling, head spinning, heart pounding, lungs gasping, she pushing as with all the strength she did not have against that lock. It would not budge. She beat her wings against the stale air to aid her weary thrusting.
Suddenly, she heard a sound. It was the clear strain of music she heard! It was a song of praise. She remembered many a trial and battle through which she had sung that song. She knew she could not accomplish the task in her own strength. Crying out for strength, she sang the song of praise. New strength filled her as she pressed against the lock all the harder. Her head throbbed. The music seemed to fade for her ears could not process the sound anymore.
A great crack ripped through the air. She lost her grip and fell. Down she drifted through the lock hole to the top of an outcropping on the rock. There she landed, weak and worn. She lay motionless, scarcely breathing. A cold breeze touched her. It filled her lungs. It was sweet air, but not with the aroma of flowers. It blew more strongly on her. She began to revive. Through her closed eyelids, she sensed light. As the sweet air refreshed her, she cracked open her eyes and looked upward. The ceiling was opening! The great door was unlocked! Arhooma was free! Bells rang out in the valley below. Freedom and liberty at last!
Relieved, she relaxed to sleep, but the air blew all the more until she breathed deeply and sat up. The gentle, comforting smell of the healing flower reached her nostrils. Pain faded and strength returned. Slowly she rose, shook her wings and flew to join her fellows who rejoiced over the victory and raced for the surface of the cavern. No longer were the Arhoomas imprisoned in the earth. Liberation had come at last.
(Fiction)
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What an adventure.
I hope this story does well.